The Journal News from Hamilton, Ohio • Page 110

8ATU11DAT, DEO. ItM Owens, Lane, Dyer Co. First In Field of Heavy Machinery EHE General Machinery Corporation is a Hamilton industry that looms large in history this community. It is the consolidation of two Hamilton plants which more than half century, liars served the world in the "heavy goods tlie Niles Tool works and the Hooven-OwensRentsehler company. The businesses were consolidated in Stalwart industrial pioneera of nearly a century ago--men as courageous as those who conquered this wilderness--are recalled when General Machinery is mentioned; BO, as preface to tlie history of this corporation, let us look at its predecessor, the Owens, Lane and Dyer Machine company, founders oE the heavy machinery business in Hamilton, and the city's first manufacturers.

Created by New Jail A 18J5, a contract was awarded for the building of a new jail. A. P. Miller, eay the history books, w.as_ the successful Mdder. The contract required that it should ho erected of limestone from Butler county with oast iron cells manufactured if possible, in the county.

Even in those early days, it was believed advisable to "encourage and sustain home industry." A foundry was built, primarily to provide the cast iron bars for the cells. It was under the management of Alariin L. Lemon, Mrtssrs. Ebert and Enyart George Graham and the work was carried on under the foremnnship of Job B. Owens.

In 1S47, E. G. Dyer, who had learned the trade of machinist in Maine, came to Hamilton. With Mr. Owens and Mr.

Ebert, he continued tho shop as Owens, Ebert and Dyer. Clark Lane Buys Interest One of the men connected with the business for several years was Clark Lane. KB was luanagcr of blacksmithing department. When Mr. Ebert died in 3S54, Mr.

Liino bought his interest in the partnership from hie heirs nnd (ho name was changed to Owens, Lane and Dyer. In the two years that followed, the Miami Valley became a center for tho paper making industry for tho Middle Weet and tho partnership, in addition to featuring gon- crnl foundry castings and mill gear- ings, entered the paper making machine industry. Mills started in Hamilton, Lockland, Dayton, Mid dlotown Piqua, Richmond, Brook- villo and other cities were equipped machines turned out by Owens, Lano and Dyer. Threshers Manufactured About 1856, tho partners showed a keen interest in the manufacture of threphing machines, separators and what was known as horsepow- ers. They featured their threshers and these machines became known throughout tho country.

In California they won tho title of "California Chief. 1 Tha rapid development of tho thresher opened tho way for still greater success in tho building of the steam threshing machine. They were among tho first to see tho fu- turo in this machine and to make it As this business developed, the partners Baw a still greater future in the construction of circular saw mills and in the making of portable and stationary engines especially to run them. With the growing popularity of lha steam engine, tho partners next directed their attention to the building of traction engines or road and field locomotives. Theso engines had the reputation of being better than those mado anywhere, even in England.

Had Twelve Buildings Prosperity continued with tho partnership and the first small fthop proved inadequate to house rapidly expanding industry. First one, then another, finally a third--until 12 buildings had been erected, all covering more than one and a half city blocks. In 1872 it was deemed advisable to incorporate and this was done. The capitalization was $200,000. J.

E. Owens was president) Hobert Kennedy, vice president; M. Seward, secretary and treasurer; William Ritchie, superintendent and if. S. Roberts, manager of the St.

Louis salesroom. Depression of the '70s Soon a tho incorporation of the company, the depression of the '70s hit the country. Business everywhere declined and tha pioneers of tho Hamilton heavy'goods industry felt the blow. Business became more and more- stagnated. In 1882 it was determined to sell tlie properties.

In 1877, John Clinton Hoovcn was a young man in Hamilton, engaged in the agricultural implement business. Ho had designed the Monarch Portable engine for the Monarch thresher which in Ihose days was widely known. In the manufacture of tho engine, the boiler was made by contract in one shop and other parts in another. Buy Famous Plant Mr. Hoovcm interested others in hia engine and with these associates bought the Owens, Lano and Dyor plant in 1882.

Those who joined with him in tho priso were G. A. Bentschler, George Helvey, Job Owens, Henry Sohn and James B. Campbell. Thus the Hoovcn-Owens-Rentseh- ler company was formed, for that was tho name given the new firm which was immediately to succeed the first great Hamilton industry Every one of tho men associated in tho original H.

0. R. became among Hamilton's best known citizens and their reputations as manufacturers spread not only throughout this country but throughout the world for their products were sold in many countries. The Great Corliss The great Corliss engine--known wherever steam power was usfcd-- was the one big product of the company for many years. Thousands of these, email and large, wero built and many of thnm still are giving good service.

