|
Feature Article on automobile guide book. Topic:
TRANSPORTATION
Written by Jim Sayre in December,
1996
1916 ROAD GUIDE POINTS TO MORE LEISURELY PACE IN COUNTY...Pg 2 |
| King’s Guide was published in eight
sections, covering Iowa to New York. Section 6—Ohio and Kentucky—contained 500
plus pages and featured advertising for auto tires ("Vacuum Cup Tires, warranty for
6,000 miles!), hotels, garages and other travel aids. Sidney’s Hotel Wagner was advertised with "60
rooms on the American Plan at $2, $2.50 and $3, Phone No. 52, E.W. Smith,
Proprietor." Fifth Third Bank now stands at Wagner’s West Poplar address.
Also advertised was Sidney’s Knupp Garage "Open day and night, special
attention to tourists, Opposite Fire Department." Two phone numbers are listed:
City phone 402 and Farmers 200, recalling the county’s early dual phone services. The
fire department was in
the Monumental Building.
The guidebook touts King’s "Sign of Reliable Service...found displayed
only by reliable Hotels, garages, etc., where tourists will receive fair or better
accommodations and courteous service at regular rates." Publisher Sidney J.
King..."personally inspects all the hotels and garages." Mr. King also
inspected the routes, inserting road advisories: "road gravel" for the
Botkins to Sidney trip, but "road good gravel" for the Sidney to Piqua
journey.
Mr. King’s inspections did not always get things right. At mile 14.2, just south
of Franklin Township’s Pearl Cemetery,
current residents of Swanders might be surprised at this advice: "road on right
goes to Saunders." Or this instruction at mile 19.1, well into Sidney: "Cross
iron bridge over river." It was more likely the canal. Modern travelers streaking
at a 65-70 mph pace through the county on Interstate 75, could wonder at King’s
preface: "...we feel we have reached the pinnacle of perfection and although we
will strive to make each edition more perfect, yet in introducing this book to our
patrons, we think that it will adequately meet the demand of the public.
"Many guide instructions remain familiar, if too detailed, to modern
fast-moving area residents. For example, just south of Sidney, the guide notes: "0.7
— Avoid road on left which crosses bridge over river, keep right along river on left,
passing cemetery on right, go down grade, curve right."
Countians following those directions today would avoid the new jail and would be past
Graceland. Continuing on: "1.3 — Cross long iron bridge over river, pass road
on right, go up grade, curving left, going up grade." The river crossing was to
the west of the newer bypass bridge now carrying 25-A over the Miami. Southbound modern
tourists might marvel at how Botkins has grown. At 7.1 miles south of Wapak, 1916 tourists
were to "follow trolley through the hamlet of Botkins," a short stretch.
Botkins today extends another 2.5 miles south, crossing State Route 274 with the
corporation sign at the Ramsey-Sias plant. Landmarks vanished, or at least moved, over the
years. Mile mark 16.1: "Go through crossroads, pass church on right"
describes the Plum Creek Methodist Church at the 25-A/Mason Road intersection. The church
building was moved into Sidney in the early 1940’s and now serves the Calvary United
Baptist Congregation at 514 Michigan Avenue. And, modern tourists might search vainly for
the town of Clinton: "17.1 — Go through crossroads (few scattered
houses)," an area now sandwiched by Hoewischer Road and the 25-A/I-75
interchange. Or, consider the aforementioned "city limits of Mt. Auburn," about
where the northtown Bank One branch stands. |
[ Back ] [ Next ] [ Up ] [ New Search
] |
|