Old Market House, The
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About
- Name
- Old Market House, The
- Recreation
- Performing Arts / Spectator Sports / and Related Industries
Facts
- Founded
- 1833
- Dissolved
- 1947
Related
Key Persons
Location
- 0000 S. W. Side Public Square, Wooster, 44691, Ohio, United States
- " History of Wayne County, Ohio From the Days of the Pioneers and First Settlers to the Present Time" by Ben Douglas.[1]
Market-House Destroyed by a "Mob." "In 1833 a market-house, the first and last that Wooster ever had, was erected on the south-west side of the Pubhc Square, under direction of the Town Council, whereof Thomas Wilson was President, and J. H. Harris Recorder. Andrew Bostater, Joseph Fox and John Swain were contractors for its construction, the painting by David Barr. The structure was about 75x40 feet, one story high, paved with brick, with ceilings arched and plastered. It was supported by fourteen columns of brick, about two feet square, twelve feet high, firmly set on stone corners, eight or ten feet apart, between which were the stalls, each numbered. In a few years, however, the citizens doing business around the Public Square pronounced a market-house located in such a prominent position a nuisance that ought to be abated ; but the town authorities refused to remove it. As a result it narrowly escaped "purification by fire " at the hands of an incendiary. Finally, on Monday night, August 9, 1847, a number of men disguised beyond recognition, and said to be among the "first citizens," assembled at the market-house armed with axes, hooks, rope and tackle, and a horse of strong pulling qualities, with which they assailed it on all sides with destructive energy, so that when morning came the "garish blaze of day" rose upon its prostrate columns, " Its broken arch, its ruined wall," and the "market-house," as such, was known no more forever. This nocturnal act created considerable excitement, and much declamatory discussion about "mobs." The Mayor offered a reward for the apprehension of the mysterious vandals who had so sacrilegiously profaned this Temple of Mutton and Soup Bones, but with- out resulting in anybody being arrested, although, of course, the perpetrators were known to many, but whose crime was condoned by the "public improvement" it was considered they made in demolishing the market-house. A number of those who had a hand in this escapade are now living in Wooster, and will take pleasure in telling you, as they have us, how the thing was done." <ref>[https://archive.org/stream/cu31924028848765/cu31924028848765_djvu.txt "History of Wayne County, Ohio From the Days of the Pioneers and First Settlers to the Present Time"] by Ben Douglas. Market-House Destroyed by a "Mob", pg. 441</ref>
- Wooster, Ohio Sesquicentennial Celebration, June 14-21, 1958, p. 9.
Built under the direction of the town council which Thomas Wilson, president and J. H. Harris, recorder.
Quick Facts
- 1833 - built under the direction of City of Wooster town council
- 1847 - August 9, A number of disguised men went at night, armed with axes, hooks, rope and tackle, together with a strong horse, razed the offensive building. By daylight it lay a smoldering ruin. The destroyers were termed a "mob" and excitement ran high for a time. The mayor offered a reward for the detection of the vandals but no one was arrested although many were well known. This was the first and last market house Wooster, Ohio has ever had.[2]