With tho development of new methods of power, however, the company began to manufacture on a large scale, other products. Us Diesel engines drive great ocean liners and mammoth electric plants. Its automobile body pressing machines may bo found in almost every shop in the country where automobile bodies are made. Its sugar mills are on scores of plantations in Cuba. Its small gae engines are used to pump oil or gas from the fields along thousands of miles of pipe lines to the consumer.

In the lalo 'GOs, there was a little machine shop in Cincinnati known anil operated as tho Niles Brothers. For several years there had been a lessoning of the demand for their product hut unexpectedly an order for two lathes cams into the office. The order was turned over to two employes--Alexander Gordon and George A. Gray--with instructions to fit up a corner of the Niks plant and make tho lathes. When tho job was completed, those interested saw a new field of opportunity and the- Niles Tool Worka was organized.

In the company were Mr. Gordon, Mr. Gray and James Gaff, all of Cincinnati, who-supplied the money. Niles Brothers ceased as a business within two years. Came To Hamilton In 1872 the industry was moved to Hamilton and the men had visions of doing a gross business of $25,000 a month.

Two yours after coming here, establishing a small plant, tit Third and Mills streets, the Niles Tool Works' was incorporated for $150,000, Mr. Gaff was Great Strides of Progress Seen In Rural School Education 1 (Continued from Pake ft.) niomhors, elected by tho people. This board elects the superintendent. In the office of tho superintendent is his secretary, Miss Christine Van Gordon, on whose shoulders rests tho responsibility tho courteous and efficient handling of the details. Sho is assisted hy two part-time stenographers, Miss Louise Heist and Miss Lucille Gorsuch.

Some Ancient History So far as known, tho oldest school in rural is that in Poasttown. It was built in 1857. It will seo scrvico for this school year and then follow tho long, long trail of tho more than 70 other "little red schoolhouses" which used to dot tho countryside. It will he abandoned nnd probably hought hy someone and converted into a residence. That has been tho fato in recent years of schools which i 1914 provided tho only source of education for tho boys and girls who lived in the country.

Tho records disclose that the Upper Brown's Run school was i Hi 185D and tho Pike school in 1801. There wns no such thing 'as a high school for the rural districts until 1874 when a two-grade one wns established in Oxford. This not made a first grade school of four years until 1013. Last spring Monroe High school cclc- lirnted its i i i anniversary. The London High school was opened for a two-year course and converted i a three-year course in 1D16.

One year of high school work was only available in tho Trenton school in 1S93 and Venico awarded first diplomas to high school students in 1894 to two graduates. First Centralized Schools Following the adoption of the county system in 1914, Hanover township residents in 1915 built the first centralized school there the following year. Transportation was by horso-drawn vehicles. In 1916 Wayne nnd Union townships arranged for partial centralization. Since that time many such schools Jiavo liecn built and in last eight years they include tho fine Pair- field school, the Oxford schools and tho Liberty township school.

The largest school in the'county is at Amniuln i an enrollment of SCO pupils. The largest one-room school is at Brown's Run with an enrollment of 52. Tribute To Miami It would not be proper to close this narrative without a tribute to Miami University at Oxford. Tho authorities of that university have always been at the call of the local schools. They provide student teachers to advance new subjects or send tlieir own professors to present the latest ideas in education.

This service has liecn invaluable in the promulgation a physical education, music and home economics in rural system. THE HAMILTON Edition Newest and Oldest School Buildings in Butler County I 1 4 1 At the top is pictured tho newf school at Hew Miami. Work will' be completed so that occupancy will be possible early in 1937. The school is being financed partly through, the Works Progress Administration and the building, when completed, will cost approximately $212,000. In the lower picture is the oldest school in Butler county, tha Poasttown building, constructed in 1857.

president, Mr. Gordon, secretary, and Mr. Gray, treasurer and plant superintendent. A business depression a when the company was organized continued for several years and it required keen business judgment and careful financing for tho infant industry to survive. It wa8 because of this depression that Mr.

Gray left the company in 1877, and R. C. McKinney, who later became its president and also president tlio Nilos-Boment-Pond company with offices in New York, was placed in charge- of tho office. Gcorgo T. Heiss, who later became vico president, was in charge of the engineering department.

Mr. Gaff died in 1879. Mr. Gordon succeeded to tho presidency and he was succeeded in turn by H. C.

