History of Marietta, Ohio, USA

1788 - April 7 - 1st settlement in Ohio, at Marietta

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1854 - Marietta
Marietta, a flourishing town, capital of Washington county, Ohio, is beautifully situated on the left (E.) bank of the Muskingum river, at its confluence with the Ohio, 62 miles below Wheeling, and 115 miles S. E. from Columbus. The town is regularly laid out on level ground, and in the midst of highly picturesque scenery. Many of the houses arc constructed with great neatness, and embellished with fine gardens and ornamental trees. Marietta has the distinction of being the oldest town in the state, having been settled in April, 1788, by a company of New-Englanders, under the command of General R. Putnam. Fort Harmar was built on the opposite bank of the Muskingum in 1786. It is also distinguished by the excellence of its schools. The town contains 7 or 8 churches, 2 public libraries, 2 academies, a branch of the State Bank, and is the seat of Marietta College, founded in 1835. Two newspapers are published here. The Muskingum is navigable by steam as high as Zanesville, and also... Read MORE...

1860 - May 21 - A swarm of tornadoes occurred in the Ohio Valley. Tornadoes struck the cities of Louisville, KY, Cincinnati, OH, Chillicothe, OH, and Marietta, OH, causing a million dollars damage.

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1888 - At Marietta, O, an incendiary fire on the 13th burned the office of the Marietta Register,
besides a book-store and several buildings, the loss being over $50,000.

St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
March 17, 1888

1895 - Marietta
Marietta, a city, the capital of Washington co., O., is finely situated on the N. bank of the Ohio River, at the mouth of the Muskingum, and on both sides of the latter river, 12 miles above Parkersburg, and about 80 miles below Wheeling. By rail it is 199 miles E. by N. of Cincinnati, and 175 miles S. of Cleveland. It is connected with the latter place by the Cleveland & Marietta Railway, and is on a branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Rail road. It is connected also with Zanesville, 75 miles N., by the Zanesville & Ohio River Railroad, and with Columbus by the Toledo & Ohio Central Extension Railroad. The Ohio River Railroad passes on the S. bank of the Ohio, It is surrounded by picturesque scenery, and contains many handsome residences. This is the oldest town in the state, having been founded in 1788 by General R. Putnam and other emigrants from New England. It contains 16 churches, union schools, 2 national banks, a savings-bank, and Marietta College (non-sectarian),... Read MORE...

1895 - Train Accident
Frank Roney, brakeman on the Toledo and Ohio Central Association railroad, while coupling freight cars on the grade at Marietta, fell under the wheels and lost a foot and had the other badly crushed.
The Salem Daily News
Salem, Ohio
September 12, 1895

1901 - Marietta - The Plymouth of the West by Muriel Campbell Dyar
The paths from the heights of Abraham led to Independence Hall, Independence Hall led finally to Yorktown, and Yorktown guided the footsteps of your Fathers to Marietta."-Daniels.

AT the point where the Muskingum empties into the Ohio, the River Beautiful, across whose waters the Ohio hills look tenderly away into the distances of West Virginia, there was sown, in 1788, the tiny seed for the development of the Northwest Territory. Here, on the memorable seventh of April, landed forty eight New England pioneers; here stayed the keel of the second Mayflower, bearing as her burden not only the men whose names have become immortal in American history, but, more than these, the Ordinance of 1787 with its momentous articles of compact, an ordinance ranking "next to the Declaration of Independence in the establishment of Constitutional liberty in the United States." Here was founded that other Plymouth, Marietta, the brave little gateway through which the nation's civilization journeyed... Read MORE...

1905 - LIGHTNING STRUCK CIRCUS. One Man Killed and a Hundred Spectators Were Stunned.
Special to the Washington Post
Wheeling, W. Va., May 11 - In the midst of the performance of WALLACE'S circus at Marietta, Ohio this afternoon, lightning struck the main pole of the side show tent, killing WILLIAM TULLINS, of Lowell, seriously injuring four others, and stunning more than a hundred spectators.
The Washington Post
Washington, D.C.
May 12, 1905

