This is one of
two photos of the Woodsfield, OH town-square that was taken by Reuben Perry Ralston around 1900.
The
picture was taken from atop the 4-story Woodsfield Bank Building. The
Columbia Hotel (white with a 3-story tower) is visible just above the top of
the pole in the center of the square. The street running past the hotel
and off to the right is what is now Ohio Route # 800. If you follow it to
the end it will take you south to the Ohio River. The Courthouse is
off the picture at the lower right. The small light colored arc of a
circle and the crowd of people that seems to standing in an crescent around
what is probably a lawn, are in front of the Courthouse. The street that
runs off to the right about half way up the right side of the picture (it is
hard to see because it is in the shade of the building) is Ohio Route #
78. The part of that street that you can see runs by the Courthouse
and leads west. In 7 miles you would come to Lewisville. In 5
or so miles you would come to the Buchanan Church.
This and a companion
photo appear to have been taken about the same time. There appears to be some kind of celebration
in progress that is better seen on the companion photo.
Photo provided by Rona Louise
Lepine Lambing-- e-mail: [email protected]