Ohio History

May 9: Recognizing Ohio’s Iconic Symbol

What’s red white and blue, sometimes it is hoisted up one or two of the flagpoles on the roof of Ohio’s statehouse, and oh yes, it’s not a flag?

On this day in 1902 the Ohio General Assembly enacted a bill authorizing the adoption of a new state flag. Till this day in Ohio history, Ohio did not have a state flag. Ohio had been a state for almost 100 years, but we had never taken the step of creating a state flag. But a year before this date, several historic events came together in such a way that the General Assembly felt compelled enough to adopt a new symbol for the Buckeye State – and those events happened in another state.

Ohio Building with the original flag flying overhead at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, NY.

That state was New York where in 1901 the Pan-American Exposition was being held in Buffalo. The Exposition was a show place for countries from both North and South America. It also included exhibits from many states including Ohio. As part of the Ohio Exposition building, flew a new pennant designed by a Cleveland architect that he felt help draw attention to the building.

In 1900 Cleveland architect, John Eisemann, was the winning bidder for designing the Ohio Building for the 1901 Pan-American Exposition. Realizing that Ohio did not have an official flag, Eisemann went about creating a special flag to fly over the Ohio Building. It’s not clear whether Eisemann intended his creation to become Ohio’s flag or not. What he did want was something unique to fly over his building design. He even patented the flag with the U.S. Patent Office on July 23, 1901.

In 1900 Cleveland architect, John Eisemann, was the winning bidder for designing the Ohio Building for the 1901 World’s Fair called the Pan-American Exposition. Realizing that Ohio did not have an official flag, Eisemann went about creating a special flag to fly over the Ohio Building. It’s not clear whether Eisemann intended his creation to become Ohio’s flag or not. What he did want was something unique to fly over his building design. He even patented the flag with the U.S. Patent Office on July 23, 1901.

mckinley-carnation — President William McKinley sitting in his rocker, wearing a Lamborn Rose in his lapel.

The Pan-American Exposition ran from May 1, 1901 to November 1, 1901. During those 6 months more than 8,000,000 visitors would pass through the gates each paying 25 cents for admission. Besides the debut of what would later become Ohio’s state flag, the fair also had a more tragic Ohio connection.

On September 6, 1901, former Ohio Governor, former Ohio Representative, and current 2nd term President of the United States, William McKinley, was assassinated at the Pan-American Exposition. He would die just 8 days later.
In the following months and years after McKinley’s death, Ohio pay tribute to the fallen leader in various ways. One of those was the adoption of a special scarlet carnation worn by McKinley throughout his political career. Known as the Lamborn Carnation, the carnation became known as the “scarlet carnation” and three years later it became the official state flower as a “token of love and reverence to the memory of William McKinley”.

Original flag that flew over the Ohio Building at the Pan American Exposition.

The other was the adoption of the flag that was flying over the Ohio Building when the president was shot. Less than 8 months later, that flag would officially be adopted as Ohio’s flag which has been flying over public buildings since this day in 1902.

The Ohio state flag is the only “flag” of all the 50 state flags, that is not an actual flag. It’s really a swallow tail burgee, which means it is tapered like a pennant, but has the tip notched with a v-shaped cut out. The only other place the swallow tail burgee is commonly seen is on sailing ships, commonly seen on Lake Erie.

statehouse_columbus_001 — Ohio Statehouse with William McKinley Statue. The flag was used as a “communication tool” long before telephones, email and mobile devices, the Ohio flag is raised over the Statehouse when the corresponding legislative chamber is in session – raised on the north flag pole during Ohio Senate sessions and on the south flag pole during Ohio House of Representatives sessions. In the above photograph, the House of Representatives would be in session.

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May 4, 1970: Kent State Erupts in Violence

By John Merrill

May 4, 1970: It had been just 5 days since President Nixon announced the invasion of Cambodia during the Vietnam War. This action sparked wide-spread protests on college campuses. The previous 7 years had been one of the most tumultuous times in our country’s history that seemed to have begun with the assassination of President Kennedy, followed by the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., followed by the assassination of the presidential candidate Robert Kennedy.

Towards the end of the 1960s, riots were common place that involved both racial and anti-war protests. The Vietnam War had slowly crept into our culture from a few advisers in the 1950s to almost 550,000 American soldiers in the spring of 1968.

