Ohio History Journal

Thirty-Ninth Annual Meeting            577

 

end of the biennium, but the "improvement of the grounds" has

not yet been started.

We wish at this time to submit the following extract from

the deed of conveyance to the Society from Miss Clarissa C.

Moor of the tract referred to above:

"Provided always and these presents are upon this express

condition that the premises hereby conveyed shall be used for a

park and monument site and approaches. Said grantee, its suc-

cessors and assigns shall within a period of seven years of the

date hereof, improve said premises by grading, seeding to lawn,

planting with shrubbery and trees and fencing, by improving

in a suitable manner roadways upon the rights of way herein

granted and by the erection thereon of a monument suitably com-

memorating the Battle of Fallen Timbers, to cost not less than

$20,000.00 and further that said grantee, its successors and as-

signs shall provide for the upkeep and repair of said premises

and maintain the same in an attractive condition generally."

This deed is recorded on page 344, vol. 549 in Lucas Coun-

ty. It was executed Jan. 3, 1921, and recorded Jan. 28, 1921.

We believe it is of the utmost importance that the Budget

Committee of the Society be instructed by the Board of Trus-

tees to use their utmost endeavor to secure a suitable appropria-

tion from the legislature so that the conditions of the above deed

may be fully complied with.

"Respectfully submitted,

(Signed) W. J. SHERMAN,

Chairman."

On motion the report was approved and ordered

placed on file.

 

SPIEGEL GROVE.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. W. J. Sherman

read the report as follows:

Your Committee respectfully submit the following report of

its activities in connection with the care and maintenance of the

Spiegel Grove State Park and the splendid properties therein

located.

The Park itself has been maintained in excellent condition.

With its broad expanse of beautiful lawns and native forest

trees, it today presents an unusually attractive appearance.

There is, however, much work which should be done in the way

Vol. XXXIII -- 37.

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578       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

of improving the drives, re-fencing the property and marking

the trees with common and scientific names.

The old slate roof on the residence has outlived its useful-

ness and should be immediately renewed. This we consider an

urgent requirement if the valuable contents of the structure are

to be properly protected from the elements and the walls, plaster,

wall paper and hangings are to be preserved.

An unusually wet season has developed the fact that the

City sewers on which these properties depend for drainage, are

entirely inadequate, resulting in the frequent backing up of flood

waters into the basement of the Memorial Building and a very

considerable amount of damage to the contents. The practical

result of this untoward condition has been to necessitate the

abandonment of the basement of the Annex for useful purposes

in connection with Museum work. A partial and perhaps a

complete solution of the problem is being worked out at the pres-

ent time by the State Architect, with a view of again placing in

commission an old nine inch sewer leading to the south, which

was abandoned years ago, when the City sewer was built to the

north.

Acting upon the suggestion in our last annual report, the

Society has revised and increased the insurance on the residence

and its contents, which naturally is gratifying to your Com-

mittee.

We regret to report that the work of installing a new and

sufficient independent heating plant under the supervision of the

State Architect, for which the State Board of Control has made

ample appropriations, is still far from completion. The near ap-

proach of the cold season naturally gives us much concern.

The Hayes Memorial Library Book Fund, which at the

time of our last report amounted to $20,821.26 has been un-

touched by the Book Committee during the past year, and now

has increased in amount very considerably. We still await ac-

tion by the Society on our request for the purchase of additional

stacks for the accommodation of say 5,000 volumes.

On the first day of July last, Mrs. Dorothy Edgerton

Wright, our very efficient Attendant at the Library, was promot-

ed to the position of Librarian.

Upon the resignation of Mr. Alfred Gowing as Caretaker,

effective August 1st, 1924, Mr. Charles Joseph was appointed in

his stead. Mr. Joseph had been previously working as laborer

in the Park and gives promise of becoming a very satisfactory

Caretaker.

The attendance of visitors has been steadily increasing as

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Thirty-Ninth Annual Meeting            579

 

is evidenced by the registration list, which has been as follows,

for the year ending Sept. 1st, 1924, viz.:

September ..... 1147         April .......... 175

October ....... 413             May   .......... 1173

November ..... 169                                   June .......... 1092

December ...... 128            July .......... 1522

January        .......              35                  August ........ 2108

February       ......               14

March ......... 177                     Total .... 8153

The Maximum Sunday attendance was ........ 245

The maximum week day attendance was........ 160

The average daily attendance was..............  24

The maximum monthly attendance was......... 2108

The average monthly attendance was........... 679

It is proper to call attention to the fact that there are many

visitors who do not register, so that the total attendance is much

greater than that shown above.

We wish here to record our acknowledgment to the Fremont

Federation of Women's Clubs for their voluntary services in

connection with our "open house" on every Sunday afternoon

during the summer season.

Accompanying this report is the budget for the fiscal years

ending June 30th, 1926 and 1927 as prepared and recommended

by your Committee.

Respectfully submitted,

(Signed) W. J. SHERMAN,

Chairman.

On motion the report was approved and ordered

placed on file.

EARLY OHIO SCHOOL BOOKS.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. John R. Horst,

read the report as follows:

Your committee on "Early Ohio School Books" beg to re-

port progress made by the committee as follows: --

At the call of the chairman of the committee, the commit-

tee met at the office of the chairman, Eight East Broad Street,

in the city of Columbus, on the eighth day of May, 1924, at the

hour of two o'clock in the afternoon.

On motion, Jerry Dennis was chosen secretary of the com-

mittee, with duties such as usually pertain to that office,

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