Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1935-12-19
TELLS OF THE TWIN CITIES
(ronfinued from napa oue1

to lend their help toward all worthy
movements. And James Turner
superintendent of the Malta and
McConnelsville schools, is also
widely known for his progressive
ness.
McConnelsville's postmaster, Har-
| ry Gordon, is a power for civic bet
terment and Tom McHugh, Lon
Hanson and Nate Wood, who com
prise the county commission, have
taken an active hand in the i'm
provement of roads, prospective re-
| modelling of the court house and
other matters affecting their juris-
diction. Bernhard Mercer, mayor
| of McConnelsville, and Ezra McDan
| ieI, mayor of Malta, working with
the village councils of the Twin
Towns, both evidence progressive
spirits and have given their CO.
operation and assistance to the
civic leaders who are striving for
lbetterment of their community.
The Twin Towns have combin-
| ed population of something over
$4,000. For these people to pile up
a list of accomplishments like that
recounted must have demanded
something more than mere mobil-
| ity; it must have required force,
foresight and fortitude.
McConnelsville and Malta were
founded in pioneer times when the
frontier was just being broken by
those hardies who feared nothing
on the face OF the earth. The stock
has remained solid and many Of
those now living in the two towns
trace their ancestry back to the
stirring days Of Silverheels and the
tribes of Shawnees, DelawaTes,
Wyandots and others who roamed
through the forest or found the
river a convenient highway to a
farther point inland.
Those who have taken McCon-
nelsyille and Malta as their adopt
ed homes, have absorbed this spirit
grown to revere the ground so hal
lowed, preserved the traditions
which arose in this beautiful area.
But inculcated as this loyalty has
been, the residents have not been
content to rest upon their laurels.
They have realized that progress
has come and have been anxious to
accept it,
In every such movement, there
must be motivating force. In the
case of McConnelsville and Malta,
there are four, the Rotary club, the
Civic club, the American Legion
and the Parent-Teacher association.
These four are mentioned, not
because they have done the job
alone, but because they took the
initiative in instituting progressive
moves. and have accomplished great
results. Naturally, they had the
cooperation of the town and coun-
ty officials, the school board and
others, but their accomplishment
stand out because such organiza-
tions can and do often exist with
out piling up such long list of
good deeds.
In addition to the public works
which are accomplished, under way
Or projected, McConnelsville and
Malta have performed a lasting SER
vice to those persons who like to
visit places of historic interest. All
90 frequently, those in search Of
places of interest must go to the in
of stopping to make
inquiries about the location of this
spot or that. The Twin Towns
rave solved this problem for the
notorist or visitor by erecting neat
markers which point out the main
points Of interest, not only in the
owns themselves, but in the coun-
" as we'll.
These facts and the additional
In
ire key points on one of the most |
cenic drives in the state, mean un-
loubtedly that when the touring |
eason opens next spring, thousands |
will make trips in that direction.
The Rotary club, the Civic club !
nd the American Legion have is
ued a guide book which outlines
our picturesque and historic trips I
which may be made by motor from
dcConnelsville. Adequate direc-
ions are given, the mileage care
ully marked and brief but salts
ying explanation given of each of
he points to be visited.
One of these trips includes a visit
o Council Rock, the stone round
ouse, the old salt we'll area, Stock
'ort, Big Bottom park, the Hidden
pring, Point Lookout, the DEVILS
'ea Table and other points.
Council Rock, filled with authen-
ic Indian writings, probably could
peak volumes if it were animate,
or at this point the Indian tribes
altered TO solve their problems,
0 make their peace or war plans,
0 hold mutral d'ecwssions.
The story is told thai the stone
ound house v" alilt for rea-
on. The own" had come to grief
many times d. a high waters, the
ood 81 ,ikino home and no less
han 'irer r9 n2rrying 1t down
tream laps heavy drift
yood v the side Of his
lwellin II it apart. He
rev i, but was determined
lot to II to safer territory. "PI
'uild house, said he ESQ the
tory goes), that neither rain nor
Wind nor flood can move" And
hus was constructed the round
louse, a house without corners.
Which would { : the timbers and
asst aside tn ng water.
The last sa operations in that
ection were concluded about 25
ears ago, when Big Bloom, To-
ated nine miles above Malta, was
losed, but in the eighteenth CEN
ury, salt operations figured large
in the Importance of Morgan