- 1900?
At the turn of the century, The McFarlan Lumber Company, the first
lumber outlet in Norwood, changes its name to The Dexter Lumber
Company. T. J. McFarlan, the original creator was still the
President and General Manager.
- 1900
The 1900 Federal Census determines that Norwood's population was
6,480 — enough to become a city.
- 1900
Henry Floto locates his department store in Norwood at 4269 Main
Avenue.
- 1900 (April 8)
Anthony Octavius Russell, head of The U. S. Printing Company and
its spin-off — The U. S. Playing Card Company, dies at his home on
Mound Avenue, Norwood.
- 1900
The Globe Company (a Cincinnati office files company) acquires the
Wernicke Company (Minneapolis), creating the Globe-Wernicke Company.
A 200,000 sq. ft. building is constructed on a 14-acre site on
Carthage Avenue in Norwood for the manufacture of wooden bookcases.
- 1901 (May 6-7)
Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show & Congress of Rough Riders perform
on a 15-acre "Durrell Tract" site at Montgomery Road &
Ivanhoe Avenues. At the same time, an annoucement is made that the
land was bought by L. Schreiber & Sons Company for a new
factory.
- 1901 (May 31)
James W. Bullock of Williamtown, Massachusettes, sold land north of
Park Avenue and West of Forest Avenue (across from what is now the
Siemens plant, originally Bullock Electric Mfg. Co.) to the United
States Lithograph Company.
- 1901 (June 4)
The John Robinson Circus performs at the Durrell Tract lot used the
previous month by Buffalo Bill.
- 1901
The United States Playing Card Company moves to its new facilities
on Beech Avenue in Norwood.
- 1901 (September 8)
To celebrate the laying of the cornerstone of the new St. Elizabeth
Church at Carter and Mills Avenues, a large parade is sponsored. The
path of the parade travels from the Mills property at Hopkins and
Main to Cameron, Floral, Madison, Lafayette, Smith, Sherman, Main,
Mills, Franklin, Sherman, Carter Avenues, to the new church site at
Mills and Carter.
- 1902 (July)
The First National Bank of Norwood opens in Norwood.
- 1902
The Bullock Electric Manufacturing Company, Norwood's first
industrial plant becomes part of the Allis-Chalmers Company. The
firm continues operating as Bullock Electric until 1928. (Some
sources give 1904 as the date.) Before the takeover, a joint venture
of Bullock and Allis-Chalmers produced large engine-generator sets
with Bullock supplying the generators and A-C the engines. By the
1970's, it gradually is taken over by the German company, Siemens.
- 1902 (March)
American Laundry Machinery Company buys five acres at Ross and
Section Avenues, becoming one of many companies moving to the
growing Norwood. The company traces its roots back to the Cincinnati
washer manufacturing business of A. M. Dolph and J. M. Slack.
Organized in 1884 as the A. M. Dolph Company, the firm changes its
name to The American Laundry Machinery Company in 1894. After its
plant in Cincinnati burned, the Norwood site is selected for a new
factory.
- 1902 (April 30)
The John Robinson Circus returns to Norwood, probably at the Durrell
lot at Montgomery Road & Ivanhoe Avenue.
- 1902
Besides the American Laundry Machinery Company, the L. Schreiber
& Sons, Kemper-Thomas (later, Osborne-Kemper-Thomas) and
Standard Mills (later Norwood Sash & Door Manufacturing Co.)
companies locate to Norwood.
- 1902
By a vote of 496 to 441, the citizens of Norwood reject the first of
several annexation attempts by Cincinnati.
- 1902
By a margin of 55 votes (the same difference as the Cincinnati
annexation vote!), Norwood voters decide to incorporate as a city.
The village is eligible because the Federal Census determines that
Norwood's population is 6,480, enough to become a city.
The Ohio Supreme Court rules that the existing Ohio State laws
providing for the classification of cities and villages was
unconstitutional. Therefore, Norwood was not officially a city,
since the vote is now null.
The following year, according to a new state law, all municipalities
with a population of 5,000 or more are automatically classed as
cities. So, Norwood becomes a city, again.
- 1903 (April)
Election for the Norwood officials takes place. The next month, when
they are installed, they are the City of Norwood's first
officials.
