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University Microfilms International 300 N. ZEEB ROAD, ANN ARBOR, Ml 48106 18 BEDFORD ROW, LONDON WC1 R 4EJ, ENGLAND 8001794

N ig h t in g a l e, T h o m a s W il l ia m

A HISTORY OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION, SPORT, RECREATION AND AMUSEMENT, IN , IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY

The Ohio State University Ph.D. 1979

University Microfilms International300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 18 Bedford Row, London WC1R 4EJ, England

Copyright 1979

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University Micrdnlms International 300 N. 2EE3 RD.. ANN ARBOR. Ml 48106 '313! 761-4700 A HISTORY OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION, SPORT, RECREATION AND

AMUSEMENT, IN CINCINNATI, OHIO IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY

DISSERTATION

Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University

By

Thomas W. Nightingale, B.S. in Ed., M.A.

*****

The Ohio State University

1979

Reading Committee: Approved By

Dr. Bruce L. Bennett, Chairman Dr. Barbara Nelson Dr. James Sweeney Adviser Department of Physical Education ACKNOWLEIXMM’S

The author wishes to express sincere appreciation and personal indebtedness to the following people: Dr. Bruce L. Bennett, advisor of the author for eight years, for his inspiration, encouragement and guidance throughout the study; Dr. Barbara Nelson and Dr. James Sweeney for their important advisory roles in the shaping and molding of this study; and Dr. Andrew Breiner for his assistance in providing input to the study.

A special thanks is extended to the Cincinnati Historical

Society and its staff for making their facility and resources open and available to me.

Sincere gratitude is expressed to my in-laws, Mr. & Mrs. Leo

Backscheider, for providing lodging and meals in Cincinnati which made the completion of this study much easier.

A sincere thanks is also extended to Margpret Coffey for her skillful preparation of this manuscript.

Finally, the most grateful appreciation is extended to my wife,

Jean, and my daughter, , for their encouragement and understanding during the preparation of this dissertation. I dedicate this work to them, to my father, and to my high school coach, Gus Koch, who started me on this physical education trail. VITA

November 20, 19^5 Born - Utica,

1 9 6 7 ...... B .S. in Education Cincinnati, Ohio

1967-1969 .... Teacher and Coach Lockland City Schools Lockland, Ohio

1969-1970 .... Teacher and Coach Little Falls Central School Little Falls, New York

1973 ...... M.A., The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio

1970-1976 .... Teacher and Coach Adirondack Central School Boonville, New York

1576-1978 .... Teaching Associate Department of Physical Education The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio

157S-1979 .... Assistant Principal Westland High School Galloway, Ohio

FIELDS OF STUDY

Major Field:1 Physical Education Educational Administration Advisor: Dr. Bruce L. Bennett

Minor Field: History

iii TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......

VITA ......

Chapter

I . INTRODUCTION ......

Statement Of The Problem - Purpose . . . Limitations ...... Study Design ...... Related Literature ...... Methodology ...... Treatment of Data ...... Presentation of the Data ...... Sources of Data ......

II. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EARLY CINCINNATI PRIOR TO 1900 ......

Transportation ...... The People of Cincinnati ...... Industry ...... Religion ...... Cincinnati Firsts ......

III. RECREATION AND AMUSEMENT IN NINETEENTH CENTURY CINCINNATI ......

Dancing ...... Billiards ...... Foot Races ...... Pig Riding ...... Private Parties ...... Ice Skating ...... Fishing ...... S w i m m i n g ...... Boating ...... Shooting ...... Feminine Involvement ...... Croquet ...... Cycling ...... Bowling ...... G o l f ...... V

T e n n i s ...... 53 ...... 59 Football...... 60 .Amusement Parks and Public Establishments . . . 62 Gymnasium and Athletic Clubs ...... 65

IV. SPECTATOR S P O R T ...... 69

Balloon Ascensions...... 69 Horse Racing ...... 77 Sparring Exhibitions...... 83 Boat and Swimming R a c e s ...... 85 Exhibitions...... 86 Other Athletic Contests ...... 89

V. THE GERMAN ELEMENT...... 92

Turners and T u m v e r e i n s ...... 94 Tumerbund ...... 97 Cincinnati ...... 100 Schuetzenplatz.- Schuetzenverein ...... 109

VI. PHYSICAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTION INTHE SCHOOLS . . Il4

Early ...... Il4 Catherine B e e c h e r ...... 117 The 1838 Me eting...... 121 Instruction In The Cincinnati Schools - The Turner Influence...... 123

VII. PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND ATHLETICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI...... 1^9

Other Educational Institutions ...... 151 The University of Cincinnati...... 153 Early Interests In Sports And G a m e s ...... 153 Baseball...... 155 Football...... 157 Track And F i e l d ...... 162 ...... 165 Organizing the Athletic P r o g r a m ...... 166 The Gymnasium Associ a t i o n ...... 170 A Program and Direction ...... 173

VIII. THE CINCINNATI GYMNASIUM AND ATHLETIC CLUB .... 178

Early History ...... 178 Athletic Grounds...... 185 Instructional C l a s s e s ...... 186 Gymnastic Exhibitions ...... 191 Gymnasium Boat C l u b ...... 196 Gymnasium Cycle C l u b ...... 202 Gymnasium Baseball C l u b ...... 203 Gymnasium Football...... 207 vi

IX. THE NATIONAL GAME IN CINCINNATI...... 212

Early History ...... 212 The Undefeated T e a m ...... 225 American Association Affiliation ...... 237

X. A FINAL LOOK AT THE QUEEN C I T Y ...... 249

Geography ...... 249 Cincinnati Settlers - The Germans...... 249 Transportation Systems ...... ' 250 The Business and Industrial Nature of the City. . 253 Educational Opportunities ...... 254 Cincinnati vs. New O r l e a n s ...... 255 Summary...... 259

APPENDIXES

A. LIST OF MEMBERS OF ORIGINAL CINCINNATI BASEBALL c l u b , 1866 TO 1 8 7 1...... 262

B. BASEBALL CONTRACT...... 266

BIBLIOGRAPHY ...... 269 Chapter One

INTRODUCTION

The nineteenth century in the proved to be a period

of time when physical education, sport, and recreation advanced to new heights. Cities such as , New York and became leading

centers of physical activity. As the nineteenth century progressed

towards its midpoint, a fourth city, this time in the midwest, began to

surface as another leader of physical activity - Cincinnati, Ohio. Many

of the contributions that emerged from this city, proved to

have lasting and national significance. Unfortunately, Cincinnati has

failed to receive the recognition she so rightly deserves.

From her early beginnings, Cincinnati has always been a city of

activity. When the activity wasn't political or industrial in nature,

it was usually social or recreational. A typical Cincinnatian of the

early l800s was one who attended balls and parties, enjoyed sleighing

and skating, rode horseback in the country, and sailed on the Ohio River.

Such amusements and recreational pursuits were to continue throughout

the nineteenth century.

Sport and amusement from a spectator standpoint, were to become

extremely popular in Cincinnati by the early l800s. Balloon ascensions

aroused such spectator interest that it was not uncommon for an ascen­

sion to attract thousands of people. One ascension attracted a crowd

estimated to be greater than forty thousand people. Other activities

1 such as horseracing, hall games, menageries, and wild animal shows at­ tracted many thousands of spectators. Such spectator interest managed to survive the nineteenth century and has remained strong throughout the current century.

The "German element" of Cincinnati cannot go without heing men­ tioned as having contributed significantly to the overall "" of Cincinnati. It was Cincinnati, in 1848, that established the first Turnverein in the United States. With the steady influx of

Geiman settlers to the Ohio River area came their habits and social customs. The Turnverein, having been originally established in Germany under Jahn, was one such institution. A second German custom to be established was the shooting club or schuetzenverein. Cincinnati was to have the honor of having one of the finest schuetzenvereins in the country. Although the club itself was rather short lived, the spirit and ideals were to be carried on by individuals and groups well into the twentieth century. So popular were the various clubs of the 1890s that weekly articles appeared in the local newspapers.

Of major significance to the physical culture movement of

Cincinnati was the establishment of the Cincinnati Gymnasium in 1853-

This association, which was to become known as the Cincinnati Gymnasium and Athletic Club, prospered throughout the second half of the nine­

teenth century. The club became famous for its spectator programs

which included such events as wrestling, sparring, rope climbing, high

jumping, and running, to mention but a few. Unlike many of the other

large cities during this time, Cincinnati was to bear witness to few,

if any, problems between the Athletic Club and the rival Turners. A sporting would not he complete without some mention of the immortal : the first pro- fessional baseball team. The establishment of this team was to have national, as well as international significance. This team provided the "blueprint" from which other professional teams were to be orga­ nized. The records and accomplishments of this first professional team, as well as subsequent teams, have meant much to the professional base­ ball world.

Physical education instruction in the schools is the one signif­

icant area that has probably received the least amount of attention, at

least from a historian's standpoint. Little has been written about

the efforts that Cincinnati made in this area during the nineteenth

century. Beginning with Catherine Beecher, we find an individual who

was deeply committed to this ideal: physical education instruction in

the schools. While in Cincinnati, she was responsible for the founding

of the Western Female Institute (1833) where calisthenics were a part

of the regular program of instruction. In addition, she was one of the

leading advocates, along with Dio Lewis, for the inclusion of physical

education in the public schools. This influence was felt in other

cities in addition to Cincinnati.

From the public school standpoint, physical culture, or physical

education, got its start in the late 1850s. In i860 it was made an

integral part of the curriculum. During the 1870s, the financial back­

ing gave way which ultimately lead to its removal from the curriculum.

In 1892 with the help of the Turners, physical education was once again

established as a legitimate part of the curriculum. 4

To say that Cincinnati, Ohio was a physical activity "center"

would he somewhat of an understatement. Her contributions, in the form

of significant occurrences and developments, appears to be unending.

' This introduction has done nothing more than "scratch the surface."

Only the most significant and broad contributions have been presented.

Statement Of The Problem - Purpose

This study attempts to trace the history of physical education,

sport, amusements, and recreational pursuits of Cincinnati in the nine­

teenth century. The period of time from 1788, when Cincinnati was found­

ed, to 1800, will be included for background purposes only. Every effort

will be made to present significant events and occurrences.

The writer feels that there is a definite need for this history

inasmuch as no other piece of research has been completed which traces

the historical development of physical education, sport, amusements,

and recreational pursuits in Cincinnati.

Specific purposes of the study include the following:

1. This study will report in a clear and precise manner "what

happened" in Cincinnati during the nineteenth century with regard to

physical education, sport, amusement, and recreation.

2. This study will identify significant events, institutions,

agencies, and individuals that are important to this topic.

3. It appears rather obvious that Cincinnati has contributed

a great deal in terms of significant events and occurrences that have

proved to have national importance, in some cases, as well as local

importance. Why did all of these occurrences and events take place

in Cincinnati - a city so remotely removed from the thriving metropolitan areas of New York, Boston, , and ?

This study will attempt to answer this most interesting and significant question.

4. It is hoped that this study will stimulate further research.

Perhaps additional work may be done with Cincinnati during more recent times (twentieth century). This study may also serve as a basic model from idaich research on other cities may be attempted. Some additional

cities that might be included would be Boston, Philadelphia, Kansas City,

San Francisco, and St. Louis.

Limitations

1. This study will be limited to the "greater Cincinnati area"

as geographically defined during the nineteenth century. This will

include suburban Cincinnati communities such as Norwood, Reading, Glen­

dale, Lockland, etc. It will also include neighboring communities in

Kentucky separated from Cincinnati by the Ohio River.

2. This study will be limited to the nineteenth century except

for illustrative and background informational purposes.

3. This study will be limited to the study of physical educa­

tion, sport, amusement, and recreational pursuit. It will include the

various sports and games that were to be found actively being pursued

in the Turner Halls, gymnasiums, on the sport fields, and in other es­

tablishments. Spectator sports such as horseracing and ballooning will

also be included. Theatrical performances, card playing, gambling,

and saloon activities will be excluded. Study Design

The study will be a chapter-by-chapter presentation of the signif­

icant occurrences and events that took place in Cincinnati during the

nineteenth century. Topics to be included will be:

1. Early Cincinnati prior to 1900 - an overview of the Queen

City before the twentieth century.

2. Recreation and Amusement in Nineteenth Century Cincinnati -

a survey of the various recreation and amusement activities that were

pursued by Cincinnatians.

3. Spectator Sport - a look at sport and amusement from a spec­

tator standpoint.

4. The German Element - the influence and effect that the

Germans had on physical education, sport and recreation in Cincinnati.

5. Physical Education Instruction in the Schools - the develop­

ment of required physical education instruction in the Cincinnati schools.

6. Physical Education and Athletics at the University of

Cincinnati - the development of physical education and athletics at the

University during the nineteenth century.

7. The Cincinnati Gymnasium and Athletic Club - a nineteenth

century history of the Gymnasium and Athletic Club. This club ranked

with the best in the country.

8. The National Game - a history of professional baseball as

played in the Queen City by the nation's first professional team.

9. A Pinal Look At The Queen City - a concluding chapter that will

look at the reasons why Cincinnati made so many significant contributions.

A comparison to New Orleans will also be made. 7

Related Literature

In searching the literature, I came across one work that is simi­ lar in nature to this study: The Rise of : 185O-19OO by Dale Somers. This work has proved to be most valuable with regard to topics covered and basic study design.

The bulk of the data was gathered from local histories, news­ papers, manuscript material, periodicals, and other primary and secondary

sources. Some of the more important sources include:

1. Baseball In Cincinnati by Harry Ellard (a history of Cincin­

nati baseball prior to 1907)•

2. The University of Cincinnati by Reginald C. McGrane (a history

of the University of Cincinnati).

3. A History of the Schools of Cincinnati by John B. Shotwell.

4. "Baseball's Immortal Red Stockings" by Lee Allen.

5. "Richard Clayton - Aeronaut" by Maurer Maurer.

6. "The Germans of Cincinnati" by Carl Wittke.

Methodology

Three major processes were involved in applying the historical

method:

1. The collection of data from primary and secondary sources.

2. A criticism of the collected data.

3. The presentation of the facts.

Treatment of Data

Information and data that was gathered was carefully analyzed

to determine what was pertinent to the study and what was not. Careful 8 consideration was given to the genuineness of the source of the data, the localization of the source, and the independence of the source.

Materials gathered were examined and classified according to the major areas considered.

Presentation of the Data

The facts and findings of this study are presented in disserta­ tion form and are well-documented by footnotes. After this basic intro­ duction, the materials are presented in a chapter format. Every effort was made to give unity to the study which included a mass of details.

The author has attempted to keep the study free from any bias. His basic aim was to present the facts as the data revealed them.

Sources of Data

1. The Cincinnati Historical Society: this source provided the bulk of the data for the study. Valuable primary sources are housed here including materials on the Cincinnati Public Schools, the Cincinnati

Gymnasium and Athletic Club, and professional baseball as played in

Cincinnati. The Society also has a very valuable newspaper collection which is available for research purposes.

2. The University of Cincinnati Library: provided valuable

resources and information about physical education and athletics at the

University of Cincinnati.

3. The Library: this library provided valuable

local information especially with regard to Xavier.

4. The Cincinnati Public Libraries: this library has an excellent

collection of local histories. 5. The Ohio State University library: valuable local and state histories were utilized from this source.

6. The Worthington Public Library: a copy of Harlow1 s The Serene

Cincinnatians was obtained from this library.

7. The Ohio Historical Society: valuable local and state histories plus an excellent newspaper collection was utilized.

8. The Cincinnati Board of Education Office: provided information about the Cincinnati Public Schools.

9. The Inc.: detailed information about the Reds and the Red Stockings.

10. Personal interviews and conversations: a conversation with the late provided insight about early professional baseball in

Cincinnati. An informal conversation with Dr. William Schwarberg, Assis­

tant Athletic Director at the University of Cincinnati, provided insight

into athletics and physical education at the University. Chapter Two

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EARLY CINCINNATI PRIOR TO 1900

Cincinnati, Ohio is a city that is located on the north bank of the Ohio River approximately halfway between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where the river begins, and Cairo, Illinois, where the river ends. It

can be found in the extreme southwestern portion of the State in Hamil­

ton County. It Is approximately miles from New York, 610 miles

from the nation's capital in Washington, 300 miles from and St.

Louis, 250 miles from Cleveland, and 110 miles from the state's capital

of Columbus.

Cincinnati was originally part of the that

was created in 1784. By 1787 the section of the Territory that was to

eventually become Cincinnati was recognized by many as having great

future potential. Its climate, soil and exemption from slavery would

attract settlers. This area was especially attractive to Col. John

Cleves Symmes of . In 1787 Symmes, a member of the Colonial

Congress and a man of wealth and education, contracted with the Colonial

Government for the famous Symmes or Miami Purchase. He purchased an

area that was nearly 6,000,000 acres in size. The area was bounded on

the West by the , on the South by the Ohio River, on

the East by the , and on the North by a line drawn

east and west between the two Miami Rivers somewhere near the present

10 11 day Lebanon, Ohio in Warren County.'*' The area represented almost all of the present Hamilton County. The land was purchased by Symmes for l6 2/3 2 cents per acre. It later sold for one dollar an acre.

The first settlement in the area was made east of Cincinnati near the present site of Lunken airport. It was here on November l8, 1788,

that twenty-six persons pulled their flatboats out of the river and

founded the community of Columbia. Included in the twenty-six settlers

were four women and two children. This area near the mouth of the Little 4 Miami River, had been purchased from Symmes by Benjamin Stites.

The actual area of the Purchase where Cincinnati was to be founded

was purchased from Symmes in 1788 by Mathias Denman, who was also from

New Jersey. According to the contract of sale, "the land was simply

described as located as nearly as possible opposite the mouth of the 5 , for the survey had not yet been completed."

Denman felt that this area opposite the Licking River, would make

an excellent site for a settlement. Together with Col. Robert Patterson,

a popular frontiersman, and , a surveyor, the area was explored.

According to Wilby, "Filson, who had been a school teacher, proposed to

call the future town Losantiville, a barbarous compound of Greek, Latin,

and French, indicating, or supposed to indicate, that it was the 'town

opposite the mouth,' that is, the mouth of the Licking."^ This name

■'‘Joseph Wilby, "Early Cincinnati," Ohio Archaeological Histori- cal Publications, XIV (1905), p. 449. 2 Luke Feck, Yesterday's Cincinnati (Miami: E. A. Seemann Pub. Co., 1975), p. 11.

^Ibid. \ilby, op. cit., p. 451. ^Ibid, p. 449. ^Ibid, p. 450. 12 was to remain until General Arthur St. Clair changed it to Cincinnati in honor of that organization of Revolutionary War Officers called the

Society of Cincinnati. St. Clair felt that Losantiville was a dreadful name. The name was changed in 1790-

On December 29, 1788, the first inhabitants arrived at Losanti­ ville, landing at a point that was to be known as Yeatman's Cove, now at the foot of Sycamore Street. There were no women or children among these first settlers. This landing at Yeatman's Cove may be considered the 7 official beginning of Cincinnati.

A third settlement was established in February of 1789 when

Symmes himself arrived in the area. Symmes decided to establish his

settlement at the northern most sweep in the Ohio River, near where the

Great Miami River flows into the Ohio. The settlement was known as

North Bend. Symmes felt confident that this settlement would eventually g become the center of the Northwest Territory.

With three settlements established, the Federal Government felt

that a fort should be built to provide protection against Indian raids.

The fort would encourage settlers to come to this new territory. Fort

Washington, as it was called, was built at the Cincinnati site, although

it was originally slated to be built at North Bend. The fort served its

purpose until 1803 when it was abandoned. It was destroyed in 1808.^

7 8 Q Ibid, p. 451. Feck, op. cit., p. 11. yIbid, p. 12. 13

TRANSPORTATION

The Ohio River was, from the beginning, the great highway for

travel and commerce. The whole focus of Cincinnati was centered around

the river. Flatboats brought early settlers down the river loaded down

with their personal belongings. Upon arrival, boats were often dismantled

with the lumber used to construct cabins. 10

The flatboats soon gave way to keelboats and finally to steamboats.

Both types of boats had the distinct advantage over flatboats in that they

could be propelled upstream against the current. The riverboat era was

officially launched in l8ll when the steamboat New Orleans took to the

water. The riverboat era was responsible for Cincinnati growing faster

than any other inland city and prospering as no one would have believed.

Cincinnati entered into the steamboat building industry and was building

a boat each week by the 1870s . 11

The riverboat era was responsible for the booming of the levee.

Ragtown, as Cincinnati was called because of the amount of rags used by

early paper manufacturers, could often be found with from ten to twenty

steamboats docked along the levee. Produce and pork, paper and furniture

were shipped from the levee to various points throughout the heartland of 12 America via the steamboat and the river.

In 1827 the first leg of the was opened from

Cincinnati to Dayton. The canal was later coupleted from Dayton to

Toledo on Lake Erie. This canal opened markets in central Ohio and

10Ibid. 1]Tbid, p. 1 3 . 12Ibid. f 14 later markets in New York and Pennsylvania. The canal and the Ohio River 13 made Cincinnati a gateway for southern trade.

The Ohio River and the Miami and Erie Canal were to retain their importance until the l880s when the slender rail replaced the winding waterways. According to Feck, "La Belle Riviere, which had made Cincin- 14 nati what it was, gave way to the steam locomotive."

Ohio's first railroad corporation was chartered in 1830 and was known as the Ohio and Steubenville. The road, however, was never con­ structed. Between 1830 and 1840 twenty-four railroads were chartered with but one actually being built. The first railroad to actually be put into operation was the Kalamazoo and Erie which ran from Toledo to Adrian,

Michigan. This railroad was finished in 1836. The most important of the early rail lines was the Mad River and Lake Erie which ran from

Springfield to Sandusky. At Springfield, the line connected with the

Little Miami railroad which ran to Cincinnati. The combination of the two lines gave Ohio rail transportation from Lake Erie to the Ohio River by l848.15

Railroads proved to be more costly to build in Ohio than was at first estimated. The cost, coupled with the fact that the funds were difficult to obtain, meant slow progress in the building of railroads in

Ohio. By 1850 Ohio had but three hundred miles of railway. By i860, after ten great years of construction, the total number of miles of railway in Ohio had increased to about 3,000. The Civil War brought

^Ibid, pp. 13-14. ^Ibid, p. 43.

■''^Eugene H. Roseboom and Francis P. Weisenburger, A History of Ohio (Columbus: The Ohio Historical Society, 1969), p. 221. 15 about a considerable slow down in railway building. By 1870 the mileage had increased by only four hundred miles. Another boom in railway build­

ing occurred from 1870 to 1880. By 1880 Ohio had 5S654.62 miles of rail- 16 way.

By the end of the nineteenth century, Cincinnati had become an

important railway center. Her location made her the most important rail

link to the South. In addition to her national significance as a rail

center, Cincinnati had also solved sane of her own local transportation

problems with the building of short line railways and inclined railways.

Some of the local endeavors included the Cincinnati and Westwood Railroad,

the College Hill Railroad, and the Columbia and Cincinnati Street Railroad.

THE PEOPLE OF CINCINNATI

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, Cincinnati had a

population of 750, all of whom lived in log cabins. This marked a 250

person increase over the 1795 population which had stood at 500. By

1802 when the town was incorporated, the population stood at SOO.1^

From its very beginning, the city's location was an advantage

that would mean rapid population growth. The city was to become a great

focal point of emigration to the west. The great river flowing by its

door was to be the real key that was to endure until the railroads took

over. Immigrants would come thick and heavy from practically every

eastern state with Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Connecticut leading the

l6T. . , Ibid. 17 "The Queen City Of The West," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, September 4, 1898, p. 2 9. l6 way. Packet boats, keelboats, flatboats and barges brought the people l8 down the river along with their worldly belongings.

Population figures recorded after 1800 were as f(

1805 - 960 1832 - 28,014

1810 - 2,320 1833 - 27,645

1813 - 4 ,000 1835 - 29,000

1815 - 6,000 1839 - 42,500

1820 - 9,602 i84o - 46,338

1824 - 12,016 1850 - 115,400

1826 - 15,540 1870 - 216,239

1829 - 22,148 1880 - 256,000

1830 - 24,831 1890 - 297,000

1831 - 26,071 1900 - 325,000

These population figures are most informative and clearly show how rapid the growth was during the nineteenth century. The figures reveal that the population more than doubled from l8l0 to 1815; doubled from 1815 to 1824; doubled from 1824 to 183O; nearly doubled from 1830 to 1840; more than doubled from 1840 to 185O; and nearly doubled from

1850 to 1870. Cincinnati's population of 1880 made it the sixth largest city in the country.

■*'^Rev. Charles Frederic Goss, Cincinnati: The Queen City 1788- 1912 (Cincinnati: S. J. Clarke, Vol. II, 1912), pp. 92, 9 8.

^ T h e Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, September 4, 1898, p. 2 9.

22kaurice F. Neufeld, "Three Aspects of the Economic Life of Cincinnati from 1815 to 1840," The Ohio State Archaeological and Histori­ cal Quarterly, XLIV (January, 1935), P* 68.

21Feck, op. cit., p. 31. 17

Cincinnati1s fantastic growth during the nineteenth century wasn't solely due to transplanted Americans. In fact, a fairly sizable number of Cincinnati's people proved to be foreign bom, predominantly

European. Of this group, the Germans made up the largest segnent. Most of the Germans who came to the United States during this time were plain people; peasants, laborers, or craftsmen, who were motivated primarily by the desire to get ahead in a new and free land. The group of German immi­ grants also included men of education, culture, and social status. Politi­ cal refugees of the abortive German revolutions of 1830 and 1848 were also part of the total German movement. According to Harlow, "from 1825 to

183O onward, the German immigration outstripped all others, with the Irish 22 in second place, though far behind the Germans." By 1840 Cist reported that 3,440 Cincinnati citizens had been b o m in the Germanic states with pO a total of 28 percent of the population being of German background. . By 2Zj. 1880 Germans made up 6l percent of all foreign b o m residents.

Many of the first German settlers were attracted to the Ohio

Valley because it reminded them of the Rhine Valley. Many of their cus­ toms and habits were soon common practice - grape growing, music or song

fests, tavern amusements, and athletic feats. Even a section of the city became the German section and was known appropriately as the "Over the

Rhine" area. Some of the more prominent early German citizens included:

22 Alvin F. Harlow, The Serene Cincinnatians (New York: E. P. Dutton, 1950), p. 39*

^Ibid, p. 182. 24 Zane L. Miller, "Cincinnati: A Bicentennial Assessment," The Cincinnati Historical Society Bulletin, XXXIV (Winter, 1976), p. 243. 18

David Ziegler: first German citizen and first president or mayor of the village.

Martin Baum: first banker and industrialist.

Harry Zumalt: early commander of a Cincinnati military regiment. 25 : important citizen and grape producer.

The Irish on the other hand, were motivated to come to the United

States for several different reasons. According to Wittke:

A series of fruitless rebellions, ruthlessly suppressed; a succession of famines in a land where the masses lived perilously near the margin of subsistence even in good times; restrictive legislation which handcuffed economic progress; the abuses of absentee landlordism; unemployment, low wages, high rents, periodic disease, intermittent civil war, and perennial agrarian, political, and religious quarrels - all these constitute such an indictment of Irish affairs that little more need be said to ex­ plain the tide of emigration . . .26

Although the Irish never challenged the Germans for foreign supremacy in Cincinnati, they did provide the city with some outstanding individuals. In 1850 the Irish made up 12 percent of Cincinnati's popula­ tion. By 1880 Irish immigrants represented 21 percent of the city's 27 foreign b o m population. Some of the more important Irish stalwarts included:

David Sinton: iron manufacturer, capitalist and philanthropist.

Thomas P. Egan: wood working machinery.

James Heekin: first in coffee and spices, then builder of one of the biggest tin can companies.

^Harlow, op, cit., pp. l8l-l82. 26 Carl Wittke, The Irish In America (Baton Rouge: State University Press, lybb), p. 4. 27 Miller, op. cit., pp. 234, 243. 19

Robert Mitchell: established an enormous furniture factory.

Thomas Sherlock: steamboat magnate. 28 Henry and Samuel Pogue: great dry good merchants.

In addition to Germany and Ireland, several other European coun­ tries also contributed

Austria, England, Scotland, Wales, and Holland, to mention but a few, all made their contributions to Cincinnati's future. The English represented

4 percent of Cincinnati's population in 1850. ^

The Blacks and Jews also contributed to Cincinnati's population. OQ According to Dabney, "there were no Negroes in Hamilton County in 1800."

The real exodus of free Negroes and fugitives from the South to the North­ west Territory began after 1815. From 1815 to 1840, the Blacks repre- Q] sented from 4 to 5 percent of the total population. They could be found living in the Black slum area called "Bucktown." By 1850 there were 3 5237 Blacks in Cincinnati. By 1900 this number had increased to

14,482. The Jews, on the other hand, were wealthy people who established their own synagogues, schools, hospital, clubs, and societies. By 1858 OO there were approximately 6,000 Jews in Cincinnati.

INDUSTRY

The first real factory in Cincinnati was a pottery factory where

earthenware was manufactured. This factory began operation in October of

2^Harlow, op. cit., pp. 39-40. 2%iller, op. cit., p. 234.

^^endell P. Dabney, Cincinnati's Colored Citizens (New York: Negro Universities Press, 1970)3 p. 31-

^Neufeld, op. cit., pp. 70-71. ^Harlow, op. cit., pp. 41-42. 20 33 1799 under the ownership and direction of William McFarland.

The Cincinnati area was ideal for industry and manufacturing.

The Ohio River provided the necessary main artery of transportation. In later years, the river was to eventually take a back seat to the railroad.

The area was also fortunate to have important inland waterways that flowed into the Ohio River. Waterways such as the Great Miami River, little

Miami River, licking fiver, Millcreek, and Deer Creek provided the necessary water supplies needed in industry. The Miami and Erie Canal was also to prove to be an important transportation artery for industry.

Cincinnati was rather unique in that much of her early industry and manufacturing was directly related to European immigrants. In fact, there was no other city in the country where European immigrants made so vast a contribution to the upbuilding of business and industry as they 34 did in Cincinnati. Some of the more important European immigrants who enhanced Cincinnati's industrial picture included:

John Bartle: a French merchant.

Thomas Emery: an Englishman whose business endeavors was candles and lard oil.

William Proctor: an Englishman who started his own candle factory; he eventually went in with James Gamble to form the world's largest soap

company.

John Brunswick: a Swiss who created the world's biggest billiard-

table factory.

Frederick Lunkenheimer: a German known as a copper, brass and

bronze founder.

OO 04 “’Goss, op. cit., p. 327* Harlow, op. cit., p. 38. 21

Philip Heidelbach: a German, #10 along with others, helped make

Cincinnati the nation's greatest men's clothing producer.

Rudolph Wurlitzer: a Saxon who founded a musical instrument house.

Charles and Maximilian Fleischmann: distillers from Hungary.

Robert Laidlaw: pump manufacturer and philanthropist from Scot­ land. 33

Another reason for Cincinnati's fantastic success in industry and business was the steamboat. During the steamboat age, Cincinnati exper- ienced phenomenal economic and commercial expansion. By 1825 Cincinnati had become the steamboat capital of the Ohio Valley, and by mid-century, it was the economic capital of the entire West.

By 1850 Cincinnati was the largest inland port in the nation. She was the world's leading pork producer; the nation's leading beer and liquor producer; the main candle, soap, shoe, furniture, stove, and boat manufac­ turer in the West; and the principal printing center of the West. In 1859

Charles Cist was able to report with but slight exaggeration that "with the exception of Philadelphia, Cincinnati is probably the most extensive 17 manufacturing city in the United States."Jl During the remainder of the nineteenth century, Cincinnati experienced a decline in her importance as an industrial giant. This could be attributed to her poor location with pespect to iron ore and coke deposits which prevented her from becoming an important iron and steel city. Another reason for her decline was the

35Ibid, pp. 38-39.

Louis Leonard Tucker, "Cincinnati: Athens of the West 183O-I86I," Ohio History, LXXV (Winter, 1966), p. 16.

