Central Business District in Cincinnati in Hamilton County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Cincinnati Riots of 1884
⎯⎯⎯
Sheriff Morton Lytle Hawkins

Cincinnati Riots of 1884 Marker (Side A) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

1. Cincinnati Riots of 1884 Marker (Side A)

Inscription. Cincinnati Riots of 1884 In March 1884, public confidence of Cincinnati law enforcement was extremely low. The public believed that murderers and other serious offenders were not brought to justice promptly or received little punishment. Civil unrest was brought to a boil when a seventeen-year-old was sentenced to only twenty years for manslaughter after brutally murdering his employer. On March 28, thousands of citizens stormed the county jail and courthouse. The riots lasted three days requiring forces from the Sheriff's Office, city police, and local and state militia to restore order. Fifty-four people were killed and more than 200 wounded. The courthouse and jail suffered enormous damage, and valuable records were destroyed from the assault and fire. The riot gained international notoriety and helped pave the way for removal of political favoritism and a larger police force.

Sheriff Morton Lytle Hawkins. On March 28-30, 1884, the Courthouse Riots of 1884 raged in the streets of Cincinnati resulting in death and injury to more than 250 Cincinnatians. A small group of Hamilton County Deputies, led by Sheriff Morton

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Lytle Hawkins, saved the jail from a complete takeover and successfully protected the lives of all the inmates. Sheriff Hawkins' planning and foresight was largely responsible for this success. Sheriff Hawkins also called upon the Ohio National Guard to help quell the Riots and assisted in deploying the troops. Sheriff Hawkins earned the respect of the citizens for his calm and skillful demeanor throughout the Riots. He also served his state as Ohio Adjutant General and the nation as a volunteer in the Ohio Infantry during the Civil War. He was also a noted newspaperman throughout Ohio.

Erected 1999 by Ohio Bicentenninal Commission, The Longaberger Company, James Krouse, dba Color Products, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 19-31.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Law Enforcement. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1884.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 39° 6.415′ N, 84° 30.554′ W.

Sheriff Morton Lytle Hawkins Marker (Side B) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

2. Sheriff Morton Lytle Hawkins Marker (Side B)

Marker was in Cincinnati, Ohio, in Hamilton County. It was in the Central Business District. It was at the intersection of Sycamore Street and Court Street, on the left when traveling south on Sycamore Street. Located next to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office and Jail. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 1000 Sycamore St, Cincinnati OH 45202, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in the American Midwest

and in the Ohio River Valley.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Ohio Military Trails (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Athenaeum (approx. 0.2 miles away); Elizabeth Blackwell (approx. 0.2 miles away); Crazy Cat, Crazy Quilt (approx. 0.2 miles away); Church of Saint Francis Xavier (approx. ¼ mile away); Brown Bodies Bending, 2020

Cincinnati Riots of 1884 / Sheriff Morton Lytle Hawkins Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

3. Cincinnati Riots of 1884 / Sheriff Morton Lytle Hawkins Marker

Looking NNE, with Sycamore Street beyond left edge of photo.

(approx. ¼ mile away); The Germania Building (approx. ¼ mile away); Woodward High School / School for Creative and Performing Arts (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cincinnati.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

4. Cincinnati Riots of 1884 / Sheriff Morton Lytle Hawkins Marker

Sycamore Street in background.

Marker broken off and missing image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Grant & Mary Ann Fish, March 7, 2021

5. Marker broken off and missing

Deputy Phillip J. Pence Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009

6. Deputy Phillip J. Pence Memorial

In memory of
Deputy Sheriff Phillip J. Pence
Hamilton County Sheriff's Office
Corrections Division
Died in the line of duty
June 10, 1984

Credits. This page was last revised on February 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 15, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,254 times since then and 45 times this year. Last updated on March 9, 2021, by Grant & Mary Ann Fish of Galloway, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 15, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 5. submitted on March 9, 2021, by Grant & Mary Ann Fish of Galloway, Ohio. 6. submitted on November 15, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

Cincinnati Riots of 1884⎯⎯⎯Sheriff Morton Lytle Hawkins

Cincinnati Riots of 1884
⎯⎯⎯
Sheriff Morton Lytle Hawkins