Chronological Year of Events of Lawrence County, Ohio
1890 – 1938

[unsure of the date and the source from newspaper-mm]

1890

• Ironton Elks organized – D.T. Bush, the only living charter member here today.
• Citizens National Bank organized.
• Crystal Ice Co. was founded in business as the first ice plant in the city, organized by Jas. Hudson, J.A. Turley, and S.B. Steece.
• H.H. Campbell and E.W. Bixby established Ironton Mantle Works.

1891

• Gen. W.H. Enochs, the first congressman elected for the 10th district established that year.

1892

• Memorial Hall was erected as a monument to the Grand Army. It was built on the city marketplace.

1893

• E. G., Scripture established Ironton Door Factory. (Houston Post, Houston, Texas 4 March 1900
  Ironton: E. G. Scripture, owner of the Ironton Door Factory, is looking for a new place for a location for a lot for a plant).
• Goldcamp Hardware Co. established.

1894

• Coxey’s Army lands on the river en route to Washington.
•  Housewives locked doors as the unemployed army entered the city asking for aid.
• Whitwell School was erected.

1895

• T.H.B. Jones takes over management of Ironton House.
• Carmi A. Thompson opened a law office and later became captain of Co. I during the War of 1898. Later Secretary of State, Treasurer of the U.S., and candidate for Governor.

1896

• First electric street cars in Ironton.

1897

• Newman and Spanner sawmill and 14 houses destroyed by fire.

1898

• Co. I Ohio Infantry Volunteers march off to the Spanish-American War.
• Christ Episcopal church dedicated.
• Deaconess Hospital was established.

1899

• Natural gas comes to Ironton.
• Ironton News established.
• A.M. Collett was the first Democratic mayor ever to serve the city.
• John Brice, now on the staff of Ringling Circus, takes a job as a policeman in the city.
• Marting Iron and Steel Co. organized and took over the Big Etna furnace.
• It was the coldest day in the city’s history, 18 below zero on Feb. 14.
• Chas. S. Gray Deaconess Hospital opened.

1900

• The last horse racing was held at Fleetwood Park.
• Big fight and cutting scrape.
• Race riots and attempts to mob jail after a white girl is attacked.

1901

• The first automobile was seen on the streets of Ironton, followed by a great crowd of children on bicycles.
• Ironton Cement Co., organized by S.B. Steece and others.

1902

• Ironton’s first full-time fire department was established on Third above Walnut.
• Dip Mittlehauser and Frank Smith were the first regular firemen.
• Goldcamp Furniture Co. established.

1903

• Beechwood Park and the loop streetcar line were built.
• The door factory was destroyed by the fire.
• T.H.B. Jones builds the Princess Skating rink.

1904

• Ironton Engine Co. built Civic group interest, Mr. Alfree will locate a plant here, and E.B. Hetzel will be the manager.

1905

• Memorial Hall was destroyed by fire, along with the Briggs Library.

1906

• Work started on the B. & O. railroad bridge across the Ohio River (never completed).
• Brumberg building on Third and Vernon was erected.

1907

• Ironton Iron Furnace, the last in the city, was erected. The furnace was razed in 1934.
• Keller Hospital was established.

1908

• Ironton Lumber Co. and many homes blocks away were destroyed by a big daytime fire. Ashland, Ky., Fire Department help on March 22.
• Central School building erected on Oak Street.
• N. & W. built a new depot, and Campbell Avenue was built.

1909

• Ironton and Lawrence County voted dry under unit state law.
• Hon. Carmi Thompson was elected as Secretary of State.
• The first airplane seen on city flights was at Beechwood Park.
• A new courthouse was built. The commission in charge were:
• E.B. Willard, chairman
• James Hudson
• T.J. Templeton
• T.J. White
• B.T. Daniel
• David Halley
• J.P. McDonough
• L.E. Kouns
• L. Williams

1910

• Excelsior Shoe Co. built the big plant on North Second Street.
• J. Benny organized a team in the Mountain State Baseball League.
• South Side Theatre was built.

1911

• Ironton joins the Ohio State baseball league with Hamilton, Newark, Lima, Mansfield, Chillicothe, Portsmouth, and other cities and wins the first half league pennant.

1912

• President Taft and Ex-President Theo. Roosevelt, making campaign tours, both speaking in Ironton on Fourth Street in front of the courthouse.

1913

• Record Ohio River flood does over million-dollar damage in Ironton.
• Moore cigar plant destroyed by fire.
• Ironton post office moved into a new federal building.

1914

• First Apple Show.
• Dr. Biederwolf holds a meeting in a specially built tabernacle erected on the Third Street below Adams.
• Standard Slag Co., erected.
• Whitwell Mother’s Club’s first PTA in the city is organized.
• Ironton News sponsors the first community Christmas tree in the city at Third and Park Ave.

