(Look Back with Bob Enoch - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

GO SLOW

Day before yesterday, one Johnson, from the country took on a load of “Lightening Whiskey,” and mounted his steed for a ride; but being unable to “go slow,” was handed over to the Recorder who fined him one dollar and costs for fast riding.

“All Right On The Goose”

Several parties appeared before the Recorder yesterday on the charge of “creating a nuisance” in the sixth Ward. The number of witnesses on both sides of the “goose question” was quite large and the evidence quite interesting. It seems that there has been an effort to turn the sixth Ward into a “Goose Pasture,” by many of its citizens, while another portion, not so fond of the delicate voice of the herbaceous bird, entered their solemn protest against any further disturbances of their midnight dreams and daylight reveries. A horrid want of reverence for the judgement of the “Conscript Fathers.” We read that the cackling of a goose saved Rome, and ever after was the gay bird respected in the Kingdom of the Caesars. But it has been left to the parties in this funny suit at this day, to make it an open question, whether every goose should be permitted to run at large or not. However, we presume his Honor, the Recorder, will soon decide who are, and who are not (in the Sixth Ward)”O K on the goose.”

The Parkersburg Daily Times,

July 4, 1867

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Street-Walkers

Wednesday evening two lovely bachanalians were passing lock-arm down Juliana street. In front of the residence of Mr. Ward they were brought to a halt to give vent to the diuretic effect of the benzine they had taken rather freely. Policeman Dawson assured them that this city does not issue license for such sets of indecency, and marched them over to the place appointed for receiving equivalents for offenses against municipal ordinances.

The Parkersburg Daily Times

May 29, 1868

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An engaged young gentleman got rather neatly out of a little scrape with his intended. She taxed him with having kissed two ladies at some party at which she was not present. He owned it, but said that their united ages only made twenty-one. The simple-minded girl thought of ten and eleven and laughed off her pout. He did not explain that one was nineteen and the other two years of age. Wasn’t it artful?

The Parkersburg Orthopolitan,

Jan. 22, 1872

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Last Sunday a couple of young men hired a two-horse carriage from Chancellor & Logan’s Livery Stable and getting their girls, started for an extensive buggy ride. They drove around town for a while and then up to Marietta, where they took in the town and taking a resting spell drove from there down to Cedarville, where they gave the horses, which were very much heated, plenty of water. From Cedarville they returned to Parkersburg and after driving around town sometime, returned the team to the stable. When the horses were brought in it was noticeable that they had been overworked and were almost dead, and in less than half an hour one of them laid down and died. The owners had the young men, who were named Frank Taylor and John Mullen, arrested and taken before Squire Davis who bound them over to answer the indictment. They gave bail and were released. Sentinel.

The Parkersburg Daily State Journal,

July 19, 1877

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Mike Stafford, a drayman, was committed to jail Wednesday for cruelty to a dumb animal. This is not his first offense of that character. His cruelty to his poor horse while driving him along the public streets has frequently excited remark and it is only a wonder he has not been arrested ere this. Such miserable creatures should be punished through the only medium which will affect their feelings – their pocketbook and imprisonment.

The Parkersburg Semi-Weekly Sentinel,

June 14, 1879

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Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: roberteenoch@gmail.com, or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.