This was the high point of military involvement in the war. From this point forward, deployment numbers began to slowly decrease. There was a perception on the campus that anti-war protests were having some effect on government policy. So that when President Nixon announced a sharp increase in military involvement in the spring of 1970 through the bombing of Cambodia, a perceived widening of the war, student protests also began to heighten.

On Friday, May 1, an anti-war rally was held on the Commons at Kent State University in northeast Ohio. Another anti-war rally was called for Monday, May 4. Saturday afternoon, some protestors began demonstrating in downtown Kent. Mayor Satrom and the Kent City Council decided to seek help from Governor James Rhodes. That Saturday evening Ohio National Guard troops were ordered to the Kent State Campus after the ROTC building was set on fire.

Sunday morning Governor Rhodes announced during a press conference that he wanted to eradicate the problem in Kent. On Monday, May 4, 1970 students began gathering on the Commons protesting the presidents invasion of Cambodia. As the number of student demonstrators grew, the Ohio National Guard assembled and began driving students from the commons. A line of protestors formed in front of the National Guard line, taunting the guardsmen. The guard then began a march back towards a concrete umbrella-like structure known as the “pagoda”. Once they arrived at this spot, members of Company A, 145^th Infantry and Troop G, 107^th Armored Cavalry opened fire on the student protestors. More than 60 shots were fired in less than 15 seconds killing 4 students, wounding 9 others.

That evening after the shootings, Adjutant General Sylvester Del Corso claimed the shootings were sparked by a sniper firing on the Guard. The onslaught of investigations that followed this event found no evidence of a sniper, or any shooting by anyone other than the National Guard.

On this day in 1970, our country was forced to realize it was a country divided by political forces, forces that continue to this day.

March 1: Is Ohio legally a state?

By John Merrill

Today is the day many Ohioans who are in the know, celebrate the birthday of the 7th most populace state in the Union even though it is only 34th in size. Yet, despite this great day of celebration, there is a mild ripple running through the backs of some Ohio historians pondering the idea if what we’re celebrating really true?

When the Ohio state convention agreed to petition the Union for admittance on November 29, 1802, they felt they had everything in order. Congress also believed everything was in order and approved Ohio’s petition on February 19, 1803. However, the 8th United States Congress missed a critical step. Adding a state to the Union required the congressional ratification of Ohio’s State Constitution. The Constitution of Ohio had been presented to congress, but for whatever reason congress failed to take the necessary ratification step. Without congressional approval of the state constitution, Ohio technically remained part of the Northwest Territory.

From 1803 onward that fact got lost in the dust bin of history and there it would have remained were it not for some legal eyed, history minded Representatives in the 83rd Congress that raised the issue of Ohio’s statehood. They brought up the fact that there were some illegal members of the Senate and the House now occupying seats in Congress that they should not legally occupy.

After some discussion, Ohio Representative George H. Bender introduced some legislation in January 1953 to retroactively grant statehood to Ohio. On May 19, 1953, the House voted to approve legislation that ratified the original state constitution, effectively admitting Ohio to the Union as of March 1, 1803. President Dwight Eisenhower signed this legislation into law on August 7, 1953.

Yet, is Ohio really a state? That depends. If Ohio wasn’t legally a state, was Representative George H. Bender who had been serving as a US Representative since 1938, and who would later become an Ohio Senator, legally a US Representative when he introduced that specific piece of legislation? Could this be a case for the Supreme Court? We will probably never know the answer to that question.

So if you missed celebrating Ohio’s birthday on March 1, you can always send a card on August 7.

SEPTEMBER 6, McKinley: The President is Shot

By John Merrill

This was going to be a good day for the president as he dressed himself in his bedroom at the Milburn house. The had not yet risen, but he could see the sky brightening to the east that it should be great day weather-wise. Ida was still taking her time rising, but she could see her beloved husband was already dressed. As he turned to her as he always had throughout their marriage, he brought his hand up to his lips and casually tossed her a good-bye kiss. “Be back soon,” he whispered.

The rest of the household including his security detail had not yet taken their positions. This was the time of day that William enjoyed the most. He could stroll down the walk and hardly see a soul. It was just him the beauty of the day wrapping itself around him.

The President and First Lady leaving Milburn house for their trip to Niagara.

Across town Leon Czolgosz was also finishing up dressing. He straightened his string tie, then slipped into his suit jacket. The room’s small mirror didn’t allow him to get a full length view of himself, but it was big enough for him to straighten his hair before tucking a white handkerchief neatly into the jacket’s pocket. He glanced over at the dresser at the new 32 caliber revolver lying there. He and that pistol had already come twice within a stone’s throw of the president.