3 ^Ibid, pp. 16-17. 2 2 fact that the major meat packers had moved West. Cities such as Chicago n Q and Cleveland were to surpass Cincinnati in industrial importance.

RELIGION

Religiously speaking, Cincinnati served as a melting pot through­ out the nineteenth century. In l84l there were only two Catholic Churches in the city compared to some 38 Protestant Churches. With the steady influx of German and Irish immigrants, Catholicism began to grow and spread rapidly. (There was, however, evidence that a great number of the German citizens were not Catholic.) Converts became more frequent and added to the growing numbers. In 1829 alone, there had been one 39 hundred and fifty converts from Protestantism to Catholicism. The

struggle between Protestants and Catholics was to eventually become political in nature by mid century.

As was mentioned earlier, the Jews also played an important part

in Cincinnati's early history. The first Jew to arrive in Cincinnati was

a watchmaker from England by the name of Joseph Jonas who came in 1817.

Their numbers increased throughout the first half of the nineteenth

century. The first Jewish service was held in Cincinnati in 1819. All

of the early Jews that arrived were English born until 1830 when some of

the German and Dutch Jews began arriving. From the beginning, according

to Harlow, "there seemed little or no prejudice; Jew and Gentile mingled 40 harmoniously in business, benevolence and politics.

TRoseboom, op. cit., p. 217. ^%arlow, op. cit., p. 43.

^Harlow, op. cit., p . 4l 23

CINCINNATI FIRSTS

Cincinnati, during the nineteenth century, was a city on the move.

She was not content to sit back and follow the leadership of other major cities. Instead, taking her own initiative, she continued to explore

"unwalked" paths for more than a century. As a result, Cincinnati has been credited with a number of "firsts." The exact number of accomplish­ ments is somewhat unclear. It does, however, appear that she has been credited with a number that can be said to be "more than her share," es­ pecially for such a young inland city. Some of the more important "firsts" that were accomplished in Cincinnati include:

1. the first Jewish Theological College in America: 1855, Zion

College which was to become Hebrew Union College.

2 . the first building in history to be erected as a dental college.

3 . the first air mail carried out of the city by a balloon: this was achieved by Richard Clayton on July 4, 1835.

4. the first truly successful fire engine: this was built and put into service in 1853-

5. the first salaried fire department: established in 1853 twelve years before New York gave up its volunteers.

6. the first railroad club car for suburban commuters: started

in 1864.

7- the first after-theatre train for suburbanites: started in

1876.

8. the first annual municipal exposition in America: the first of a long series of expositions opened in September of 1870 in the Sanger- fest Hall opposite Washington Park. It lasted for 28 days. 24

9. the first Turnverein in America: established in 1848.

10. the first salaried baseball team in history: the 1869 Cincin­ nati Red Stockings.

1 1 . the first and only major railroad in the world to be built and owned by a municipality: the Cincinnati Southern railroad was built by the city of Cincinnati for $20,000,000. The railroad was completed in

1879 and connected Cincinnati with Chattanooga. The first trains operated in February 1880.

1 2 . the first large city to adopt the city plan of govern- 1 4l ment: Clarence 0. Sherrill became the first city manager in 1924.

SUMMARY

From its early beginning as a small settlement of log cabins at the river's edge, Cincinnati was to experience fantastic growth during the nineteenth century. By 1828 she was a city of some 20,000 inhabitants

with the following establishments: 13 churches; a theatre; a public hospital; a medical college; an endowed public grammar school; 3 female 42 seminaries; an art school; nine newspapers; and many small factories.

By mid-century, the census recorded 115,000 inhabitants, more

than three times what it had been twenty years earlier. Times were good

for citizens as increasing riches continued to be spread among the lot.

According to DeChambrun, "more persons owned their homes than elsewhere;

there was less pauperism. Factories expanded not through the cut-throat

Harlow, op. cit., p. 11. 42 William H. Hindreth, "Mrs. Trollope In Porkopolis," The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly. LVIII (January, 1949), pp. 38-37- 25 system of creating new and more modem equipment to put the neighbor out of business, but grew naturally as a tree does when it throws out branches."

By the close of the century, Cincinnati's population was pushing the 300,000 figure. She was the sixth largest city in the country and was truly one of the nation's most important industrial and cultural centers. She had the largest soap factory in the country, the largest playing card factory, trunk factory, tannery, tube and pipe works, ladies' shoe factory, harness and saddlery works, planting ink plant, theatrical publishing house, and office furniture factory. She encompassed some

35i square miles including the newly added sections of Clifton, Avondale, 44 and Westwood. She was a city on the move; a city that had established itself on a firm basis during the nineteenth century.

As we shall see in subsequent chapters, Cincinnati had deep love and respect for leisure activity. Recreation, amusement, sport, and physical culture in general, played important roles in Cincinnati's nine­ teenth century history. It was a city of activity where both spectator and participant were welcome. Cincinnati was to become a nineteenth century leader in many aspects of sport, amusement, recreation, and physi­ cal culture. The remaining pages will provide insight as to the how and why of Cincinnati's leadership in this area.

43 Clara Longworth DeChambrun, Cincinnati: Story of The Queen City (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1939)5 P* 1^9- 44 Peck, op. cit., p. 53* Chapter Three

RECREATION AND AMUSEMENT IN NINETEENTH CENTURY CINCINNATI

The nineteenth century Cincinnatians were energetic and fun lov­ ing people. They took their recreation and amusement seriously and en­ gaged in various forms on a frequent basis. Individual activities were by far, the most popular. Some of the more popular activities included shooting, fishing, cycling, bowling, ice skating, and sleighing, to mention but a few. In later years, and tennis were to become popular. Team sport participation was somewhat limited with baseball and football being the more popular sports. Family amusement and enter­ tainment frequently centered around some form of commercial establishment.

Some of the more popular amusement centers included the Lagoon, Chester

Park, Coney Island, Reichrath's Park, and the Highland House.

DANCING

One of the most popular amusements or recreational activities that early nineteenth century Cincinnatians enjoyed was dancing. The town had always danced, at least according to Harlow.1 This becomes apparent by the fact that dancing was popular during the early Fort

Washington days. In 17915 on Washington's birthday, a dance, or ball, was held at the fort. On another occasion, a Dr. Richard Allison, an army surgeon from New York, announced that a Christmas ball was to be

1Alvin P. Harlow, The Serene Cincinnatians (New York: E. P. Dutton, 1950)) P- 163^ 26 27 held in December of 1795- An admission ticket was required for this event. According to Stevens, this was probably the first time that an 2 admission charge was required for a dance in Cincinnati.

Andrew Burt1s tavern, which was built during the days, was also a popular spot where dancing was enjoyed. Their ballroom, however, was soon outgrown as were several other various halls. The city was not to enjoy a truly satisfactory ballroom until Mrs. Trollope built her Bazaar in 1829. On the third floor of the Bazaar, according to the

City Directory of 1829,a magnificent ballroom awaited the avid dancers.

For many years, some of the best balls ever given in the city, were staged at the Bazaar building.

Jigs, reels and the quadrille were the most popular dances of the time. Waltzes were not at all popular as they were considered to be strictly feminine. This is not surprising as Cincinnati was truly a frontier settlement at this time, and lacked the culture and refinement that was a trademark of some of the eastern cities. Dance contests were also popular whereby one couple would try to dance for a longer period 4 of time than another couple. By comparison, the fashionable dances of the day on a nationwide scale, according to Spears and Swanson included

O Harry R. Stevens, "Folk Music On The Midwestern Frontier: 1788-1825," The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, LVII (April, 1948), p. 133-

%arlow, op. cit., p. 163.

^Clara Longworth DeChambrun, Cincinnati: Story of The Queen City (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1939)5 P* 90- 28

"the minuet, courante, galliard, rigadoon, gavotte, cotillion, hornpipe, 5 country dances, reels, and jigs."

The first mention of a dancing school appeared in a Cincinnati newspaper in 1799- Richard Haughton, a dancing instructor from Pennsyl­ vania and Virginia advertised that he would open a school to teach:

. . . the minuet, cotillion, French and English sets in all their ornamental branches . . . the most fashionable country dances, and the city cotillion taught in New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore . .

In 1806 Garrett Lane opened a dancing school in Cincinnati as did a Mr. Coleman in l8o8. Hency G. Pies taught dancing in l8ll. Two French dancing masters, Colome and Dusouchet, came to Cincinnati in l8l2 and

1813 to teach the "art of dancing according to the rules of the most 7 approved seminaries in Europe." Several other dancing masters followed in the footsteps of these first instructors.

Thomas Ashe, an English traveler who passed through Cincinnati in 1806, described his experience at an inn in which he stayed while visiting Cincinnati:

I entered the ball-room, which was filled with persons at cards, drinking, smoking, dancing, etc. The music consisted of two bangles, played by negroes nearly in the state of nudity, and a lute, through which a Chickasaw breathed with much occa­ sional exertion and violent gesticulations. The dancing accorded with the harmony of these instruments. The clamour of the card tables was so great, that it almost drowned every other; and the music of Ethiopia was with difficulty heard.°

%etty Spears and Richard A. Swanson, History of Sport and Physical Activity in the United States (Dubuque: Wm. C. Brown, 1978), p. 74.

^Stevens, op. cit., pp. 133 -134 .

7Ibid, p. 134. 8Ibid. 29

BILLIARDS

Another popular recreational activity that had an early start in

Cincinnati was billiards. The first in Cincinnati dated back to 1802. A group of small frame houses on Eastern Avenue were, at

that time, occupied by some rather undesirable characters who had been previously connected with the Army. It was in one of these houses, which became known as "Battle-row," that this first billiard table was said to

Q have been located. According to Lucas and Smith, billiards had been

brought to America from England and was initially popular in the South. 10

Billiards, or table , was to remain popular throughout the

nineteenth century. With billiards being so popular, there is little

wonder why John Brunswick decided to build the world's largest billiard

table factory in Cincinnati. The interest had already been established

and a ready market seemed waiting.

A city-championship in billiards was later established. The

Enquirer provided an account of the 1882 results:

In the match at fifteen-ball pool for the championship of the city, played at Bussey's on Central Avenue, M. Horn defeated M. Rauch five games to three, and therefore remains champion.

Exhibitions by celebrated champions of the "table" were also

staged in Cincinnati. In April of 1869, one such champion, the

q ^"Cincinnati In Eighteen Hundred And Two," , August 7s 19°^j P*

10John A. Lucas and Ronald A. Smith, Saga of American Sport (Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1978), p. 50-

11|The Cincinnati Enquirer, October 1, 1882, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. 30 celebrated French billiardist Mons Rudolphe, gave an exhibition of his

skills.

FOOT RACES

Foot races were a common form of recreation during the early

nineteenth century. If horses weren't being raced, then people were

racing against each other. Many races would even have some form of prize

awaiting the victor. In one such race, held in 1802, four competitors -

John Dodson, C. S. Walker, James Baxter, and Lewis Morgan - raced a mile.

John Dodson proved to be the victor and for his efforts he received four

fine apples.1^

PIG RIDING

Pig riding was a popular' recreation activity among the boys dur­

ing the "Porkopolis" days of Cincinnati (when pork was king). During

this pork era, pigs could be found walking the streets at large as if they

owned the whole town. Boys would take advantage of these "street walkers"

and would try and climb upon their backs for whatever ride they could get.

There was one old hog that had the habit of lying down as soon as a boy 14 came in sight. Even layman Beecher's younger sons enjoyed this sport.

12 The Cincinnati Evening Chronicle, April 10, 1869, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society.

13 P. A. Walker, ed., "Autobiographical Sketches of Caleb Swan Walker," Cincinnati Historical Society, p. 21.

■^Harlow, op. cit., p. 6 3. 31

PRIVATE PARTIES

Private parties proved to be popular forms of entertainment for the more socially elite. Cards, music, dancing and conversation were the principal sources of amusement at these parties. Harlow, in his book, The Serene Cincinnatians, made the following comparison between the social set and the more "humbler folk" of the mid 1820s, with regards to their card playing:

Society played , piquet, Pope Joan, spoil-five or whist, all without betting, whilst humbler folk got along with casino on all-fours, and gentlemen Who gathered in a hotel room or somebody's downtown lodging to risk money on the cards, played the new game, poker, which had recently come up from New Orleans.15

OTHER EARLY NINETEENTH CENTURY ACTIVITIES

In addition to the activities already mentioned, the early nine­ teenth century pioneers of Cincinnati participated in games such as chess and dominoes; frequented the snow covered slopes during the winter for

some sleighing; and also attended the theatre. Much has been written

about the early theatre in Cincinnati. It was without a doubt, one of

the most important forms of entertainment in early Cincinnati. For our purposes, however, it will suffice our needs to simply say that the

theatre was important and was well attended.

1^Ibid, p. l6l. 32

ICE SKATING

Ice skating was an activity that did not become very popular until the mid l800s, although early settlers had been known to do some skating. The lack of ice had hampered this activity due simply to climatic conditionsThis problem went unsolved until the late 1850s and early l860s when the Canadian idea of enclosing the skating pond was borrowed. The pond was also covered by a roof and lighted for both day and night skating. By the l860s, six cities - Cincinnati, Chicago,

Cleveland, Pittsburg}!, St. Louis, and Detroit - had built rinks accord­ ing to the Canadian design. To Cincinnati goes the distinction of having the largest rink in the world, during this time. Located on

Freeman Avenue, The Queen City Rink was erected by a joint stock company under the supervision of Hervey and Johnson. This firm was responsible for the building of several rinks in various cities for several years.

This Cincinnati enterprise was worth $50,000 in capital stock which had 17 been sold in $100 shares.

The building itself was 270 feet long and 120 feet wide. It en­ closed an ice surface of 15,300 square feet. Dressing rooms were provided for men, women and children. A ten foot wide platform was built in front of the dressing rooms where visitors could sit and watch. Similar plat­ forms, which were 17 feet wide, flanked the sides. A gallery was also

available where 2 ,0 0 0 spectators could be seated for an exhibition or

l6Ibid, p. 9 2. 17 'The Cincinnati Enquirer, April 1, 19235 dipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. 33 ice carnival. A raised gallery at the north end of the rink provided accommodations for Mentor's famous band who played afternoons and even­ ings. Admission charges to the rink were set at 25 cents by day and 50 cents by night. Season tickets were available for $5.00 for men and 18 $2.50 for women and children under l4. The rink proved to be very popular. On one particular January day in 1868, nearly 350 skaters were 19 on the ice at one time, with nearly 2,000 spectators looking on.

In addition to the Queen City Rink, the Union Grounds were flooded and used for skating. Mr. , who became famous in baseball, was in charge of the Union Skating Pond and house during the l860s. Other opportunities for skating were available at the 20 Lincoln Park lake and on the Miamx Canal.

A popular activity at both the Queen City Rink and the Union

Skating Pond was the masquerade. Thousands of people would be drawn to these costume parties both day and night. The selling or renting of 21 costumes became a booming business for local merchants.

William C. Smith provides the following account of his ice skat­ ing days in the late l800s:

A pond in Lincoln Park was a favorite place for ice skating but was usually so crowded that any fancy movements were impossi­ ble. The old canal, only five blocks distant, was far better; on its stretches there was no room for fancy figures but for straight­ away skating it was ideal - and for fancy operation we could always skate out to the first or second basin, an enlargement of the canal several miles north where canal boats were reversed for the return trip. 22

l8T, . 19t^ 20t, . , 21t, . , Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. 22 William C. Smith, Queen City Yesterdays: Sketches of Cincinnati in the Eighties (Crawfordsville, Indiana: R. E. Banta, 1959)> P- 15- 34

With regard to the appropriate clothing for the winter skaters, the following article appeared in the Cincinnati Evening Chronicle in

1869:

The weather this winter is, so far, so much milder than last season as to promise very little skating - still, there is quite a rage for pretty skating costumes. They are all short and in high colors, and brilliant Scotch plaids .... With skating dresses no hooped skirts are worn.23

PISHING

Fishing was another favorite pastime or recreational activity that Cincinnatians enjoyed. According to Betts, "fishing as sport came 24 increasingly into vogue in the 1820s and 1830s." With close access to the Ohio, Little Miami, Great Miami, and Licking Rivers, fishing became extremely popular. Pike, salmon, bass, and catfish were fair game for the many anglers.

In 1829 some of the anglers of the city of Cincinnati united them­

selves under the title of the Cincinnati Angling Club. An official consti­ tution was adopted on August 25, 1830. The number of members was limited to twenty-five. The purpose of the club, as expressed in the constitu­ tion was to "enjoy in harmony and good fellowship, the delightful and healthy amusement of Angling and to inform themselves in the Science of 2R that innocent sport. "

The Cincinnati Evening Chronicle, January 5, 1869, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. 24 John Richard Betts, America's Sporting Heritage: 1850-1950 (Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley, 1974), p. 43. 25 Chalmers Hadley, "The Cincinnati Angling Club," Typewritten manu­ script, no date, The Cincinnati Historical Society. 35

The fishing season, according to the Club rules, was from March to November. September and October, however, were considered to be the best months. In October, an anniversary dinner was held with the main course being fish. Fish caught during the month of October were saved for this occasion. In October of 1830, 305 fish were brought to the din­ ner. Pike and bass proved to be the favorites among the members with the catfish being viewed with little esteem. Members considered the catfish 26 to be unacceptable because of his "filthy habits and uncouth appearance."

Fishing was to continue as a popular amusement throughout the nine­ teenth century. Many references to the sport appeared in local newspapers.

In March of 1869, for example, the Cincinnati Evening Chronicle reported that fishing in the Little Miami River with nets and seines was against 27 the law and that detectives had been employed to catch such violators.

Another article appearing in the Commercial Gazette in 1894 told how the

Moire Antique Fishing Club was growing so fast in membership that their present quarters were proving to be inadequate. It was also reported that 28 the club was trying to secure fishing quarters at New Trenton, Indiana.

SWIMMING

According to Daniel Drake, writing in l8l0, "bathing in the river

is practiced by some, but is less regular and general than it ought to

26Ibid. 27 'The Cincinnati Evening Chronicle, March 17, 1869, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. 28 "The Moire Antique," The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, July 3, 1894, p. 1 2 . 36 be."2^ This provides us with some evidence that swimming did occur in

early nineteenth century Cincinnati, but not to any great extent. Al­

though it's certain that swimming did take place throughout the nine­

teenth century, it didn't receive much attention or publicity until the

late 1800s when competition entered the picture. At that time, organiza­

tions such as Boat Clubs and the Cincinnati Gymnasium and Athletic Club,

helped popularize the sport.

Newspapers became interested in swimming, from a competitive

standpoint, when such great swimmers as John Zettel and Frank Dresselhaus

surfaced in the city.

John Zettel, who swam for the Cincinnati Gymnasium, proved to be

one of the best competitive swimmers in the country during the l880s.

He was considered to be remarkably fast in the 100 yard and one mile swims.

In July of 1885 he won first prize in the mile on the Ohio River (the

prize was given by the Cincinnati Bathhouse). In 1886 he again won the

mile race on the Ohio River and finished third in the 100 yard and mile

swims at New York where he competed in the New York Athletic Club swimming QQ championships. In 1889 he finished second in the 100 yard swim in the

Swimming Championships of the Western Association of Amateur Athletics 31 held at St. Louis.

Although Frank Dresselhaus did not receive the national attention

that John Zettel did, he was still considered a champion among the locals.

2%arlow, op. cit., p. 92. 30 The Cincinnati Times Star, August 3, 1889, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society.

The St. Louis Republic, August 1, 1889, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. 37

The Enquirer provided the following account of perhaps his most famous and publicized race:

There was a large crowd who witnessed the swimming race between Frank Dresselhaus and J. R. Johnson in the Ohio River yesterday. The race was for $50. Men swam from the Dayton, ferry to a stake-boat at the foot of Street, this city - distance about three miles. Dresselhaus swam in about 47 minutes and won by nearly a mile . . . Dresselhaus is un­ doubtedly one of the best swimmers in the c o u n t r y32 .

BOATING

Like swimming, boating, too, was seldom engaged in during Cincin­ nati's early years. Drake, again commenting, this time in 1815, said 33 "sailing for pleasure on the Ohio is but seldom practiced." Boating had been popular in the East and South since the 1830s and 40s. Numerous boat clubs had been organized in places such as Poughkeepsie, Philadelphia,

New Orleans, Mobile, Biloxi, Savannah, and Detroit. According to Betts,

"boating as a sport extended from Virginia to Texas, and the heyday of its 34 existence was from the 1830s to the Civil War."

Having worked its way West, boating became popular in Cincinnati during the 1870s, especially among the social set. Harlow provides us with the following insight as to why boating became popular:

32 "Dresselhaus Wins Again," The Cincinnati Enquirer, August 29, 1887, p. 2 .

■^Harlow, op. cit., p. 92. ^Betts, op. cit., p. 37- 38

The men's sports became more strenuous. Some society men had played cricket, but when baseball replaced cricket, it be­ came too professional for the elite. Boating became a fad, and around 1880 the Cincinnati Boat Club had many prominent names among its members. At its floating boathouse, just above the public landing were not only many handsome private skiffs but an eight-oared barge, seating 24, which was used for water parties. In fine weather it was a favorite diversion for a mixed party would leave the boathouse about 5:00 P.M., row five or six miles up the river to a pleasant strand or dingle, eat a picnic supper and row back by moonlight or starlight.35

From a competitive standpoint, rowing regattas date back to 1871.

Two clubs that were prominent during this time included the Cincinnati

Boat Club and the Americus Boat Club. The Enquirer, in 1876, reported that, "the Cincinnati and Americus Boat Clubs have mutually agreed to row a four-oared and single scull race to decide to whom belong the champion honors of our city. 1,3(3

Members of the two clubs included: Americus: (Colors: Blue and White)

Koss Hauser bow 128 M. R. Hickey No. 2 148 Eugene Sweeney No. 3 124 Joseph E. Franklin Stroke 132

Cincinnati: (Colors: White and Blue)

J. P. Numan bow 135 N. G. Kennan No. 2 145 P. Higgen No. 3 160 Oscar Medary Stroke 155

The Enquirer also reported the results of another boat race that was held in September of 1876. The race was a challenge race between

33 Harlow, op. cit., p. 292.

"The Cincinnati and Americus Boat Clubs," The Cincinnati Enquirer, September 3, 1876, p. 9-

37Ibid. 39

Henry Weber and John Tucker, with Tucker being the challenger. The loser agreed to pay the winner $100. The three-mile race was reported as follows:

At precisely five o'clock the men were started from a stake- boat just above the Newport railroad bridge. Tucker won the choice of position, and, of course, took the Kentucky shore. In his endeavor to crowd Weber out into the current he two or three times got close to him, and at one time it looked as though their "spoons" would clash together. By the time they had reached Taylor's Creek, Tucker was just a trifle in advance, and in attempting to force Henry out into the stream his boat took a sheer, and before he knew where he was Weber had slipped in and taken the inside position. This practically gave him the race, for from that moment he drew away from his competitor, and when the upper stake-boat was reached Tucker saw that he had no and abandoned the contest. Weber rowed home, an easy winner in 28 minutes . . . We are informed that a number of boys threw stones at Tucker as he rowed up along the shore. This con­ duct was highly reprehensible and should never be indulged in again.38

The boat club era began fading out in the l880s. The Cincinnati

Boat Club, for one, began experiencing a decline in membership early in the l880s. The club finally "died a natural death" in 1885. ^ One of the few, if not the only, clubs that was still going strong by the close of the nineteenth century was the Cincinnati Gymnasium Boat Club.

SHOOTING

Shooting was a popular form of entertainment throughout much of the nineteenth century. In 1831 the Cincinnati Shooting Club #1 was organized. The club held quarterly meetings with twenty-five members being the maximum number allowed in the club at one time. A standing

q O "Weber Defeats Tucker.In The Three-Mile Race," The Cincinnati Enquirer, September 24, 1876, p. 6. 39 ""'The Gym Boat Club," The Cincinnati Times Star, September 1, 1892, p. 6. 4 o committee was in existence to organize and coordinate the shooting matches.

Annual club dues were set at $5.00, and a twenty-five cent fine was assessed to anyone who missed a meeting. Minutes and records of the club includes information regarding the amounts and kinds of game that was killed during the appropriate hunting seasons. Favorite game included woodcock, quail, pheasants, and rabbits. The club remained in existence until 1838 when, after seven years, it quietly dissolved. The records indicate that "the spirit of the Association was broken, the meeting quickly abandoned, and the Club after an active and pleasant existence of seven years, dissolved informally."

The popularity of the shooting club and shooting in general, in­ creased significantly with the steady influx of Germans. The Germans brought with them their Schuetzenvereins or shooting clubs, as described in Chapter V. By 1870, shooting had become so popular that the American

Sharpshooters' Society had their national office in the Tumerhall of

Cincinnati. The shooting festival of the Association was held in Cincin­ nati that same year.

The l880s marked the real high point in shooting and shooting clubs in Cincinnati. During this time, an entire section of the Sunday Commercial

Gazette was devoted to shooting and shooting matches in and around Cincin­ nati. The section was known as Trap and Trigger. Some of the more promi­

nent gun clubs or shooting clubs during this era included:

Records and Constitution of the Cincinnati Shooting Club #1, manuscript material, Cincinnati Historical Society. 4l

Cincinnati Independent Cincinnati Gun Club East End Gun Club Columbia Gun Club German Shooting Club Cosmopolitan Delhi Gun Club Cleves Amateur Association Price Hall Madisonville Cincinnati Avon Gun Club Newport Gun Club Mt. Auburn Gun Club Cincinnati Rifle Association West End Walnut Hills Lockland Tusculum Clifton Carthage Brighton Ohio Valley Association Buckeye Harrison Milford4l

Various shooting matches that were held during this time period were well attended by participants as well as spectators. On one occasion, ho an August 1887 match at the Lockland Gun Club attracted some 500 people.

On another occasion, this time in July of 1889, the Commercial Gazette reported that:

The largest shoot that has yet taken place in this vicinity was that of yesterday, for the "Bohemian" medal donated by Mr. C. J. Kaufman of this city .... attendance was surprisingly large with 56 shooters . . . 3/4 of Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky shooters were present to contest or watch, [sic]. . .43

4l ^ "With Rod And Gun," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, May 16, 1897, P- 4. ho "The Gun," The Cincinnati Enquirer, August 29, 1887, p. 2. 43 "The Diamond Field, Turf And Other Sports," The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, July 1 9, 1889, p. 6. 42

One month later, some 3,500 people witnessed a shoot that was held at 44 Coney Island.

Pistol clubs were also a part of the total shooting scene during the late l800s, especially during the l880s. The Commercial Gazette pro­ vides the following account of one such match:

The first of the series of three pistol matches between the Queen City Pistol Clubs, two expert shots, B. Copeland and B. J. Robertson, vs. the St. Louis experts, was shot last night by tele­ graph. The local experts scored as follows - 30 shots per man, possible 100 each - Copeland: 87, 91, 85; Robertson: 85, 82, 8f; total 517• St. Louis team scored 525-^5

By the late 1890s, Cincinnati had experienced a significant de­

cline in the number of shooting activities and clubs. The Commercial

Tribune provided an excellent account of the situation:

From being one of the main centers for trap shooting ten years ago, Cincinnati has gradually deteriorated in the way of shooting interests until it is now one of the worst cities in the country.46

The reasons for this, as offered by the Commercial Tribune included:

1 . lesser number of shoots being sponsored by businessmen, 2 . shooting being done by amateur and he no longer wants to be fleeced by the expert, 3 . there continues to be a half dozen flourishing clubs in Cincinnati and vicinity but they are private clubs.^7

Although the interest in shooting had declined significantly by

the end of the nineteenth century, it is interesting to note that E. D.

44 "The Diamond Field, Turf And Other Sports," The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, August 9j 1889, p. 6. 4b "The Turf, Athletic And Other Sports," The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, July 3j 1889, p. 6.

^"With Rod and Gun," The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, May 16, 1897, P. 4. 47 'Ibid. Payne, of Cincinnati, won the $300 first prize for being the best shot on stick targets at the biennial of the National Sharpshooters Union |iO held at Glendale, Long Island, New York in July of 1898.

FEMININE INVOLVEMENT

Up to this time, little, if anything, has been said about feminine involvement. It goes without saying that as the years passed by, the amount of female involvement in recreation, sport, and amusement steadily increased. Activities such as dancing, swimming, ice skating, and sleigh­ ing were popular with the females throughout much of the nineteenth century.

Initially, corsets, hoop skirts and bustles did hamper the ladies to some

extent. By i860 the ladies were trying their hand at billiards. With the

introduction of croquet in the l860s, the ladies were quick to rally them­

selves to this activity. Roller skating appeared in 1867, lawn tennis in

1876, and archery became a fad in 1878. Many archery clubs were formed

having about equal numbers of men and women members. Harlow provided the

following interesting commentary about women and archery.

The women did not find bare legs necessary in archery then, as they do now. The hazards of the sport were emphasized at a meeting of the Sagittarium, when an attendant who gathered up the arrows was wounded back of the ear by a young woman, though he was so far out of the line of fire that no one dreamed of his being in danger.49

The Ohio State Archery Association was formed in 1878. By the

end of the l880s, the Cincinnati area had become an archery center of the

48 The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, July 12, 1898, p. 3-

arlow, op. cit., p. 291. 214 state, especially Norwood. State meetings were often held in Norwood. A

National meeting was even held there in 1898. The Norwood Archery grounds 50 were located immediately behind the Town Hall.

Other area archery clubs that were prominent during this time in- 51 eluded Walnut Hills, Fairmount, Wyoming, and Dayton, Kentucky.

CROQUET

It was mentioned earlier that croquet became popular with the ladies after it was introduced in the l860s. It also became popular with at least seven prominent Cincinnati males in the late 1870s. The Commer­ cial Tribune provided the following account:

For twenty years six or seven Cincinnati men have been regularly late to dinner on Saturday nights throughout the summer. For twenty years they have played croquet every Saturday afternoon from April to November .... Norwood has a coterie of famous players, who lock horns with the Avondale old timers, resulting in honors in favor of the Avondales .... The picturesque lawn of Robert T. Morris, Avondale, is the battle ground for the several Cincinnatians who play the game scientifically.52

The Cincinnati regulars included George DeGolyer, Fred Shafer, George

Thompson, Z. Getchell, Francis Perry, T. F. Randolph, and Robert T. 55 Morris.

50 "The Turf, Baseball And Other Sports," The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, July 73 1889, p. 3- 51 "Ohio State Archers," The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, July 1 1, 1889, p. 5- 52 "The Game Of Croquet," The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, July 18, 1897, p. 7.

53Ibid. 45

CYCLING

Cycling was another activity that was extremely popular espe­ cially during the late l880s and 1890s. It first became popular in the late l860s. In 1869 the Queen City Velocipede Club was organized. In that same year, the Cincinnati Evening Chronicle reported the following:

The velocipede mania having seized the people of this city, the Director of the Union Base Ball grounds intends taking ad­ vantage of it by having their park fitted up with a track for bicycles.54

By l897 there was no less than thirteen prominent cycling clubs in the Cincinnati area. These included:

Porkopolis Wheelmen Central Wheel Club Y.M.C.A. Bicycle Club Gym Cycle Club Crescent Wheelmen Comet Wheel Club American Bicycle Club Carey Bicycle Club Thistle Cycle Club Brighton Club Athletic Wheel Club Star Cycle Club ,-t- Cincinnati Bicycle Club ^

Popular runs made by these clubs included runs to Milford, Hamilton,

Dayton, and Erlanger. Moonlight runs were also popular.

The oldest and one of the more popular clubs of Cincinnati was the Crescent Wheelmen. This club had developed a reputation that was

known state-wide and beyond. Three members in particular A. N. French,

54 The Cincinnati Evening Chronicle, January 12, 1869, p. 3 . 55 "Wheels And Wheelers Of 97>" The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, April 11, 1897, P. 19. ~ ~ 46

C. E. Tudor, and George Bauers - excelled as individuals that brought fame and recognition to their club.

French was the overall Ohio State champion in 1892 and 1893.

Tudor was victorious in the Ohio State five-mile championship race and set a world's record in the seven-mile race at Columbus in September of

1894. Bauers, who was one of the original founders of the club, was the 56 first Ohioan to ride a mile in under three minutes.

