Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1939-11-16

The birth and death rate may be as
great figuring on percent of popula-
ton, it may be as high as it was
half century ago, but the population
is much less than them
Buildings
We have told you in previous
chapters of the churches, school
houses and grange buildings, Now
we want to devote some space to
homes and farm buildings. While
there are no mansions in the town
ship, there are some fine residences.
The nearest perhaps to mansion is
the former Jacob Rex residence, on
state route rs, now owned by Ira
Porter. This house was built some
SO years ago. AS we remember it
contains Ia rooms Were it to be
built at this time, it would cost
more than two farms, besides the
one whereon located, would bring
at present land values. 1t was told
that the building of this home
caused Mr. Rex to lose his home and
farm At this time an incident in
regard to this house comes to our
mind The late Adam Barkley, who
lived on the joining farm, in speak
ing of this house said "Jake Rex
has the finest house in the town
ship and l have the next one to it."
Many of the homes of the township
while we'll built, have something
there about that attracts your at
tentiOn to such an extent that when
you come away you do not remem-
ber much about the construction or
appearance of the house. To show
you what we mean: Let us refer you
to the Fred Walls home, located on
adjoining farm to the Porter farm.
The thing that attracts our atten-
tion is the wonderful spring and
the way 1t is taken care of. Here
is another evidence of the handi-
work of the stone mason. The
spring is not only walled up, but
most of the building is composed
of large blocks of sandstone. A
very large trough, cut out of block
of sandstone catches the water as 1t
comes out of the pipe. On account
of the strength of this vein of wa
ter the trough is always running
over Another thing at this same
home, especially in the summer
time, is the flowers. Some time
when you are motoring just to see
things. stop at this home. While
we could go on at great length and
tell of other homes, and what is
there that interests us, and we feel
would you also. we desist, hoping
YOU may spend a day at least look
ing over Bristol township.
I,,f1 n 1it,er y
know the first BUILDINGS were Of
round logs The settlers were in a
hurry to get house built that
would shelter them and their fam
lilies. and were more particular
about the shelter from the wind,
rain and cold, than about looks,
and perhaps could not have built
the other type, hued logs, on ac-
count Of lack Of proper tools. but a
little later when men had more
time and tools they hewed the logs.
This made the logs fit together and
did not take so much dobbing
Later on. many of these houses
were weatherboarded. which some
folks thought, added to the looks Of
the building In the construction
of the early houses, enough timber
was used in the building Of one
house, had the logs been sawed in
to boards and 2x4, to build two or
three houses. In the beginning the
stables were built Of logs. At that
time they called them stables-later
when they got to building larger
buildings and one Of sawed timber,
they changed the name to barns.
(To be continued)