After his walk around the upper-class neighborhood, McKinley returned to the Milburn house. Ida was up and cooking breakfast for the two. The smell of a fresh pot of coffee drifted through the house. Today they were just going to have a healthy portion of omelets dressed up with a little cheese and some fried potatoes. They were going to have a big luncheon at Niagara Falls later that morning.

Leon didn’t have breakfast this morning when he left the hotel. He did buy a new cigar. The paper had said the president would be leaving this morning sharply at 9:00 a.m. by train so he could see the new power plant at Niagara Falls, and of course the falls.

He and Ida walked down the Milburn sidewalk to their waiting carriage. There was already a large crowd gathered, a reporter snapped a photo of the couple. By the time their carriage reached to the waiting train it had already passed by Leon as he too made his way to the station. Leon followed the president to Niagara, but after spending a little time there, he decided he would never get close as close as he thought he needed to be. Leon returned to Buffalo. He would wait for the president to come to him.

The president at Goat Island, Niagara Falls

The president viewed the American and Horseshoe Falls from the Upper Steel Arch Bridge, then visited Prospect Park and Goat Island. They then went to the International Hotel for a luncheon and then took a carriage drive to the power house for a complete tour of the electrical machinery and dynamos. It was all very exciting for the president and he immensely enjoyed every moment. By mid afternoon it was time to leave.

The Pan American Exposition architectural theme was called the Free Renaissance style, which just meant that the architects designing the exhibits should make sure they incorporated elements from European buildings popular a few centuries ago. The Temple of Music was a spectacular building that served as the concert hall for the Pan American Exposition. It cost more than $85,000 which would almost $2 million in today’s dollars. The Temple of Music could be called the epitome of Free Renaissance style.

It’s ornate style overwhelmed the eye; its symmetry screamed Renaissance and at night all of its architectural features were emphasized with electric light bulbs. Each afternoon 2,000 people would fill the great domed auditorium to listen to the largest pipe organ ever built in the United States. The sounds of that organ would vibrate clear through body (the organ is now in a Catholic church in Buffalo).

After returning from Niagara, the president went straight to the Temple of Music while Ida went back to Milburn house to rest. The reception at would be the crowning event where visitors to the exposition could actually shake hands with the most popular president in recent memory. Earlier that day in local papers there was a brief news item from Copenhagen that said Emperor Nicholas of Russia would have loved to visited Paris, but his security detail persuaded by “fears of an Anarchist outrage” convinced the Emperor not to make the trip.

In Buffalo there was no such warning announced in the paper, but President McKinley’s secretary, George Cortelyou had strongly suggested he not to do the Temple of Music reception. In fact the secretary had taken this event off the schedule twice, and both times McKinley personally put it back.

Anarchists as they were called, had decided that capitalism and the authority powered through capitalism could only be controlled through violence. Violence was the only way of giving the power to the people. In a few years, the Anarchists would be replaced after the overthrow of the Russian Emperor Nicholas by the Bolsheviks, a modified form of the Anarchists.

Leon Czolgosz was an Anarchist. He had studied in great detail previous assassinations and murders. He was well educated in the Anarchist methods and reasons, and he knew that on this day in September, he would join his brethren in making America a better place for the working man.

The line had beginning to form outside the Temple of Music since lunch. Among those at the head of the line was Fred Nieman. Later people standing in line with Fred said he had no interest in making small talk, or even complain about the extraordinary hot day they were experiencing.

Fred Nieman was the name Leon Czolgosz used when the hotel manager questioned him after he signed John Doe to the registry. Later that day when police began their questioning, he would use the name Fred Nieman. It wouldn’t be till later that his real name became known.

Very close to 4:00 p.m. word began spreading through the visitor line that someone had seen the president’s carriage. In fact, the president had arrived, and he was escorted in through another entrance where he quickly took his designated place. McKinley gave the go ahead for the procession to begin.

Leon Czolgosz was not first in line, but he was near the front, with maybe 10 or so in front of him. As they got closer, the security increased, but no one said anything about Leon’s right hand perpetually tucked in his coat pocket. Security was watching the man in line just in front of Leon. They would later say that he had the look of an Anarchist and when he wouldn’t let go of the president’s hand, security became even more alarmed and forced the man to move. It was a tense moment and all the security detail must have felt relief when the Italian looking immigrant moved on. No one seemed concerned about the small framed, neatly dressed man next in line.

