This week we take a look at the more tragic events of July 4th in Matamoras. The holiday seems to hold some degree of recklessness for the area. There are three years in particular that were especially evident of this inclination. Early in the 1850s on the eve of the celebration a large crowd ...

Mental health, substance use disorders, suicidal ideations, and other various behavioral health issues do not discriminate and effect people of all ages, race, socioeconomic backgrounds, gender, and religions. As the month of June comes to an end, it provides the opportunity to highlight ...

To my Millennial friends, Your social justice fervor has taken on a revolutionary hue, but not in a 1776 sense. Today looks more like 1789, in France. Or 1918, in Russia. Please listen to one of your own, Eric. Eric, a white prep-school educated son of civil servants, has described himself ...

Another enterprise in which C.C. Stover played a prominent role in the economy of Matamoras encompassed a fundamental change in industry. He early saw the proverbial “handwriting on the wall” and hitched his wagon onto the coming of the automobile age. The country was moving from horse ...

The pandemic has certainly changed the normal routine for many people, and youth have been especially effected. Taking classes online, at home, has brought about a distinct change in the amount of face-to-face interaction that young people have. With plans still unknown for the fall, many ...

The Stover leases were the center of oil development in the Matamoras fields. But those leases brought in numerous other oil operators who found the pay to be in quantities sufficient to maintain their presence in the area. Oil and gas were found in all directions from town. The Pure Oil ...

The Washington County Behavioral Health Board seeks to create effective education, prevention, treatment and recovery programs. To do this, our agency works supportively with a variety of community partners. Three of our current efforts involve law enforcement agencies. I am hopeful that by ...

Oil was found throughout the area of Matamoras for many years. But the real boom that was to place the town on the map began with the opening of the Sistersville, West Virginia field and its extensions. Wells were drilled all around including sites within the corporation limits. Cochran C. ...

In discussing the history of funeral homes in Matamoras reference was made to the early partnership of Robert H. Cunningham and William Kollmann in the joint venture of undertaking a furniture store. This partnership ended with Cunningham dealing exclusively in the funeral trade and William ...

“It’s Placemaking, not Place made. It’s a process. You are never finished.” This quote definitely underscores the philosophy of Marietta Main Street which brings people together to preserve, enhance, and enjoy downtown Marietta, Ohio. During these turbulent times fraught with COVID-19 ...

We fight for the education, health, and financial stability of an entire community. When we say that, it is actually what we mean, in the fullest, most sincere sense of the words. To some it might just sound like a warm and fuzzy statement. Some might hear that and think it is a lofty ...

You may have noticed that the marquee of this column is that of a standing World War I soldier. This is the logo of the Matamoras Area Historical Society and is considered the iconic statue of Matamoras. The doughboy stands on the corner of Broadway and Third Street and was dedicated on ...

Before the pandemic, when I was traveling and sitting in an airport waiting for my flight, I began talking with the person across from me at the gate. She asked where I was going and where I was from. When I mentioned that I was from Ohio, she exclaimed, “Ah, the State known for Cows and ...

In covering the history of banking last week reference was made to the First National Bank’s purchase of property at the corner of Main and Second Streets in 1911-1912. Prior to this date the site was the home and mortuary of Robert H. Cunningham. Prior to 1880 there was an enterprise of that ...

Eastern traditions have long recognized the physical and mental health benefits of practicing yoga. In fact, this ancient form of mind-body awareness has a framework that originates from the Yoga Sutras’, teachings that provide guidance on how to gain mastery over the mind and emotions. ...

In that the Peoples Savings Bank, the only bank in Matamoras, now stands on the site of the former “old” school, it is the proper time to turn this column’s attention to the history of banking in our town. There have been three banks in Matamoras and they all had their beginnings on the ...

With lightning speed, COVID-19 became an overwhelming influence in our lives. In January it was a virus in China, by February it was in the United States with a few sporadic cases, and by the middle of March we were closing restaurants and businesses and asking Ohioans to stay at home. The ...

With the decision to build Stover School Matamoras had made a substantial commitment in tax revenue. First a $50,000 bond issue was voted. Then another bond of $30,000 was added by an overwhelming vote of the people. Finally $20,000 more was provided. But the return on the investment was in ...

Little in my experience prepared me for a Pandemic. I am an engineer by training; thus, a student of science. I have high respect for the methods and principals within science. Of course, those methods and principals are applied by humans. Thus, show me the data and the evidence. ...

The start of construction for the new school of Matamoras on Broadway was an impressive ceremony. It was Saturday, June 11, 1892 and a cadence of muffled drums sounded. In the time-honored tradition of George Washington the cornerstone was laid by the Matamoras Masonic Lodge No. 374. The ...