- 1903 (April 27-28)
The John Robinson Circus returns to Norwood for a third time, this
time for a two-day, four-show visit. The Durrell lot is probably not
available because of the Schreiber factory construction, so the
Langdon lot at Smith Road, south of the B.&O. R.R. tracks is
used. This land would serve the many circuses and other outdoor
entertainments until the end of 1922, when General Motors bought the
property.
- 1903 (May 7)
The newly elected Norwood officials are installed at city hall. This
is the same frame building used as the village hall. This date is
the last day the village officials met and the first day the city
officials took over.
- 1903 (May 11?)
The new St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church building is dedicated.
The start of the celebration is a parade beginning from Hopkins and
Main, and traveling over the principal streets of Norwood.
- 1903 (August 3)
The (Cincinnati) Commerical Tribune reported that "The
congregation of the Presbyterian Church, of Norwood held a reception
in the honor of Valentine C. Tidball and his wife, who celebrated
their Golden wedding Anniversary at the residence of their son, John
W. Tidball at his home on Lawn Avenue."
In 1888, Mr. Tidball was one of the agents of Norwood's
incorporation and a judge for its first municipal election.
- 1903 (October 5-6)
Barnum & Bailey Circus finally comes to Norwood to see why
Robinson keeps returning here. They would visit Norwood six times
from 1903 to 1917, performing 8 days for a total of 16 shows.
- 1904
More buildings are added to the Carthage Avenue facility of
Globe-Wernicke for desk, cabinet and metal works.
- 1904 (April 25-26)
The John Robinson Circus returns to Norwood for a fourth time—
again for a two-day, four-show visit. The Langdon lot at Smith Road
contimues to be the circus grounds for Norwood.
- 1905 (early)
Mayor Charles H. Jones appoints a board to oversee the construction
of Norwood's Library, after receiving a grant from Dale Carnegie.
After its completion, the library is transferred to the Public
Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County on the provisions that it
be equipped and maintained according to the Carnegie grant terms.
- 1905 (May 1)
The Ringling Bros. Circus comes to Cincinnati for the first time and
they did it in Norwood. Agreements are made with the Cincinnati
Traction Company to provide adequate street cars to the circus
grounds. However, the evening show return trips was no so good.
- 1905 (May 29-30)
Just a few weeks after the Ringling Bros., the Hagenbeck circus sets
up for a two-day performance. Because of the after-show
transporation problems for visitors to Ringling Bros., evening
performances, the Hagenbeck made plans with the street car company
so that this would not happen for their run.
- 1905 (July 1)
Norwood hires its first paid fireman. The initial paid company had
five members. As the population is growing, the city needs full-time
professional firemen, instead of the volunteers. Philip Volker is
the first Chief, for 30 days, followed by Thomas Wiggeringloh, and,
on October 30, Joseph Geller. Geller is appointed regular Chief on
December 5th, after he passes the civil service exam.
- 1905 (July 1)
The Norwood Police Department is organized. John L. Grismer is
acting Chief until George Crowthers is appointed. (Note:
An unpublished "Historical Sketch of
Norwood" has the police department organized in 1903.)
- 1905
The Strobridge Lithography Company of Cincinnati purchases the
Henderson Lithographing Company of Norwood. The location is at
today's Surrey Square on Montgomery Road.
- 1905
The Weir Frog Company, established in Cincinnati in 1882, moves to
5038 Beech Street at Highland Avenue in Norwood. The firm is later
known by the names Weir-Kilby and Taylor-Wharton.
- 1905
The Globe-Wernicke Company adds new buildings to the Norwood plant
for the manufacturing of steel cabinets.
- 1906 The Norwood Lutheran Church (Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Our Savior) is started.
- 1906 (April 7)
Hagenbeck Circus beats Ringling Bros. to Norwood this year.
- 1906 (April 21)
The Cincinnati & Columbus interuban line, from Norwood to
Hillsboro, is started. A station is at Harris and Forest Avenues.
Despite the name, the line never goes to Cincinnati or Columbus.
- 1906 (May 8-9)
The Ringling Bros. Circus returns to Norwood.
- 1906 (June 11-23)
The long-lasting theatrical show "The Last Days of
Pompeii" visits the Langdon lot. This is the first and only
time it plays in Norwood. The eleborate pyrotecnic production takes
a week to build and construct on the "circus grounds" for
the two week stay of nightly performances.
- 1906 (October 1)
The city purchases property allowing for the future opening of Slane
Avenue to Floral Avenue. The following January, another
ordinance was passed in order to extend Slane Avenue 427 feet west
to Floral Avenue. A map at about that time shows a log cabin
(possibly the one mentioned in newspapers and books as the oldest
building in Norwood) and other small structures at this location
blocking the extension of Slane to Floral.