Members of the 1896 Crescent Wheelmen included:

F. Broerman A1 Amot Skel Ryan C. Schroforth J. Munsell George Rieger W. W. Ralston F. Bechtoldt Fred Bruckner G. Euskirchen J. Baeckle A. Schuchert H. Ralston W. Blasi J. Ryan Lou Sawyer Ed Miller W. J. Theobold C. Thompson R. Ralston R. C. Blair W. Tiechter W. J. Sextro C. Wheaton Matthew Ryan Ed Taylor H. E. Anderson H. Smith Newton Pierson J. Riley E. Legge Toney Wellman R. Rahe G. Bauers J. L. Mitchell C. E. Tudor E. Dirr Frank Robbins A. N. French G. Law D. Straus s 'Rudolph Gervert D. Strauss 'Rudolph H. Millward

During the later 1890s, newspaper coverage of cycling became

quite extensive. In 1897 during the cycling season, one complete page

of each Sunday edition of the Commercial Tribune was devoted to cycling

56 "In The Bicycle Domain," The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, April 5, 1896, p. 9-

57Ibid. 47 and the various clubs in the Cincinnati area. In the July 4th issue, 58 three full pages were devoted to the sport of cycling.

Some of the more prominent names in Cincinnati cycling in the late 1890s included:

Harry Sidwell: a Covington boy ’who rode for the Cincinnati Bicycle Club. He held the record for the paced amateur mile and was considered the world amateur champion in 1897-59

Harry Gibson: a Cincinnati boy who held the State half-mile record in 1898. He also held the world record in the five-mile paced match race in 1898.60

Miss Jessie Locke: was one of the most enthusiastic wheel- women of Newport, Kentucky. She was a member of the Elsinore Bicycle Club - the largest in Newport during this time, having about 75 members. J3he was considered to be one of the best riders in Nevport.81

BOWLING

Bowling became a very popular pastime among Cincinnatians during the mid 1890s. This was one sport that was popularized by the newspapers.

In the Sunday edition of the Commercial Tribune, an entire section was devoted to bowling and the weekly results around the city. Information

included club and alley gossip, team and individual scores, and league 62 standings. The section was known as "Down The Alley," In the April

j - O "Bicycling," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, July 4, l8975 pp. 26-28.

59"Bicycling," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, July 25, l897j P- 28.

^"The Wheel," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, August l4, 1898, p. 14.

6l"The Bicycle Boys And Girls," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, August 29, l8973 P- 2 8. 62 "Down The Alley," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, July 35 1898, p. 7- 48

11, 1897 edition of the Commercial Tribune, five columns on one page was devoted to howling. The Opening of the Mueller Alleys in Fairmount was the feature story.

In 1894 the only alleys in Cincinnati, except for one pair, were

found in the various Turner Halls and three at the Musik Verein. In 1895

the Hamilton County League was formed. The league consisted of five

teams who bowled in the West End and North Turner Halls. The teams in

the league were the West Ends, Queen Citys, Volunteers, Frosch, and the 64 North Cincinnatis.

In 1896-973 the Hamilton County League expanded to ten clubs.

The clubs included Cincinnati, Volunteer, Pastime, West End, Buckeye,

Newport, Losantiville, Fairmount, Central, and Frosch. A regular sched­

ule was bowled with ten men on each team. The bowling season ended in

March of 1897.^

Another league, the Cincinnati League, was started in December

of 1896. Eight teams belonged to this league. At the end of the regular

season, this league along with the Hamilton County league, bowled a five

man tournament.66

In April of 1897 the Commercial Tribune had a picture of the new

Imperial Bowling Alleys featured in its bowling section. The picture

showed four alleys with three pin boys sitting about three feet above the

"Pin Splinters," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, April 11, 1897, p. 24. 64 "Bowling Season Of 97~9°>" The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, October 10, 1897, p. 2 5.

^The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, October 10, 1897, p. 2 5.

66 . Ibid. 6 7 alleys. Each pin boy sat between two alleys. Another establishment, the Pastime Alleys, opened around the same time. Several other establish­ ments were built after the Pastime Alleys were completed. By September of 1896, there were seven alley establishments operating in the city.

Following the 1896-97 bowling season, alleys were being built at a phenominal rate. Visits by well known teams from , Chicago, and

Buffalo kindled the already "roaring flame." By October of 1897 there were over one hundred alleys in operation in the Cincinnati area. Most experts felt that Cincinnati was indeed leading the nation in the number of alleys being built at this time. In addition, Cincinnati was, by this time, the home for more than five hundred bowling teams or clubs. 88

For the 1897-98 bowling season, the following leagues were in operation:

Hamilton County 32 teams Cincinnati League l6 teams West End 10 teams Fairmount 8 teams Kenton County 8 teams Bellevue-Dayton 10 teams Ohio National Tournament 10 teams Kentucky ______Millcreek Valley _____ 69 Y.M.I. League _____

Bowling continued to grow in popularity throughout the balance of the nineteenth century. The people of Cincinnati viewed bowling as a pastime and a year-round sport. This was different, in many cases, than the East, for bowling was often abandoned when the hot weather appeared.

8^"Home Of The Strikes And Spares Club," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, April 25, 1897, p. 24.

88Ibid. 69Ibid. 50

GOLF

The game of golf in the United States dates hack to the late

1700s. The first known golf club in the United States was in Savannah,

Georgia and dates back to 1795* The game faded out sometime after and didn't reestablish itself again until 1887 when Robert Lockhart introduced the game to Yonkers, New York. The St. Andrews Golf Club was established in Yonkers in 1888. The game quickly spread throughout the East and into 70 the Midwest. The United States Golf Association was established in 1894.

Golf came to Cincinnati in 1895* It got its start when a few gentlemen and ladies decided that golf should be played in Cincinnati.

The gentlemen and ladies responsible for these organizational efforts had played golf in the East previous to this. The first golf club to be organized in Cincinnati was the Cincinnati Golf Club which was established in 1895- Its clubhouse and grounds were located on the Scarborough estate on Grandin Road in Walnut Hills. The clubhouse was comfortable and fash- 71 ionable with the golf links being considered among the best in the West.

Once the links were established at the Cincinnati Golf Club, they were in constant use from May until December throughout the remaining

1890s. The grounds themselves were under the direction of Robert White, who was an expert Scotch golfer. White, in addition to his grounds duties, could also be found on the links giving instructions. The officers of the club, as listed by the Commercial Tribune in 1898, included Joseph E.

70 Deobold B. VanDalen and Bruce L. Bennett, A World History Of Physical Education (Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1971)5 PP■ 420-421.

^""City Golf Clubs," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, July 3i 1898, p. 16. White, President; N. H. Davis, Vice-President; Arthur Espy, Secretary;

Fenton Lawson, Treasurer; Nicholas Longworth, Captain; and E. P. Harrison, 72 John B. Keys, and Henry Stettinius, Green Committee.

The Cincinnati Golf Club offered three classes of members: a regu­ lar membership (dues - $25 per year); an associate membership (dues - $15 per year); and a contributing membership (dues - $10 per year). The total membership in the club in 1898 was 240, of which half this total was regu­ lar members. The membership quota was filled in 1898 and a rather large 78 waiting list existed also.

The links at the Cincinnati Club consisted of nine holes. The yardage of those holes is listed below:

#1 - 235 yards #2 - 250 yards #3 - 335 yards #4 - 195 yards #5 - 263 yards #6 - 205 yards #7 - 361 yards #8 - 198 yards7i. #9 - 222 yards'

A second golf club to be formed in Cincinnati was organized in

February of 1898 and became known as the Golfers' Club of Clifton. Mr.

Caleb W. Shipley, one of the more enthusiastic golfers of the area, united with about half a dozen other Clifton people and decided to secure

a house where they could "leave their golf sticks." Having already se­

cured the Bumet Woods Park for their grounds, the group bought and re­ modeled a large brick house on Clifton Avenue which stood opposite one 75 of the park1s entrances.

72Ibid. 73Ibid. 7\bid. 75Ibid. 52

The membership in the Clifton Club proved to be larger than the

Cincinnati Club with some three hundred or better members on the books.

The links, too, proved to be more attractive and better designed than those of the Cincinnati Club. Much of the credit for the condition and layout of the course had to be attributed to the fine work of Superin­ tendent Wardes and his assistant, Mr. Emery.^ Rules were adapted so that the golfers would not interfere with other patrons of the park.

The officers of the Golfers' Club of Clifton included: Frank P.

Wiborg, President; Robert L. Resor, Vice-President; Morrison R. Waite,

Secretary; Caleb W. Shipley, Treasurer; and Harley J. Morrison, Chairman 77 of the Green Committee.

The women were not to be left out of this Clifton Club. This is

obvious from the following newspaper account:

Yesterday was a gala day in the history of the Clifton Golf Club. In the afternoon a women's golf tournament, both scratch and handicap, was held, and the grounds were turned over to the women. A large crowd watched the play with interest. The con­ test was for eighteen holes, medal play. Mrs. Dohrman showed the best play of any of the contestants, and by careful work made the eighteen holes in 105 strokes, which is the lowest score made upon the links this y e a r .78

In December of 1898 a tournament was held on the Bumet Woods

links between the Clifton team and the Dayton Golf Club. The Commercial

Tribune provides us with the following account:

76Ibid. ^Ibid. r^ O "Clifton Golf Club," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, October 16, 1898, p. 14. 53

Yesterday afternoon proved to be perfect weather for the golf tournament on the Burnet Woods links, between the teams representing the Clifton Golf Club and the Dayton Golf Club. The largest crowd ever to watch a match on these links was assembled. Clifton won the day by l6 holes . . . .79

Members of the Clifton team included Harley J. Morrison, Russell Law,

T. S. Dohrman, Robert L. Resor, D. V. Sutphin, James Morrison, Franklin

Ives, and H. T. Smith.

By the close of the nineteenth century, it was estimated that 80 as many as 1,000 persons in Cincinnati were playing golf. Golf was not, initially, a sport for the masses. It was, in many cases, limited to the social elite of the city. Golf news even appeared in the social

column of the newspaper. It would be well into the twentieth century before golf would be accepted as a sport for the common man.

TENNIS

Tennis came to Cincinnati in 1878 when Stewart Shillito built a

court at his father's home on Highland Avenue in Mt. Auburn. Initial

interest in tennis had risen when Shillito and some other young Cincin­

natians had played the game while vacationing in the East. The game

itself had only arrived in this country in 1874. In addition to Shillito,

the group who enjoyed the game at this early date included Griff Miller,

Albert Barney, Wayne Neff, John Sherlock, Joe McDowell and others. By

79 -^"Clifton Golfers Win," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, December 4, 1898, p. l4. 80 "City Golf Clubs," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, July 3 S 1898, p. 16. 54

1880 interest in tennis had spread so rapidly that Cincinnati was ready for a tennis club.^

On December 3, 1880, a meeting was held at the old Burnet House, under the direction of Edmund H. Pendleton, for the purpose of organizing a tennis club. Officers were elected and a constitution was drawn up.

The officers that were elected included Edmund H. Pendleton, President;

Jeptha Gerrard, Vice-President; Howard S. Winslow, Secretary; and Albert

C. Barney, Treasurer. Within a week, eighty-six members were enrolled, a part of Music Hall was leased for indoor play (through April), and a

grand opening was planned for December 10th.

When first laid out, the Music Hall facility had five courts with four of them on ground floor and the other one in the gallery. The upper court had a wood surface and ended up being abandoned after the

first year. The lower courts were all laid out on rolled tan bark. The

courts were open to members from 1:00 P.M. until midnight, except for Sat­

urdays when the courts opened at 10:00 A.M. Sunday play was prohibited.

One of the favorite social events of the club during its early

years was the tennis party. A tennis party would be organized by a club member who would assemble a friendly group to play a few sets of tennis

followed by lunch or dinner. With the termination of the lease at the

end of April 1882, indoor tennis and the tennis party scene, came to an

end. The end of indoor tennis did not put an end to the Cincinnati

Stanley W. Lewis, From Bustles to Shorts: A History of the Cincinnati Tennis Club, manuscript material, Cincinnati Historical Society, p. 12. (This article is the primary source for this section on tennis.) 55

Tennis Club. Instead, this action worked as a spur for future develop­ ment and expansion.

At the close of the l88l indoor season, a small group of members secured sufficient grounds on which three outdoor courts were laid out.

The grounds were located on the home site of A. S. Winslow, father of

Howard Winslow who was a member of the club. This small group of players played on this site during the summer of l88l. With the termination of the club lease in 1882, club members and the club itself, followed the earlier members to the outdoor site on the Winslow property. All the members, however, did not follow the club to its new location. Many con­ sidered the new location to be "too far out in the country." Many felt the ride by carriage or horse car to be a very trying experience as indi­ cated by the following text:

They could not be sold on the idea of taking the long ride in a carriage or by horse car in their tennis "costume" as it was called. The costume consisted of sneakers, flannel trousers, a striped blazer, a strawhat, and a tennis racquet under the arm. Other passengers on a horse car might look askance at this fancy dress, and make audible remarks about what they considered a sissy game. The situation was not helped by the fact that all reference to the game in the newspapers was under Society Notes and not under Sports.®

The Cincinnati Club played a match with the Wyoming Tennis Club

in 1883. The match was won by the Cincinnati Club. A club tournament was held for the ladies of the club following this Wyoming match. The winners were Rebecca Scarborough and Agnes Davis. A series of were scheduled for the summer of 1885. Players were arranged by ability

in different divisions. Unfortunately, little interest was shown in these

tournaments and the schedule was dropped before being completed. At the

^Ibid, p. 1 6. 56 end of the 1885 season, the Club left its Tennis Lane location. (The street along the Winslow property had been named Tennis Lane.) The reason for leaving was never made known.

On May 1, 1886 the club opened at its new location on Arbigust

Street, which was to become Vernon Place. The following officers were elected: Arthur Stern, President; Rebecca Scarborough, Vice-President;

John F. Winslow, Treasurer; and Frank Suire, Secretary. Fifty-four mem­ bers had their names on the books when the club opened at this new loca­ tion. That number was to increase to one hundred and four by 1891.

For the next few years, the Club grew and prospered although no substantial changes were made. Things did begin to change at the close of the 1889 season. Efforts to bring the Ohio State Tournament to

Cincinnati, which previously had been held in Dayton, were launched. To accomplish this, extensive work needed to be done to provide adequate facilities for such a tournament. Land was immediately purchased on which three additional clay courts were laid out. The four other grass

courts were converted to clay and a new clubhouse was built. The new

clubhouse even had locker room and shower facilities. These improvements paid off in 1891 when, through the efforts of Stephen Wilder, the trea­

surer of the club and president of the Ohio Association, the State Tourna­ ment was brought to Cincinnati.

From 1891 to 1894 things went rather smoothly for the Club. In

1894 however, the Club was forced to give up its grounds, on rather

short notice, at the end of the season. Finding a new location proved

to be quite a problem for the club. They were finally able to build two

clay courts on a lot at the northeast comer of Oak Street and Vernon 57

Place, only a block from their old location. The courts, however, were never adequate for tournament play. A search for a new and better loca­ tion continued.

Another problem to the Club in 1895 was a loss of members.

During that same year, the Cincinnati Golf Club, which was later to be­ come known as the Cincinnati Country Club, was organized under the presi­ dency of Joseph E. White who had been a member of the Tennis Club for several years. With the Tennis Club confronted with the serious problem of finding adequate grounds, many of the members followed White and took up golf.

There was great concern, during this time over the club's loss of identity. Newspapers were reporting that the old Cincinnati Tennis Club no longer existed. The Club was also referred to as the Vernonville Tennis

Club or the East Hill Tennis Club. Although the activities of the Club were severely restricted because of inadequate facilities, the Club, how­ ever, did continue.

Finally in 1899 the Club was able to procure grounds on Dexter

Avenue. An agreement was reached whereby the Club had the use of the grounds rent free for several years. No lease was drawn up. The Club that moved to Dexter Avenue was a rejuvenated club. Their enthusiasm and drive helped spurn the revival of the old Cincinnati Lawn Tennis Asso­ ciation, which had been originally organized in 1889. The organization had disbanded in 1894 meaning the end of organized tennis in Cincinnati until this revival in 1899-

As mentioned previously, the first Ohio State Tournament was held in Dayton in 1888. This was in conjunction with the organization of the 58

Ohio State Tennis Association. The tournament itself was closed limited to only players from member clubs. The championship of Ohio was at stake.

For this first State Tournament, the Cincinnati Tennis Club sent a good delegation of players and spectators. Olivia Procter, a Club member, was victorious in the first women's singles championship.

In 1889, to increase the interest in the State Tournament, a

$200.00 Club Cup was put up by the Association to be symbolic of the club championship of Ohio. Any club winning the cup three times would be re­ warded the cup permanently. During the first three years of the Cup's existence, it was won by the Cincinnati Tennis Club and became a perma­ nent possession of the Club in 1891. The winning efforts were due largely to the women players. Olivia Procter won the ladies' singles in 1889,

Leila Hunnewell in 1890, and Julia Doherty in 1891.

The cup was put back into competition for another three years by the Cincinnati Club commencing with the 1892 season. Toledo won the Cup

in 1892 and Cincinnati in 1893. In 1894 the tournament was abandoned and never resumed.

The first club tournament was held in 1889. The entries for the

ladies' singles championship included Pauline Carson, Jane Espy, Sarah

Foster, Leila Hunnewell, Belle Morrison, and Fanny Ramsey. The entries

for the mens' singles championship included E. W. Andrews, Walter Coles,

Charles Eaton, John W. Herron, William C. Herron, William H. Hillibrand,

Joseph Hosea, W. G. Hosea, Guy Mallon, William Ramsey, Ferdinand Schwill,

Nat Wright, and a gentleman by the name of Fleming. Fanny Ramsey proved

victorious in the womens' singles while William Ramsey came out on top

for the men. 59

In 1890 the club championship foremat was changed. To create a wider interest, the Club invited players from all over the city to compete.

The club championship thus became a city championship. Other clubs in the city and surrounding area included the Avondale Tennis Club,

Tennis Club, the Racquet Club, and the Covington Tennis Club.

Although tennis was enjoyed by a number of Cincinnatians in the

late nineteenth century, it was not a sport for the general public. The membership in a club and the social status that was attached to it pre­ vented the average citizen from serious participation. The ordinary man

in the street wasn't about to participate in an activity that was thought

to be for sissies.

BASEBALL

Baseball was a very popular sport in Cincinnati. The game was

played by the high schools and the University in the late l800s. It was

played professionally by at least one team from the city from the late

l860s on. It was played also by organizations such as the Cincinnati

Gymnasium and Athletic Club. But what about the average kid that just

wanted to play? Was there an opportunity for him? According to William

C. Smith, there was. Smith provides the following account of baseball,

as he played it, in Cincinnati in the l880s:

A simple type of baseball was played in alleys with a soft ball and a barrel stave for a bat; it could not be played in the street owing to the interference of traffic. When we had time on Saturdays or holidays to put on a more elaborate show, the nearest field available was about two miles away in the West End bottoms. As we seldom had sufficient players to staff two nines, we resorted to the type of baseball known as "Scrub." This game required thirteen players, four batters and the usual nine in the field; we did our own umpiring. When a batter was put out, he was banished to right field 6o

where he could work his way through each position until he was eligible as a batter. A good ball cost one dollar and it was a rare and gala occasion when we were able to indulge in such luxury; cheaper balls rated from ten to twenty cents and were usually worn out before the end of the game. 83

A baseball game, or some form of it, was not uncommon among Cincin­ nati's youth. Even the adults would take part in a game when gathered to­ gether for some social occasion - picnic, meeting, class reunion, etc.

Youngsters from Mt. Auburn played on a site that was next to a pond. 84 Baseball would thus frequently be alternated with swimming. Even a form of baseball was played on ice skates during the winter of 1867-68.

There was such a great interest in the game that even the winter failed 85 to lessen the enthusiasm for the sport. Baseball was a sport that had been truly adopted by the masses.

FOOTBALL

Some form of football has been played in Cincinnati and the surrounding area since the early l800s. Although the earliest form of the game would hardly resemble the modern day form, it was referred to as football. The earliest form of the game was mentioned in the Memoirs of Judge Burnet. DeChambrun provides the following account:

^Smith, op. cit., pp. 13-14. 84 Harry Ellard, Baseball In Cincinnati (Cincinnati: Johnson & Hardin, 1907)s p. 76.

^Ibid, p. 80. 6l

Judge Burnet, in his Memoirs, recounts the friendly reception extended to court and bar in the Shawanee town of Blue Jacket, by the venerable Deleware chief Bu-hon-ge-las, present at Saint Clair's defeat. To entertain the visitors the.Indians gave an exhibition game of football, the squaws contending with the men; Burnet re­ cords how one of the women, of gigantic proportions, after an hour's contest in the match, in spite of all efforts to wrest the ball from her arms, dashed up to the goal and hurled it between the posts. 86

Whether or not this type of exhibition had any effect on the eventual de­ velopment of football in the Queen City, is highly speculative. The only thing we can say for sure is that some Cincinnatians, such as Judge Burnet, were at least exposed to these early forms of the game.

Both the rugby style of football and the soccer style were played in Cincinnati during the latter part of the nineteenth century. Teams were organized at the University, at the Cincinnati Gymnasium, in the high schools, and in various parts of the community. A more detailed description of the exploits of these various teams will be found in latter chapters.

One football league or association that existed in Cincinnati in the 1890s is worth mentioning at this time. This was an association foot­ ball league that played the soccer version of the game. In 1897 accord­ ing to the Commercial Tribune, there were six organized teams competing in a league. The six teams competing included the Shamrocks of Cincin­ nati, the Indians from Cincinnati, the St. Patricks from Cincinnati, the

Browns from Bellevue, the Kentons from Covington, and the Gymnasium Club Ofy from Cincinnati. The Shamrocks were considered by many to be one of the best teams in the country.

^^DeChambrun, op. cit., p. 99.

"For A Football League," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, September 5, 1897, p. 14. Although football was gaining in popularity toward the close of the century, it still had to take a back seat to baseball. Football was to make great gains during the twentieth century.

AMUSEMENT PARKS AND PUBLIC ESTABLISHMENTS

Another form of recreation or amusement that was popular during the nineteenth century was the recreation or amusement establishment, or park. Some of the more prominent and popular places included the High­ land House, Reichrath's Park, the lagoon, Chester Park, and Coney Island.

The Highland House, located at the top of the Mt. Adams incline, was a popular year-round resort that provided entertainment and recrea­ tion to suit every taste. Food, drink, music, conventions, social gather­ ings, an outdoor beer garden, dancing, fireworks, balloon ascensions, and 88 a theatre were all part of the Highland House in the l880s. The two story building that sported two towers, was designed by George W. Rapp.

A 48 foot by 135 foot ballroom was to be found on the first floor with a smaller ballroom and a dining hall found upstairs. Also included were a bowling alley, , bandstand, wine cellar, beer vault, and 89 laundry. Despite the great years the Highland House experienced in the l880s, it experienced a serious period of decline in the early 1890s and was forced to close its doors in 1895.

^Marion Knight, "Historical Mount Adams," The Cincinnati Historical Society Bulletin, XXVIII (Spring, 1970), p. 28. 89 uDick Perry, Vas You Ever In Zinzinnati? (New York: Weathervane Books, 1966), p. 60. 63

Reichrath's Park was a popular establishment in the 1850s. It was located on Spring Grove Avenue on the bank of the Millcreek in Cummins-

ville. At that time, it was the finest and largest park in the city. It

had fine bowling alleys, swings, and a billiard hall. The park was illumi­

nated every evening for leisure walking, and on Sundays a band would per­

form both in the afternoon and evening. Wines, liquors and warm meals

could be had at most any hour. Special arrangements could also be made

for picnics and private parties.^

In the 1890s the Lagoon Park, a popular amusement park, was built

in Ludlow, Kentucky. The park consisted of more than one hundred acres

of land and seventy acres of water. A fine description of the park

appeared in the Commercial Tribune in 1898:

Another week of splendid entertainment is in store for the thousands of patrons of the popular Lagoon. The management of that resort is determined to make it the Mecca of every class of pleasure seekers so far as lies within its power. Every kind of entertainment is given and every class catered to. The beautiful lake, with its fast electric launches, the bather's beach, and shoot the chutes are features of more than common every-day interest. The Cuban Village and the Scenic Theater are two recently added attractions. One of the finest bowling alleys ever constructed presents a lively scene every afternoon and evening, being crowded with ladies and gentlemen, enjoying the healthy sport. The children find delight in riding on the scenic railway and the massive Ferris wheel. The big feature "Shooting the Chutes" (a water tobaggan), is always busy. 91

In addition, balloon ascensions, fireworks, fishing, dancing, and water

events were most popular. It was certainly not uncommon to find several

9Q1he Cincinnati Times Star, January l4, 1948, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. 91 "The Lagoon's Fourth," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, July 3, 1898, p. 10. 64 thousand people enjoying themselves at the park. In 1897 the management expected about 75)000 people for their Independence Day (July 4th) cele- 92 bration.

Chester Park, another amusement park, was opened by George N.

Stone in 1875. It was named after one of Stone's race horses - Lady

Chester. The park was known for its amusement devices, swimming pool, race track, and skating rink. Special events were often scheduled which attracted thousands of people. Some of these included bicycle races, horse races, balloon ascensions, fireworks demonstrations, and exhibitions. John L. Sullivan even fought there in 1885. The park re­ mained a popular attraction well into the twentieth century. It even­ tually closed in 1932 . ^

Coney Island was another popular amusement park that opened in the late l800s. It was originally known as the Ohio Grove. Owner James

Parker advertised that his park was indeed the "Coney Island of the West." 94 The name caught on and was to eventually become just Coney Island.

The park offered many of the same types of attractions that were to be found at Chester Park. From spring to fall, one could always find a good crowd enjoying the amusements and recreational opportunities at

Coney Island. This was especially true on holidays. The Commercial

Gazette reported, in 1894, that a crowd estimated to be between 15,000

92 , "Local Amusements," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, July 4, 1897, p. 10. 93 Perry, op. cit., pp. 60, 91, and 9^-

^Ibid, p. 66. to 18,000 was in attendance for Fourth of July festivities at Coney Is-

Coney Island was to continue operating until the late 1960s when the owners opened a new amusement park north of the city.

GYMNASIUMS AND ATHLETIC CLUBS

The Cincinnati Gymnasium and Athletic Club and the German Turn- vereins were the most popular and well attended institutions of exercise in the city during the nineteenth century. Because of their popularity, they will be discussed in separate chapters. But these were not the only facilities available during this time. Other institutions that became

"physically" Involved especially during the late l800s included the

Y.M.C.A., the Catholic Institute and Gymnasium, the Sanatory Gymnasium, and the Avondale Athletic Club.

The first Young Men's Christian Association appeared in Cincin­ nati in 1848. It was established for the purpose of "giving young men a q6 good start.The exact date when athletics and physical activity became a part of the Y.M.C.A. in Cincinnati, could not be ascertained. In all probability, no significant involvement occurred much before 1880. The most popular event, at least the most publicized, appeared to be the

Field Day. The newspapers began reporting Y.M.C.A. involvement in field day activities in the l880s. One such report was made by the Enquirer on August 27, 1899:

98 ^"Coney Island," The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, July 5, 1894, p. 8.

ev. Charles Frederic Goss,.Cincinnati: The Queen City 1788-1912 (Cincinnati: S. J. Clarke, 1912), Vol. II, p. 3 07. 66

Some 2,000 people witnessed the Y.M.C.A. Field Day at Chester Park yesterday afternoon. The number of prominent athletic organizations and the entrance of several of the biggest men in the country had made the affair of unusual interest. 97

In the early 1890s the Sanatory Gymnasium was opened on Hopkins

Street. The gymnasium was under the direction of Miss Carrie Goldsmith who was a graduate of the Brooklyn Normal School for Physical Culture.

Usage of the gymnasium was limited primarily to women and children who had been recommended to Miss Goldsmith. Work appeared to be somewhat remedial or corrective in nature as the apparatus was specially designed for the "super delicate." The Gymnasium was operated according to rules established by the American Association for the Advancement of Physical 98 Education.

On June 28, 1892 the Catholic Institute and Gymnasium was formally opened in Covington. The gymnasium itself was located on the third floor

of the Walsh building on Sixth Street and Madison Avenue. The room mea­

sured some eighty square feet and was equipped with every kind of appli­

ance or mechanical device that would aid in the development of the body.

A running track surrounded the whole gym area. The ceiling, which was

25 feet above the floor, was suspended with rope ladders, flying rings,

climbing poles, and various trapezes. Parallel bars, horizontal bars,

vaulting horses, striking bags, and pulling and tugging machines were

located in the center of the room. In addition to the gymnasium, the

^ The Cincinnati Enquirer, August 27, l8995 clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. 98 "A Sanatory Gymnasium," The Cincinnati Times Star, January 21, 1891, p. 4. Institute also had a library, reading rooms, billiard rooms, wash rooms, and an auditorium. Membership numbered at about 350. According to

Superintendent Murphy of the Cincinnati Gymnasium, the Catholic Insti- 99 tute and Gymnasium was surpassed in quality and excellence by none.

It appeared that no expense had been sparred in providing such a fine facility.

The Avondale Athletic Club was established in the 1890s with the clubhouse and athletic grounds formally opened on July 4, 1898. The club provided facilities for baseball, tennis, swimming, shooting, boating, and track and field. Mr. F. L. Hoffman was hired to be in charge of the whole athletic program of the club. Hoffman had been an instructor at both Cornell and Yale before coming to the Queen City.^^

SUMMARY

Early Nineteenth Century Cincinnatians enjoyed dancing, billiards,

foot races, parties, and various games such as chess and dominoes. As

the century progressed toward its midpoint, and beyond, great interest was shown in ice skating, fishing, swimming, boating, and shooting.

Toward the end of the century, interests had expanded to include archery,

cycling, bowling, golf, tennis, baseball, and football. In addition to

the individual and team sports and activities, great interest was shown

in the various amusement parks and establishments of the area. Some of

the more prominent included the Highland House, Reichrath's Park, the

99 n •^The Kentucky Daily Commonwealth, June 27, 1892, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society.

10°npride Of Avondale," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, July 5, 1898, p. 6 . lagoon, Chester Park, and Coney Island. Early gymnasiums and athletic

clubs such as the Y.M.C.A., the Sanatory Gymnasium, the Catholic Insti­

tute and Gymnasium, and the Avondale Athletic Club, also proved to be popular gathering places for fun, amusement, and recreation.

It certainly goes without saying that recreation and amusement were important parts of the daily lives of nineteenth century Cincin­ natians . Chapter Pour

SPECTATOR SPORT

Sport, in Cincinnati during the nineteenth century, was not solely reserved for the participants. Sport also found great favor with specta­ tors. Many felt that if they could not play or compete, they could at least get the thrill of vicarious participation by cheering on their favor­ ites from the sidelines or grandstands. Of particular interest to the spectators of Cincinnati during the nineteenth century were balloon ascen­ sions, horse racing, sparring exhibitions, boat and swimming races, various exhibitions such as circuses, menageries, and wild animal shows, plus other various athletic contests.

BALLOON ASCENSIONS

Balloon ascents were taking place in the United States as early as 1784. The young unsettled nation, however, did not provide the balloonist with the most ideal conditions. For one thing, it proved to be most costly to haul the necessary equipment from city to city. People were also reluctant to pay admission charges when they could watch from the streets for nothing. In any case, the majority of balloon ascents were primarily confined to the East.^

■''Tom D. Crouch, "Up, Up, and - Sometimes - Away," The Cincinnati Historical Society Bulletin, XXVIII (Summer, 1970), pp. 109-110.

69 70

The greatest American balloonist of the early nineteenth century m s Charles Ferson Durant of Baltimore. Having studied under the great

European Eugene Robertson, Durant revolutionized ballooning in America.

Durant became so well known that aspiring aeronauts would come to Balti- 2 more to receive instruction in ballooning as offered by Durant. The instruction was free.