Leon had gone through all the mutations of how to approach the president, how to cover his hand that was holding the pistol. How to ignore the handkerchief wrapped around his hand if it caught fire from the first gun shot. Squeeze the trigger once, twice and maybe three times and then run.

Leon got off two shots as he looked at the large man in front of him eye-to-eye before anyone understood what had just happened. The president stepped quickly stepped backward as a result of the gun flash and the loud retort.

A large black man standing behind Leon saw the muzzle flash and reacted almost instantly by striking Leon in the back of the neck with one hand and simultaneously grabbing his gun hand to prevent another shot from being fired.. Then a crowd of security and well-wishers descended upon Leon. In just moments Leon was being pummeled by fists.

Temple of Music, September 6, 1901. “X” marks the spot where the president was standing.

The president had stepped back with his arm across his chest holding on to his waist coat and could see the melee in front of him. “Don’t let them hurt him,” he shouted loudly.
Along side the president was Secretary Cortelyou, John Milburn, and Detective Geary. Not yet realizing the full impact of what had just happened, they stood motionless. They urged the president to sit down, but he told them to just remain calm. No need to alarm the public any more than they already were. “But sir, you’re wounded,” Cortelyou said. “No, I think not,” said the president. “I’m not badly hurt…” Nevertheless they managed to get him seated. Only upon pulling back his outer layer of clothing did they see the spreading blood stain.

Seeing the look on their faces, McKinley calmly said to Secretary Cortelyou about telling Ida, “Be careful Cortelyou… how you tell her… oh, be careful.”

Leon was quickly ushered out of the hall and into a side room. From here he was taken to the Buffalo police station where he was questioned. Police were convinced Leon had help and they were determined to find those individuals as quickly as possible. They could not be certain how deep this plot went or who the next target would be. Security for Vice President Roosevelt were immediately wired to take extra precautions.

The president was taken by an electric ambulance to the the Exposition hospital. However, the only personnel on duty were some nurses and interns. They did begin advanced first aid on the president. Meanwhile word went out to find a qualified doctor.

McKinley had two wounds: one was a minor wound to his right chest caused by a ricocheting bullet. The other wound was to his abdomen. McKinley had found the ricocheting bullet in his clothing during the brief ambulance ride. The other bullet was still lodged inside. The examination room was not suited for surgery, but none the less the doctor and nurses tried to find and extract the second bullet. They first gave the president a morphine injection. Then an extensive exploration for the second bullet was conducted. They could not find that bullet and after determining there was no internal bleeding, they stitched up the president and the president was driven back to the Milburn house which now had armed guards protecting it.
The president would rest comfortably at Milburn house for the next several days. Doctors would come and examine him and ask how he felt. Occasionally, the president would receive additional morphine injections.

For the next week the president would gradually improve until the September 13, and then everything changed dramatically.

SEPTEMBER 6: John C. Fremont Arrives at the Great Salt Lake

By John Merrill

On this day in 1844 John Charles Fremont, an American map maker, arrived at the Great Salt Lake in what would later become Utah. It’s not that John Fremont actually discovered what was once a sea, but the fact that during this expedition Fremont’s maps would define what became known as the Great Basin, of which the Great Salt Lake was a part. Although John Fremont never had much to do with Ohio in any way, he was recognized by Rutherford B. Hayes as a political and personal force and it was at Hayes suggestion that the little community where Hayes happened to be practicing law, suggested that the community be named after John C. Fremont, which it did. Today we know that sleepy town along the Sandusky River where people flock when the walleye are running is named after John C. Fremont, the map who began mapping the Great Salk Lake on this day. Oh yes, he also captured a little town named Santa Barbara during the Mexican-American War in 1846. This brought the Mexican Territory of California under control of the United States of America.

Three years later in 1849, young Rutherford B. Hayes, living back in Ohio along the Sandusky River recognized a good thing when he saw it. He lived in a village without a name, and when gold was discovered in California not far from where John Fremont was stationed, Rutherford suggested the little village along the Sandusky River where he had been practicing law for the last several years, be named after the famous mapmaker and soldier John C. Fremont.

August 20: The Blue Jacket and the Black Snake

By John Merrill

Blue Jacket had prepared his warriors for the advancing threat. Little Turtle had warned the younger Shawnee leader to be careful. Little Turtle knew this American general was different that the previous American generals he had fought and defeated. This general took his time. He was slow to move, but when he moved, he moved with purpose. Little Turtle could see many of his own battle scars in this aging warrior. He was nothing like the early ones. This one’s got teeth. The one was like a black snake that would take his time and wait for the right opportunity.

