Perrysburg High School - Black and Gold Yearbook (Perrysburg, OH)

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1928 - - BLACK AND GOLD - - 1928 ' ' -as -f- caused a ten year struggle. The feeling was intense and there was bitter denun- ciation on both sides. lt began in 1865 and was not definitely settled until in the fall of 1875. The vote proved the demand to change the seat to Bowling Green, By 1888 Perrysburg could boast of eight ministers in as many churches, and several lawyers practicing law, among whom were Francis Hollenbeck, Thomas Powell, Willa1'd Way, and Henry Dodge. The town boasted of a population of over 400 persons but when the government stopped dredging the Maumee between Toledo and Perrysburg, the industries moved to Toledo to take advantage of the Water shipping. Above Perrysburg is Fort Meigs, a memorable fort in the War of 1812. It was under the leadership of General Harrison that the fort was built with little molestation from the Indians. ln April of 1813 the British, under the command of Proctor, attacked the fort of 1,100 men which was inadequate to withstand the onslaught of the enemy and the fort possibly would have been lost but for the arrival of General Clay and his Kentuckians. Dudley's Mass- acre followed because Dudley elated with success, thought he had a chance to win and disobeying the orders of General I-larrison,fol1owed the enemy without thought of an ambuscade. One hundred and seventy out of his 866 men escap- ed to Port Meigs. The second seige occured during the summer of the same year with an even greater force but the fort in the meantime had been strengthened. Although trickery was used by the Indians, General Clay was not deceived and kept his --Page8f-

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1928 - - BLACK AND GOLD - - 1928 F 3 L I. 5. A r P and distributed to various destinations. The boats brought back furs, Skins and dried meats. Spafford's Exchange established in 1822-23 was the most prominent ho- tel between Buffalo and St. Louis and the only frame public house between those cities. The story of the bell connected with the history of Spafford's Exchange, is known to all. The old register is filled with names of many prominent people, one of them being General Harrison, then candidate for the presidency. Cn June 11, 1840, no less than 473 guests were registered at the hotel. In the summer of 1854 there spread over Perrysburg the terrible Cholera scourge which took 120 lives in one month. Dr. Erasmus Pezk never faltered in his duty during this terrible calamity and his drug store was open day and night and the people helped themselves. Many of the citizens fled ,from the town but returned after the scourge had spent itself. Perrysburg in the early seventies was the most important town of the coun- ty, and it occupied a more conspicuous position as a trading center than a per- son of today would be led to believe. In addition to its dry goods, grocery, drug and hardware stores, of which several flourished under the patronage of the inhabitants for many miles around, hotels. newspapers, doctors, courts and lawyers, the town had tanneries, shipyards, planing mills, and warehouses 'for grain and merchandise, and was the terminus for vessels plying from Cleveland, Buffalo and Detroit. The attempt to remove the county seat from Perrysburg to Bowling Green - - Page 7 f -

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1928 - - BLACK AND GOLD - - 1928 troops within the fort. After futile attempts, the enemy departed for an attack on Fort Stevenson. A mile above the Fort is Buttonwood Island, and on it the Indians were as- sembled by the government in 1833 to be vaccinated and then deported west. Another mile up and on the opposite side of the river is Turkey Foot Rock. It is said that Turkey Foot sat dying on that rock, administering war paint before going to the happy hunting grounds when he was suddenly shot. In memory of the dead of Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia and Pennsylvania who fell at Fort Meigs, a monument was erected at Port Meigs. It was dedicated September 1, 1908 with inspiring ceremonies. It is a simple, magnificent, stone column, symbolic of the patriotic spirit, love and gratitude for those who died in their duty. The history of Perrysburg High School dates back to 1849 and was founded by A. D. Wright. who was also its first superintendent and principal. Their first structure was brick, 60x90. The schedule then was very different from what it is today. It included algebra, geometry, surveying, orthography, rhetoric, elocution, physiology, natural, mental, and moral philosohpy, botany, Zoology, mineralogy, history, bookkeeping, science of government, composi- tion and declamation, Latin and Greek, drawing, painting, and piano. In 1868 the building was enlarged but destroyed by fire in 1894. The present building, built in 1895, was enlarged in 1917. In 1849, the first year of our sch'ool, the enrollment was 50, today it is 250 in the High School and nearly 600 in the grade school. --Page9--