Wellston High School - X Ray Yearbook (Wellston, OH)

Page 13 text:

Railroads—Wellston’s Link to Outside In the early years of VC elision’s good fortune, the importance of a railroad outlet to the West and North was recognized by several prominent leaders. To aid the existing Marietta and Cincinnati R. R., the Dayton and Southeastern R.R. was contracted to build a narrow gauge railroad from Dayton to VC elision. Gradually the Cincinnati, Hamilton, and Dayton R. R. (now B. O.) joined in and widened the narrow gauge to a standard gauge. Then a committee of town officials interested the Springfield, Jackson, and Pomeroy R.R. in tapping the rich territory of VC elision. When all was completed, Wellston had three railroads and was shipping millions of dollars of coal and iron to distant markets. VC ith the outset of an era in w hich electric traction lines were being built, Harvey VC ells charted the W elision and Haekson Belt Railway Company. As president of this corporation, Harvey VC el Is proposed to build a railroad from Wellston to Jackson and north of Wellston to McArthur. The Hocking Valley R. R. became interested in Wells' efforts and placed him on their payroll. About this lime Harvey Wells became ill and died, hut his ambitious plan was fulfilled and Wellston had four railroads. 9

Page 12 text:

A Need to Educate s the eit) of Vi elision grew in size, more sehool fueilities were needed. To handle the growing number of sehool students Harvey Wells and South Sehool were erected. Following the construction of these buildings, the present high school building was constructed in 1924. One of the earliest sehool buildings in W elision was a ten room wooden structure huili in 1878 where the present Central Sehool building is located. The original structure of this school still remains and is presently the beautiful home of l)r. and Mrs. Paul J. Essman. 8

Page 14 text:

Much of Wellston’s Heritage Still Remains Some of the homes of early elision residents still remain. Although these homes have been modified to some extent, much of the original structure has been preserved. The bottom picture, the residence of Attorney Henry Willard, was erected in 1830 by Patrick Shearer, a farm resident. It was also known as the McGuire and Ed Blanchard property. The top right picture, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar J. Leach, is the oldest structure standing in W elision today. Constructed in 1817, this farm house was originally owned by H. F. Austin. The bottom picture is an artist’s interpretation of the Oscar Leach home and surrounding farm land as it mat have looked in 1817.