McKinney. Messrs. Gordon and Mo- Kinnoy nnd James JO Cullen, who succeeded to the highest office in the company, became outstanding leaders in this community. Branch offices were established, starting in 1882, in Philadelphia, Chicago, New York and Pittsburgh, Tho company today manufactures a wide range of machine tools.and has featured this manufacture during all the years of its history. Improvements have been made as the processes of manufacture required or us invention brought.

Larger machines made at Niles are lathes, boring mills and railroad machinery. Small Beginnings Tho people of Hamilton have seen both tho Niles and the Hooven, Owens and Hentschler company grow from small beginnings to their present magnitude. First they saw a few men go into tho shops; to day hundreds are given employ mcnt, in tho nationally known General Machinery company, the outgrowth of tho old Owens, Lane and Dyer company, the Hoovcn, Owens and Rcntschlcr company, tho Niles Tool Works company. Leshner, Felting Givejfobs To 400 The Phillip Carey company, Lockland, controls two important industries in Hamilton--the Leshner Corporation and the Hamilton Felting company with a combined employe force of about 400 men and women. The Leshner corporation was organized in 1918 by Nathan Lcshner as the Leshner Paper Slock company.

Mr. Leslmer, starting as an immigrant boy, gathering up paper and rags, developed a mammoth business in few years. One of his customers was tlie Phillip Carey company. Today the corporation denls in cotton fibres and all kinds of wiping cloths. Paper is sorted and seat direct to the Carey plnnt in Lockland.

Tho Hamilton Felling company makes new foils which nro largely used in tho automobile industry. Mr. Leshner disposed of his interest in the corporation in 1925 to the Carey company but remained ns the active head of I industry until his death in 1933. George D. Crabbs is president of the Carey company; William J.

Moeller, vice president, and W. C. Ignatius, secretary and treasurer. Sid Whelen is in charge the factory of the Leshner corporation and William Slroh is office manager. Prod Hodges is manager of the felting compnny.

Schenck Underpass Neafing Completion The next few weeks will seo the completion of Hamilton's first underpass--ending plans begun a generation ago. Onlast July 0, the slate highway lopnrtment formally awarded to Price Bras, and I. 'D. Tuttle com- 7.iny of Dayton, the contract for improvement which will eliminate tho dangerous crossing at Schcnck's on the Dixie Highway, iust outside the city limits, scene of many fatal accidents both in the automobile and the horse and buggy. The contract stipulates that the job shall bb completed in 170 working days, but progress has been so rapid that Jnlian Paxton, resident highway engineer, expects it to finished before spring.

The incline for the underpass is about 1800 feet long. The roadway be 40 feet wide with four fool sidewalk on tlie west side. Suggested Project Building of an underpass nt Mc Gonigle eight miles west of Hamilton on the Colerain Pike, and relocation of part of the Old Oxford Hoad from the Dnrrtown Pike to near McGonigle, is a possibility for the year just approaching. Plans and specifications now are being prepared. There has been agitation for many years for an underpass at South Hamilton and it was believed a few months ago that this would be accomplished through assistance of the Federal government.

However, no definite action has been taken although the plans have prepared, tentatively. Whether this improvement will become a reality in the near future depends on the a i of the Washington authorities. Planted Trees To Beautify Oxford Oxford and Miami university OWL a debt they never can repay; their benefactor long ago has passed to his eternal reward. Before the Civil War, Dr. George W.

ICcely was a dentist in Oxford- more he loved trees and when he saw the great forests being eul down, he grieved--and looked into the future. The Miami campus hod been denuded of trees to get logs for houses; the same condition prevailed throughout the whole village Ho went to the great forests about nnd gathered elm seedlings nnd other trees. These he planted about the village and on the campus. Today, the wonderful trees in Oxford represent the forethought of lover of trees; a lover of nature. Detention Home Nine Years Old The Boys Detention home, 115 South street, is the newest institution in Hamilton.

It is under the 1 control of the juvenile court nmj during the nine years of its existence has beon directly under the supervision ol Hnrry Diefcnbnch, superintendent and Mrs. Diefenhach, a Boys between the ages of 12 and 18 years are sent there from the juvenile court. It is the i i of the residence to provide a haven for wayward youth, whose offenses aro not sufficiently serious to cause a sentence to the Lancaster reform school. The idea is that proper environment, encouraging words and sympathetic understanding of their elif. ficnlties will cnnso them to change their reprehensible habits and that they will become good citizens.