Blue Jacket believed this was the time to stop the liars before they spread. “We cannot trust the whites,” he had shouted before the council. “We can never trust them, anymore than we can trust the bear with our children. The white liars move across our land like squirrels devouring everything.” He knew Little Turtle was too old to fight again; he had his time and already proven his wisdom. This was Blue Jacket’s time.

The Shawnee leader had brought together more than 2000 brave warriors from all the Nations. They were the best, they were ready. The black snake could bite, but he had no venom—take the bite and cut the head off.

Blue Jacket’s scouts had already shouted their warning. The Black Snake was just a days march. They had prepared already for the days battle but the Black Snake had coiled back. Oh a sly one he is, this viper knows.

A days light had already been lost and the Black Snake had not yet appeared. A warrior scout came in and said they were making their fires, there would be no battle today. Tomorrow for sure. Another night of fasting. Was it too much to ask his warriors?

ran in and said the black snake is coming—no more than 500 advancing along the river. Blue Jacket brought his warriors together one last time.

“Today we take back our land. Today we stand as united warriors of the same blood. Today we kill this scourge that comes upon us. There will be no retreat. There will be no victory for our enemies,” Blue Jacket shouted in loud voice.

With that the warriors took careful cover behind a stand of thick trees that had been blow down earlier that spring when a tornado passed through. Their hunger pangs from fasting for the last several days were strong, but this coming battle would be worth the trouble

In Blue Jacket’s mind he must have believed this day would be a day his warriors achieved victory for themselves and for himself. The Americans would not be expecting them, the British fort was less than an hours walk north. They would be expecting the fight there, not here along the river.

Just as Blue Jacket had seen, the Americans came stumbling out of the tree line right in front of his warriors and as soon as they fired upon them, they ran like cowards back into the woods. His warriors had been victorious without a single casualty.

Blue Jacket pushed them to chase down the stupid Americans. “Kill them!” he shouted, “Kill them all!”

Blue Jacket’s alliance among the Nations was clearly winning the fight. It would be a glorious day.

No more than 30 minutes into the rout, a scout ran in and reported the Americans were flanking on both sides. How could this be? When Blue Jacket realized the black snake had five times more men than first reported, he knew the fight would be over quickly. Blue Jacket told his warriors to fall back to the British fort. He also asked his bravest men to stay and hold, kick the snake while they made their retreat. He knew those men would be bitten severely.

Blue Jacket could hear the heavy gun fire as they ran along the river bank and then it stopped. He knew his bravest warriors could stand up no longer. It was only a matter of time before the snake would start biting at the rest of his men. The British fort was his only recourse. Little Turtle’s words of warning echoed loudly in his ears.

A runner arrived with news from the fort: the British dogs had closed the gates. They would not open them to let Blue Jacket and his warriors inside. Another runner from the back said the snake was almost within striking distance. Blue Jacket ordered his men onward to the north.

The Americans did not attack the British fort, nor did they follow Blue Jacket. Instead they setup camp just west of the British fort known as Fort Miamis.

During the night the American General known as Mad Anthony Wayne, sent several groups of his men to reconnoiter the land around the fort and whether they were occupied or not, to destroy any villages and their crops they came upon. By morning the British commander could see the smoke lines drifting the early morning light.

Later that morning the British commander, Colonel Campbell, sent a flag of truce to Wayne’s camp asking his intentions. Wayne replied brusquely: “My intentions should be perfectly clear!”

However, General Wayne did not pursue Blue Jacket, nor did he attack the fort. He remained outside the fort for a few days more before retracing the trail they had blazed back to Camp Greene Ville.

With their crops destroyed, that winter would be a difficult one for the Nations. The British could not be depended upon neither on their word or their support. By the next spring Blue Jacket sent a messenger to the black snake asking for a treaty and food for his people. General Wayne replied for the Nations to meet with him and they would work out a treaty and he would feed his people.

That summer a treaty was agreed upon and peace was achieved. Blue Jacket would spend the rest of his days in silence and spoke no more about the black snake.

It was on this day in 1795, the Treaty of Greenville was signed by Blue Jacket and many of the Nations agreeing they would take up arms no more against the Americans. In 10 years though, another Shawnee leader named Tecumseh, who did not sign the treaty, would rise up and lead his people and the Nations against the Americans.

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