The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-09-16
OLD LAND MARKS NO. lOI
BY John Dannar.

Sixty-fve or seventy years ago, the
old four square court house on the
east end of the south lot of what is
now known as the court house block,
was very small affair compared with
our present court house. The old
court house was built in 1876, and
the weather vane on the top of the
old steeple plainly had this date upon
it.
At that time the county owned but
one lot on said block, the two north
lots were owned by merchants who
had their stores there, the first was
occupied by VIM. Christmas, who at
that time was a leading merchant in
Canton, it was with him that the late
Isaac Harter, Sr., got his early in
structions in mercantile life the next
store room north of the Christmas
store was that of Joseph Shorb, who
afterwards sold out to the late Mar
tin Wikidal, and he kept store for
many years. The north lot was own
ed by M. & J. Laird, who also kept
store for many years in this locality.
In later years the Lairds quit mercan.
tile business, and John Laird was en-
gagged in the foundry and machine
business the latter part of his life.
The original county Office buildings,
west of the court house were but one
story high, and extended west from
the court house to within about fifty
feet of Court street. On these fifty
feet next to Court street stood a one
story frame building, with the gable
facing on Tuscarawas street, and
this building was used as a store
room, being occupied most of the time
by Reynolds & Harris, the late Abra-
ham Ream also sold goods in said
room.
About fifty years ago the old one
story county office buildings were torn
down and replaced with a substantial
two story building extending west from
the court house to Court street. The
several county Offices occupied all
the rooms on the first floor; the up
stairs was rented for offices, mostly
to lawyers and insurance agencies; /;
the late Alexander Bierce, and also
David A. Starkweather had their Of
fees in said building. The Stark Coun.
ty Mutual Insurance company, man.
aged mostly by Thomas Goodman, was
also in this building. Mr.. Goodman
afterwards moved to Chicago, and had
one of the most successful insurance
Offices in said city. He is yet living at
an advanced age, but has not attended
to business for some years. At the
time Mr.. Goodman conducted an in
surance business in Canton, Brice s.
Hunter, assisted in soliciting in
surance. Mr.. Hunter was an English
man by birth, quite intelligent, and
fond of conversation and discussion.
He was an old bachelor, a good Chris
tian man, a member of the Presbyter-
ian church. He was quite odd, and
had some who greatly admired him,
while others would oppose him. In
those times we had no hardware
stores, shoe stores or even grocery
stores as now, the dry goods dealers
were expected to carry stock of all
these things.
In later years when the row Of one
story county Office buildings were TAX
en- down. at that time the county had
purchased all the balance of that
block of lots and eventually all the old
county buildings were demolished and
the present large court house erected,
which with the jail on the north lot
takes up the whole block for county
purposes.
During the early days in the history
of Canton, lyceum was kept up once
week during the winter months, and
both Thomas Goodman and Brice s.
Hunter were active and useful men,
bers of the same. 1t has often oc-
Cured to me that IL a lyceum could be
organized and kept up during the win
ter evenings now. 1t would be of much
profit to our younger people, and Of
much interest to some of the older
citizens. Our Assembly room in the
city hall building could easily be had
for such good purpose. In the olden
times we were compelled to meet In
the little town hall that was on the
second story of the old market house,
that stood in the center of the north
public square, quite an Indifferent af-
fair from the room that could now
be obtained for such purpose. Hop
ing these suggestions will be the
means Of awakening some of our young
people to start in this direction, I
think there would be many to respond
and cooperate in organizing and sus-
tanning an organization of this kind.
The diversion now offered to young
people are very often OF doubtful
character, not so lyceum.
We have many young people in Can.