Laundries Changes in Home A laundry is more or less of a mystery to most Hamiltonians. How an industry can take thou- mds of pieces of clothing, throw lem into a huge tub, get them per- olean and then iron them, and eturn to each patron tho exact number of pieces sent, is beyond common comprehension. It is like making hash and then going to the plato nnd finding a nice juicy steak. That is one of tho 'tricks' of the so to speak and because of Hamilton laundries have few misplaced pieces of laundry. They are equipped with fine ma- hinery and most of all, havo for mployes and supervisors, careful md painstaking men and women vho look after the "public wash" 13 they would look after a.

washing their own homes. In recent yenns, Hnmiltoniana by he hundreds have abolished the ibominablo "Monday wash day" jhrase and instead are sending the Junily's clothing to the laundry, 'erfectly cleaned and finely ironed, hey are returned i a day or two "Te-Wighte-Wa" First Name Of Miami River Historical docuu.ente disclose that the original Indian nnmo of the Miami river was Te-wightc- wa. This name is need on an old map of the Northwest Territory, engraved in 1762 and dedicated to General Amherst, then eom- mander-in-chicf of the British forces in North America. The Miami tribe of Indians was also known originally as Tc- ivighte-wa. In some records the Miami river is known as Hocky river, or Stony river.

One of First Radio Stations in Country Many have forgotten that Hamilton had at one time a radio tion, WRK, operated by Joan Slide. When radio was in infancy, the Doron Brothers on North street, tot up a hroadcufing station, one of the first in the country, and their amateur meMages were over long They also received messages from other operators. WHK was transferred to Mr. 31ade who operated the station in he Green Lantern, south of Ham- Iton on Dixie highway, for several years. Ho also set up broadcasting outlets in the Journal-News, An- Wayne hotel and other bullrings, Tho wavelength was not sufficient for a successful commercial station.

With the networks growing in power nnd influence, it wet i for the small outlet to get sustaining programs. Tho Chamber of Commerce and other organisations supported a movement by Mr. Slade to get additional power from the Federal Radio commission but this fight was lost and today, Hamilton is without any broadcasting station. However, there are scores of amateurs who send their messages over the world. and all the work and worry are dispensed i Hamilton laundries American a i a Laundry Front and Buckeye streets.

Miami Model Laundry, 409 Main street. Sunbrighle Laundry, 531 Hanover street. Family Laundry, 920 North Third street. Srathwohl and VanAusdall, 920 North Third street. Lea Kim, 20 Alain street.

William Tee, 307 Ludlow street. Early Train Wreck Caused By Cow In tho dim forgotten past of tho Hamilton and Eaton Railroad, workers for the WPA writers project have unearthed an interesting drawing of a wreck which happcneil probably soon after the road started operations. Tho dinky engine and three cars wrecked, are graphically shown in a drawing of a yonng artist of that day. Tho drawing was in possession of the DcArmond family of near Selkirk. According to the story, the engine hit a cow and wae derailed, the cow being thrown down an embankment and having one broken leg.

The drawing shows the wreckec i engine, with another engine nearby evidently come to bring th cars to headquarters. In that day, there WM little gen oral enthusiasm in some of the rura districts for the railroad. A. P. BABEOK A to cilldMu In Uw rural of Bator cooaty A.

F. Babeck, of Huniltos, who, itongh the years has provided jooka for excellence ia spelling. Engraving Plant Brought To City Hamilton, for the first time, now las an engraving plant where some of the finest cuts and engravings the country are turned out--The Hamilton Engraving company, in the old Daily News building, Third and Market streets. The business was started in 1930 by Prank Snma, a Cincinnati engraver, and developed rapidly ae the high clafla of work became recognized by buyers of printing. The company also is the bead- quarters for the Graphic Arts Photo Service, which, in brief, is tha printing of photographs in wholesale lots--literally by the A order, for instance, for 25,000 photos for an insurance company at Chicago.

Business in this department ateo extends to foreign countries and inquiries have been received from Canada, Holland and as far as Australia. The making pt engravings is not limited to Hamilton hut the field includes southwestern Ohio, a rart of Indiana and Kentucky. BLUE BEACON COA The Name BUELL Is Traditional for Integrity OACK in 1921 when George H. Buell and Edwin E. Buell founded The Buell Coal they pledged themselves to the public to so conduct their business as to assure their integrity.

Today our integrity ia known in every Hamilton household. Starting in a small way, fifteen years ago, we have constantly expanded until today we are one of the largest dealers in coal, Koppers Coke, gasoline and petroleum products-the finest grades of West Virginia coal. WE ARE EXCLUSIVE DEALERS FOR BLUE BEACON COAL Extra Heat, Extra Comfort, Extraordinary Economy A CO. Inc. 685 Belle Ave.

Phcme 3802.