1915

• Masonic Temple destroyed by fire.
• Citizens National Bank building erected.
• Elks Stage is the biggest under-canvas fair ever held in the city to raise money for a new home. Seven automobiles given away.

1916

• The Chamber of Commerce organized the first full-time secretary.
• Ironton-Portsmouth traction line is built.

1917

• Lawrence County sends her quota to World War.
• Ice gorge in Ohio river sinks ferry boat wharf as most severe winter is recorded.

1918

• Ironton and Lawrence County go over their quota for funds in every war drive.
• Standard Slag Co., plant burns.
• News of the armistice was celebrated.
• Iron City Savings Bank occupies a new Masonic Temple.

1919

• Hotel Martin completed and opened.
• Frank J. Goldcamp Post American Legion organized.
• Ironton’s new reservoir on Kelly Hill is completed.
• Ebert Brewing Co. plant destroyed by fire.

1920

• Ironton’s last big fire in the business district.
• Central Hardware Co., and Empire Theatre burn, Jan. 7.
• A rotary club is organized.
• Marlow Theatre opened.
• Orpheum Theatre in Skating Rink opened.
• Ironton Tanks, later famous, were organized.

1921

• First and Second National Bank consolidate.
• Ironton Stove Co., plant erected.
• The city raised $10,000 for YWCA.
• Center Street-first asphalt street opened with dance on the street.
• $766,200 subscribed for a bridge across the river.
• Hotel Marting formally opened, Sept. 18 with $4 plate banquet. C.H. McClung was the manager.

1922

• Ironton-Russell Bridge opened on April 21.
• Shelby Shoe Co. starts an old plant here.
• The new high school, which cost about $800,000, opened on August 7.
• Cecil Hotel is erected.

1923

• First National Bank building, completed. Bank occupies same.

1924

• Lions Club organized.
• Raceland, KY., racetrack opens.
• Parish House on Park Avenue was built.
• Ironton News wins prizes at the State newspaper show.

1925

• S.S. Kresge building at Third and Center Street was erected.
• Indiana Flooring Co., at Coal Grove add $5000, 000 plant at old Yellow Poplar Lumber Co., plant.
• Daily Irontonian and Register consolidated.
• C&O railroad starts a five-million-dollar improvement in the Russell yards.

1926

• Selby Shoe Co. erected a new plant on South Third Street.
• Business and Professional Women’s Club is organized.
• First traffic lights installed in Ironton.
• Bingaman & Jones display the first motor funeral coach.
• Harry J. Moulton, mayor, collects $24,185.21 in fines, a new record.
• City excited over the visit of Henry Ford in his private railway car.

1927

• Raceland car shops, the most modern in the nation, completed at Russell [KY].
• United Commercial Travelers holds a state convention in Ironton.
• Goldcamp Furniture Co. built a handsome new building.
• St. Joseph school erected.

1928

• Chesapeake Bridge opened across the Ohio River.
• First high school band organized with uniforms.

1929

• Lawson Stove Co. moved to the Continental plant in this city.
• Etna Building and Loan Co. erect building.
• Kresge Dollar store building erected.
• Howitzer National Guard Co. organized.
• The First Tri-motored plane lands in Sedgwick Field.
• Mrs. Helen Clarke was the first woman Judge ever elected in the county.

1930

• The City Manager form of government starts in Ironton.
• Captain Fassett was the first city manager.
• United Fuel Gas Co. erected a new building.
• Legal battle over Sunday movies.
• Ironton Tanks defeated both New York and Chicago pro football teams in Cincinnati.

1931

• Hottest day on the official record, 106 on July 14.
• Ironton’s first water regatta was held on Sept. 27.

1932

• President Taft was the second president in office ever to visit Ironton.
• Lawco Lake was built.

1933

• CCC was established in Lawrence County at Camp Dean.
• Both National banks survive the national bank holiday called by the President.

1934

• The first airmail service in Lawrence County was established at Chesapeake Airport.

1935

• Municipal swimming pool erected in Beechwood Park.
• Bond issue for the General Hospital carries.

1936

• Work starts on federal, county, and city overhead WPA projects.
• Bathing beauty contest opens new swimming pool.

1937

• Record Ohio River flood. City eight to nine feet covered by water for the first time in history.
• Lawrence County General Hospital opens.
• Works started in the Vesuvius Recreational Area, 145-acre lake, etc.

1938

• Work starts on Ironton’s four-million-dollar flood prevention program by the U.S. Army engineers.
• Ironton’s new O.N.G. Armory completed.
• The city celebrates the Northwest Territory Sesquicentennial.