Simple unpiloted balloon ascensions were popular spectacles in early Cincinnati. As early as July 4, 1815, a Mr. Gaston announced to the people of Cincinnati that he would release a large free balloon prior to a fireworks demonstration. The balloon, which was decorated with an

American Coat of Arms, measured 80 feet in circumference. The launching took place from an enclosed area that had been fitted with spectator seats.

Admission was set at one dollar for adults and fifty cents for children.

Thomas Kirby proved to be Ohio1s first aeronaut. He had lived in Baltimore for some time prior to coming to Cincinnati, and may have

studied under Durant. In 1834 Kirby constructed an amphitheater in

Cincinnati on Court Street between Race and Elm Streets which was capable

of holding from 4,000 to 5j000 spectators. His first flight was origi­ nally scheduled for November 27, 1834 but had to be postponed several

times due to mechanical difficulties. He finally completed a success­

ful ascent on December l8, 1834. This first successful voyage of Kirby

culminated with his landing on the farm of Samuel Riley near Williams- 4 burg, Ohio in Clermont County.

2 3 4 Crouch, op. cit.,p. 110. Ibid, p. 109. Ibid, p. 110. 71

On December 27, 1834 Kirby launched M s balloon from the Cincin­ nati ampMtheater for a second time. The success of M s first flight had reached the ears of thousands of Cincinnati people, and as a result, one of the largest crowds ever to assemble in Cincinnati was on hand for the launch. Unfortunately for Kirby, M s profits fell several hundreds of dollars short of the expenses that he had incurred. His flights had 5 however, stimulated a great enthusiasm for ballooMng in Cincinnati.

The accounts of Kirby's ascensions and failures were recorded both publicly, (in the newspapers), and privately (in personal letters).

One such account was made by Rebekah Gest to Erasmus Gest in a personal letter:

If they do not succeed, it is to be feared that sometMng very unpleasant may occur. A mob threatens its or M s failure. They collected on the ground on the eveMng of their unsuccess­ ful efforts to raise it, with a determination to level every- tMng connected with it . . . kept the ladies and gentlemen coopt up in the ampMtheatre until almost dark, but were dis­ persed without anytMng serious taking place. On the release- ment of they gentry of the ampMtheatre, Mr. Kirby distributed cards of admission (amongst them) to the ascension of the balloon. No money returned. 6

In 1835 Richard Clayton, a young English watchmaker who had come

to America and opened a shop at the corner of Sycamore and Second Streets

in Cincinnati in the 1830s, took over where Kirby had left off. On

March 26, 1835, the following announcement appeared in the Daily Gazette:

With the largest and most splendid silk Balloon in the UMted States, and the first ever constructed West of the Mountains, Mr. Clayton Respectfully informs M s friends and the public, that he intends making an Ascension, with M s

5Ibid.

^Charles Schultz, ed., "Glimpses Into Cincinnati's Past: The Gest Letters, 1834-1842," O M o History, LXXIII (Summer, 1964), p. 159. 72

stupendous Aerial Machine, from Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 8th, from an Amphitheater, on Court Street, (between Race and Elm Streets) and that when he has ascended to the altitude of a mile, he will let down a Parachute, 125 square feet in surface, containing a living animal, which will descend with safety to the earth. He will afterwards ascend to a great altitude, and if the wind be favorable, continue in the atmosphere the whole of the night, and perform a voyage of unusual length.7

The "Star of the West," as the balloon was called, was nearly fifty feet in height, was formed of 4,500 square feet of silk, and occupied a space of 18,000 cubic feet when fully inflated. The balloon also had an upwards ascension power of 1 ,000 pounds which would allow it to carry two or three passengers.

Tickets for the launch were on sale at the various hotels and could be purchased for fifty cents each. In addition to the launch, the

spectators in the amphitheater were to be entertained by a band that would play while the balloon was being inflated.

The launch proved to be successful on April 8, 1835. Clayton managed to keep his balloon aloft for nine and one half hours while

traveling a distance of 350 miles. He landed on a mountain top in

Monroe County, Virginia. This was the longest voyage to have ever

been performed by any person in a balloon.

For Clayton, the launch and flight proved to be financially un­

successful. Although thousands had witnessed the launch, not enough

had paid the admission charge to witness the event from the amphitheater.

Most spectators had been content to watch from the streets outside the

7 Maurer Maurer, "Richard Clayton - Aeronaut," Bulletin of the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio, XIII (April, 1955), p. 142. (This is the primary reference for the next seven paragraphs.) 73 amphitheater.

Clayton, however, did not become discouraged and soon set about planning a second launch from Cincinnati. He hoped to profit from the publicity and the experience that he had gained from the first flight.

The second flight, as Clayton planned it, was to take him, all the way to the Atlantic coast.

After some delays and an unsuccessful attempt, Clayton's second launch and flight finally took place on July 4, 1835- The number of spectators who paid the admission price and gathered in the amphitheater was estimated to be between 3S500 and 4,000. Many thousands of others gathered outside in the nearby streets to witness the spectacle.

Although Clayton failed to reach the Atlantic coast, in fact he failed to get out of Ohio, he did make history in that he had carried the first air mail in the United States. He had been provided with a mail bag containing daily newspapers and a number of letters for the east.

Perhaps the most famous aeronaut to visit Cincinnati before the

Civil War was John Wise from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His first Cincin­ nati ascent took place on October 93 1851 before a witnessing crowd of

several thousand. Accommodations had been made to hold 10,000 spectators.

The admission fee was twenty-five cents. Wise' s balloon was named the O "Ulysses."

In 1855 Eugene Godard, a balloonist who was famous for his spec­

tacular aerial performances, made his appearance in Cincinnati. As part

of his billing, Godard advertised that he would perform on a trapeze bar

Crouch, op, cit., p. 112. 74 while dangling some forty feet beneath the balloon. The ascent was sched­ uled to take place from the City Lot near the corner of Ninth and Plum

Streets. Admission was fifty cents for adults and twenty-five cents for children and servants. The ascent took place on September 24, 18.55 before a rather small paying crowd. An added attraction to the ascent was made when J. C. Belman, an editor from the Daily Gazette, was taken along as a passenger. The flight ended when the balloon came down about three mil.es 9 outside of Hamilton.

Godard made a second ascent on October 1, 1855- To attract a larger paying crowd, he reduced the admission charge to twenty-five cents.

He also attached a balloon car to the balloon and sold tickets for balloon rides. Four passengers accompanied Godard on this second flight that was witnessed by about 33000 paying spectators and countless others who had again, stationed themselves in the streets. The flight ended some 51 miles from Cincinnati near Waynesville when the balloon came down rather abruptly injuring the passengers. The injuries were minor, however.

In the autumn of 1858, the Cincinnati newspapers began carrying advance notice of a great balloon race that would be held between Godard and John H. Steiner, a balloonist from Philadelphia. The race, to begin in Cincinnati, was scheduled for October l8, 1858 and was to prove who was the best aeronaut in the nation. The following article appeared in the Daily Gazette on October 1 3 , 1858:

9 in Ibid, pp. 115-116. Ibid, pp. 116-117. 75

From the early experiments made In ballooning the science has progressed until we find an hundred or more daring aero­ nauts who are ready to chance life and limb for the gratifi­ cation of the multitude. That danger, imminent and startling, attends these aerial voyages, has been sadly evidenced by the destruction of life and the maiming of persons; but the climax of daring will be reached in the Great Balloon Race, the first which has ever taken place in America, between Godard and Steiner.H

Articles such as this appeared regularly up until the race to stimulate, spectator interest.

On the day of the race, a third balloon was entered under the direction of J. C. Belman, the "balloon writer" for the local Cincinnati newspaper. Belman's balloon, the Niagara, was the first to leave and the first to land coming down near Glendale, a few miles north of Cincin­ nati. The crowd of some 30,000 to 40,000 who had paid the 25^ admission fee was not, however, there to see Belman. They had paid to see the

liftoff of the two real champions. The total number of spectators,

counting those in the streets, was estimated to be near one hundred thou­

sand. Pickpockets and thieves took full advantage of the crowd and the 12 occasion to make off with several watches and wallets.

Godard's balloon, the Leviathan, was the larger of the two with

a 36,860 cubic foot gas bag. Steiner's balloon, the Pride of the West,

measured some 30,000 cubic feet and was made of the finest Irish linen.^

The race between Godard and Steiner lasted for better than six

hours with Godard coming down some 20 miles south of Sandusky after

having been aloft for some six hours. Steiner, who turned out to be the

^ The Cincinnati Daily Gazette, October 13, 1858, p. 1.

12Crouch, op. cit., pp. 118-121. 1^Ibid, p. 118. winner, managed to stay aloft for some six and one-half hours coming down on a farm just outside Sandusky. The winning distance was reported to be l4 230 miles.

In l86l Thaddeus Sobieski Cou-Lincourt Lowe, a balloonist from

New Hampshire, came to Cincinnati. Lowe, after having had little success

in the New York and Philadelphia areas, shifted his operations to Cincin­

nati where balloon ascensions had already proved to be great spectator

curiosities. He had became acquainted with Murat Halstead, the editor of

the Daily Commercial, who agreed to publicize Lowe's flights. Halstead

also introduced Lowe to several wealthy Cincinnatians who agreed to pro­

vide financial support for Lowe's upcoming flight - a trip to the Atlantic

coast . ^

On April 20, l86l Lowe left Cincinnati aboard his balloon, the

Enterprise. Although Lowe failed to reach the coast, he did come close,

ending up in . Lowe was to make another major flight from

Cincinnati to Hamilton, Ontario, . He eventually became the first

successful military observation balloonist in American history, with his

talents being used by the during the Civil War.^

Cincinnati continued to welcome visiting aeronauts following the

Civil War. Ballooning, however, had become such a common sport that only

an extremely daring and entertaining performer could command attention.

Such a performer was Washington Harrison Donaldson. Donaldson, who was

an acrobat, magician, ventriloquist, and tightrope walker, in addition

to being a balloonist, was the last balloonist to perform in Cincinnati

l4Ibid, pp. 118-121. 15Ibid, pp. 121-124. l6Ibid, pp. 124-129. 77 during the nineteenth century. In 1874 he appeared in Cincinnati with

P. T. Barnum for a series of performances. His performances attracted many spectators. On one occasion, when an aerial wedding was featured,

50,000 spectators were on hand when the balloon was launched from Lincoln 17 Park. The wedding was the world's first to be performed in a balloon.

On July 15, 1875 Donaldson was lost when his balloon came down in Lake Michigan. With his death, ballooning came to a close in Cincin- .. 18 nati.

HORSE RACING

Horse racing, with its traditions going back to early colonial days, was the first of the popular spectator sports. Largely prohibited in the earlier years, it gradually worked its way back to favor and acceptance. The highly organized meets were to eventually take the place of the more informal rural races and found great favor among the specta­ tors. Such racing was to flourish in all parts of the country except

New England, with the South and the West being the true centers for the sport. The best known courses in the country were to be found at New

York, Washington, Louisville, Cincinnati, and New O r l e a n s . ^

Horse racing in Cincinnati dates back to the early Fort Washing­ ton days. The Enquirer provides the following account of what those early days were like:

17Ibid, pp. 129-130 . l8Ibid, pp. 130 -131 . 19 Foster Rhea Dulles, America Learns to Play (New York: D. Appleton-Century Co., 1940), pp. 139-141. 78

. . . long before Race Street took its name, in l8l4, people of the garrison and some of their civilian neighbors would risk as much as $20 a side on the running of their favorite horses along the stretch of present Race Street where is now Fourth Street to the future Hamilton Road, and later McMicken A v e n u e . 20

The first legislation against such racing came about in 1822 21 when a $50 fine was imposed for starting horses to race within the city.

Horse racing was to become such a popular attraction that it often inter­ fered with normal routines. Once such incident was reported by Colonel

Jeremiah Kiersted:

. . . in 1836 or 1837 I witnessed the finish of the great race between George Creaine and Perdy Merrott, over Reading road, from Reading to the corner of Broadway and Court. Creaine arrived way ahead of Merrott and won the race. I was a student at Woodward College. The interest in the race was so great that it was too much for us to go to school that day; and so we played what is called "hookey."22

In the 1830s a race track was established at the Carthage Fair­

grounds and was known as the Buckeye Course. In 1839 harness racing was introduced at the Buckeye Course. This marked the first introduc­

tion of harness racing to Ohio. Horse racing mixed well with the fairs that were held on the grounds and the political speechmaking that was

carried on at these local gatherings. Spectators gathered to listen to

the speeches of such notables as and Henry Clay,

followed by an afternoon of horse racing. In 1851 with the completion

of the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad, the track and the

fairgrounds became even more accessible to the many followers of horse

20 "Horse Racing In An Earlier Day," The Cincinnati Enquirer, October 24, 1920. 21 22 Ibid. Ibid. 79 23 racing. This, of course, meant an increase in the number of people who attended the track.

During the l840s two tracks were laid out in the Cincinnati area.

The first of these was called the Brighton. The second, which was prob­ ably laid out some time in 1843, was known as the Queen City Track. This original Queen City Track was built along the Ohio River out in an area known as Sedansville. This track, however, had a short life. The land was purchased by Jacob Storey who converted it into truck gardens. Later in the l840s, the second Queen City Track was laid out near Ludlow, Ken­ tucky. This track was used for several seasons with a number of great races occurring there. Horses were mainly from Kentucky, and 24 Louisiana.

In the late l860s the great Buckeye track was constructed in an area that is today known as Ivorydale. The investors in this enterprise were numerous and liberal in their investments. The President of the enterprise, Charles ¥. Wooley, was an ardent supporter and backer who long served as a starter for many races. The Buckeye enjoyed many seasons where the attendance and interest in racing was very high. Many racing veterans even compared these finest days to those at Saratoga. Races attracted people from many states, including people of wealth and fashion.

It, of course, goes without saying that betting was very popular and 25 fashionable.

2%rs. James M. Zimmerman, ed., "The Sport of Kings: Horseracing In Cincinnati," The Cincinnati Historical Society Bulletin, XXXI (Summer, 1973), p. 105. 24 "Horse Racing In An Earlier Day," The Cincinnati Enquirer, October 24, 1920.

25Ibid. 80

The newspapers were of course cooperative and. reported the results of the local races. The following article appeared in the Cincinnati

Evening Chronicle in 1869:

The trotting race on the Buckeye track yesterday afternoon attracted a crowd of four or five thousand persons, who seemed to enjoy the sport h u g e l y . 26

In time, the date not "being certain, the Buckeye track was closed.

According to the Enquirer, "one reason for the closing of the Buckeye was the value of the immense deposits of fine sand and gravel in its great bed. These were speedily dug out for railroad purposes, and many manu­ facturing industries took the place of the carnival scenes of racing of 27 long ago."

Beginning in 1875 horse racing was also carried out at Chester

Park. Chester Park was an amusement park that had its own track. In addition to horse racing, bicycle and foot races were also staged. The

Enquirer reported the following racing news, regarding Chester Park, in

1876:

The fall meeting at Chester Park commences next Tuesday and continues four days. Each day there will be trotting and one running race. Some of the best horses in the country are en­ tered and the sport promises to be tip top. 28

Both trotting and running races were held on Chester Park's half- mile track for five years. The promotion and management of the project

was under the leadership of John Sullivan. He was ably assisted by

2 The Cincinnati Evening Chronicle, July 23, 1869, p. 3* 27 "Horse Racing In An Earlier Day," The Cincinnati Enquirer, October 24, 1920. 28tv^ Ibid. Charles Kilgour and Captain George N. Stone. Although Chester Park was the scene of some great races, racing never became a profitable venture as reported by the Enquirer:

. . . Chester was never profitable to those who invested their money there. It was conducted on a very liberal scale, for those days, with purses as high as $600.29

On June 9, 1883 the Latonia Racetrack was opened to a crowd of

8,000 spectators. The establishment had been built on 200 acres of land

in Kenton County, Kentucky and included a one-mile oval track, a grand­

stand, and a clubhouse. It was built by a group of men who were deter­ mined to have a track in that was as popular and

successful as Churchill Downs which had been opened in Louisville in

l875- James T. McGibben headed the group that had organized under the

name Latonia Jockey Club. The name Latonia had come from a nearby resort,

Lettonian Springs.^

Latonia quickly became one of the best known tracks in America,

and fashionable people from all over the country attended its meets.

Throughout the l880s and 1890s, the track proved to be a prosperous

success. Crowds as large as 15,000 attended the daily meets. Spectators

would come by railroad, street car, or carriage. They would be properly

attired in their best racing attire - men wore top hats and derbys while 31 the women wore dresses with wasp waists and huge bustles.

In 1889, the Oakley racetrack was built by Fred Hazenfeld. This

track was a contemporary of the first Latonia track and was built on a

bluff overlooking Duck Creek Road. Up to this time, Oakley had been a

^Ibid. ^Zimmerman, op. cit., p. 105. ^Ibid, pp. 105-106. rather unimpressive small suburb of Cincinnati. With the building of the 32 racetrack, industry and business were soon attracted to the area.

Prominent people in the promotion and operation of the track were Henry

M. Ziegler, Mark Simonton, Samuel T. Harris, George R. Griffiths, and 33 Colonial Wilson of Cynthiana, Kentucky.

The Oakley track was described by the Commercial Gazette as 34 "the finest trotting track in the country." Like Latonia, it too was able to attract turfmen and racing stock from all parts of the country.

The 1890s proved to be the most successful years for the track.33>

Success, however, was rather short lived for the Oakley track.

By the turn of the century, the Oakley track was in trouble. Rumors and charges of corruption and organized gambling forced local officials to close the track for violating a state anti-betting law. The last running race was held in 1902. An effort to the track and restore its prestige was made when harness racing was introduced to Oakley. This effort failed, however, and the last harness race was held in 1904.3^

By the beginning of the twentieth century, organized racing was pretty much limited to the meets being held at Latonia. Other tracks such as the Buckeye, Chester Park, and Oakley, had come and gone. Latonia, for all practical purposes, was left by itself to satisfy the needs and desires of thousands of racing fans that lived in the Cincinnati area.

32 Ibid, p. 10 6. 33 Ibid. 3 \bid. 35 "Horse Racing In An Earlier Day," The Cincinnati Enquirer, October 24, 1920.

Zimmerman, op. cit., p. 106. Horse racing had become so popular that local newspapers devoted large shares of their sports' sections to racing. Coverage included races from Chicago, Washington, Dayton, New York, St. Louis, Lexington, Louis- 37 ville, Indianapolis, St. Paul, Detroit, Bay City, and LaPorte. Al­ though racing was limited primarily to the meets held at Latonia, by the close of the century, interest was still very strong.

SPARRING EXHIBITIONS

Sparring, or boxing, got its start in the United States when a few financially and socially elite men from the North and South took up the sport in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Black slaves became involved with the sport when slave owners encouraged the best fighters among their slaves to train and prepare themselves for matches. Heavy betting accompanied these matches when staged by the slave owners. Tom Molyneux from Virginia, was one of the more successful slave boxers.^

Sparring didn't become real popular, as a spectator attraction, in Cincinnati until the l880s. Before that, the main type of spectator attraction, that was similar in. nature, was the rough and tumble type fight. Such a spectacle was often staged in or near a tavern. One could speculate that perhaps the alcoholic beverage may have been an influencing factor. Caleb Walker, in his autobiographical sketches, describes such an occurrence that took place in 1802:

(The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, July 4, l8g4, p. 3 . oO Spears, op. cit., p. 65. 84

Among the crowd at Gano's tavern there were two stout men from Columbia who as they began to feel the stimulus of what they had drank began to boast that they could whip any two men on the grounds and this of course, according to the established customs of the country, was a public challenge to single combat; that it would be disgraceful for the crowd from the other parts of the county not to accept, and soon two men from Mill Creek Township volunteered for the trial. 'The yard on the north side of the tavern house was enclosed with a post and rail fence and a small space in it covered with new white oak rails - very knotty heart rails - rejected possibly on that account. In this yard a large ring was formed of spectators encircling the refuse knotty rails; into this ring the four combatants entered with their shirts off, and twelve men - six on either side - to in­ sure fair play; these were stripped like the combatants - nothing on above the waist. Any spectator might encourage by his voice but none were allowed to touch with hand or foot save at the peril of being knocked down instantly . . . When all was ready - at it they went the blood following every fair blow and the partisans on either side shouting encourage­ ment. At length the one armed man closed in with his antagonist - grabbed the seat of his breeches, took him on his hip and by an adroit and powerful effort whirled him with his heels higher than his head and threw him with his bare back on the sharp angles knots and splinters of the refuse oak rails with such force as to knock the breath out of him for a time and so bruised and lacer­ ated his back that the blood flowed from that as well as his head and face, and a few more blows from that single monster fist settled the question, and he cried "enough," after which the rest forbade his receiving another scratch or injury of any kind, and about the same time the other Columbian cried "enough" also, [sic]. . .39

As previously mentioned, sparring became a popular spectator attraction in the Queen City during the l880s. Most of the credit for its popularity goes to the Cincinnati Gymnasium and Athletic Club.

Sparring exhibitions were a frequent attraction at the gym. Many highly publicized sparring matches brought over-flow crowds. Ticket scalping was a common occurrence with fifty cent tickets bringing as much as five dollars each. Long lines would form outside the gym before each event.

^%alker, op. cit., pp. 14-15. Another reason for the success of sparring in Cincinnati, at least from a spectator or paying customer perspective, was the number of quality amateur boxers that Cincinnati had. The Commercial Tribune in

1894 stated that "there is no city in America that can show more good 4o amateur boxers, according to population, than Cincinnati. Additional information about sparring is included in chapter VIII.

BOAT AND SWIMMING RACES

Whenever aquatic competition was held on the Ohio River, one could be assured that spectators would be on hand to witness the events. This was especially true if the competition had had prior publicity in the local newspapers. One such event occurred in 1887 when a swimming race between Frank Dresselhaus and J. R. Johnson was held in the Ohio River.

The race was probably the most famous and best publicized swimming event to be held in the Queen City area up to this time. With a prize of fifty dollars at stake, the Enquirer reported that the event was witnessed by 4l a large crowd. The event was won by Dresselhaus.

Another well publicized race, this time a rowing race, was held in 1876. This was a challenge race between Henry Weber and John Tucker with the loser agreeing to pay the winner $100. Again, the Enquirer reported that a sizeable crowd of spectators lined of the Ohio 4-2 to witness the event. Weber proved victorious in this event.

40 "Our Gymnasium," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, November 11, 1894. 41 "Dresselhaus Wins Again," The Cincinnati Enquirer, August 29, 1887, p. 2 . 42 "Weber Defeats Tucker in the Three-Mile Race," The Cincinnati Enquirer, September 24, 1876, p. 9- 86

In 1895 the Enquirer established a regatta to which they donated

$300 worth of prizes. The gala event was well publicized by the news­ papers well in advance of the actual date. The event was held on Octo­ ber 6, 1895 at the Ludlow Lagoon, a favorite amusement and recreation

establishment. The event proved to be a magnificent success with more 43 than 8,000 spectators on hand to enjoy the competition.

EXHIBITIONS

Various exhibitions and performances, that were of spectator

interest, were continuously being staged in the Queen City during the

nineteenth century. Any sort of novelty or act of apparent danger to

the participant, seemed to attract spectators in large numbers. Some

of the more popular attractions included circus performances, menageries,

and rope walking demonstrations.

Circus performances were popular spectator attractions through­

out most of the nineteenth century. As early as l8l4 the grand circus

of Pepin, Breschard and Cayetano made a stop in Cincinnati. This

particular circus had gained fame as a result of its performances in

such Eastern cities as Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. Their

performances were based on grand and brilliant exhibitions of horseman­

ship with fireworks added as a spectacular conclusion to each show. The

price of admission in l8l4 was one dollar for box seats, seventy-five 44 cents for seats in the pit, and fifty cents for children.

43 -The Cincinnati Enquirer, October 7, 1895, p. 2. 44 Qphia D. Smith, "The Early Theater of Cincinnati," Bulletin of the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio, XIII (October, 1955), p. 240. Another circus to make appearances in Cincinnati was the Howe and Company Circus. This circus made appearances around the middle of the century. Their attractions included eight lady performers, a group of , equestrians, gymnasts, camels, ponies, and a dwarf. Advertise- 45 ments appeared daily in the Enquirer prior to their appearance.

Another circus name to be associated with the Queen City during the nineteenth century was John F. Robinson. Known as the "circus king,"

Robinson acquired his show in 1824, long before Ringling brothers or

James Bailey or P. T. Bamum ever thought about a circus. His show be­ came famous from New England to Florida and attracted enthusiastic crowds wherever performances were staged. In 1852 Robinson came to Cincinnati, while his circus was in Kentucky, to get treatment for sore eyes. He liked the city so well that he brought his family back for the winter.

He eventually made Cincinnati his winter home with his circus being boarded at a farm near Williamsburg. Cincinnati was to remain his home until his death in 1888. His circus gained fame while being the first to exhibit in Florida and was also the first traveling tent show to appear in Texas. Among the many celebrities who enjoyed his performances 46 were U. S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, Zachary Taylor, and Abraham Lincoln.

While in Cincinnati, Robinson was also responsible for the build­

ing of the Robinson Opera House, which became one of the city's oldest

and most famous landmarks. The theater, which stood at the northeast

corner of Ninth and Plum Streets, was designed so that winter perfor­

mances of the circus could be staged. Cages and stalls were provided

^The Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, July 15, 1848, p. 3-

^The Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, July 9> 1848, p. 3 . 88

for the animals in the cellar of the theater. The Opera House was used not only for circus performances, which attracted huge crowds, but also 47 for drama, opera, and spiritualistic sessions.

Menageries, or animal shows, were also popular spectator attrac­

tions. Crowds of spectators would line the streets to catch glimpses of

the caged animals. The Enquirer reported the following account of a

Menagerie that came to Cincinnati in 1848:

The splendid Caravan of Van Amburg & Co.'s animals, will enter the city today from Newtown, and parade through several of the principal streets, in a grand procession. We have heard much of the magnificience of the trappings, cages, and in fact all the appointments of the establishment, and we dare to say that it is on a larger scale than any that has ever yet visited our city.48

Another animal performance was held in 1851. Known as the "great

buffalo hunt," this show featured a half dozen Indian warriors, fresh

from the Nebraska plains, mounted on their wild native horses and in

pursuit of a wild buffalo. Spectator interest in this event was good

as reported by Dunlap:

On the morning of June 23, an estimated 5, CX)0 Cincinnatians . . . made an exodus from the city, crossed the river on the many boats pressed into service for the occasion, and paid fifty cents for admission to a hastily constructed "grand stand” at the Queen City Race Course to see native Americans track down and kill buffa­ loes. 49

47 Frances A. Rosenthal, "Robinson Circus, Cincinnati's Own, Spread Name of City to Four Coiners of U. S., The Cincinnati Times-Star, June 5, 1940.

48-J-.Ibid. . . 49 The Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, August 3 , 1848, p. 3- Unfortunately for the spectators, the whole show proved to he a farce when the wild buffalo, which had been raised on a farm near Columbus, came out in the arena and laid down in a puddle of mud. Attempts to arouse the buffalo from his mud puddle proved fruitless. Needless to say, the spectators were enraged.^

Tigjit rope walking exhibitions became spectator attractions dur­ ing the second half of the nineteenth century. One such exhibition was staged in 1869 as reported by the Evening Chronicle:

This afternoon, lovers of excitement will be entertained with a free exhibition of rope walking on Broadway, below Pearl, by the "Taylor Brothers." It is a pitty there is no ordinance to prevent foolhardy persons from risking their lives in this silly way.51

OTHER ATHLETIC CONTESTS

In addition to the already mentioned spectator attractions, the people of Cincinnati were attracted to other various athletic contests. The most notable of these, which were mentioned in other chapters, includes:

Ice Skating: On a January day in 1868, more than 2,000 spectators 52 were on hand to watch the skaters at the Queen City Rink.

Shooting: A shooting match held at Coney Island in August of 1889 58 was witnessed by 3,500 spectators.

50 James F. Dunlap, "Sophisticates And Dupes: Cincinnati Audiences, 1851," Bulletin of the Historic and Philosophical Society of Ohio, XIII April, 1955), PP. 95-96.

^The Cincinnati Evening Chronicle, January J, 1869, p. 4. 52 The Cincinnati Evening Chronicle, April 1, 1923, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society.

•^The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, August 9, 1889, p. 6 . 9 0 Field Days: On June 3? 1887 nearly 1,000 spectators were in attendance at the first University of Cincinnati Field Day.9^ In 1888 55 the second University Field Day attracted 3,000 spectators. The

Y. M. C. A. Field Day of 1899, which was held at Chester Park, had more 56 than 2 ,0 0 0 spectators in attendance.

Baseball: A baseball game between the Gym Team and Mayesville, held in 1895, attracted the largest crowd ever to attend a baseball game 57 in Cincinnati. More than 10,000 spectators were on hand.

Golf: In 1898 a golf match between the Clifton Club and the

Dayton Golf Club was witnessed by the largest crowd ever to witness a 58 golf match in Cincinnati.

SUMMARY

The people of Cincinnati were a group that were interested in the

leisure activities that were taking place in their city. They supported

the various sporting and recreation activities either directly, as parti­

cipants, or indirectly, as spectators. Their interest and appreciation

for a good contest between two teams or individuals was evidenced by

their attendance. They were also curious people and people who enjoyed

9\he McMicken Review, June 1887, Vol. I, No. 6, p. 48.

99The McMicken Review, January 1895, Vol. IX, No. 5, P- 8 6. 56 The Cincinnati Enquirer, August 27, 1899, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. 57 "Hooray For The Cincinnati Gyms," The Cincinnati Enquirer September 2, 1895, P- 2. 58 ...... "The City Golf Clubs," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, July 3 , 1898, p. 1 6. seeing fate being challenged as evidenced by their attendance at special attractions such as menageries, balloon ascensions, and tigjrt rope walk­ ing exhibitions. If some athletic contest, sporting event, amusement attraction, or exhibition was being held in the city, one could guarantee that a sizable number of citizens would be on hand to witness it, provid­ ing ample advertisements or announcements had been made. Chapter Five

THE GERMAN ELEMENT

In the early and mid l800s, German immigrants constituted one of the most important elements in the American population. Motivated by the desire to get ahead, Germans, of varying backgrounds, were attracted to the land of opportunity. Craftsmen, peasants, laborers, educated men, and political refugees all responded to America's promise of freedom.

Ohio was fortunate enough to attract a large share of these

German immigrants. Even Germans who had previously settled in New Eng­ land, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania were attracted to the rural and city areas of Ohio. By 1850, the German b o m population in Ohio numbered

111,257 which was more than double the nearest competitor - the Irish.

By 1870, nearly half of the state's foreign bo m were German. Accord­ ing to Wittke, the Germans who settled in Ohio were:

. . . respected for their thrift, and for their competence as craftsmen - bakers, tailors, tanners and mechanics of many varieties, who had been trained in the rigorous apprentice system of Continental Europe, and who had made substantial con­ tributions as conscientious and highly-skilled artisans to the industrial life of the community, which included a wide variety of businesses, from wineries and breweries to the manufacture of stoves and musical instrum ents.2

■''Carl Wittke, "Ohio's Germans, 1840-1875," The Ohio Historical Quarterly, LXVI (October, 1957), p. 339- 2 Carl Wittke, "The Germans of Cincinnati," Bulletin of the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio, XX (January, 1962), p. 4. 92 Cincinnati1 s German population, during the nineteenth century, was heavily concentrated in an area commonly referred to as "Over the

Rhine." To many Germans, the Ohio River reminded them of the Rhine

River - thus the reference to the Rhine. Geographically speaking, the area was located, as we know the city today, at the base of the northern hills of Mt. Auburn and Clifton Heights, bounded on the south and west by the Central Parkway and on the east by Sycamore Street. The "Over the Rhine" area was an area of beer gardens, concert halls and breweries.

The area provided its people with homes, places of business and employ­ ment, and places for recreation.

