Look Back: Parkersburg seeks market house
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A Market House
We seriously and earnestly ask our City Council if they are not imposing upon our citizens in neglecting their business by not providing a suitable ordinance and market house for our city. It is a sin and shame that our people, and the people of the country around us are situated as they are.
The corporation can easily and properly bring a net revenue to [the] city by buying ground, building a good house and renting the stalls. It seems to us as strange that they do not make this arrangement that we cannot account for the neglect except on the supposition that the city authorities care nothing for the interests of the city. The gain to buyers over and above the present old fogy system would be thousands. The credit of the city would be redeemed from its present disgrace, the commerce of the city would be increased, the increased production from the surrounding would be thousands, and yet our Council makes a Dutch Gap canal, and a market house for the people is not thought of.
The Parkersburg Weekly Times
June 30, 1865
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In September of 1866, on Page 464 of Deed Book 27 in the Wood County courthouse, is recorded the transfer of property from John V. Rathbone and wife, to the City of Parkersburg. The lot, beginning at the intersection of Market and Littleton [now Fifth] streets. The rectangular shaped lot would have a frontage on Market street of 85 feet and 170 feet on Littleton running in a westerly direction to an alley. There was an understanding and condition with the sale "that the city shall leave unoccupied and to be used as a public thoroughfare no less than forty feet extending from Market street to the alley as aforesaid and adjoining the easterly line of the ground." The city had finally purchased property on which to build a market house! It was on this same corner lot that in the mid-1890s the city of Parkersburg built it's first City Building.
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Market House? Who knows anything about the "Market House?" Hurry up -- we are being bled unmercifully. Thirty-five cents a dozen for eggs.
The Parkersburg Daily Times
Feb. 20, 1867
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Market House
We heard with pleasure that our worthy Council intends establishing a large well or cistern in the center of the new Market House. The work on it, as we understand, will soon be commenced. That will be a great comfort to the many people who will assemble there.
Whoever conceived the idea, is entitled to the thanks of the public.
The Parkersburg Daily Times
July 22, 1867
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The Market House
In a very few days Parkersburg will be in possession of a commodious and, in all respects, appropriate Market House. It is located in a central position, and its dimensions are ample for the wants of families during many years to come. The only apprehension that man be fairly indulged in is that it may be destroyed by fire. This is not a very common fate for the open market house, but still similar market houses have been burned in other cities, and such a casualty is not impossible here. The climate of this latitude favors to some extent the absence of furnace fires at the stalls, and this is a subject worthy of consideration by our City Councilmen.
The Parkersburg Daily Times
Aug. 6, 1867
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The Market House is rapidly approaching completion. Half of the floor is almost laid. The painters are at work too. The House is beginning to look bright; it decidedly has a pleasing appearance. We will probably witness a busy life there. As our old Wheelinger remarked: "At last one good thing has been done at Parkersburg."
The Parkersburg Daily Times
Aug. 27, 1867
To be continued …