North Baltimore in Wood County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
North Baltimore / Community Firsts
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 13, 2010
1. North Baltimore Marker (Side A)
North Baltimore
Located in southern Wood County, the village of New Baltimore was founded in 1860, with the first plat of twenty-nine acres recorded by B.L. Peters in 1873. Official incorporation occurred February 7, 1876, with the name being changed to North Baltimore in 1880. The town flourished owing to the construction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in 1873, from which the town took its name, and the discovery of rich oil and gas deposits in 1886. First settlers included: Jacob Dirk, George Franks, Levi A. Tarr, and B.L. Peters. The population of the village grew from 700 in 1880 to 2,857 in 1890. One of the first buildings, which was erected in 1860, served as a school and meeting hall and was located on the northwest corner of Main and Broadway streets. This area, then known as "The Great Black Swamp," had given birth to a thriving town.
Community Firsts
1812 General Hull's army marched along Rocky Ford Creek at the southeast edge of town on their way to Detroit
1834 Beeson Gristmill established along Rocky Ford Creek, north of E. Broadway
1874 First post office opened, Lincoln P. Hudson, postmaster
1875 First newspaper, The New Baltimore Enterprise, founded by B.L. and D.E. Peters
1876 B.L. Peters elected firstmayor
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1884 Henry's Opera House, 129 N. Main Street, dedicated by Dr. A.G. Henry
1886 First oil well struck; First gas well established
1888 People's Bank organized, closed in 1894, purchased by Hardy Banking Co., 1896
1888 Central Pressed Brick Co. opened, producing 8,000,000 bricks annually
1888 Zihlman Glass Company opened, making 1,000 drinking glasses a day
1890 City Hall built at 205 N. Main Street. cost $5,925, razed May 1985
1890-91 North Baltimore Electric Company founded at 115 W. State Street by Dr. Henry
1902 Toledo, Bowling Green & Southern Electric Interurban (streetcar) Line completed, later abandoned in 1930
Erected 1997 by Village of North Baltimore and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 10-87.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers • War of 1812. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 7, 1892.
Location. 41° 11.026′ N, 83° 40.693′ W. Marker is in North Baltimore, Ohio, in Wood County. Marker is at the intersection of
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 13, 2010
2. Community Firsts Marker (Side B)
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. North Baltimore Elementary & High School Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); American Legion Korea Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); American Legion Memorial Park (approx. half a mile away); American Legion Vietnam Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Ives Reservoir (approx. 0.9 miles away); North Baltimore Veterans Memorial (approx. one mile away); The Unknown Dead Memorial (approx. one mile away); North Baltimore (approx. 1˝ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in North Baltimore.
Also see . . . North Baltimore History. Village website homepage (Submitted on March 27, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 13, 2010
3. North Baltimore / Community Firsts Marker
Photographed By Craig Doda, June 9, 2023
4. North Baltimore / Community Firsts Marker
The marker is back but in revers of the original placing.
Photographed By Craig Doda, June 9, 2023
5. North Baltimore / Community Firsts Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 24, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 27, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,128 times since then and 40 times this year. Last updated on February 8, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 27, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 4, 5. submitted on June 20, 2023, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