Taverns were popular places of recreation after working hours or on Sundays. One could always find a sociable group of Germans drinking beer and playing a friendly game of skat, pinochle, or euchre at their favorite tavern. On Sundays, entire families would frequent the beer gardens where they could enjoy good music, foaming brews, and friendly acquaintances. Politicians recognized the importance of the beer gardens to the German way of life and made them regular stops on their political circuits. Rutherford B. Hayes "found it politically advantageous to stop in regularly for his Schoppen of beer in one of Cincinnati's leading beer gardens."^ By i860, Cincinnati had more than two thousand taverns or saloons where drinks were sold. Cincinnati had also became one of the 5 nation's leading brewing and distilling centers.

^Ibid, p. 7-

\ittke, "Ohio's Germans, 1840-1875," pp. 340-341.

^Ibid, p. 34l. Being very social people, the Germans enjoyed their music, dra­ matic performances, sharpshooting, howling, and cards. Outings and picnics were also popular social events. In addition, two or three dances a week were regularly advertised hy German societies in the local 6 newspapers.

The majority of German immigrants who came to the United States came for economic reasons. Along with their economic purposes, the

Germans brought with them a rich cultural heritage from old Europe.

According to Wittke, as late as 1888, a writer in Harper's Magazine com­ mented: "that Cincinnati's chief interest was not its business enter­ prises but its cultural life, and to this remarkable development the 7 Germans made a significant contribution."

TURNERS AND TURNVEREINS

The German Tumverein provided still another outlet where recrea­ tion could be enjoyed by the German community. To Cincinnati goes the distinction of having founded the first Turner organization in the United

States. Before this, the Turner movement had been confined predominantly

to Europe.

The Turner movement was started in l8ll in Berlin by Friedrich

Ludwig Jahn. His introduction of a new system of education, accompanied

by his opening of a public outdoor gymnasium, came on the heels of a

long period of physical degeneration during which physical education was

all but forgotten. Jahn's chief aim was to:

6Ibid, p. 343. 7 Wittke, "The Germans of Cincinnati," p. 9 . . . . regenerate the people bowed down under the yoke of the French oppressor of Germany, Napoleon I, by educating them physically, as well as mentally. The bloody, but vic­ torious, struggle to free Germany of said yoke in 1813 to 1815 proved, beyond doubt, the success of Jahn's ideas and efforts.°

Expanding on Jahn's aims and purposes, O'Connor stated:

The way to restore the German nation and build up the physique of its men, he believed, was through violent exer­ cise. Healthy minds in healthy bodies would turn to healthy patriotic thoughts.9

The Turner movement which Jahn had started in l8ll in the Hasen- heide near Berlin, spread rapidly over all of Germany. Its original pur­ pose was soon expanded to include the building of political liberalism.

This political involvement, however, brought the Turner movement to a sudden and temporary end in 1819. Reactionary governments in Germany feared the political strength and involvement of the Turners. 1(1

The movement, however, did not die. In 1824, Jahn's were being introduced into the United States. Dr. Karl Beck, Dr. Karl

L. Follen and Dr. Franz Lieber, who were pupils, disciples and co-workers of Jahn, pioneered the initial movement in America. 11 All three had fled Germany between 1824 and 1827 when the Turner movement was being condemned.

The Jahn system of gymnastics was divided into three groups - elective exercises, obligatory class gymnastics, and games. The elective

8 "German Turners," The Cincinnati Enquirer, September 3, 1876, p. 9 Richard O'Conner, The German-Americans (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1968), p. 28 3 .

10Ibid, p. 387. 11 Cincinnati Central Turners Souvenir Program, 1948, p. 22. 96 exercises provided each participant the opportunity to perfect a particu­ lar exercise or activity for which he was physically equipped. This might include running, vaulting, jumping, swimming, fencing, climbing, or apparatus work. The obligatory class gymnastics were done as a group with

everyone participating. This group included free exercise, orderly exer­

cise, marching drills, and lighter forms of apparatus work. Games were

considered by Jahn to be very important and everyone participated. They

were designed to develop alertness, quick judgement, rapidity of decision

and action, and an optimistic spirit. Between games and at the beginning

and close of each session, patriotic songs were sung. A short patriotic 12 talk was also included in each session.

Although Beck, Follen and Lieber were successful in introducing

Jahn's gymnastics, they were, however, unsuccessful in their efforts to

establish Tumerism in the United States. Conditions were not yet "ripe."

It was not until the revolution in 1848 that German emigrants, who came

to the United States to escape persecution, were able to establish the IS first Turner Society - the Cincinnati Turngemeinde.

On October 22, 1848, the Cincinnati Turngemeinde was organized

under the leadership of Friedrich Hecker, a leading insurrectionist in

the German Revolution of 1848, who happened to be visiting friends in

Cincinnati. A meeting was held between Hecker and several friends at

Kienzel's cafe at Fifteenth and Plum Streets. An official constitution

was adopted on November 21, 1848 at a second meeting held at the same 14 cafe. Fourteen Cincinnati Germans responded to the Turner call and

12 ' IS Ibid, p. 22. °Ibid. 14 The Cincinnati Enquirer, November 12, 1938, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. 97 began setting up exercises in a vacant lot. The original members included:

Otto Krebs, Adolph Krebs, C. Leopold Fettweis, Carl Sproudl, J. A. Eiselen,

Rudolph Tafel, Hugo Gollmer, Ferdinand Hoffmeister, , Albert

Tafel, Gottleib Wiese, and William Pfaender. Two members of the junior lb class included Hugo Tafel and Richard Tafel.

With Cincinnati providing the initial example, other cities soon

followed suit and established their own Turner societies. By 1851 there

were 25 Turner societies in existence in the United States. Of the 25,

however, four cities - New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Cincinnati -

contained approximately half of the total national membership. By 1853

the number of societies had increased to about 60 and by i860 there were

150 societies with about 10,000 total members.1^

Turnerbund

In July of 1850 the New York Turner Society proposed that a

confederation of the societies be established. The New York Society de­

clared that it was ready to unite with any other societies in the forming

of this league or bund, and invited all other societies to join. The

Cincinnati Society and many of the other societies hesitated for some time

showing no inclination to join. Only Philadelphia, Boston and Baltimore

were quick to declare their approvals. The frontier or "backward" soci­

eties were hesitant to join with the "big 4" of the east.

The first of the hold outs to align with the "big 4" was Cincin­

nati. This occurred in March of 1851. This action worked like a

^^Cincinnati Central Turners Souvenir Program, 1948, p. 2 3 .

"^Fred E. Leonard and George B. Affleck., A Guide to the History of Physical Education (Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1947), p. 295- tremendous magnet, for, within a short time, St. Louis, Pittsburgh,

Rochester, New York, Louisville, Indianapolis, and Peoria all fell in line.^" Cincinnati had become the undeclared leader of the "other" societies. This action in itself shows the respect for and the influ­ ence of the early Cincinnati Society.

By the close of 1851, seventeen societies had joined the bund.

Cincinnati was one of the dominant societies in the bund having the

second largest Turner membership of the cities. Only Baltimore was 18 larger, having a few more members.

In September of 1851, the first Bundesfest, or general assembly

of all the member societies, was held in Philadelphia. The event was a

complete success and established Tumerism on a sound basis in the United

States. "An immediate consequence was an unexampled spread of Turner 19 societies throughout the country."

In 1852, two fests were held with one of these occurring in

Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Fest proved to be very successful. The

President of the Cincinnati Turngemeinde, Mr. Wiest, delivered the open­

ing address. Thirty societies were represented with members from Louis­

ville, Hamilton, Baltimore, and Madison on hand to compete for the

twenty-five major prizes that were offered. Of noteworthy importance

was the fact that many women took an active part in the management of 20 this first Cincinnati Turn Fest. During the business meeting a

resolution was passed by which each gymnastic society was forced to

17 1"The Cincinnati Societies In The Great North American Turner Bund," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, May 9S l8975 P- 9-

l8T,Ibid. . . Ibid. 20 Ibid.t v , - ^ 99 subscribe for as many copies of the Tumzeitung (official publication) as it had members. This resolution was to become an unpopular issue among 21 many of the societies.

Annual fests were held from 1853 to 1857 with Cincinnati again hosting the affair in l8[55« During a meeting held in Cincinnati in 1855, a plan for the establishment of a Turner settlement originated. The ulti­ mate conclusion to this plan was the establishment of the Turner settle- 22 ment of New Ulm, Minnesota. In 1857 a split in the bund took place

which divided the societies of the West from those of the East. Separate

fests were held in Milwaukee (West) and New York (East). Relations

between the two factions remained strained for several years. In the

gloom of the approaching Civil War, hard times hit upon all the bunds,

societies, and their members. There was even some fear that the whole 23 Turner movement could end up being dissolved.

Near the close of the Civil War, efforts were made in an attempt

to revive the old bund. The St. Louis Society was primarily responsible

for these revival efforts. Differences and hard feelings between the

East and West were finally overcome early in 1865 and the bund was reor­

ganized. The first fest of the newly revived bund was held in Cincinnati

in September of 1865. This event proved to be the greatest assemblage

of Turners that had ever gathered together in America up to this time.

21 Henry Metzner, "A Brief History of the North American Gymnastic Union," Translated by Theo, Stempfel, Jr., Mind and Body, XX (May, 1913), p. 96. Op Ibid, pp. 97-98. 23 The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, May 9, 1897, p. 9* 100

An interesting side note, according to Metzner, was that "at the Turnfest in Cincinnati, in September of 1865, a national meeting of the teachers of physical training, the first of its kind in the history of German- 24 American gymnastics, was convened in that city." Other fests were held

in Cincinnati in 1873 and 1889. The 1889 fest, under the leadership of 25 Karl Kroh, was the twenty-fifth such fest to be held. During the fest,

1,179 Turners competed.

Cincinnati Turners

The first meeting place of the Cincinnati Turners was in the house

or yard of Franz Helfferich at Thirteenth and Jackson Streets. Because of

rapidly increasing membership, this meeting place soon became inadequate

and in the Spring of 1850, a lot was leased on Walnut Street. This lot,

which was 100 feet by 200 feet in size, soon had a gymnasium (40 feet by

80 feet) erected on it. By 1852, because of an ever increasing membership,

a larger building was erected. In 1858 with the expiration of the lease

on the grounds, an unsuccessful attempt was made to find a more suitable

location for the Turner Hall. The lease was renewed for an additional

twenty years on the old site, when a more suitable site was not found.

On May 22, 1858 a foundation was laid for a new $40,000 building. The

building was officially dedicated on December 4, 1859- The building was

to remain more or less intact until 1890 when a new and larger gym was

24 Henry Metzner, "A Brief History of the North American Gymnastic Union," Translated by Theo. Stempfel, Jr., Mind and Body, XXI (November, 1914), p. 362.

^^The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, May 93 l8975 P- 9* 101 built along with dressing and bathing facilities and a large hall over the gym.2 6

The building that was built in 1859 became known as the Central

Turner Hall. This building immediately became the headquarters of the society and the general meeting place for the Turners of the city and surrounding area. The Central Turner Hall was to remain as the head­ quarters for many years. It wasn't until the city expanded significantly and the German population began spreading out that other meeting places were established. The first of these was to become known as the North

Cincinnati Turner Hall which was organized in 1882. This hall was to serve as home base for the Germans of Corryville, Clifton, and Mt. 27 Auburn. More than one hundred members were on hand in 1882.

The second "branch" organization to be formed was the West Cincin­ nati Turner Society which was established in 1886. The Germans of the

West end found it most difficult to make the long trips to the Central

Hall in those days of horse cars. This prompted them to establish their own independent society. The establishment was completed when the West

End Turner Hall on Freeman Avenue was completed and ready for occupancy. 28 This occurred on April 26, 1886.

The first instructor of the Central Cincinnati Turners was Adolf

Riedel. He was followed by L. Graeser who served in said capacity from i860 to 1873* William Albin Stecher followed Graeser as instructor and became a true pillar of the organization for many years. He was followed

26 Central Turner Souvenir Program, op. cit., p. 26. 27 The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, May 9j l897j p. 9* 102 by Carl J. Kroh who was responsible for introducing the annual exhibitions at Music Hall. He started these exhibitions in 1880. Kroh also served as

Technical Leader of the 1889 Tumfest held in Cincinnati. It was at this

Turnfest that he introduced society competition and mass drills. Dr. A. A.

Knock, a fine disciplinarian and apparatus performer, succeeded Kroh as instructor in 1890. Kroh had left to become the Dean of the Turner Normal

College at Indianapolis. Knock, who later made a name for himself with his fine apparatus classes at Walnut Hills High School, remained as instruc­ tor until 1895, at which time Dr. Gustav Eckstein, Sr. took over. Eckstein served as instructor through the balance of the nineteenth century and 29 well on into the twentieth century.

From a financial standpoint, the Cincinnati Turners were, by the late l860s, financially stable. Funds were, for the most part, obtained from membership shares which were purchased by members. Money that was collected was used for normal operating expenses; to provide financial aid for sick members and their families; to provide financial aid to widows and orphans; and to provide financial aid to other Tumvereins 80 in other cities that were financially in need. It becomes most evi­ dent from this that the Turners were indeed a group that cared about and provided for their fellow men.

One of the greatest achievements of the Turners, during the nine­ teenth century, was their persistent efforts for the introduction of physical education in the public schools. Although their efforts were

29 Central Turner Souvenir Program, op. cit., p. 27* OQ Financial Records of the Central Turners: 1868-1875, The Cincinnati Historical Society. met with seemingly insurmountable barriers, the Turners did not give up.

Cincinnati eventually became one of the first cities in the United States to give physical education a try in their public schools. (Boston is credited by many to be the first.) Playgrounds were equipped by the

Turners as early as 1857. Ladders, parallel bars and other apparatus were placed at four schools. In i860 a Superintendent of Gymnastics was appointed by the Cincinnati Board of Education. Named to this position was Louis Graeser from the Cincinnati Turners. Instruction was carried out by Graeser until 1874. From 1874 to 1883 instruction was carried on without the special teacher. Graeser's position had been eliminated in

1874 because of financially hard times. Records indicate that from 1883 to 1887, gymnastics were not officially recognized or taught. During these four years, however, William A. Stecher, an instructor at the North

Cincinnati Turnverein, and his successor, Oscar Sputh, both taught unoffi­ cially and without compensation for a time in the Normal School and in 31 several of the public schools.

During the 1891-1892 school year, the Cincinnati Turners organized into four societies having a total membership of more than one thousand.

The societies elected a joint committee for the purpose of bringing their project to the attention of the Board of Education. The following communi­ cation was sent to the Board from Alfred Herholz, Secretary for the Commit­ tee for the Introduction of Physical Culture into the Common Schools.

Dated November 2, 1891, the communication read:

31 ' " W. K. Streit, "A Century of Progress In Physical Education," The Physical Educator. VI (March, 1949), p. l8 . 104

The members of the four Tumvereins, or Gymnasia, of this city, desirous of having the physical well-being of our youth cared for, as well as the intellectual one, wish to impress upon your honorable body the necessity of a rational physical training of the pupils of our common schools. In order to give your honorable body an opportunity to personally acquaint yourselves with the various steps taken during a series of systematic exercise, with a view to developing the physical faculties of the rising generation, our three teachers of gym­ nastics Messrs. Eckstein, Knoch, and Speidel, offer to teach gymnastics, without any charge whatever, for three months, and permission given them to devote at least fifteen minutes daily to each class receiving instruction in gymnastics. It is hoped, in case of your acceptance of our offer, that the members of your honorable body will witness the exercises as often as possible, and we trust that they will readily see the necessity of the harmonious development of body and mind, and vote for a speedy and permanent introduction of gymnastics into our common schools.32

As it turned out, the honorable "bodies" of the Board of Education did see fit to accept the offer, and the instructors were assigned to the schools.

The Turner Movement was essentially German, in nature, from its early roots in America and served for a long time as a refuge and safe guard for German emigrants. Strictly speaking, however, the movement proved to be thoroughly American. One of the first laws of the organi­

zation was that a member must be a citizen of the United States, or at

least making preparations to become one. The rule was enforced with no

exceptions.

The Turners were not always looked upon with warmth and affection by outsiders or non-members. Open hostility even occurred in some in­

stances with an episode in 1856 being the most noteworthy.

32 Ibid. 33 Central Turner Souvenir Program, op. cit., p. 22. 105

On a spring day in 1856, the Cincinnati Turners held a picnic on a site near Covington, Kentucky. A group of boys aged 10 to l4 had follow­ ed the Turners to this picnic site where they proceeded to taunt the Turners and throw stones at them. One boy was daring enough to even snatch a glass of beer out of the hand of a Turner. Being too much to bear, the exasper­ ated Turner slapped the boy's face. The boy followed this action by draw­ ing a pistol, although with no intent of harming anyone. The boy then ran back to Covington where he spread the rumor that the Turners were going to kill ten or twelve of the boys who had followed than to- the picnic. Follow­ ing the picnic, the Turners started homeward unaware of the impending trou­ ble that was awaiting them in Covington. As the Turners reached the out­ skirts of Covington, they were attacked by a group of men who hurled stones at them. An all out fight broke out when a Turner was grabbed by the at­ tackers. Rocks were thrown and pistol shots fired. In the course of the action, two law enforcement officers were wounded. The Turners were able to continue their march to the ferry landing where they intended to cross over to Cincinnati and safety. With the mob increasing in size, the at­ tack was again renewed. As the excitement grew, Mayor Fearons of Coving­ ton called on the U. S. troops in a nearby garrison to attack the Turners.

The commanding officer of the U. S. troops refused saying that his orders had to come from Washington. Meanwhile, the disciplined Turners stood their ground well while calmly obeying the orders of their commander.

Great efforts were made by the police and local officials to bring the mob scene to an end, but to no avail. The Turners refused to lay down their arms as they needed them for self-defense. Unable to board the

ferry, and with the mob growing more violent every minute, the Turners 106 marched to the Newport Turner Hall where they spent the night. On the

following day, with the mob having been broken up,' the Turners surren-

dered themselves over to the authorities.

In all, thirty-one Turners were indicted for felony and released

under $2,000 bail each. The sum total of $62,000 was furnished by two

German business men. The trial itself lasted through several sessions

of the circuit court. Thanks largely to the very able defense of Judge

Johann Berhardt Stal.lo, an old and influential German resident of Cincin- 35 nati, all the Turner's were finally acquitted.

In 1855 the Turnerbund took a decided stand on the slavery ques­

tion. They went on record at the Buffalo Convention of 1855 as being

opposed to slavery, and especially to its extension into free territories.

This move was to bring about the removal of the Southern Turner Societies

from the bund.

With the outbreak of the Civil War, the Turners showed their

patriotism for their adopted country by forgetting all else and serving

their country in this time of war. Records show that more than 75 per­

cent of the Turners in the United States were in active service. During

the war, the Turners could be found providing special guard service for

the President while he spoke at different stops. The feelings the Turn­

ers had for personal liberty, free speech and love of their country was 37 illuminated by the numerous deeds that were accomplished during the war.

34 Adolf E. Zucker, ed. The Forty-Eighters (New York: Columbia University Press, 1950), pp. 9^-95-

^Ibid. ^"German Turners," The Cincinnati Enquirer, September 3 , 1876, p. 9. 37 Central Turner Souvenir Program, op. cit., pp. 25-26. 107

The Cincinnati.Turners were especially receptive to the call for volunteers to fight in the Civil War. Responding to President Lincoln's call, they formed the first Turner Regiment on April 17, l86l. Along with the Turners from Newport, Covington and Hamilton, they formed the First,

Second and Third Companies of the Ninth Ohio Regiment. This Regiment be­ came known as the "Turner Regiment" and contained 1,153 members. This regiment was called to the front on June 16, l86l and was considered to Q O be the first well-trained body of the North.

During the Civil War, gymnastic exercises were suspended. The reason for this, of course, was that the majority of the Turners were away at battle. In 1865 the Turner Societies resumed their normal operations and agreed to be united again in one Turnerbund. This occurred on the same day that Richmond was captured by the Union Army.

The Turners of Cincinnati, during the balance of the nineteenth century, continued to operate in a well-organized and established fashion.

The Turnverein continued to play an important role in the German community.

During this time, the Turners of Cincinnati numbered in their ranks a great majority of the prominent German businessmen and professionals. Not all of them were "active" members, but they were connected to the organiza­ tion. Classes, at the close of the century, were more numerously attended than ever before. Exhibitions were never without crowds of spectators to observe and admire the splendid display of gymnastics. The graceful 3Q calisthenic demonstrations of the girls classes also were enjoyed.

^Ibid, p. 2 6. oq "The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, May 9S 1^97j p. 9- 108

Although the Turner Movement was not designed to develop profes­ sional athletes, many of the members established records and won honors for themselves that placed them in the professional realm. Robert

Schledorn of Cincinnati, was one such member. He held the Ohio State

record in high jumping in 1897 and competed at the national fest in St.

Louis during that same year. But Schledorn was not the only one to

achieve such honors. In fact, the St. Louis national gymnastic festival

of 1897 attracted a total of 86 Cincinnati Turners to its competition.

Some of the individual competitors from Cincinnati included Alfred Brod- 40 beck, Carl Bidlingneyer, Fritz Loos, Ed Rose, and Theodore Gelhar.

An interesting fact about the Turners of Cincinnati centers

around the relationship that existed between them and the Cincinnati Gym­

nasium and Athletic Club. Unlike many of the other large cities, Cincin­

nati was fortunate in that the Turners were on good terms with the city's

local gym. Skilled athletes from the Turner groups frequently volunteered

their services at exhibitions staged by the Cincinnati Gym. Such harmony 4l was unknown in many of the other cities.

The Cincinnati Tumverein was an established and important insti­

tution of the German community and city. It was founded on the princi­

ples of liberty, tolerance, reason, justice, free speech, free press,

and free assembly. It was organized, according to the Principles of the

American Turners, to "promote physical education and disseminate rational

ideas, in order to advance health, happiness, prosperity, and the

The Cincinnati Gymnasium Association, manuscript material, The Cincinnati Historical Society. 1 0 9 4 2 progress of mankind." In addition to providing for the physical 'well- being of its members, the Turnverein served multiple purposes. It served as a meeting place for businesses; provided facilities for a theatre; and provided additional facilities such as concert rooms, rooms for a drill team, and offices for the directors. A Turner band and choir were also 43 included in the total Turner organization. It was truly an organiza­ tion of the community and for the community. Its primary significance, of course, was the fact that it did more to establish physical education as an integral part of the public school educational system than any other organization. It only seems fitting that the nation's first Turner orga­ nization was the leader in that effort.

SCHUETZENPLATZ - SCHUETZENVEREIN

In addition to the gymnastic exercises and exhibitions, the Ger­ mans of Cincinnati enjoyed the sport of shooting. To participate in this sport, they organized themselves into a shooting club known as a Schuetzen- verein. The actual shooting was done at a spot or place known as a

Schuetzenplatz. One such place that became popular was near the Cincin­ nati suburb of Fairmount. In 1866 the Cincinnati Schuetzenverein pur­ chased the grounds and building atop a hill in Fairmount that became 44 known as the Schuetzenbuckel.

42 Central Turner Souvenir Program, op. cit., p. 5-

^Don Heinrich Tolzmann, "Musenlange aus Cincinnati," The Cincinnati Historical Society Bulletin, XXXV (Summer, 1977)s P- 129- 44 Philip D. Spiess II, "The Schuetzenbuckel: Cincinnati Perpetuates an Old German Custom," The Cincinnati Historical Society Bulletin,, XXV (October, 1967)5 P- 240. 110

Before the Schuetzenverein became interested in this Fairmount hill, a building had been erected there in 1851 at a cost of $20,000.

This building, in its beginning, housed the Fairmount Theological Semi­ nary. Built to replace the Covington Theological Institute, this Fair­ mount Seminary was in existence from 1851 to 1858. The building itself was four stories high above the basement with an observatory on its top.

The building also contained a chapel, library, reading room, lecture rooms, study rooms, and dormitory quarters. It was initially built to house 1 4s about forty students. The building measured 54 feet by 112 feet.

From 1858 to 1866, little is known about what transpired at the

Fairmount Seminary. With the closing of the Seminary, the building was reportedly used first as a military academy and then as a medical college.

Neither the names nor histories of these short-lived institutions are available.^

The Cincinnati Schuetzenverein acquired the grounds and buildings in 1866, as mentioned before, for the purpose of holding gatherings for the practice and pleasure of shooting. This was not the first shooting hf? club in Cincinnati for one had existed as early as 1831. The Fair­ mount hill, under the direction of the shooting club, was first known as the Schuetzenbuegel (shooting arena or ring). The name was changed to

Schuetzenbuehel (shooting hillock) and finally to Schuetzenbuckel 48 (shooting hump or knob).

^5Ibid. ^Ibid, p. 242. 47 Charles T . Greve, Centennial History of Cincinnati (Chicago: Vol. I, 1904), p. 651. 48 Spiess, op. cit., p. 242. Ill

The actual shooting meet or event was known as the Schuetzenfest or shooting fete. It dated back more than five hundred years to an old

German custom. Legend has it that an eagle had attacked a small child in the fifteenth century. The eagle was supposedly killed by an alert archer whose keen aim saved the child. The archer was said to have become a local hero, and in following years the best sharpshooter was proclaimed

King of the Village with festive ceremonies held in his honor. The custom 4q supposedly still exists in Germany today. v

The Cincinnati Schuetzenverein was reorganized and incorporated as the Schuetzen Park Company in 1868, two years after acquiring the Fair­ mount site. Shares of stock were sold for $500 with about 250 persons paying dues to the corporation.^0 During that same year, 1868, the old

Seminary building was remodeled at a cost of $155jOOO. According to

Spiess, "Verandas and bowling alleys were added at one end of the build­ ing, the observatory was improved, the grounds were enhanced with picnic areas, swings, a dance pavillion, and a rifle range housed in a long, low 51 building."

The park, after it was remodeled, was opened to the public as a beer garden and resort. Other organizations could rent the grounds for picnics and meetings. Churches, lodges, and other societies made use of the park. The American Sharpshooter's Society even held its fourth

Shooting Festival on the hill in 1870. The Sharpshooters were nationally 52 located in Cincinnati at the Turner Hall.

■^Records of the Cincinnati Schuetzen Park.Company, miscellaneous papers, The Cincinnati Historical Society, one box.

^°Spiess, op. cit., p. 243. ^Ibid. ^Ibid. 112

Activities at the Schuetzen Park began to decline significantly as modes of transportation changed. Inclined planes were being used on other hills in the area. This brought prosperity to the various resorts on these other hilltops. There was no inclined plane for the Schuetzen­ buckel, although a plan had been made to build one. Without the plane,

the top of the hill could be reached only after a tough climb by foot or 53 by buggy. The city hors e-car line ran only to the bottom of the hill.

With the decline in usage of the park, the organization began

experiencing severe financial difficulties. Plans were devised to

financially save the park but none were implemented. The Schuetzen Park

Company, by the end of 1868, had decided to transfer the land, by reso­

lution, to anyone or group, who would assume the debts of the park. Pro­

vision was also made by which the Schuetzen Park Company had the option

to buy back the property. This transaction was never carried out. A

transaction to sell the park in 1872 for $115,000 also failed to be

carried out. The properties were finally leased to Selig Hexter in 1875

who used the place as a summer boarding place for vacationing families.

In 1885 the place was finally sold. Although fire destroyed the build­

ing in 1888, the park itself continued to be used for shooting fests and

. . 54 picnics.

The tradition of the Schuetzenfest did not die with the Schuetzen­

verein. Other groups perpetuated the idea on into the twentieth century.

53Ibid. 54 "Turning Back the Clock," The Cincinnati Times-Star, February 13, 1948. 113

The Catholic Kblping Society cf Cincinnati, through its Schuetzenclub, 55 was one such organization.

SUMMARY

The German element of Cincinnati constituted one cf the most important segnents of Cincinnati1s total population in the nineteenth century. They were an influential group that brought with them rich cultural traditions that were to become important aspects of daily life in Cincinnati. The German customs of tavern life and beer drinking, card playing, song and music fests, shooting fests, and Turner activities all helped meld Cincinnati into the nineteenth century city that she was.

Many of these traditions and customs still live today. The reason

Cincinnati is what she is and has done what she has dene is because cf her nineteenth century Germans.

55 Steve Lcvelady, The Cincinnati Enquirer, July 27, 1964. Chapter Six

PHYSICAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTION IN THE SCHOOLS

Cincinnati, Ohio, was one of the first cities in the United States to have physical education as a part of the general curriculum. Their initial trial took place as early as 1858. But, before 1858, there were some significant occurrences and developments that helped set the stage for this initial trial period. One can not discuss the historical develop­ ment of physical education in Cincinnati without first looking into some background information about early education in Cincinnati. One also needs to have some understanding of the contributions made by Catherine

Beecher and the work of the Cincinnati Turners. Without Beecher or the

Turners, physical education instruction in the schools of Cincinnati might certainly have been delayed.

EARLY EDUCATION IN CINCINNATI

In 1790 John Reiley opened the first school in Cincinnati. Al­ though the exact location of the school is unknown, one can be reason­ ably certain that it was located fairly close to Ft. Washington where protection would be provided from possible Indian attacks. As the popu­ lation increased, several general schools were established to meet the educational needs of the children. In l8335 the first printed report of the city's schools was published showing the enrollment in the ten 115 school districts of the city to be 1,900. By l846 the student enrollment had increased to 73OOO. 1

Two severe deficiencies were felt within the school system as the population of the city neared the fifty thousand mark. These deficiencies included a lack of education opportunity beyond the elementary level and a need for some means of unification in the schools. The first of these deficiencies was removed when a high school was established in 1847. The second need was met when Nathaniel Guilford was selected as the city's 2 first superintendent in 1849. With these two deficiencies taken care of, the general caliber of public education began to improve.

There were, in addition to the schools in the city system, a num­ ber of other schools which augnented the educational life of Cincinnati.

Many of these schools are worth noting.

In l8l4 the Lancastrian Seminary was established. In 1819 this institution became known as The Cincinnati College. It offered a course of instruction that was comparable to that of most other colleges of the

country. The College was to eventually become a part of the Law College

of the University of Cincinnati.

In 1819 the Medical College of Ohio was incorporated by the Ohio

Legislature. Land was purchased and a building erected in 1826 on Sixth

Street between Vine and Race Streets. The College remained at this

^John B. Shotwell, A History Of The Schools Of Cincinnati (Cincinnati: The School Life Company, 1902), pp. 8, 10.

2Ibid, p. 1 2 . 3 John P. Foote, The Schools of Cincinnati, and Its Vicinity (Cincinnati: C. F. Bradley and Co., Power Press, 1855), P- 5- ll6 location for seventy years until it became the Medical Department of the 4 University of Cincinnati.

The Lane Seminary, under the direction of Ebenezer Lane, was erected on a Gilbert Avenue site in 1829. The charter, as issued by the

Ohio Legislature, stipulated that the institution was in operation to pre- r pare students for the ministry in the Presbyterian Church.

In 1829 the Ohio Mechanics Institute was established as an educa­ tional institution. In 1848, after being housed in various buildings for nearly twenty years, the Institute located itself at Sixth and Vine

Streets where it was to remain until 1911. The purpose of the Institute was to educate and train the local artisans who were engaged in the mechanical trades of the city.

Catholic education began in Cincinnati in 1831 with the founding

of the Athenaeum. Founded by the Jesuits, this institution was to even­

tually become Xavier University.^ An off-shoot of this Jesuit form of

education was the eventual opening of St. Xavier High School.

The female population was not totally forgotten in Cincinnati

although most of the private schools were for boys and young men. The

Cincinnati Female Academy in 1823, the Western Female Institute in l8335

and other similar schools provided the culture and refinement that was 7 needed by the young women of Cincinnati.' One of the early educational

leaders of Cincinnati was Catherine Beecher.

^Shotwell, op. cit., pp. 224-228. ^Ibid, pp. 312-316.

^Dick Perry, Vas You Ever In Zinzinnati? (New York: Weathervane Books, 1966), p. 24§. 7 Foote, op. cit., pp. 64-68. 117

CATHERINE BEECHER

Catherine Beecher was b o m on September 6, 1800 in East Hampton,

Long Island. She was the daughter of who was a famed Con­ gregational minister from New England. In 1824, Catherine opened a school for young ladies at Hartford, Connecticut known as the Hartford Female

Seminary.

