Lot 18

lot-18_silk_photo

miltonsburg_street_looking_north_from_lot_3

Apparently Lot 18 included a building that was used as a store and a second floor assembly room as well as a house that was attached to the house on Lot 19 (similar to the double house on Lot 26). By 1850 William L. Johnston had built a structure ($157) on Lot 18 and by 1855 the lot was valued at $295. The valuation stayed fairly constant until about 1930 when, I assume, both the two-story structure and the attached house were razed. From about 1905 until 1920, the lot had three owners, which can possibly be explained as one owner for the second floor (IOOF Lodge, Miltonsburg Council, etc.), one owner for the first floor, and one owner for the attached residence. That is somewhat unusual, but modestly confirmed by a comment in the tax records that states, “pt NW corner (formerly IOOF Lodge).”

In any case, by 1930, the lot was co-owned by the Miltonsburg Council and the Catholic Church and in 1930 the value jumped to $810, suggesting that the Catholic Church had built their new assembly building behind these structures. By 1935 the value had gone down to $720, suggesting that the former town hall and IOOF building had been razed.

Oral History

The stairway to the second floor was located between the house attached to Lot 19 and the Town Hall. There was a small gate, about four feet wide, between the buildings.

About 1921 Catholic dances were held on the second floor of this building. Hulda Landefeld Young (Lot 19 and Lot 44) recalls going to the second floor with Lorena and Clementine Burkhart (daughters of Bass Burkhart) to help prepare tables for these Catholic functions. In the early 1930s a new Catholic Hall was built behind the old two-story building and the old building was torn down. The new hall had garage-type doors in front that could be opened during dances and other functions.

In the mid 1920s, the house of this lot was owned and occupied by Katherine Block, who was John Block’s mother. John Block and his family lived just south of Miltonsburg. John’s chhildren included Agnes, Helen, Tom, Walter, and Bob, all of whom were participants in Miltonsburg activities. This house was removed sometime between 1928 and 1934.

Lot 18 Owners

(Partial List)

  • 1835 Christopher Steel
  • 1836 Christopher Steel
  • 1837 Peter Seigh
  • 1844 Peter Seigh
  • 1845 Peter Seigh
  • 1846 Peter Seigh
  • 1847 Peter Seigh
  • 1848 Peter Seigh
  • 1849 Nathan Hollister
  • 1850 William L. Johnston
  • 1855 William L. Johnston
  • 1860 William L. Johnston
  • 1866 W. B. Brown
  • 1870 J. M. Gromlich
  • 1875 Fred Probst
  • 1880 M E Church
  • 1885 Rhimes & Long?
  • 1890 M E Church
  • 1890 IOOF Lodge
  • 1890 John Egger
  • 1895 Council of Village of Miltonsburg
  • 1895 IOOF Lodge
  • 1895 John Egger
  • 1899 Council of Village of Miltonsburg
  • 1899 IOOF Lodge
  • 1899 John Egger
  • 1905 Council of Village of Miltonsburg
  • 1905 IOOF Lodge
  • 1905 Phillip Kremer
  • 1910 Council of Village of Miltonsburg
  • 1910 W. O. Menkel
  • 1910 Phillip Kremer
  • 1915 Henry Steed
  • 1915 W. O. Menkel
  • 1915 Phillip Kremer
  • 1920 Henry Steed
  • 1920 W. O. Menkel
  • 1920 Phillip Kremer
  • 1925 Catherine Block
  • 1925 Henry Steed
  • 1930 Rt. Rev. J. J. Hartley
  • 1930 Council of Village of Miltonsburg
  • 1935 Rt. Rev. J. J. Hartley
  • 1940 Rt. Rev. J. J. Hartley
  • 1945 Rt. Rev. J. J. Hartley
  • 1950 Rt. Rev. J. J. Hartley
  • 1950 Clem J. Burkhart