1906
Marietta, a city, the capital of Washington co., Ohio, is finely situated on the N. bank of the Ohio River, at the mouth of the Muskingum and on both sides of the latter river, 12 miles above Parkersburg, W. Va., and 80 miles SE. of Zanesville, on the Baltimore and Ohio and other railroads. It is surrounded by picturesque scenery and contains many handsome residences. This is the oldest town in the state, having been founded in 1788 by General R. Putnam and other emigrants from New England. Marietta has manufactures of chairs, furniture, spokes, flour, glass, carriage-supplies, boilers, oil-well tools, bicycle-rims, boats, lubricating oil, etc., and a extensive production of and trade in petroleum, which is obtained in the vicinity. It has also brewing and distilling-industries. The city is the seat of Marietta College, founded in 1835. Here are found some earthworks of the ancient mound-builders. Pop. in 1894, 9216; in 1900, 13,348.
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906

1906 - KILLED BY EXPLOSION OF NITRO-GLYCERINE
(By Associated Press.)

MARIETTA, O., Feb. 27. - In a terrific explosion of nitro-glycerin[sic], H. B. Kerr, an employe of the Marietta Torpedo Company, was killed, little Yondar Cross seriously injured and a dozen persons injured. Kerr had gone to the glycerine magazine two miles beyond Williamstown, W. Va., for a load of glycerine and had just started from the magazine when the explosion occurred.
The Lexington Herald
Lexington, Kentucky
February 28, 1906

1907 - Marietta Flood
At Marietta two-thirds of the city is flooded and there is considerable suffering among the inhabitants. The people are in dire distress as nearly all the groceries in the town have been flooded. Flour is delivered to the people on the hill who are baking bread for those who have been driven from their homes.

William McCracken, his wife and two children were drowned. They were forced to the second floor by the flood and the swift current upset the house, the entire family being lost.
Plain Dealer
Cleveland, Ohio
March 17, 1907

1907 - HEAVY DAMAGE BY A STORM.
Marietta,O., July 18. - Marietta was the center of a storm Wednesday afternoon which did $50,000 damage in Washington county. Half a mile back of town there was a cloudburst flooding the suburb of Glendale. Water rushed through the houses five feet deep and the inhabitants fled to the upper stories to save themselves.

The Marietta Chair company was flood-swept, and its loss alone is $10,000.

Cattle on neighboring dairying farms were drowned in large numbers; horses were killed by lightning and crops were completely washed away.
Repository
Canton, Ohio
July 18, 1907

1937 - MARIETTA BADLY HIT - Water 20 Feet Deep Swirls In Parts Of Business Area; 500 Homes Affected.
At Martins Ferry the Ohio [River] was at a 46 foot stage after it had dropped to 44 feet Sunday afternoon. The crest was stationary at 51 feet at Marietta but the Muskingum was rising again due to heavy rains.

Every business house in Marietta was surrounded by water one to 20 feet deep today. Rescuers waded through to remove 18 patients from the Marietta clinic when water covered the first floor.

Five hundred homes in Marietta were partly or totally under water that ran from one to 20 feet deep. There was no gas service in 75 homes.

55 Feet at Marietta.

Both at Parkersburg, W.Va., and Marietta the river was at the 55 foot mark, compared with flood levels of 36 feet. An emergency fund of $2000 was raised at Parkersburg where 500 families were evacuated.

Points down river from Marietta placed a strict ban on smoking and the use of power boats after a 50,000 gallon storage tank burst and covered the Ohio with gasoline.
Repository
Canton, Ohio
January 25, 1937

Marietta, Ohio is a charming place with a rich history and plenty of things to see and do. Here's a list to get you started:
Historic Downtown Marietta:

Stroll through the cobblestone streets of downtown Marietta, lined with historic buildings and unique shops. There's a lot of history in those streets.

Ohio River Levee:

Take a leisurely walk along the Ohio River Levee. It offers beautiful views of the river and the surrounding landscape.

The Castle:

Explore "The Castle," a Gothic-style mansion turned museum. It provides insight into the history of the area and the lives of its early residents.

Valley Gem Sternwheeler:

Enjoy a river cruise on the Valley Gem Sternwheeler. It's a great way to experience the Ohio River and learn about its significance in Marietta's history.

Marietta College:

Visit Marietta College, known for its picturesque campus. The college has a rich history, and you can explore its buildings and grounds.

Ohio River Museum:

Learn more about the region's river heritage at the Ohio River Museum. It features exhibits on steamboats, boat building, and the... Read MORE...