While at the Hartford Seminary, Catherine developed a philosophy of education that was quite unlike that of an educator of her times. She viewed the mother as the head or core of the family unit. Coupled with

this was her belief that women needed to know and practice health habits

and partake in physical exercise. She felt that women had poor health because their days were spent indoors where they read, enjoyed music, and

dabbled in art work. Her attempt to remedy these health and physical

defects came about in the following manner according to Beecher:

An English lady of fine person and manner came to us as a teacher of what then had no name, but now would be called Calisthenics. She gave a large number of the exercises that are in my work on Physiology and Calisthenics, published by the Harpers, and narrated how she had cured deformities in others by her methods. The whole school took lessons of her .... From this came the system of Calisthenics which I invented, which spread all over the country . . . .8

In 1832 Iyman Beecher moved his family to Cincinnati. This move

provided Catherine with the opportunity to open an education institution in

Cincinnati. This occurred in 1833 when she established the Western Female

Institute. Beecher recalls how she was solicited to establish a school:

Catherine Beecher, Educational.Reminiscenses and Suggestions (New York: J. B. Ford & Co., 1874), pp. 42-43. 118

When I moved to Cincinnati my health was such that it was hazardous for me to attempt any enterprise demanding continuous labor or responsibility .... I asked for $500 to buy furni­ ture and apparatus, and it was readily furnished.9

While in Cincinnati, Beecher invented a course of calisthenic exercises, which were accompanied by music, that were an improvement on those that she had developed at Hartford. Her basic system of calisthenics consisted of light exercises, which were sometimes performed with light weights, that were based on scientific principles "with the design of exercising all the muscles, and of exercising them equably and harmon­ iously. "1(1 With some difficulties arising from the use of a piano or other instrument as well as the need for a room without furniture,

Beecher made the necessary adaptations to correct the problems. She adapted her exercises so that they could be used in a school room with­ out removing desks or benches. They were also adapted so that they could be performed with or without music. 11

Calisthenics and gymnastics were not viewed in the same light by

Beecher. To her, gymnastics were more strenuous than calisthenics and required special apparatus and a special exercise room. She was also

careful to exclude exercises that were severe or involved danger. Such 12 exercises were not suitable for either sex. In the same light, Beecher

felt that there were certain recreational activities that should be

^Ibid, p. 82.

1^Catherine Beecher, Treatise on Domestic Economy (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1854), p. 56.

11Beecher, Educational Reminiscenses and Suggestions, p. 84. 12 Catherine Beecher, Physiology and Calisthenics (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1870), p. IV. 119 forbidden. Her criteria for forbidding such activities is described below:

No amusements, which inflict needless pain, should ever be allowed .... all sports, which involve suffering to animals, should be utterly forbidden. Hunting and fishing, for mere sport can never be justified .... we should seek no recreations which endanger life, or interfere with impor­ tant duties .... Avoid those amusements, which experience has shown to be so exciting, and connected with so many tempta­ tions . . . It is on this ground, that horse-racing and circus- racing are excluded. Not because there is anything positively wrong, in having men and horses run, and perform feats of agility, or in persons looking on for the diversion; but because experience has shown so many evils connected with these recreations .... So with theatres . . .So, also with those exciting games of chance, which are employed in gambling. 13

Beecher also considered dancing to be a forbidden amusement. She had originally permitted dancing while at the Hartford Seminary and charged fees for the extra lessons. Her position on dancing changed when she began objecting to it on the same grounds as card playing, horse racing, 14 and theatrical entertainments. She felt that calisthenics would pro­ vide the same benefits as those that could be obtained from dancing.

Beecher was not content to just tell people about her calisthen­ ics, or, for that matter, what particular exercises should be used. In­ stead, she provided her teachers or followers with instructions. Her basic instructions to teachers were as follows:

The method should be to go over the first fifty exercises performing each movement only once, so as to learn the method. The next time all should be performed twice each, and done moderately. Then let one be added each day to the number till the whole is completed as directed in the book. Each day let the quickness and force be increased, till they are done as

^^Beecher, Treatise on Domestic Economy, pp. 2^4-245.

"^Ibid, p. 246. 120

forcibly and quickly as possible, except those that are directed to be slow movements, and these are to be done with all the force possible.15

It is apparent that Beecher possessed many of the fine qualities that we would expect of an educator. Content, method, and equipment were all important concerns that she had.

While at the Western Female Institute, Beecher established her­ self as a nationally known educator. She became an unproclaimed consul­ tant on the matter of securing and placing teachers. She even made a vain attempt at establishing a teacher training center in Cincinnati in an effort to solve the teacher supply problem in the West. The support she needed from the East, however, was not there.^

Catherine Beecher's ideas were not, as a whole, widely accepted.

Schools would adopt her calisthenics and gymnastics for a period of time and then abandon them. Popularity and acceptance were finally achieved under the direction of Dio Lewis. His system was largely derived from 17 Beecher1s.

Catherine Beecher can be considered as one of the first people to campaign for the "inclusion of some form of systematized, regular physical education program, under the direction of a specifically desig- l8 nated instructor, in schools for children."

15 Catherine Beecher, Calisthenic Exercises (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1870), p. 9-

^^Beecher, Educational Reminiscences and Suggestions, pp. 90-91, 98. 17 Ellen W. Gerber, Innovators and Institutions in. Physical Education (Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1971), p. 257*

"I 8 Ibid, p. 258. 121

THE I838 MEETING

Ten years before the Turners were founded, in Cincinnati, a meeting

of the Western Literary Institute and College of Professional Teachers was held in Cincinnati. This organization was the first educational

association founded west of the Allegheny Mountains. The faculty of the

Cincinnati College founded this organization. The meeting has significant

importance because during this meeting, a report was made by J. C. P.

Salomon entitled "Introduction of Gymnastic Exercises Into The American

System Of Education." In his report, Salomon was trying to convince the

organization that gymnastic exercises should be included in the American

system of education. Salomon stated:

Bodily exercises, performed by the noble youth of a free country as a part of their system of education, would be not only new, but it would create a new era in the history of republicanism. These bodily exercises accompanied with patriotic speeches, songs and hymns of civil and religious liberty, are a terror to every monarch in Europe.19

Salomon felt that such a system, as described above, would provide the

means for improving the national system.

In his report, Salomon mentioned five forms of gymnastic exer­

cises: running, boxing, leaping, wrestling, and throwing the dart. He

also mentioned fencing and riding as worthy activities to be engaged in 20 once the bodily powers have begun to develop.

19 uJ. C. F. Salomon, "Introduction Of Gymnastic Exercises Into The American System Of Education," Transactions of the Eighth Annual Meeting of the Western Literary Institute and College of Professional Teachers (Cincinnati: James R. Allbach, 18 3 9 )3 p. 199-

20Ibid, pp. 200, 203. 122

Salomon even went into the whole idea of standard uniforms for those exercising. He felt that such a uniform would help remove the loathsome caste of rich and poor. Such a uniform was to consist of 21 simple brown linen pants, a tight jacket, and a frock-coat. The frock- coat was to be used to keep the body comfortable after exercising.

With regard to the role of the school, Salomon stated the following:

Our schools, for the most part, pay not the smallest attention to the formation of the body; and this with good reason, for it is no part of their plan. But, that it is not a part of their plan, is an unpardonable fault; it is a bad sign, that no one can dis­ cover the idea of bodily improvements in the compound idea expressed by the word school.22

Unfortunately for Salomon, he found few receptive ears. He was too far ahead of the times, especially in the wild-west city of Cincinnati.

It would be nineteen years (1857) before the first attempt would be made at placing physical education in the curriculum of the Cincinnati schools.

It's also worth mentioning that during this 1838 meeting in Cincin­ nati, an address on "Physical Education" was presented by William Wood,

M. D. The address itself had little to do with physical education as we know it. It was primarily a discourse on health. Wood emphasized the following: the importance of having a sound knowledge of the body and its parts; the need for classifying students by age and sex; the importance of proper ventilation; the importance of a regulated diet; and the impor- 23 tance of a student1s attitude.

21Ibid, p. 199. 22Ibid, p. 201.

2\illiam Wood, "Physical Education," Transactions of the Eighth Annual Meeting of the Western Literary Institute and College of Professional Teachers (Cincinnati: James R. Allbach, 1839), pp. 207-224/ 123

INSTRUCTION IN THE CINCINNATI SCHOOLS - THE TURNER INFLUENCE

Physical culture had been, to some extent, an integral part of the curriculum of the public schools in the German States and since about 1840. As the Germans emigrated to the United States, and especially to the Cincinnati area, they brought with them their customs and culture.

More importantly, they brought with them their system and principles of gymnastic training which had grown into a system of physical education 24 that was spreading throughout much of Europe. ' Recognizing the need for a continuation of this kind of training, the Germans of Cincinnati founded the first German Tumverein in the United States in 1848.

Within a few years the Turners had created enough of an interest in physical training throughout Cincinnati that the public schools were willing to seriously consider the implementation of physical education into the curriculum. This first occurred in 1857> on more or less of a trial basis, in some of the schools in the German district. The plan was so well received that in i860 the Board resolved to make gymnastics, or physical education, a part of the school curriculum. The German-

Tumer influence had certainly made its mark.

Instruction Begins

The first recorded mention of physical education on the part of the Cincinnati public schools occurred in 1843. In the Fourteenth Annual

Report of the Board of Education, under the introduction of new studies, mention was made of a new work on human physiology and physical education

that was to be released by the press at Boston. The Trustees of the

oil Shotwell, op. cit., p. 282. Schools were hoping that this text would soon become available to them as there was great need for such a text. Unfortunately, for our purposes, the term physical education, as used in the report, was nothing more than 25 a synonym for health.

From about 1846 to 1856 many State and City School Reports that

were issued, including Cincinnati's, had some discourse on the necessity

of physical training in the schools. Little or nothing, however, was

ever accomplished. It wasn't until 1857 that Cincinnati finally took some

positive steps in the right direction. In the 1857 Superintendent's

Report, Superintendent Andrew J. Rickoff made the following statement:

In the city, the enterprise and liberality of individual Trustees have resulted in the placing of a few parallel bars, horizontal ladders, and circular swings, upon the play-grounds of four of the school houses...... 26

These schools included the First District, which was located on Franklin

Street; the Sixth District on Elm Street; the Eleventh District on Clifton

and the Thirteenth District on Findley. Woodward High School was also

fortunate enough to have some gymnastic apparatus in their yard. All of

these schools were located in the German districts and the apparatus was

modeled after that being used in Germany and in the Turner Halls. The

German influence was certainly present.

In his 1857 report, Superintendent Andrew J. Rickoff went on to

recommend the following:

^3oard of Education, Fourteenth Annual Report of the Trustees and Visitors of Common Schools to the City Council of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, 1843), p. 3-

^^Board of Education, Twenty-Eighth Annual Report of the Common Schools of Cincinnati (Cincinnati: B. Frankland, I857), pp. 8^-85. 125

. . . that provision be made at once for instructing all the teachers now employed in the schools, in such a system of gymnastics as shall be adapted to the several grades of the schools, from the sixth to the first. That the system proceed from the simplest movement to the most complex and difficult exercises. We have now all the appliances neces­ sary. Though apparatus is desirable, it is not indispensably necessary. Free gymnastics - that is, gymnastics without apparatus - will, in the various forms practical, afford a variety for cultivating strength and grace altogether suffi­ cient, if we will only consent to devote the necessary time to them.27

Rickoff went on to make recommendations as to the amount of time that should be devoted to physical activity. He suggested that one hour per day be devoted for 5th and 6th graders; thirty minutes per day for 3 rd and 4th graders; and five minutes at the ringing of each bell, as classes change, for the Intermediate School. No mention was made regarding time allotments for 1st and 2nd graders. The Board of Education, however, did not approve of his time specifications, and instead, in 1858, ordered 28 that five minutes per day be given to calisthenic exercise.

In i860 the Board of Education for the Cincinnati Public Schools resolved to make gymnastics a part of the school curriculum. The initial trial had proven to be successful. To carry out the program they employed

Mr. Louis Graeser as teacher of gymnastics, and a Dr. Christian as an assistant. They were employed for the balance of the school year which amounted to about three months. This first three month period proved so successful that Mr. Graeser was retained for the following year. Dr.

Christian moved on to St. Louis. Graeser was to remain in his position 29 for a total of fourteen years.

2^Ibid. 2^Shotwell, op. cit., p. 283.

29Ibid. 126

Mr. Graeser was b o m on December 24, 1833 in Rhenish-Bavaria,

Germany. He came to the United States in 1848 settling first at Pitts­ burgh. In 1852 he came to Cincinnati. In 1855 he moved again, this time to Milwaukee, where he accepted a position of instructor in the Turnverein.

He returned to Cincinnati in 1859 and accepted an instructor's position in the Cincinnati Deutsche Turngemeinde. After his l4 years with the

Cincinnati schools, he organized the Graeser Dancing Academny at which he SO remained throughout the balance of the nineteenth century.

Two avid supporters of the gymnastic movement during this time were Superintendent Isaac Jackson Allen and Rev. Daniel Shepardson, who was Principal at Woodward High School. In his Superintendent's Report of 1859, Allen showed his concern for gymnastic training by making a plea to the Trustees to supply the playgrounds with additional apparatus 31 and equipment. Shepardson recognized the importance of physical train­ ing in the maintenance of good health. He felt that some form of a gymnasium was necessary to ensure a good program of physical training and 32 urged the Trustees to consider such a structure. He subscribed to the motto: "A sound mind in a sound body."

In 1862 the Board of Education President, , referred to physical education in his President's Report. King wrote:

30 Shotwell, op. cit., p. 98. 31 Board of Education, Thirtieth Annual Report of the Common Schools of Cincinnati (Cincinnati: B. Frankland, 1859), P - 21.

32Ibid, p. 37. 127

For some time active encouragement was given to the use of every description of gymnastic apparatus. It was soon found that the temptations to excess resulted in frequent injuries. We have, therefore, resorted to a simpler method, taugjit by an accomplished and careful teacher in all our schools, which dispenses almost entirely with apparatus, and, by gentler and more natural exercises of the body and limbs, and with but trifling cost, gives development and symmetry to the whole frame. For boys, it includes also some of the elementary exercises of the soldier, and thus proves not only very attractive, but tends in no small degree to infuse them with correct ideas of order and discipline.33

It is obvious from his writing that King had a personal interest in physi­ cal activity. His referral to what "we" have done gives one a pretty clear indication that he was interested in this area. His writing also reflects the Civil War influence of the times. As a side note to King's involvement, we find where a Rufus King was a member of the 1867and 1868

Cincinnati Red Stockings Baseball Club. Whether or not the school board president and the baseball player were one and the same, could not be ascertained.

A time schedule of gymnastic exercises was also established in

1862. The schedule was set up on a two week basis for the visiting gym­ nastic instructor. On days when the instructor was not in a particular

school, the teachers of that school were expected to carry on the same exercises. The schedule, as set up in 1862 went as follows:

^^Board of Education, Thirty-Third Annual Report of the Cincinnati Public.Schools (Cincinnati: Johnson, Stephens & Morgan, 1862), pp. 9-10. 128

First Week Second Week

Monday A.M. - 1st Intermediate 9th District P.M. - 2nd Intermediate 8th District Tuesday A.M. - 1st District 11th District P.M. - 2nd District 10th District Wednesday A.M. - 17th District 3 rd Intermediate P.M. - 4th District 12th District Thursday A.M. - 3rd District 15th District P.M. - 5th District l4th District Friday A.M. - 7th District 13 th DistricMh P.M. - 6th District l6th District

In 1863 the Board of Education granted Mr. Graeser an assistant with the appointment of Miss Harriet Mulford. She continued in that capacity for three years after which she left to go to California. She was employed for a salary of $600 per year. Mr. Graeser's salary had been $1,000 per year during M s first two years. His salary was raised to $1,200 in 1863 and remained there until Miss Mulford left, at wMch time M s salary was then raised to $1,500 per year where it remained until 1869 when it was raised to $1 ,800.35 is interesting to note that in 1869 the average salary for 442 teachers was $770.59. It's rather obvious that physical education was not looked down upon, at least from a salary viewpoint.)

In 1864 official by-laws, rules and regulations regarding gymnastics were drawn up. They were published as follows:

34 0 Ibid, p. 129.

^^Board of Education, History of the Schools of Cincinnati and Other Educational Institutions, Public and Private (Cincinnati: 1900), p. 97-

3^Board of Education, Fortieth Annual Report of the Cincinnati Public Schools (Cincinnati: Gasette Co., 1869), p. 23. 129

There shall he one Superintendent of Gymnastics at a salary of $1,200 per annum, and one Female Assistant, who shall instruct the girls in Grades D, E, and F, at a salary of $600 per annum. Provided however, that no public exhibi­ tion in Gymnastics shall be given by the children attending the Public School without the consent of two-thirds of the Board first had and obtained.

The Teachers in each room of the Intermediate and Dis­ trict Schools shall give a lesson, each session of their school, in Gymnastics or Calisthenics, of not less than five nor more than ten minutes - the time of the lesson to be fixed by the programme of the Principal in each house.

It shall be the duty of each Teacher to be present and assist the Teacher of gymnastics in his regular instructions.

Rings and dumb bells shall be used in the Intermediate Schools, in both Grades, and in Grade A in the District Schools.

Pupils who from disease or physical defect do not desire to take part in any of the gymnastic exercises in the Public Schools, shall be excused therefrom, upon pre­ senting to the Principal of the School a certificate to said effect from a physician.37

In 1864 Woolson took over as Principal at Woodward. It's important to note this because we find his attitude about gymnastics and physical training to be somewhat different from that of his predecessor.

Woolson favored physical activity but felt that organized drill was not the answer. Woolson expressed this in his report to the Board of Educa­ tion.

37 Board of. Education, Thirty-Fifth Annual Report of the Cincinnati Public Schools (Cincinnati: Times Steam and Job Printing, 1864), pp. 52, 565 57- Grades were designated by.letter: A = 6th, B = 5th, C = 4th, D = 3rd, E = 2nd, and F = 1st. 130

. . . and yet we crowd the studies year after year upon our pupils, who, after all, are hut mortals like ourselves, and then to ease our consciences, force them to an hour's drill in cali- stenics, where an automatic precision of movement and dexterous handling of poles is supposed to take the place of all that spon­ taneous frolic and play, that freedom from care and anxious responsibility which belonged to the children of other days.

In 1865 we find, a revised and updated time schedule of gymnastic instruction. The schedule, as before, was based on a two week period of time. This schedule delineates the responsibilities of both Louis

Graeser and Harriet Mulford. Miss Mulford was responsible for teaching the girls in grades D, E, and F. The schedule was set up in the follow­ ing manner:

First Week Graeser Mulford

Monday A.M. — 5th District 5th District P.M. - 1st Intermediate 6th District Tuesday A.M. - 1st District 1st District P.M. - 2nd District 2nd District Wednesday A.M. - 17th District 4th District P.M. - 8th District 8th District Thursday A.M. - 3rd District 3 rd District P.M. - 2nd Intermediate 5th District Friday A.M. - 7th District 7th District P.M. - 6th District 6th District Second Week Graeser Mulford

Monday A.M. — 15th District • 1st District P.M. - 1st Intermediate l6th District Tuesday A.M. - 11th District 11th District P.M. — 10th District 10th District Wednesday A.M. — l8th District 18th District P.M. - 12th District 12th District Thursday A.M. - l4th District l4th District P.M. - 2nd Intermediate 15th District Friday A.M. - 13th District 13 th District, P.M. - 9th District 9th District'

38Ibid, pp. 32 -33 .

3%oard of Education, Thirty-Sixth Annual Report of the Cincinnati Public Schools (Cincinnati: Times Steam and Job Printing, 1865), pp. 82-8 3 . 131

In 1868, Superintendent John Hancock, who became Superintendent in 1867, made some rather interesting comments about Cincinnati's leader­ ship in gymnastic training to the Board of Education in his annual report.

Acknowledging that interest, on a national basis, was declining, he went on to say that:

It is just cause for pride that Cincinnati took the lead in introducing gymnastics into her public schools, and that she still maintains her advance. Her example has been followed by most of the cities of the West, and by many in the East. The former, so far as my knowledge extends, still persevere in their physical training, while some of those of the East that started out in it with much ardor, have, to a very considerable extend, abandoned any systematic course in it.^O

In 1869 the physical education program suffered a set back at the

Intermediate School level. Gymnastics became optional for the girls of both grades (7th and 8th) at the discretion of the Principal.^ Such

a move, coupled with the negative feelings that already existed at the

high school level, made things look rather unpromising for the future.

The decline in interest that Superintendent Hancock talked about was

becoming a reality in Cincinnati.

In 1871, Superintendent Hancock, in his annual report to the

Board of Education, came out with a strong stand for physical training.

It is apparent from the context of his report, that he recognized the

declining interest. His appeal to the Board appears to be almost a

last ditch effort to pump whatever life he could into the program.

Hancock's report read as follows:

Z|0 Board of Education, Thirty-Ninth Annual Report of the Cincinnati Public Schools (Cincinnati: Times Steam and Job Printing, 1868), pp. 75-7 6. 4l Board of Education, Fortieth Annual Report of the Cincinnati Public Schools (Cincinnati: Gasette Co., I869), p. 228. 132

There is not the least possible danger that the value of physical training will be over-estimated in this country; indeed, there seems to be but little recognition among our people of any necessity for it at all, and those who need it most are those most anxious to be excused from its exercises. This indifference, which often takes the form of determined opposition, must be overcome or we shall witness a rapid deterioration of our people in all bodily excellence. The gospel of physical training is the gospel that must be most persistently preached in all American institutions of learn­ ing. Gymnastics are an essential aid in school government, and should be more frequently used, especially in the lower grades, than now. No more effectual means can be employed to work off the superfluous nervous irritability of pupils, arising from the necessary physical restraints of the school room, than such exercises. I fear, however, some of our teachers regard the time thus employed as wasted. So far from this being the case, the quickened circulation and glow gymnastics give greatly promote the success of pupils in their studies. Nay, it is certain, the best intellectual results can only be attained by keeping the physical powers toned up to their highest point of health and vigor by judicious and systematic training; and, contrary to the opinion and practice of most, such training is needed by girls far more than by boys, and the weaker and more fragile the girls are the greater their need. In this department of education our schools are doing well; but if I should make any special recommendations on the subject, it would be that still more time should be given it in every grade. I trust that the Committee on Gymnastics will, at any rate, see that the rules regulating the time to be devoted to such exercises shall be rigidly enforced during the coming year, especially regulation 196, which prescribes that five minutes shall be allowed the pupils of the three lower grades for calisthenic exercise at the close of each recitation.42

The Panic of 1873 caused general financial concerns throughout the country, with Cincinnati being no exception. The financial crisis placed a heavy demand for economy and retrenchment on all public insti­ tutions. Caught up in the cutbacks that were made by the Schools was

42 Board of Education, Forty-Second Annual Report of the Common Schools of Cincinnati (Cincinnati: Wilstach, Baldwin & Co., 1&72), pp. 112-113. 133 the position of Teacher of Gymnastics which was officially abolished at the close of 'che school year 1873-7^- After l4 years, Louis Graeser was out of a job.

During his tenure with the Cincinnati Schools, Graeser conducted his exercises mainly in the school rooms. They consisted primarily of light exercises with dumb bells and rings. Instruction was given by

Graeser every two weeks with the regular classroom teacher repeating the exercises on a daily basis. The apparatus that had been erected in the school yards was gradually destroyed and removed due to rough usage, abuse, 43 and the inclemency of the weather.

With the elimination of Louis Graeser as teacher of gymnastics, for all practical purposes, the program of physical training died. The rules governing the subject, however, did remain on the books until 1883.

At that time, owing to the fact that there was no one looking after the program and that it was being more and more neglected by the teachers, the rules were repealed entirely. Newly appointed teachers coming into

the system were also hindered in their efforts to carry on the program

as they had had no formal training in gymnastic instruction. From 1883

to 1887, gymnastics were not officially recognized or taught. There

were, however, two instructors who were teaching unofficially during this

time. Mr. William A. Stecher, an instructor at the North Cincinnati

Tumverein, taught without any compensation for his services at the

Normal School. (The Normal School was established for the training of

teachers.) Mr. Oscar Sputh, also from the North Cincinnati Tumverein,

taught without compensation in the Sixteenth and Twenty-Third District

^Ibid, pp. 97-98. 13^ 44 Schools. Stecher was to later become a prominent public school physical educator in Indianapolis and Philadelphia. In 1907 Stecher became the editor for the Turner publication Mind and Body, a position he held twenty- five years.

On May 31j 1887, the first real steps to restore physical train­ ing to the curriculum were made. On that date, the following rules were adopted by the Board of Education:

For the better guarding of the health of the pupils of Grades F, G. and H, from injury from too long confinement in their school rooms, there may be allowed to the pupils of these grades, at the close of every recitation, the space of five minutes for calisthenics and other physical exercises.^5

In the 1889 report to the Board of Education, George W. Harper,

Principal at Woodward, reported that an athletic club was organized by the boys of the upper classes. A room in the basement of the school had even been fixed up with some modern appliances for physical training by means of some aid from the Woodward Alumni Association. A similar room, 46 according to Harper, should be utilized by the girls in a similar way.

Eliab W. Coy, Principal at Hughes High School, presented a similar report to the Board in 1889. Like Woodward, a gymnasium had been organized and equipped in the basement at Hughes. In his report,

Coy mentioned how the boys' playground had been enlarged with the removal 47 of an adjoining building. 1

^Ibid, p. 98. ^Ibid.

^^Board of Education, Sixtieth Annual Report of the Public Schools of Cincinnati (Cincinnati: The Ohio Valley Company, I89O), p. 72.

^Ibid, p. 68. 135

On December 195 1890, Mr. Francis B. James, a member of the Union

Board of High Schools, offered the following resolution: "that the Chair appoint a committee of three to investigate the wisdom and probable cost of providing the High Schools with gymnasiums and employ a teacher of 48 calisthenics." The Chairman appointed a committee of three composed of

Francis B. James, Ernst Rehm, and S. S. Davis. The committee reported

back on January 2 2 , 1891 in a rather lengthy report which closed with the

following conclusions and recommendations:

First: That physical should go hand in hand with mental culture. Second: That the training of the body, as well as of the mind, should be in the hands of competent instructors. Third: That the age at which systematic physical training will be of its most lasting benefit is from the thir­ teenth to the nineteenth years in both boys and girls. Fourth: That systematic instruction can only be given with beneficial results in a large, light and airy building, with proper appliances. Fifth: That unless physical training can be carried on scientifically, it had better not be attempted. Your committee therefore recommends that gymnasiums be erected in accordance with the accompanying designs in the yards of the Woodward and Hughes High Schools. ^

The designs mentioned in the recommendations called for buildings to be

30 feet by 82 feet, with a height of 20 feet.

On May l4, I89I 5 Mr. James offered the following:

Resolved, that the School Board of the city of Cincinnati and its Committee on Funds and Claims be requested to set aside a sufficient sum of money to provide the High Schools with gymnasiums, in accordance with the recommendations of a special committee of said Union B o a r d50 .

The Board of Education, in response to this request, set aside $8,000 as

the appropriation for the construction of the gymnasiums. This amount

48 Shotwell, op. cit., p. 98.

^9Ibid, p. 99- 5°Ibid. 136 had to be later raised to $12,000 to meet expenses. This increase was readily approved by the Board of Education in May of 1892.'^'

During the school year 1891-1892, the Turners of Cincinnati, which were then more than one thousand in number, elected a committee whose purpose it was to convince the members of the Board of Education of the need to make physical culture a part of the education of all pupils. On

November 2, 1891, this committee sent the following communication to the

Board of Education:

To the Honorable Board of Education, Cincinnati, 0.:

Gentlemen - The members of the four Tumvereins, or Gymnasia, of this city, desirous of having the physical well-being of our youth cared for, as well as the intel­ lectual one, wish to impress upon your honorable body the necessity of a rational physical training of the pupils of our common schools. In order to give your honorable body an opportunity to personally acquaint yourselves with the various steps taken during a series of systematic exercises, with a view to developing the physical faculties of the rising generation, our three teachers of gymnastics, Messrs. Eckstein, Knoch, and Speidel, offer to teach gymnastics, without any charge whatever, for three months, and permission given them to devote at least fifteen minutes daily to each class receiving instruction in gymnastics. It is hoped, in case of your acceptance of our offer, that the members of your honorable body will witness the exercises as often as possible, and we trust that they 'will readily see the necessity of the harmonious development of body and mind, and vote for a speedy and permanent introduction of gymnastics into our common schools. Respectfully, Alfred Herholz, Secretary Committee for the Introduction of Physical Culture Into the Common Schools.52

The offer was accepted by the Board of Education and the following assignments were made: Gustave Eckstein - Fourteenth and Twenty-Seventh

^Ibid. ^2Ibid, p. 286. 137

Districts; Arthur A. Knoch - Sixteenth District and Vine Street School;

Adolph Speidel - Twenty-Third and Thirtieth Districts.^

After the three month's experiment or "pilot" program had ended in March of 1892, the Committee on Hygiene reported that the work had been very satisfactory, and they suggested that it be made a part of the 54 regular school work. A similar experiment had been conducted in Kansas

City in 1885 by Carl Betz.

In addition to the work they were doing in the Cincinnati schools, the Turners were also busy at the state level. This occurred during the winter of 1891-9 2. The Honorable John Molter, an Ohio General Assembly member from Sandusky, and a member of the Sandusky Turnverein, introduced a bill which would provide for the teaching of physical exercise in the schools of certain cities. The bill became law on April 13, 1892. The law, as passed, read as follows:

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio That physical culture, which shall include calisthenics, shall be included in the branches to be regularly taught in the common schools in cities of the first and second class, and in all edu­ cational institutions supported wholly or in part by money received from the State, and it shall be the duty of boards of education of cities of the first and second class, and boards of such educational institutions, to make provisions in the schools and institutions under their jurisdiction, for the teaching of physical culture and calisthenics, and to adopt such methods as shall adapt the same to the capacity of the various grades therein.55

This law, which was generally considered by many to be the first such law in the country, was welcomed in Cincinnati by those who had been favoring

53 54 Board of Education, op. cit., p. 101. Ibid.

^Ibid. (According to the Municipal Code of 1878, a first class city was a city that had a population of 200,000 or more; a second class city was a city that had a population of from 90,000 to 200,000.) 13 8 . such action. (California had in fact passed a similar law in 1866.)

Indeed, there had been strong sentiment favoring the teaching of gymnastics before the act. With the law on the books, local opposition seemed to vanish. As a follow up, Mr. Bernhard Bettmann offered a rule which pro­ vided for the creating of a Department of Physical Culture. The rule, which was unanimously adopted was drafted as folloxvs:

There shall be one Superintendent of Physical Culture, to be appointed at a salary of $1,600 per annum, and increased annually $100, until the salary shall be $1 ,900, and four assistant teachers, to be appointed at a salary of $600 per annum, and increased annually $50 until the salary shall be $800.

It shall be the duty of the Superintendent to give instruction in the Normal and Intermediate Schools, and supervise the instruction in the High, Intermediate, and District Schools.56

In 1892 Superintendent W. H. Morgan appointed the following people to fill the above approved positions: Superintendent of Physical Culture -

Dr. Carl Ziegler; Assistant - Mr. Gustave Eckstein, Mr. Arthur A. Khoch,

Miss Adelaide Spills, and Miss Florence Wells. (All three men were also

Turners.)

After assuming the position of Superintendent, Dr. Ziegler developed the following teaching plan so as to best utilize both his time and his

assistants 1:

1. Dr. Ziegler: to teach the four Intermediate (Grammar) Schools

and the Normal School with the balance of his time to be devoted to super­

vision.

2. Male Assistants: to teach the grammar grades A, B, and C, and

the elementary grades D and E in the Mixed and District Schools.

56 Ibid, p. 102. 139

3- Female Assistants: to teach the lower elementary grades F,

G and H.

