History Salem, Ohio

1 history

1.1 origins , settlers
1.2 contributions american history
1.3 prosperity through industry
1.4 national recognition of historic resources

history

origins , settlers

salem founded pennsylvanian potter, john straughan, , new jersey clockmaker, zadok street, in 1806. name salem taken jerusalem , means city of peace .

early settlers city included religious society of friends (“quakers”), school system’s sports teams honor referring collectively quakers.

salem incorporated in 1830.

contributions american history

active in abolitionist movement of early- mid-19th century, salem acted hub american underground railroad, several homes serving “stations.” salem retains many of these homes, none open public @ present.

salem center reform activity in several ways. anti-slavery bugle, abolitionist newspaper, published in salem beginning in 1845. local group of progressive friends, association of quakers separated main body partly freer work such causes abolitionism , women s rights, formed in salem in 1849. local school board @ time composed entirely of abolitionists.

in april 1850, salem hosted first women s rights convention in ohio, third such convention in united states. (the first seneca falls convention of 1848; second rochester convention 2 weeks later.) salem convention first of these conventions organized on state-wide basis. of convention s officers women. men not allowed vote, sit on platform or speak during convention. male spectators supportive, however, , when convention over, created organization of own , endorsed actions of women s convention.

while radio dj alan freed born in johnstown, pennsylvania, grew in salem. while working @ radio station in cleveland, coined phrase rock & roll.

prosperity through industry

over history, salem thrived on industrial-based economy, advantageously located between cleveland , pittsburgh. several decades, largest corporations located in salem american standard, eljer, mullins manufacturing, deming pump , salem china. today, american standard , several tool-and-die manufacturers remain.

national recognition of historic resources

two sections of city designated national register historic districts: salem downtown historic district” (bounded vine avenue, ohio avenue, east pershing street, south ellsworth avenue, , sugar tree alley, designated 1995), , south lincoln avenue historic district (designated 1993), includes several of town’s monumental , architecturally distinctive homes.

other city properties listed on national register of historic places include: burchfield homestead (home charles burchfield ages 5 twenty-eight), daniel howell hise house (home of local quaker abolitionist , underground railroad station), (former) salem methodist episcopal church|first united methodist church of salem, , john street house (underground railroad station , home descendant of city founder).