- 1906 (October)
St. Peter and St. Paul Parish in North Norwood is organized.
- 1906 (November 3)
St. Matthew's Church, South Norwood, is dedicated.
- 1906 (November)
The Knights of Columbus hold their first Norwood meeting.
- 1907 (January)
The Ohio Fuel Supply Company introduces natural gas in Norwood. In
May, 1907, the Norwood gas distribution system and franchise is sold
to The Union Gas & Electric Company (The Cincinnati Gas &
Electric Company - now Duke Power).
- 1907 (May 6-7)
After four years, Barnum & Bailey Circus returns to Norwood.
- 1907 (July 22)
The Norwood Public Library opens to the public. It is built on land
donated by Edward Mills. A grant of $23,000 from the Andrew Carnegie
Foundation provides the initial funds to start building in 1905. It
is the second Carnegie Library in the Cincinnati area.
When it was completed, a Norwood Ordinance transfers the property to
the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, thereby making
it a branch library of that organization. The first librarian (for
the first three years) is Miss Lillian Davis, daughter of Judge
David Davis, a former mayor of Norwood.
- 1907 (July 21)
SS. Peter and Paul Church is dedicated.
- 1907 (August 24)
A new 400 feet deep well is opened at the Norwood Water Works Park
(very close to the street at Harris Avenue).
- 1907 (Sunday, September 1)
Buffalo Bill's Congress of Rough Riders of the
World and Wild West arrived in a train of 63 cars in Norwood
from Hamilton, Ohio, at 7:00 p.m. Seven hundred and fifty people and
five hundred and fifty horses were in the show.
- 1907 (Monday, September 2) On this Labor Day, Colonel
William F Cody, a.k.a."Buffalo Bill," presented his Wild
West show to Norwood, Ohio. For the first time in 10 years, there
were three performances — morning at 10:30 a.m., afternoon at 2:00
p.m. and a night show at 8:00 p.m. The doors opened one hour prior
to the start of each performance. The advertisements just said the
shows would be at the "Norwood Show Grounds," but, based
on accounts of other circus performances, the location was the land
that would become the site of the General Motors plants and now
Central Station.
- 1907
The First National Bank of Norwood's (later merged with The First
National Bank of Cincinnati) new building is completed. It is
located at the northeast corner of Washington Avenue and Montgomery
Road.
This site is currently located at the northeast corner of Surrey
Square, just south of Sherman Avenue; Washington Avenue no longer
connects with Montgomery Road.
- 1907
The Norwood National Bank is founded. The Hyde Park Savings Bank is
created at this time, also. They merge in 1929.
- 1907
Norwood Concrete Block (Crew Builders Supply Co.) locates in
Norwood. The location is probably at today's Surrey Square.
- 1908
U. S. Printing Company moves to Norwood at a new facility on Beech
Avenue.
- 1908 (May 7)
The Ringling Bros. is the only circus to perform in Norwood this
year.
- 1908
The Metropolitan, the first ice cream parlor of brothers Thomas and
Nicholas Aglamesis, opens in Norwood. They churned the ice cream by
hand, which was delivered by a horse-drawn wagon to Norwood homes.
Soon they made their own candy for sale. Five years later, they
added a second store in the adjacent neighborhood of Oakley. During
the Depression, they sold The Metropolitan, and renamed the Oakley
store, Aglamesis Brothers, the name it still has today.
- 1909 (ca. April or May)
At the request of Norwood officials, Kennedy Heights Mayor Pat
McHugh discusses the possiblity of annexation of Kennedy Heights to
Norwood. However, he said that he is open to annexation by
Cincinnati. In April, a meeting to combine Pleasant Ridge, Silverton
and Kennedy Heights fails to create an agreement. Later, after
Pleasant Ridge is annexed by Cincinnati, pressure is increased upon
Kennedy Heights to approve annexation, which is done in 1912, with
the formal annexation on July 24, 1914.
- 1909 (May 18)
Barnum & Bailey is the only circus to perform in Norwood this
year.
- 1909 (December 31)
At a joint meeting of the Board of Public Service and Board of
Control, a contract for the improvement of Burwood Avenue is awarded
to John Snyder, and a contract for the improvement of Hudson Avenue
to James McJoynt.
|