Under this system, pupils in Grades G and H would receive a lesson from the special teacher every two weeks. Students in all other grades would receive a lesson every week. The local teachers would he in change of the work during the interval between the visits of the special teachers. Instruction was according to manuals furnished by 57 Ziegler and was to last for fifteen minutes daily. 1 Teachers were also 58 to wear an attire that would offer no interference with the movements.

This was the first mention or hint of a "required uniform" for teachers in the Cincinnati schools.

The actual time schedule for teaching assignments established by

Ziegler in 1892 went as follows:

Dr. Carl Ziegler

Monday A.M. Supervision P.M. Supervision Tuesday A.M. Supervision P.M. Supervision Wednesday A.M. 3rd Intermediate P.M. Supervision Normal School Thursday A.M. 1st Intermediate P.M. 2nd Intermediate Friday A.M. 4th Intermediate P.M. Supervision

57Ibid. 58Ibid. G. Eckstein

A.M. Monday l8th District 27th District P.M. 12th District Tuesday A.M. 21st District 29th District P.M. Price Hall Wednesday A.M. 7th District 5th District P.M. 8th District Thursday A.M. 20th District P.M. 25th District Friday A.M. l4th District 28th District P.M. 11th District A. Knoch Monday A.M. 19th District P.M. Mornington Tuesday A.M. 17th District 13th District P.M. 15th District Wednesday A.M. 22nd District (Locust St.) P.M. 22nd District (Windsor St.) Thursday A.M. 1st District 6th District P.M. 10th District Friday A.M. 3rd District 4th District P.M. 23rd District A. Spills Monday A.M. 7th District 11th District P.M. 27th District Tuesday A.M. 28th District l4th District P.M. l8th District Wednesday A.M. 8th District 12th District P.M. 21st District Thursday A.M. 26th District P.M. 26th District Friday A.M. 25th District P.M. Deaf Mute School F. Wells Monday A.M. l6th District 15th District P.M. 10th District Tuesday A.M. 24th District Pendleton P.M. 17th District Wednesday A.M. 13th District (Vine St.) P.M. 1st District Thursday A.M. 5th District 2nd District P.M. 3rd District Friday A.M. Warner St. 59 P.M. 6th District 23rd District

^%oard of Education, Sixty-Third Annual Report of the Public Schools of Cincinnati (Cincinnati: McDonald & Eick, 1893)) P- 170 I4l

According to Ziegler, the majority of the physical culture work that was done in the schools during the early 1890s was confined to the school rooms. It was largely calisthenic in nature, or exercise without apparatus. These calisthenics ranged from the simplest in the lower

grades to the most compound and complex in the upper grades. They were based on the German system of gymnastics and were modified and adapted

for usage in the school room. Ziegler goes on to say that:

. . . the lessons are arranged so as to exercise all parts of the body, and they are designed to develop health, strength and grace - health, increasing respiration and circulation; strength, by causing a stronger flow of blood to the parts, thus increasing the nutrition of the same; grace by correcting and improving faulty and improper positions, and by teaching the correct use and control of the limbs, producing an erect carriage and an elastic step.

The exercises are also recreative, as they afford relaxation from the mental studies. Lastly, they improve the discipline, for the pupil is obliged to pay close attention to and act upon the command of the teacher, and that too in unison with the other pupils. ®

In October of 1893 a new gymnasium was opened at Hughes High

School. With its opening, William A. Ocker was hired to serve as instruc­ tor. In November of that same year, a new gymnasium was opened at Wood­

ward High School. Ernst A. Poos was appointed as instructor of gymnastics.

Instruction at both these schools, was given in classes of from forty to

sixty pupils each. Each class had two lessons a week of forty-five minutes each, or, a total of ninety minutes of instruction per week.

In addition, a ten minute lesson in calisthenics was still being provided

Board of Education, Sixty-Fourth Annual Report of the Public Schools of Cincinnati (Cincinnati: The Ohio Valley Co., 1893), p. 78. 142

on a daily basis in each school room.^1

At the high school level, separate classes for boys and girls in physical education were the rule from the very beginning of such classes

in 1893• The activities, during these first few years, were similar to

those found in the elementary school.

The popularity of the classes in the new gymnasiums was shown by

the fact that only three per cent of the Woodward students asked to be 62 excused from these classes on account of physical disability. In his

report to the Board of Education in 1894, Superintendent Ziegler had the

following to say about the new gymnasiums:

The completion of the gymnasia at the High Schools marks a new era in the gymnastic instruction in those institutions, and Cincinnati can be proud of the fact she is the only city in the Union that has distinct gymnasiums for her High Schools, and the only city in which attendance at the gymnasium is obligatory upon all pupils. The equipment is excellent, and second to none in the country.83

The equipment Ziegler was referring to included: 16 chest weights; 6

pairs of flying rings; 6 traveling rings; 16 climbing poles; 6 climbing

ropes; 8 floor mats (4,x6l); horizontal bars; parallel bars; vaulting

horses and bucks; adjustable ladders (4 each); a circle swing; a striking

bag and drum; hitch and kick; 60 wooden and 60 iron wands; 60 pairs of

Indian clubs; and 60 pairs of wooden and 60 pairs of iron dumb bells.

The equipment was identical for both high schools. Total cost for the

equipment was $2 ,856, or $1,428 per school.^"

^Board of Education, Sixty-Fifth Annual Report of the Public Schools of Cincinnati (Cincinnati: Elm Street Printing Co., 1894), p. 87.

^2Ibid, p. 67. ^Ibid, p. 8 7. 64 Board of Education, op. cit., pp. 102-103. 143

In September of 1895 the new Walnut Hills High School opened.

This new school was equipped with a gymnasium which was considered to be

one of the finest ever opened. It measured 65 feet in length by 32 feet

in width with a ceiling clearance of l8 feet. It was equipped similar to

the other high schools. Mr. Arthur A. Khoch was appointed to the position

as instructor. Instruction, class size, etc, was the same as at the other

high schools. Also, like at Woodward and Hughes, the sexes were separated 65 for instruction.

In his 1895 report to the Board of Education, Superintendent

Ziegler made the following recommendations regarding physical education

instruction:

1st. The time should be extended to twenty minutes per day. 2nd. The Intermediate grades should be provided with suitable apparatus (wands, dumb bell, etc.) for light gymnastics. 3rd. A portion of each school yard should be made available for the practice of field sports - running, jumping, throw­ ing, etc. 4th. In all present school houses a large room should be reserved for gymnastics, and the halls should be used as much as possible for the same purpose. 5th. In planning for new houses arrangnents for a suitable gymnasium should be made so that this subject can be properly taught in the future.

These recommendations were never officially adopted during the closing

years of the 1890s. Individual schools, in some cases, did make pro­

visions for some of these. Apparatus was provided and, in at least one

instance, a little gymnasium was established in one of the schools

(Sixteenth District).

65Ibid, p. 103 .

^Board of Education, Sixty-Sixth Annual Report of the Public Schools of Cincinnati (Cincinnati: Elm Street Printing Co., 1895), p. 87. 144

The extended school program, or after school athletic program, was started in the early l8g0s for the boys and in 1898 for the high school girls. The program for girls consisted primarily of city-wide field events.^ The boys' program, on the other hand, included tackle football and baseball in addition to the field events. Games were played between the high schools and university. At Walnut Hills High School, the girls were also fortunate enough to have a gymnastics team under the sponsorship of Dr. Knoch.^ This team was composed of interested students 69 from all the grade levels who put on exhibitions for the school. Hilton points out in his study that girls' gymnastics were the only activity out­ side the regular classes during the early years of physical education at 70 Walnut Hills. In any case, it was the annual field day of field events that was the most emphasized and most publicized. Newspaper coverage was rather lengthy and detailed.

As Cincinnati prepared itself for the twentieth century, it moved ahead with one of the strongest and best established physical education programs in the country. Facilities and equipment were second to none.

The instructors too, were of the highest quality. Behind every good program there has to be the personnel to carry it out. It, therefore, only seems fitting that this chapter should end with a biographical

^Board of Education, Seventy-First Annual Report of the Public Schools of Cincinnati (Cincinnati: Public Schools, 1900), p. 51.

^The Remembrancer. Walnut Hills Annual, Cincinnati, Ohio 1906, p. 69^

69Ibid. 70 David A. Hilton, "The History of Walnut Hills High School." Unpublished Master's Thesis, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1947, p. 78. 145 account of the instructors who made the program a reality.

Dr. Carl Ziegler, Superintendent of Physical Culture, was born in

Hamburg, Germany. He came to the United States and graduated from the

Seminary or Normal School of Physical Education at Milwaukee in 1886.

(This Seminary had initially been started by the Turnerbund in New York in 1866. It came to Milwaukee in 1875-) He taught for a short time in

Troy, New York; one year in a St. Joseph, Missouri Tumverein; five years in the Socialer Turnverein in Cleveland, Ohio. He also taught at the

Chautauqua Summer School of Physical Education from 1890 to 1897- He 71 received his medical degree (M.D.) from Cincinnati College in 1896.

He remained with the Cincinnati Schools until 1932.

Gustav Eckstein was born in Falkenstein, Germany. He came to the

United States in l88l. He became acquainted with Ziegler while both were classmates at the Normal School in Milwaukee. He served in a position at

Sheboygan, Wisconsin for three years before coming to Cincinnati. He accepted a position in the West Cincinnati Turnverein and later one in 72 the Cincinnati Tumgemeinde.

Arthur A. Knoch was b o m in Reval, Russia. He attended the Reval

Gymnasium and Polytechnicum in Riga, where he also taught in the Academic

Turnverein. In 1888 he came to America and located in Napa and St. Helena,

California where he taught both gymnastics and German. In 1891 he gradu­ ated from the Normal School of Physical Education in Milwaukee. He came to Cincinnati when he accepted the position of instructor for the Cincin­ nati Turngemeinde, a position he held for four years. He was appointed

^Board of.Education, op. cit., pp. 103-104. ^2Ibid, p. 104. 1 4 6 to the Walnut Hills High School in 1895* He also served as a special yO instructor at the University of Cincinnati.

Miss Florence Wells was horn in Cincinnati and graduated from

Woodward High School. She later graduated from the Anderson Normal

School of Physical Education at Brooklyn. She taught one year in the

Lasell Seminary in Auburndale, . In Cincinnati, she taught 74 in the public schools for four years resigning in 1897-

Miss Adelaide Spills was born in Cincinnati and graduated from

Hughes High School. She attended the Summer Course at Cook County Normal

School Gymnastic Department. She acquired a great deal of experience in 7 5 the Dancing Academy of her grandfather, Prof. J. C. Spills.

Dr. William A. Ocker was born in Washington, Missouri. He attended the Public Schools and the Normal Training School in St. Louis graduating in 1887. In 1892, he graduated from the Normal School of

Physical Training. He taught one year in St. Louis after which time he was appointed to the position at Hughes High School in 1893. In 1898 he conducted the Summer School of Physical Training at Milwaukee. The degree of Medical Doctor (M.D.) was conferred on him in 1897 by the

Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery.7^

Dr. A. E. Poos was born in Muenden, Germany. He came to the

United States in l88l settling in Cincinnati. He graduated from the

Normal School of Physical Education in 1891. In 1896 he graduated from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery. He taught for two years in a Rock Island, Illinois Turnverein and also in the city's public 77 schools. He was appointed to the position at Woodward in 1893.

73Ibid. 7\bid. 75Ibid. 76Ibid. 77Ibid. 147

Dr. Robert Nohr was b o m in Dayton. He graduated from the Normal

School of Physical Training in 1890. He taught in the Louisville Tumge- meinde for one year and then came to Dayton where he served as Supervisor of Physical Culture in the Dayton Schools, a position he held but one year. From Dayton, he went to Trenton, New Jersey where he worked in a

Turnverein for a year. From Trenton, he came to Cincinnati where he worked in the North Cincinnati Turnverein for four years. In 1895 he was appointed by the Cincinnati Board of Education to succeed Mr. Knoch.

He held this position until February 10, 1899 when he resigned to finish his medical studies. He received his medical degree (M.D.) from Cincin- rjO nati College of Medicine and Surgery on May 10, 1899.

Guido Werner was born in Manchester, New Hampshire. He graduated from the Normal School of Physical Training in 1895. He accepted a position with the Socialer Turnverein in Cleveland. He resigned this position to accept a similar position with the West Cincinnati Turnverein.

He was appointed to succeed Miss Wells in l897.^ 9

Eckhardt Keller was born in Cincinnati and attended the public schools of the city. He graduated from the Normal School of Physical

Education in 1898. He was appointed to succeed Mr. Nohr on February

2 0, 1 8 9 9 .80

SUMMARY

A great deal of credit for the success of Cincinnati's program must go to the Germans. They provided the initiative for the establishment

of a program. In addition, they provided: 1) the basis for a school

78Ibid, p. 10^-105. 79Ibid, p. 105. 8QIbid. 148 program; 2 ) the teachers for the program; 3 ) the support and initiative for a state law; and 4) the means and facilities to train prospective

teachers. Without the Germans, Cincinnati1s program of physical educa­

tion would certainly have been delayed.

In like manner, without the people to carry out the programs,

Cincinnati would not have been the leader that she was. Names such as

Beecher, Allen, Shepardson, Ziegler, Nohr, Eckstein and Werner will long be remembered for the contributions they made in the development of physi­

cal education. Without their talents and assistance, physical education

instruction in the schools of Cincinnati would certainly have suffered.

The quality of teachers also appears to have been outstanding.

Nearly all of them were connected to Turnvereins, the university, or

other gymnasiums in addition to their work in the public schools. Four

of the instuctors also had medical degrees. Chapter Seven

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND ATHLETICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI

The initial attempt to create a university or college in Cincin­ nati dates back to 1806 when a school association was formed. Through the efforts of this association, the Ohio General Assembly, in 1807, passed an act establishing a university in Cincinnati. The actual act was entitled:

An act to incorporate the Cincinnati University; John S. Gano, Joseph Vanhorn, Matthew Ninimo, William Stratton, , James Ewing, Thomas Ramsey, Ethan Stone, Elmer Williams . . . hereby declare a body politic and corporate in law by the name of Cincinnati University. 1

The association attempted to finance the establishment of the institution by means of donations, contributions and a lottery. The lottery had been approved by the legislature in an act passed on Febru- 2 ary 35 1807. With the failure of the lottery, coupled with insuffi­ cient support and interest, the first attempt at founding a university 3 in Cincinnati ended in failure.

With the failure of Cincinnati University, a second attempt to

establish an institution of higher education in Cincinnati was begun in

^History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio (Cincinnati: S. B. Nelson ana Company, 1694), p. 9

20hio Laws, 1807, Vol. V, pp. 67-7 8.

^History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, p. 98.

149 150 l8l4. The leaders of the new movement included Reverend Joshua L. Wilson,

Reverend Oliver M. Spencer, and Dr. Daniel Drake. In 1815 their efforts 4 proved successful with the chartering of the Lancaster Seminary. The school operated as an academy until 1819 when its name was changed to

Cincinnati College after a new charter had been granted which conferred 5 university privilege on the institution. This college was to continue in operation until 1827 when, due to lack of funds and a reduction in enrollment, all the departments of the college ceased operating except for the primary school.

In June of 1835 Cincinnati College was revived under the presi­ dency of Dr. William H. McGuffey, who had made a name for himself with the publishing of his famous Readers. A medical department was added to the College under the leadership of Dr. Daniel Drake, but managed to last but four years. The Cincinnati Law School was also merged with Cincinnati

College in 1835 and later became a part of the University of Cincinnati.

The faculty of the College made a significant contribution when it founded the first educational association west of the Alleghenies. This associa­ tion became known as the Western Literary Institute and College of

Professional Teachers.^

4 Ibid., p. 99-

^Ohio State Reports, 1819, Vol". LII, pp. 375-380.

^William Schwarberg, "A History of Physical Education at the University of Cincinnati." Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, Columbia University, 1956, pp. 16-1 9. 151

OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

In keeping with the fact that most cf the colonial colleges were established to train students for the ministry, the Lane Theological

Seminary was established in Cincinnati in 1829. From 1832 to 1850, Dr. lyman Beecher, father of Catherine and Harriet, served as professor and president of the Seminary. The Seminary was to continue as an independent 7 institution until it became a part of the University in 1904.

In 1831 St. Xavier College, a Catholic institution, was founded under the original name cf The Athenaeum. In 1840 the name officially became St. Xavier College after the college was transferred to the

Fathers of the Society of Jesus. In 1842 it was incorporated by the

General Assembly of the State, and in 1869, it received its perpetual charter. This charter granted St. Xavier all the privileges of a university.^

The Cincinnati law School was founded in May of 1833 . This was the first law school established west of the Alleghenies and was operated as a private institution. As was mentioned earlier, the Law School was incorporated with the Cincinnati College in 1835.^ The Law School eventually became a part of the University of Cincinnati in 1918. ^

Another institution of importance that was founded during

Cincinnati's early days was the Medical College cf Ohio. It was during

7 'University of Cincinnati Record, Ser. 1, Vol. I, No. 5, Cincinnati.

^History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, p. l44.

9Ibid, p. 139 -

10Uhiversity cf Cincinnati Record, Ser. 1, Vol. XVI, No. 5, p. 126. 152 the winter cf 1818-19 that Dr. Daniel Drake procured a charter which provided the legal basis for which this new Medical College was to be founded. The school officially opened in November of 1820 and by 1850, it was recognized as one of the best in the country. A second medical college, the Miami Medical College, was established in 1852 and was merged with the Ohio Medical College in 1858. This merger was dissolved in 1865. In 1896 the Medical College of Ohio became affiliated with the University. The name was eventually changed to the College of

Medicine cf the University of Cincinnati in 1916. 11

The Cincinnati Observatory was founded in l84l-42 under the leadership of Professor Ormsby MacKnight Mitchel, who was a professor of astronomy at Chincinnati College. The observatory was to develop into one of the most important astronomical stations in the country. In 1872 12 the Observatory became an adjunct of the University.

In 1867 the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music was established.

The Cincinnati Conservatory became the first organized school cf art, in

America, that had been modeled after the famous European Conservatories.

In 1878 the Cincinnati College of Music was established."^ Both the

Conservatory and the College of Music became affiliated with the University 1 l4 of Cincinnati in 1904.

In 1875 under the direction of Rabbi Isaac M. Wise, the Hebrew

Union College was established. It became affiliated with the University

11Schwarberg, cp. cit., pp. 35-38.

12Ibid, pp. 40-4l.

13H . A. Ford, History cf Cincinnati Ohio (Cleveland: L. A. Williams and Company, l88l), pp. 246-258. 14 University of Cincinnati Record, Ser. 1, Vol. XIX, 1923, p. 11. 153 cf Cincinnati in 1904.

THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI

The General Assembly of Ohio, in April cf 1870, established a municipal university code.^ Cities of the first class, under this law, could set aside lands for university purposes. This act, coupled with the

Charles McMicken bequest, enabled the University of Cincinnati to come into official existence. The first public support of this first municipal university in Ohio, came about in the form of a city bond in 1872. The bond issue paved the way for the University's official opening with the 17 necessary construction of a recitation and laboratory building.

The official opening of the University occurred in 1873 when the l8 academic department was opened in the Woodward High School. The formal organization of the University occurred in 1874 when professors of mathematics, Latin, Greek, civil engineering, physics, and chemistry were appointed. Classes were first held in the new building, which had been built on the McMicken homestead site, in 1875*

Early Interests In Sports And Games

Little college spirit existed at the University from 1874 to 1880

Much of this can be attributed to the fact that students were on campus

15 University cf Cincinnati Record. Ser. 1, Vol. I, 1904, pp. 1-5.

l60hic Laws, 1870, Vol. LXVII, pp. 86-88. 17 Records cf Minutes, University cf Cincinnati, Vol. I, December 1859 to December 1876, pp. 351-354.

^^Reginald C. McGrane, The University of Cincinnati (New York: Harper & Row, 1963) 5 p. 70- 154 only to attend classes and lectures. Dormitories were non-existent which meant students had to live off campus. The first mention of a gymnasium occurred on October l8, 1875 when a group of students requested that an unoccupied room on the fourth floor of the University building be furnished with the necessary apparatus for a gymnasium. The group requesting this room from the Board was led by Walter T. Logpn. The issue was dropped after being referred to the Committee on Buildings who took no action on the request.a similar request agpin surfaced in March of 1880. On this occasion, the Board adopted a report from the Building Committee opposing the request.^

An article appeared in the college paper, Belatrasco, in April of

1880 which commented on the new activities or movements that were appearing on campus. The main items discussed included boating, football, a gymnasium, and a secret fraternity. In October of 1880, a petition was presented to the Board of Directors, by the students, requesting a gymnasium. The Board referred the matter, once agpin, to the Building Committee. An editorial appeared in the college paper which stated:

.... We think it would be unadvisable to provide something which will induce students to linger around the building longer than is necessary. Again, there are not baseball clubs, no foot­ ball clubs, no boating clubs, and no athletic associations of any sort, to use the gymnasium as a training ground. If the gymnasium should be established, at first, no doubt, many or nearly all would use it, but in a short time, nearly all would cease using it. Exercising upon the cross-bars, raising weights and other gymnastic devices, may have some novelty at first, but they soon

Records of Minutes, University of Cincinnati, Vol. I, December 1859 to December 1876, p. 530. 20 Records of Minutes, University of Cincinnati, Vol. II, January 1877 to August 1883, p. 282. 155

become very dull and tedious, and the gymnasium will only become a place to congregp-te and while, away the time stolen from recita­ tions and study hours, a smoking room perhaps, or a place that will be a disgrace to the students and all concerned. We think the Board would be acting unwisely and spending its money foolishly in establishing a g y m n a s i u m21 .

This article expressed a feeling that was fairly prevalent during this time - that play was a waste of time. It was thought that such time should be used in a more useful and productive way leading to achievement and success. Schwarberg stated that "the value of play as an important aspect of education was not understood or1 appreciated by most people at this time."22

A Gymnasium Association of the University of Cincinnati was formed in 1882 by a group of students who were led by Omar Joslin and Morris Sacks.

The whole purpose of the organization was to promote physical culture among the students and to equip a gymnasium. Funds were subscribed from pro­ fessors and students. The Board was petitioned to provide the room and the equipment. As was the case with previous requests, no action was 23 taken by the Board of Directors.

Baseball

Following the Civil War, baseball became a popular sport through­

out the country. Cincinnati became a "hot-bed" for the game. The tremen­

dous interest shown in the game helped lead to the fielding of the first professional team. This first professional team in Cincinnati, known as

the Red Stockings, exerted great influence in the sport in and around

21 Belatrasco, University of Cincinnati, Vol. I, No. 7, Oct., 1880, p. 6. 22 Schwarberg, op. cit., pp. 66-67. 27 Records of Minutes, University of Cincinnati, Vol. II, January, 1877 to August, 1883, p. 589. 156

Cincinnati. Interest in basebal] at the University also felt the effect of the Red Stockings.

An informal type of baseball was played when baseball was first introduced at the University. According to Schwarberg:

The first organized baseball was played in 1884, no two players dressed alike and scarcely two games were played with the same lineup. Only two or three games were played with the minor teams around the city; the expenses were usually defrayed chiefly by the players themselves. In the fall of 1884 the class that entered the University numbered ten members, just enough for a baseball team and an audience, for one was a girl. In May 1885, the freshmen challenged the sophomores to a game of baseball. After three innings the score was tied five to five and both teams claimed . Thus, is recorded the first account of intramural competi­ tion at the University.24

A Students1 League of Baseball Clubs was organized on March 28,

1885, and included the following teams: Hughes High School of Cincinnati,

Covington High School and Newport High School (both from Kentucky), and the University of Cincinnati. The first intercollegiate game was not

or played until 1886. In this first college game, the University of

Cincinnati nine challenged the nine from Miami College to a game at

Oxford. The University nine was victorious by a score of fourteen to five. The score is probably somewhat misleading seeing as how the

Cincinnati team had to borrow a whole battery from Miami in order to field a team. Prom 1886 to 1893 the University limited its playing schedule to just high school teams, except for the one game with Miami in 1886. In 1893 intercollegiate baseball became a regular activity.

24 Schwarberg, op. cit., p. 70.

2^The McMicken Review, Vol. IX, No. 4, Dec. 1894, p. 65.

26 Cincinnatian, The University of Cincinnati, 1896, p. 104. 157

In 1893 the University of Cincinnati nine played a gpme with the

Cincinnati . The results proved disasterous 'for the university team as they went down to defeat thirty-two to seven. Enougjn proceeds were received from the game, however, to supply the university team with 27 new uniforms. The game with the Redlegs became an annual event. In

1896 however, the Athletic Advisory Committee put a stop to this annual game by forbidding all Varsity teams from competing with professional teams.

Baseball was to continue to be a popular sport among the students well on into the twentieth century. There was, however, another sport that was rising to the top, ready to challenge baseball for supremacy - football.

Football

In the fall of 1885, football made its first appearance at the

University of Cincinnati. The first football team was organized under the efforts and direction of David Graham Philipps. Sporting goods stores in Cincinnati, at this time, did not handle football equipment. Because 28 of this, Philipps had to send to New York to get a football.

The first football game played at the University took place on

October 23, 1885. The gpme was played agpinst a Mount Auburn team. The gpme was played before a total of two spectators - an uncle and a sister of Arch Carson who was the captain of the Cincinnati team. The game ended up with the score being zero to zero. A return match was played

^The McMicken Review, Vol. VII, No. 3, March 1893, P- 77*

2^McGrane, op. cit., p. 120. 158 on November l4, 1885 at the Union Ball Park. The University was victori­ ous in this rematch winning by a score of 26 to 6.29

In 1886 the University met Mt. Auburn again for two games. The

University was victorious in both games by the scores of 8 to 6 and 16 to

6. For both games, the students themselves were responsible for preparing the grounds, the field, and digging the holes for the goal posts. In 1887 only one game was played and that was against Woodward OQ High School. The University defeated Woodward by a score of 8 to 4.

Two games were played in 1888. The first game was played against the Walnut Hills Gymnasium on Thanksgiving Day. The University won this game by a close score of 8 to 6. The second game was played against

Miami at Oxford. This game marked the first collegiate game the University had played. The score ended in a zero to zero tie as a drenching 71 hampered all scoring efforts. In 1889 a Varsity team composed of graduates and outsiders, defeated a team from Avondale by a score of 12 to 0, and was defeated by

Miami by the score of 34 to 0. This loss to Miami marked the first defeat 32 the University had experienced in its short football history.

In 1891 the following article appeared in the Cincinnati Times

Star. The article inferred that football still had a considerable ways to go before being fully accepted in Cincinnati. The article went as follows:

The recent games between the university, the high schools and the gymnasium have awakened quite a local interest in football, which heretofore has received but little attention in the Queen City. As yet, however, the majority of games played have been but poor exhibitions of football. This is

29Ibid. 30Ibid. 31Ibid. 32Ibid., p. 121. 159

due to the fact that most of the men have had little or no exper­ ience whatever. The subsequent trouble is that the players enter the game and play from the rule book alone. The result is obvious: A play is made by the opponents which they do not understand, and immediately a wraggle ensues, in which both teams participate, the umpire and referee become muddled, rendering decisions and counter­ decisions until chaos reigns.33

As the interest in football continued to increase, more gpmes were scheduled with opponents from a much greater geographical area. In

1893 the University team received a great deal of publicity when it traveled to Chicago to play the University of Chicago on October 28. The

University team was managed by Alfred K. Nippert and captained by Daniel

Lawrence. Alonzo Stagg, the famous Yale player, was the coach of the

Chicago team. The game was played on the last day of the World's Fair which was being held in Chicago. According to Schwarberg, "although the

University team lost twenty to nothing, the players and followers led by

Judge Samuel Hunt (a member of the Board of Directors), celebrated after the game by parading down the midway of the World's Fair. It was reported that Coach Stagg complimented the Cincinnati players and commented the score might have been closer if the Cincinnati players had refrained from ■^Il­ liquid refreshments."

In 1894 the University team secured the services of their first coach, W. Durant Berry. Berry had been a successful player in the East where he had played with Alonzo Stagg at Yale. In securing their first coach, the University followed the pattern that had been set up by other schools and colleges throughout the country. The need for expert

"Foot Ball In Porkopolis," The Cincinnati Times Star, November 9, 1891, p. 6. 34 Schwarberg, op. cit., p. 8l. 160 coaching became more desirable as the competition became keener and more meaningful to the players. Up to this time, the coaching had been done by the captain of the team.

The first season under the leadership of Coach Berry proved to be very successful as described by the Cincinnatian:

The football season of 194 has undoubtedly been the most successful in the history of the University of Cincinnati. At no time in the past has such an interest been shown by students, faculty, and City in the progress of the team. That football is the greatest factor in promoting college spirit (an essential part of college life), was shown by the large, enthusiastic and vociferous attendance of the students at all the games. The Faculty, too, manifested an intense interest in the team, and realized its importance in advancing the interest of the University.36

The actual record of the team, in terms of wins and losses, for this 1894 season stood at three and three. The three victories came at the hands of Miami, Hanover, and the University of Kentucky. The three losses were to Georgetown, Ohio Wesleyan, and Ohio State.

In 1896 some practices were initiated that tended to over-empha- size football at the apparent expense of other sports. Football was truly dominating the athletic program at this time, and the eagerness to win led to these new practices. The first of these practices occurred when the captain, Lyman Eaton, called the entire backfield out for a special spring practice. This direction had come from the new football coach, William Reynolds, of Princeton. This action marked the first time spring football practice had been conducted at the University. 1 The

~^Ibid., p. 8 2.

Cincinnatian, University of Cincinnati, 1895, p. 7 6.

•^The McMicken Review, Vol. X, No. 53 April 1896, p. 135. l 6 l practice that was initiated occurred during the fall of 1896 when Coach

Reynolds arrived to assume -his coaching duties. In an attempt to get the most from his players, Reynolds put the team on a training table. The oQ expense from this action proved to be a great strain on the athletic fund.

In 1897 the University team made history by being the first team from Ohio to be selected to play in a post season game. Following a successful season of seven wins and only one loss, the University team was invited to play the Southern Athletic Club of New Orleans in a New

Year1 s Day game in New Orleans. The only defeat suffered by the University team had been to the Carlisle Indian team. The McMicken Review provided the following description of the southern trip and the postseason game:

Accordingly, on Thursday, December 30, 1897, the Varsity team left for the field of action. The party, including sub­ stitutes and manager Nippert, numbered fourteen. It arrived in the Crescent City at 8:00 P.M. the following day. At the depot the men were met by the Southern Athletic Club Reception Committee, and escorted to their club rooms .... Be it sufficient to say that the Varsity Team, which had been out of training for over a month won with comparative ease, the score being sixteen to nothing.

Late that night, at a party given in honor of the team, players from Louisiana State University challenged the boys to a game the next day at Baton Rouge. The challenge was accepted .... According to all reports, the Varsity team surpassed their previous efforts. The boys from Louisiana State University played a desperate gpme throughout but were overwhelmingly defeated, by a score of twenty-eight to nothing.

As in New Orleans, so in Baton Rouge the boys were royally entertained. The evening following the game, a dance was given in honor of the victors. Next morning the team returned to New Orleans ....

nO Cincinnatian, The University of Cincinnati, 1897, p. 96• 162

That the trip was eminently successful there was no doubt, and the question naturally arises, as to whether or not the precedent set should be followed. Let the answer be in the affirmative. Situated as we are, on the border line between North and South, why should we not draw students to our University from Southern States. The commercial activity of our city lies largely in that direction. As the trade of Cincinnati then has been greatly increased by close relations to the South, why should not the University be built up in the same manner? Surely, here are great possibilities, if only we persist in the course taken.39 At the close of the nineteenth century, football had become a well established "institution" at the University. Fan and student interest was keen. A move had been made as early as 1895 by Dr. Arch I. Carson to construct a field on the campus in Burnet Woods. Unfortunately, the nine­ teenth century never saw this become a reality for it took more than five 40 years to raise the money.

Track and Field

Interest in track and field athletics in the United States dates back to the second half of the nineteenth century. The first inter­ collegiate meet was held at Saratoga, New York in 1874 and involved Yale,

Princeton, Harvard, Cornell, and Columbia. The New York Athletic Club had done more than any other organization to promote the sport. This club had set rules governing the events, introduced the spiked shoe, and promoted the use of the cinder track.

