The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-11-29
A SCRAP OF LOCAL HISTORY.

There Ia no part OF the original IN
O%OrpOrated limits OF Canton, that has
undergone eO many changes ~ East
Tuaoarawaa street, from thb square "
opposite the American block,
When tho town was located there
was q pond covering 20 acres or more,
lying q short distance north east, which
was fed by q spring stream, afterwafd
called Sohriy6f'a run, The outlet OF
the pond passed through the low lands
of town, crossing TuHcnfawaB street be-
tween Walnut aud Piedmont Tho
ground along the run was low aud
muoky, and after q rain, or during an
open winter, Tuacarawaa street was In
Ia hOrrld condition for wagoning,
There were no light vehicles ~ that
day, not even tw0'hOrae wagons, moth
IND but 0I.cartB aud heavy PennAylya'
mia wagons Intended for six and eight
h0rAea, When the roads were bad, and
they were heavily loaded, they were
most sure 10 stick In the mud, some,
where between Walnut and Pledmonti
aud then such q time 10 get ont, the
gee and haw, tho w%hooping aud hal
loolng aud cracking Of Whips, lifting,
prylng and swearing like tOamatera In
la the army. Not succeeding by ordl'
nary means, fence rails and aaplinga
would DO brought into |roqulolti0n and
a Cordr0y road constructed across the
mlre. There must DO half u dozen or
moro layers of rails and aaplinga un'
dern0ath the street for IL has
been filled from twelve 10 fifteen feet.
There were some teams that had bells
on the horses, and IL was q common
saying, that II u bell team would stall,
aud was pulled out by u team without
bells, the latter was entitled 10 the
bells,
The water and low ground Of this
locality, was Il great place for ducks,
About every family In the %nelghbor'
hood raised ducks, and they were q
prolific source Of pickering among the
women and children. Boys from the
hill, could not resist the temptation 20
shy a stone at q ducks head, Just 10 see
II dodge,
There we're two tan yards on the
north side Of this block, both supplied
with water from the Shriyor run, The
one yard, was on the Max Elbln lot,
started by John Moore, and the other
on the middle lot, run by Gen. Stldger,
who had q store In a building yet
standing In the Square. A child Of
Moore's fell In the pool aud was drown.
cd, and this 80 effected Mrs, Moore,
that she would not remain, The fam.
lily left, and the lanyard was abandon
cd. Gen. Stridger's yard WAS discon.
tinued soon after his death, sixty years
ago.
Few Of our citizens nj the present
day, would Imagine, how steep tho hill
originally was, from the Square down
East TuBcarawas street, About four
feet has been taken OF the summit and
the bottom filled up, an average OF
twelve, In the winter, when the sleigh.
ing was good, boys were accustomed 20
collect In the Square, both In daytime
and on moonlight evenings, and start
on n hand sleigh At the top Of the hill,
and descend with such an impetus ~ 10
be carried almost 10 the summit 0ppo.
site tho Bell Tavern, now the American
block. They would then turn around
and descend with sufficient velocity TO
reach the foot Of lSterling'e hill, 80 col.
led after the owner OF the brick build.
ing yet standing, and now owned by
Mi. Dannemlller. A few Of the boys
who enjoyed sleigling down Sterllng's
hill yet survive, and are still on their
native heath,
The residents below the hill from
Piedmont TO Walnut, especially on the
north side, were great sufferers after a
freshet, as their cellars were sure 10 be
inundated and tho destruction TO prop
erty sometimes was very considerable,
This annoyance continued until both
| The street and cellars were raised u
their present height,
The buildings on the lots In this
| Square, have been more frequently
| changed, than any In town. There Ii
not q single lot, or half lot, but, has
razed the old and built anew, two and
three times, LIS.