Early Massillon and Lost Kendal by Mandy Altimus Pond

Author:Mandy Altimus Pond
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: unknown
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing Inc.
Published: 2017-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

Five

EARLY MASSILLON

BUSINESSES

Massillon businesses grew rapidly with the introduction of the Ohio and Erie Canal in 1828.

Provisions, groceries, clothing, and other dry goods were transported by the canal from across the country. Canal boats carried Massillon products to ports for shipping to distant cities. In 1846, historian and researcher Henry Howe visited Massillon and described in his book Historical Collections of Ohio: “It is very thriving and is one of the greatest wheat markets in Ohio. At times Main Street is almost completely blocked by immense wagons of wheat and the place has generally the bustling air of business.” Massillon at the time had approximately 2,000 residents.

Most businesses that opened between 1812 and 1860 were small operations, often run by one family. As these businesses grew, they sometimes combined with similar businesses to enhance service and product selection.

Abel Fletcher’s photography studio opened in 1843, early in the history of the medium, documenting many of Massillon’s early citizens and businesses.

The Union Branch of the State Bank in Ohio was organized in 1847 with Dr. Isaac Steese as its president.

Gradually, Kendal and Massillon transitioned from an agricultural economy to an industrial, commercial, and service-oriented community. Newspaper publishers ran advertisements for businesses from the 1830s onward.

Challenges arose when the 24 years of canal-focused businesses necessarily shifted to railroad-based commerce. The speed of the railroad superceded the slow-moving canal boats. Businesses hesitated to change; more than 100 businesses closed between 1853 and 1860. Many businessmen moved on in the 1850s, some seeking gold in California, others founding cities on the West Coast.

In this era, many long-standing businesses were formed, including Hess-Snyder Company (1861), the Russell & Company (1842), Hotel Conrad (1840s), and commercial coal mining (1833).

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