The first field day at the University was held on June 3, 1887, some thirteen years after the first intercollegiate meet was held at

Saratoga. The student publication made the following comments about this first field day:

•^The McMicken Review, Vol. XII, No. 5, February, 1898, p. 110. 4o McGrane, op. cit., p. 263. 1 6 3

If the Field Day be made an annual institution, how much greater will be the interest in athletic sports. Each year the students will strive to surpass the records of the previous year and the alumni who have distinguished themselves will not be forgotten as they are now, but will have their names handed down among the students. Think how it is in English schools. There they have some pride in their champions; they have traditions; and as each student hears of the feats of his predecessors, he is fired to emulate them. Why can we not have something of the sort? Let the emblems of victory be considered marks of honor among the students, and there will speedily be more interest in outdoor sports. As regards this Field Day, every student should consider himself bound in honor to be present at the exercises and to subscribe what he can to the ejqpense fund. If he is of athletic inclinations, let him enter the lists and do his best. At the very least, let him wear his class colors, practice his class yell and bring himself, friends, and enthusiasm, to inaugurate our1 first Field Day.^-

Events that were held on this first field day included running dashes (100, 200, 300 ), jumping events, singles and doubles tennis, the baseball throw, potato race, and a game of baseball followed by a tug- of-war. This first field day proved to be very successful and was well received by both participants and spectators. Nearly 1,000 spectators 42 were on hand.

In 1889 the field day was held at the Cincinnati Ball Park.

This day marked a first for the Board of Directors appropriated $50.00 to be used for the expenses. The Cincinnati Orchestra even entertained the audience with a concert preceding the athletic events. The program of events included: the 100, 220, and 440 yard dashes; the running and standing high jump; the running and standing broad jump; the hop, step,

^The McMicken Review, Vol. 1, No. 55 June 1887, pp. 46-47. 4 p The McMicken Review, Vol. 1, No. 6 , June 1887, p. 48. 164 and jump; three straight jumps; throwing the baseball; putting the shot; the hammer throw; hurdle race; class race; and tug-of-war. Participants 47 were also required to wear appropriate dress or costume.

The first published list of University Track Records appeared in

1894 in the Cincinnatian. The records included:

30 yard dash 4 seconds 1891 100 yard dash 10.4 seconds 1892 220 yard dash 24.8 seconds 1893 440 yard dash 59* 5 seconds 1893 880 yard dash 2 min. 32 seconds 1893 Running High Jump 5'4|" 1891 Running Broad Jump 18'9" 1893 Standing Broad Jump 9 .7 3/411 1892 Hop, Step, Jump 4o>7" 1892 Shot Putt 3 2 '10" 1893 Baseball Throw 367'6" 1891

The field days continued to attract both students and spectators.

A student viewpoint of the Field Days was presented in The McMicken Review in 1895:

No Field Day in Cincinnati has ever exceeded in splendor and enthusiasm that of the University in 1888. There were fully 3000 people in the audience, all having favorites, all wearing colors, and all prepared to cheer. We had a grand orchestra. The importance of those days has not been adequately recorded. They recreated athletic , they gave class spirit a new impulse; they united the student body; they lead to physical training; they interested the faculty in athletics; they attracted students from the high schools; they helped boon the University; they advertised it better than it had hitherto been advertised . . . .We, that took part in those sports will never forget them, nor will we ever forget each other. Our one hope is to see something noble come of it - A University Campus, A University Gymnasium, and the University red and black carried triumphantly throughout the State.45

^The McMicken Review, Vol. Ill, No. 5? May 1889, p. 35*

^Cincinnatian, The University of Cincinnati, 1894, p. 6l. 4b The McMicken Review, Vol. IX, No. 55 January 1895, P- 86. 165

In May of 1896 the Ohio Intercollegiate Athletic Association was organized. The University of Cincinnati was part of this organization.

On May 21, 1896, the University Field Day was held with the winner and runnerup in each event being selected to represent the University in the first Ohio intercollegiate state track meet at Columbus. Mr. E. S. Smith 46 was chosen as captain of this first Varsity Track team.

The first state field meet was held at Columbus on June 6, 1896.

Ohio State, Ohio Wesleyan, and , the three closest colleges to Columbus, were in charge of the meet. The events of this meet included:

100 yard dash, 220 yard dash, quarter mile run, half mile run, one mile

run, 120 yard hurdles, 220 yard hurdles-, running high jump, running broad

jump, pole vault, 16 pound shot putt, 16 pound hammer, hop-skip and jump, and the one mile bicycle race. The winning college, which turned out to be Oberlin, received a banner. The University of Cincinnati fared rather 47 poorly. 1

Track and field was to prove highly successful at the University

for the balance of the century. The field days had proven to be very

important in the over-all development of track at the University. A new

era in sports had opened at the University. Football and baseball were

no longer the only sports.

Basketball

Dr. Naismith's game of basketball was first played at the University

of Cincinnati in 1896. A University interclass tournament was held which

^The McMicken Review, Vol. X, No. 8, May 1896, p. 158.

^ The McMicken Review, Vol. X, No. 10, July 1896, p. 195. 166 proved to be very successful. The women of the University also found the game to their liking and quickly adopted it as an activity for the women1 s program. In 1897 the University Athletic Committee sponsored the class 48 basketball championship.

In 1898 the Medics played the men of the Academic Department in a gpme of basketball. The score of the game ended in a 2 to 2 tie. For whatever reason, basketball was not to become popular among the men during these closing years of the nineteenth century. The gpme became so neglected by the men at the close of the century that the sport was practically dropped from the program. Some attributed the lack of interest to the playing facility - the small gymnasium with pillars on the floor which created a safety hazard. The women, however, took the game much more serious. A varsity team was selected in 1898 and three games were played. The Uni­ versity women won two games against Hughes High School and lost the other1 game to Glendale Seminary. According to Schwarberg, "the girls learned 49 the game, according to the rules much more thoroughly than the boys."

This proved to be a general pattern throughout the country, as basketball was considered to be a women1s game.

Organizing the Athletic Program

In the fall of 1890 an athletic association was organized to manage the intercollegiate athletic program. This represented the first step in the formal organization of competitive athletics as a function of education. Up to this time, the total program had suffered from a lack

48 The McMicken Review, Vol. XT, No. 5? January 1897? pp. 104-105. 49 Schwarberg, op. cit., p . 92. 167 of continuity, finances, and serious irregularities. A lack of unity in organization led to bickering, questionable recruiting practices, rule violations, problems with officiating, and gambling among spectators and participants. With the organizing of this athletic association, The

McMicken Review, a student publication, made the following comments:

The formation of this association was a long felt need, and that the most pressing of the causes which led to its establish­ ment were: First, the University football and baseball teams were unable to play with those of other colleges, as there were no funds to bear traveling expenses. Money had to be raised for each game by private subscription. Second, the majority of the students had absolutely nothing to do with the choice of players, or the management of the teams; consequently, the games did not represent the University, and failed to interest the students. Third, the players being selected for occasional games only, were rarely in practice, and did not act in unison with one another. There was no regular manager.50

In January of 1891 an Executive Committee, composed of students, was established. The committee was composed of one freshman, two sopho­ mores, three juniors, and four seniors. The Committee was given authority to act as an official agent in behalf of the students in all athletic 51 affairs. Limited control was now placed on the management of the intercollegiate athletic program.

In 1894 it became apparent that there was a need for a faculty committee on athletics. This committee would provide surveillance to the whole program of competitive athletics. The idea was accepted by the

Student Executive Committee and preparations were begun for the formation of the faculty committee in the spring of 1895* As it was formed, the

Committee was composed of three Faculty members, three Alumni, and three

•^The McMicken Review, Vol. IV, October 1890, p. 8. 51 Cincinnatian, The University of Cincinnati, 1896, p. 105. 168 students. (This idea originated at Harvard in 1882 when a three-man faculty athletic committee was started. This followed a complaint from the faculty regarding the number of games played by the baseball team 52 and the number of classes the players had missed.) The Alumni Asso­ ciation was to choose its delegates while the Executive Committee of

Students would choose their representatives. The Committee for the

Regulation of Athletics elected Professor C. L. Edwards, Chairman; C. W.

Andrews, Secretary; and F. Sanford Brown, Treasurer. Representatives included:

Faculty: Professor C. L. Edwards

Professor F. L. Schoenle

Professor W. 0. Sproull

Alumni: Dr. Arch J. Carson (1887)

F. S. Brown (1894)

A. K. Nippert (1894)

Students: E. Starbuck Smith (1896)

C. W. Andrews (1896)

A. L. Smith (1896)

Sub-committees were appointed to manage student activities in football, baseball, track, rowing, tennis, gymnasium, athletic field and entertain- 58 ment. Although the students had given up some of their control over athletics, they were to continue to have a say in the over-all program.

With the expansion of the intercollegiate schedule, it became apparent that there was a need for an association of colleges within

^VanDalen, op. cit., p. 409-

Cincinnatian, The University Of Cincinnati, 1895? p. 105- 169

Ohio. A meeting, for this purpose, was finally held at Columbus in May of 1896. The result of the meeting was the formation of The Ohio Inter­ collegiate Athletic Association. The Ohio institutions who were repre­ sented were Kenyon, Otterbein, Miami, Ohio State, Marietta, Wittenberg, and the University of Cincinnati. The constitution that was adopted by the Association contained some strict rules, especially regarding eligi­ bility. One rule, that was pushed through by the smaller schools and was met with objections from the larger schools, prevented anyone with a 54 Bachelor' s Degree from participating in any intercollegiate contest.

In 1897 the Board of Directors instructed a faculty committee to organize an Athletic Council. The Council was to consist of the managers of the Teams (football, baseball, and track), two members from the Academic

Department, one member from the Law School, one member from the Medical

College, five members from the Academic Alumni, and three members selected at large. The Council was to have the responsibility of managing the men's athletic program. Prior to this, the Board had decided that:

1 ) the faculty would be entrusted to establish a set of eligibility rules for athletics; 2 ) the basis for eligibility would be scholarship and residence; and 3) the Captains of the teams would be responsible for 55 reporting correct lists of eligible players.

The first Women's Athletic Association was established in 1898.

This association was to be in charge of women's athletics. The associa­ tion was composed of six members - a president, vice-president, secretary,

•^The McMicken Review, Vol. X, No. 8, May 1896, p. 156.

'Records of Minutes, The University of Cincinnati, Vol. IX, 1892- 1898, p. 478. 170 56 treasurer, and two faculty members - and an executive committee.

The Gymnasium Association

In January of 1883, the Academica, a student publication, called attention to the fact that all the students of the University were eligible 57 for membership in the Gymnasium Association of the University. As was mentioned earlier, the Gymnasium Association had been formed in 1882. The objectives of the Association were stated in the February 1883 issue of the Academica. The objectives, simply stated, were to establish a gym- p - Q nasium and gain the advantages of physical culture. In 1884 the follow­ ing student writing appeared in the student publication:

There are only a few students in the University of Cincinnati who enjoy the benefits arising from a regular system of physical exercise. Every child knows that nothing is more detrimental to good health than a want of proper and judicious bodily training; and yet, Gentlemen of the Board, if you examine carefully the conditions of any college, you will find that most of the regular students have not the time to devote that attention to their bodies, which is so essential to their good health and happiness, unless it be on the college premises. We earnestly believe that a small amount may be used to great advantage, if it is spent for the physical improvement of the students. A small sum ($300 .00 ) would suffice in the beginning, for the buying of apparatus. A good instructor of gymnastics could be engaged at a moderate salary - $1,500 at the very highest. This Professor of "Physical Culture," as we would call him, would, in addition to his practical duties, deliver lectures on Anatomy and Hygiene. The members of this gymnasium would gladly bear part of the expenses incurred by the buying of apparatus.59

56 ' Cincinnatian, The University of Cincinnati, 1932, pp. 110-111.

^ Academica, Vol. Ill, No. 5? January, 1883, p. 59.

•^Academica, Vol. Ill, No. 6, February, 1883, p. 64.

-^Academica, Vol. IV, No. 3? January, 1884, pp. 20-21. 171

It's important to realize that during the later part of the nine­ teenth century, gymnasiums were built throughout the country at many schools. Harvard, Yale, Amherst, and the Military Academy at West Point, all entered into building programs during this era. According to

Schwarberg:

In all probability the students of the University of Cincinnati were greatly influenced by the construction of such magnificent gymnasiums. 80

The efforts to secure a gymnasium were continued by the students.

In 1891 the students suggested that a gymnasium be started in the drill room. As expressed by the students, "this is surely one of the most crying needs of the University, and the more essential apparatus such as pulley-weights, a wrestling mat, etc., could be so disposed as not to interfere with the employment of the room for other purposes."^ In

1893 some efforts were made as reported by The McMicken Review:

There is a scheme on foot to build a small gymnasium on the campus, the cost of which, if carried out, will be in the neigh­ borhood of $500.00. It would be much better to secure with the same money the use of a fully equipped gymnasium in the vicinity of the University than to put up a building that must soon be torn down.°2

Things looked brighter for the gymnasium movement when the

University, in 1895? moved to the Burnet Woods Site. A building construc­ tion program was started and thoughts immediately centered around the possibility of a gymnasium. The gymnasium became a reality when McMicken

Hall, the first building on the new campus, was completed. Within this

^Schwarberg, op. cit., p. 112.

^ The McMicken Review, Vol. TV, No. 1, January 1891, p. l4. 62 The McMicken Review, Vol. VII, No. 1, January l8935 p. 23. 172 new building could be found recitation rooms, an assembly hall, a library, and a gymnasium. Schwarberg described the gymnasium as follows:

The gymnasium was a low-ceilinged, poorly lighted room with pillars on both sides of the floor area. It contained small locker rooms with a few showers. The gymnasium room was not as modem as those built in separate gymnasium buildings.63

Although the gymnasium was far from what was initially hoped for, the students did indeed have their gymnasium. Twelve years after the Gym­ nasium Association was organized, the gymnasium at the University became a reality.

With the gymnasium completed, one would have thought that it would have been an instant success, especially after all the efforts that had been put into securing it. This, however, was not the case. The students failed to support the new gymnasium and by l8995 this fact was being noted in the student paper:

The University has a gymnasium; not the finest, not as well- equipped a gymnasium as even the High Schools of Cincinnati possess, but worthy of recognition . . . It has received prac­ tically none, conclude that a majority of the students are ignorant either of its existence or possibly of its location . . . No credit. This seems wrong; but such is the state of the case .... Let the benefits, present and future, to be derived from it, plead its cause, with no mercenary thought of "hours" .... Hope a generous citizen will appear, who will see how necessary it is that the department shall not lag behind the high standards which is rapidly being attained in all other branches, who will present us with a separate building provided with all the necessary equipment of a modern gymnasium.[sic]64

The need for a well equipped modem gymnasium was recognized by everyone, but this would not materialize until well into the twentieth century.

^Schwarberg, op. cit., p. 113.

^The McMicken Review, Vol. XIV, No. 5? December l8995 P- 92. 173

A Program and Direction

In 1895, after completion of the gymnasium, athletics were under 65 the control of the Committee for the Regulation of Athletics. ^ The

gymnasium had been furnished by the Alumni with dumb bells, horizontal

and parallel bars, trapeze, Indian Clubs, wands, flying rings, and other

gymnastic apparatus. A cage was also provided in which indoor football

and baseball practice could take place. The cage measured fifty-four by

twenty feet. Completely equipped, the gymnasium provided the necessary

facility for the beginning of a physical training program. There was,

however, one element missing. The Committee found that the gymnasium

could not be properly utilized without a physical instructor.

In October of 1895 Mr. W. Durant Berry, the coach of the football

team, was named Physical Director at a salary of $300.00. To help defray

the salary expense, students were assessed a small fee upon enrolling in

physical training classes. Classes were small as physical training was

not a required subject. Because of the small enrollments in the classes,

the following article appeared in the student publication in December:

It is with much regret that we have noticed the lack of support of the new gymnasium among the students. The University has one of the best equipped gymnasiums in the city: a physical director has been secured, and all arrangements made to give excellent physical training; and yet there has been difficulty in getting any of the students to join the classes. Of course, the gymnasium cannot succeed unless the students support it. If they do not show their appreciation of the efforts made in their behalf to offer a splendid gymnasium training at a modern fee, the board of directors may conclude that the gymnasium is a

65 ^Cincinnatian, The University of Cincinnati, 1896, p. 105• 174

useless expense. We trust the matter will he given consideration among the students, and that all who can will join and aid the gymnasium.°6

Another article appeared in February of 1896 with regard to the whole question of importance, support, and use of the gymnasium. The article stated:

The students of the University fail as yet to appreciate the advantages of a scientific system of exercise . . . with us physical culture and gymnastics is an experiment and we must show those in authority that it is a profitable one. They hope the board will (in the near future) provide for the payment of an instructor, and so remove the fee entirely (Fee for year reduced to one dollar.) Until this is done however, both the young ladies and the men can in no better way show appreciation of the gift to their alma mater than by cheerfully joining the classes. 67

In April of 1896 the contract of Mr. Berry as instructor in physi­ cal culture and director of the gymnasium expired. As a replacement, Mr.

Walter Schoenle was appointed to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the 68 year.

The actual beginning of physical education at the University is synonomous with the appointment of Mr. Berry as director. Under Berry's direction, students were prescribed exercises to meet individual needs.

A thorough physical examination was given to each student who enrolled.

Body measurements, strength tests, an examination of the lungs and heart, and a general health inquiry was made which all helped to provide data which in turn would help in the prescribing of exercises. Such a program of anthropometric measurements had been promoted and popularized by

Dudley Sargent.

The McMicken Review, Vol. X, No. 35 December 1895, p. 4 9. 67 The McMicken Review, Vol. X, No. 5? February 1896, p. 96. 68 The McMicken Review, Vol. X, No. 53 April 1896, p. 135* 175

A handbook was also given to each student which contained some general information, the measurements and results of the tests administered, and the specific prescription of exercises. Regular training was also re­ ceived by the members of the athletic teams. Exemptions for athletic participation were not granted. As a bonus, classes in light floor gym- 69 nasties were offered for those interested. v

In September of 1896 a recommendation was made to the Board of

Directors to create a position of Director of the Gymnasium or Licensed

Instructor in Physical Culture. The person to be appointed to this position would be permitted to charge each student a fee not to exceed 70 five dollars per year. The recommendation to the Board, in this matter, came from the Committee on the Academic Department.

At the next Board meeting, Dean Meyers recommended that Mr. Arthur

Knock be appointed to the position of Director of the Gymnasium and

Instructor in Physical Culture. Knock, a Turner, also taught at Walnut

Hills High School. The appointment was approved by the Board. The Board also authorized the Dean and the Academic Committee to employ a woman in­ structor in Physical Culture. The salary was not to exceed one hundred and fifty dollars. For this position, Miss Mary Curtis was appointed at 71 a salary of twenty-two dollars and fifty cents per month. Under these new instructors, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons were reserved for ladies classes; Monday, Wednesday and Friday for men. Some success was achieved

^University of Cincinnati, Catalogue, 1895^96, p. 62. 70 Minutes of the Board, The University of Cincinnati, Vol. IV, pp. 318-433.

71Ibid, p. 443. 1 7 6 by these new instructors, although the physical training program continued to attract little interest from the student ranks.

Under the direction of Miss Curtis, the girls' physical training classes were rather well received. A great amount of enthusiasm was shown by the girls during these closing years of the nineteenth century, especially after basketball had become so popular. Basketball had been accepted, by 18975 as an important activity in the women's program.

The first regular fulltime president of the University, President

Ayres, was appointed by the Board of Directors in 1899. He quickly established himself as a supporter of physical training and urged the students to use the gymnasium. In November of l8993 he reported to the

Board:

The interest shown by students in systematic physical training is greatly increased this year, but the class work in the gymnasium is hindered by the lack of suitable, though inexpensive apparatus. I recommend that twenty-five dollars be appropriated for the pur­ chase of the needed sets of dumbbells.7^

The Board approved the recommendation.

SUMMARY

The development of physical education and athletics at the

University of Cincinnati proved to be a rather painful and slow process.

The University had to suffer through the growth stages that many schools such as Harvard, Yale, and Amherst, had managed to get through earlier in the century. By the close of the nineteenth century, the University had made some significant progress but still had a long way to go.

72 Minutes of.the Board, The University of Cincinnati, Vol. V, November 20, l8993 P« 1^-6. Although the University had a small gymnasium,' a director of physical education for men and a lady instructor for women, the organization was less than totally efficient. The University would have to wait until

1916 for a department of physical education to be established. This would mark the "real" beginning of physical education at the University of Cincinnati. Chapter Eight

THE CINCINNATI GYMNASIUM AND ATHLETIC CLUB

The first gymnasium organized in Cincinnati was established in

1848 by Sam Barrett, who was a well known athlete of the time. He set up this original gymnasium on Third Street, just east of Broadway in what was then known as Madame Anthony Trollope's Bazaar building. He equipped the gymnasium with weights or pulleys, parallel bars, dumbbells, and boxing gloves. He even established a regular school of gymnastics and taught the classes himself. 1

In 1853 a number of the active members of Barrett's Gymnasium made a move to procure accommodations that would better serve their physi­ cal needs. They did this by calling public attention to the matter through the formation of a society. Sufficient enthusiasm was created through the society which led to initial success. The new institution was to be called the Young Men's Gymnastic Association. This name, how­ ever, was soon changed to the Cincinnati Gymnasium so as not to be confused with the Y. M. C. A. Rooms in the Apollo building on the north­ west corner of Fifth and Walnut Streets, were secured and fitted with 2 all the necessary equipment and apparatus of that day.

1Minutes and Records, of the Cincinnati Gymnasium and Athletic Club. Cincinnati Historical Society. Cincinnati, Ohio. 2 ''The First Gymnasium Organized By Sam Barrett, The Athlete," The Cincinnati Times Star, October 30? 1890.

178 179

The quarters in the Apollo building were retained until May of i860 when rooms on the fourth and fifth floors of the Commercial building were procured at the northeast corner of Fourth and Race Streets. With this move, the Gymnasium obtained airy apartments that were well lighted and ventilated; increased their bathing facilities; and established itself 3 on a permanent basis. So successful was the organization during this time period that, according to the Tribune, "its membership increased until it was one of the largest, if not the largest gymnastic organiza- 4 tion in the country."

A plan to erect its own building was reluctantly abandoned in the l860s due to the depressing effect on prosperity caused by the Civil War.

Its desire for additional space was finally satisfied in 1868 when the directors leased some fine quarters in the St. Lawrence building on

Fourth Street. On March 12, 1869 this new gymnasium was opened with a largely increased membership. With some additional remodeling completed, 5 the quarters became second to none in the country. The main exercising hall was 120 feet long, 45 feet wide, and 38 feet in heigjat. Lofty windows at each end and raised sky lights in the center, provided plenty of light during the day. Along the walls of this room could be found numerous closets in which members placed their clothes while exercising.

Equipment that was used for the development of the body was inter-spaced

3 Minutes and Records, Cincinnati Gymnasium and Athletic Club Cincinnati Historical Society. Cincinnati, Ohio. 4 "Our Gymnasium," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, November 11, 1894. 5 Minutes and Records, Cincinnati Gymnasium and Athletic Club Cincinnati Historical Society. Cincinnati, Ohio. l 8 o throughout the hall. This included, rings, trapeze, horizontal bars, ladders, dumb-bells, health lifts, rowing apparatus, indian clubs, and other various arrangements.^ The directors, according to the Tribune, had truly "fitted up what was then the finest gymnasium in the United

States.

The quarters in the St. Lawrence Building finally became inade­ quate in 1885. From this building, which had served as "home" for six­ teen years, the Association moved into the Grand Opera Building where it was to remain on into the twentieth century. Agpin, the success the

Association experienced while at the Opera House was phenomenal, espe- ,_ ^ g cially considering the fact that it had upstairs quarters.

The Grand Opera Building proved to be second to none in the

United States. The Main Hall contained 5S625 square feet of floor space.

It was furnished with all of the latest and improved apparatus and sur­ passed all other facilities with regard to heat, ligjit, and ventilation.

In addition to the Main Hall, members enjoyed the following additional facilities: a Reading Room, Sitting Room, Private Instruction Room,

Office and Dressing Alcoves, Lavitory, Bath Rooms, and laundry. These areas covered 6,905 square feet. This represented nearly 1,300 more 9 square feet than the entire Main Hall.

Mr. R. W. Carroll was responsible for drawing up the Articles of

Incorporation for the gymnasium. When introduced, the word "gymnasium"

HVlinutes and Records, op. cit. 7 "Our Gymnasium," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, November 1 1 , 1 8 9 4 . 8 9 Ibid. Ibid. l8l

appears to have been a word that was unfamiliar in meaning to most people.

Upon discovering that in its Greek form it meant "naked," there was a move

to denounce the organization. According to the records, "One old repre­

sentative denounced it outrageous to even introduce a bill permitting

people to go naked.Despite this misunderstanding of meaning, the

bill did pass.

Membership in the Association was obtained by an applicant who

exhibited good character and was introduced and vouched for by a member

who was in good standing. Upon being selected, the applicant was charged

with a five dollar ($5.00) initiation fee. In addition, each member was

also assessed an annual fee of ten dollars ($10.00). If a member desired

to have his own box or locker, a two dollar ($2 .00 ) fee was assessed for

this. A twenty-five cent deposit was also required for a door key.^

Membership during good times exceeded 1,000 and would dip to less than

500 when times were rough.

Rules of the Association were rather simple and to the point.

One basic rule existed:

Be gentlemanly in your intercourse with your fellow members, and do nothing that will interfere with their enjoyment of the privileges, for which each of you pay exactly the same amount. 12

^Sviinutes and Records, op. cit.

11 iiOur Gymnasium," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, November 1 1 , 1 8 9 4 . 12 Minutes and Records, op. cit. • 182

A few simple "Nos" helped support the basic rule:

1. No smoking outside the sitting room. 2. No loud talking in the Reading room. 3. No getting on the mats or track with shoes on. 4. No political discussions. 5. No profane language or intoxication. 6. No betting or gambling of any description. ^

A Board of Directors m s elected annually to direct the Associa­ tion. In reality, however, it m s the Superintendent who attended to the administrative affairs and saw to the entire workings of the gymnasium.

In 1877 Mr. Edward W. Murphy was hired as Superintendent, a position he was to hold until 1895- When Murphy was hired, the membership of the

Gymnasium had declined to 460. Six years prior to this, membership had stood at 1035- Murphy, at the age of 27, m s hired to help restore the

Gymnasium to its previously firm and stable condition, both in terms of membership and finances. Previous to this, Murphy had been employed as . ., . 14 a civil engineer.

The Charter Membership of the Gymnasium, except for a few omissions included: A. B. Haston, W. F. Colburn, Ben Neville, Jas. McGreggor,

B. 0. M. DeBeck, John P. Jackson, Hiram Powers, William L. DeBeck, Will

Valette, Walt Smith, Robert F. Rogers, and Maj. A. S. Burt. Membership m s to eventually include nearly every successful business and professional man in the city. This included Ohio Governors, Ohio Judges, and one IS United States President (Rutherford B. Hayes). J

^^Minutes and Records, op. cit. 14 "Murphy And The Gymnasium," The Cincinnati Graphic, March 21. I.885, p. 18.

1^Minutes and Records, op. cit. 1 8 3

Early bathing facilities were far from what we would classify as modern. In the old original gym in the Apollo Building, the first major move toward introducing apparatus and equipment was the purchase and in­ stallation of two bath tubs. These tubs were fed by a tank located in the room overhead. While in the Apollo Building, damaging leaks from the tubs were common for the downstairs crockery store.

Improvements in equipment and apparatus were made from time to time until the Gymnasium became one of the best in the country. Equipment was to eventually include: single, double, and horizontal bars; chest weights and vaulting stalls; a long vaulting horse; inclined ladders and horizontal ladders; a Swedish ladder and health lift; climb­ ing ropes and rope ladders; two jumping bucks; parallel bars and a "Jap" pole; flying and traveling rings; sculling machines; rowing machines; trapeze; wrist machines; and a quarter circle and fat man's lift. A running track surrounded the main exercising area. This track was covered 17 by a rubber cushion or blanket. It took twenty laps to equal a mile.

Under the administrative leadership of Superintendent Murphy, the

Gymnasium was soon to find itself on the road to financial recovery.

Murphy was able to recognize problems, and, in most cases, come up with meaningful solutions. In 1878 he inspired existing members to bring in at least one new member each so that needed finances could be obtained which 18 would pay for new carpets and much needed apparatus. Within six years,

^"The Cincinnati Gymnasium And Athletic Club, Familiarly Called The Gym," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, May 93 l8S75 P- 17- 17 Letter from Edward W. Murphy to the members of the Gymnasium, June 1, 1878.

and Records, op. cit.1^Minutes 184

Murphy was able to thoroughly remodel rooms, Install the latest appliances,

increase the membership to 915? a^d what seems almost impossible, pay up

the indebtedness and place a surplus of $1500 to the credit of the 19 gymnasium. ^

In 1&79 under Murphy's leadership, the first athletic club in

Cincinnati was organized with the Gymnasium Association. The leading

citizens of the city would patronize the various exhibitions given by the

club. The first officers of the club included: Judge Nicholas Longjtforth,

President; George W. Jones, Vice-President; A. H. Coffee, Secretary; ¥. H. 20 Campbell, Treasurer; and Edward W. Murphy, Captain.

By 1885 Murphy was calling for the relocation of the Gymnasium

Rooms from 106 W. 4th Street to the Grand Opera House Building. After

eight years of service as Superintendent, Murphy realized the need for

five important additions to the existing facilities. According to the

records, these included: "more bath rooms, better ventilated and more perfectly arranged; a smoking and lounging room for club purposes; many more boxes and conveniently located dressing rooms; a private instruction

room for new delicate members and men of mature age; and, probably the

addition of most importance, an instruction room for classes of ladies 21 and children in calisthenics and light gymnastics." In addition, he

also asked the members for an additional $3000 to be used for new carpets, new furniture and new apparatus.

^^ilnutes and Records, op. cit. 20 "Our Gymnasium," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, November 11, 1894. 21 Minutes and Records, op. cit. 1 8 5

In 1889 Murphy accomplished probably his greatest single feat with the Gymnasium - he convinced the members of the need for an athletic grounds. With the construction of outdoor athletic grounds, which were to be known as the Cincinnati Gymnasium Athletic Grounds, Murphy felt that the Gymnasium could then add some additional attractions which would draw and hold members during the summer months. The athletic grounds, which consisted of six acres of land along the river in Pendleton, pro­ vided facilities for baseball, football, lacrosse, track and field, tennis, swimming, bowling, and quoits. A grand stand, club house and boat house 22 were also included in this athletic complex.

Gnce these athletic grounds were procured in 1890, the Gymnasium was never the same. The Gymnasium was to become divided and subdivided into various specialized clubs. These clubs included the boat club, the cycle club, baseball club, tennis club, and bowling club. Each club con­ tained its own quota of members, while still being subordinate to the 25 parent organization, the Cincinnati Gymnasium.

In 1895 after nearly eighteen years with the Cincinnati Gymnasium,

Superintendent Murphy stepped down to accept a position with a civil engineering firm in Florida. His resignation had caught the Gymnasium 24 by surprise but not totally unprepared. Following a reception in which

Murphy was presented a diamond ring and a life membership in the Gymnasium, the Superintendency was turned over to Maurice C. Longenecker, who had

22 Letter from Edward W. Murphy to the members of the Gymnasium, March 7, 1889.

The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, May 9, 1897, P* 17- 24 "Handsomely Remembered," The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, January 3, 1895, P- 2. 186 been Murphy's assistant for a short time. At the time of his appointment 25 to the Superintendency, Longenecker was but 22 years of age.

Another important individual of the Murphy era was Assistant

Superintendent Frank Brendamcur. In 1890 while serving as Murphy's assistant, Brendamcur toured the East visiting many of the mere prominent athletic clubs and gymnasiums. While on his tour, he visited with Dr.

Dudley Sargent at Harvard College; visited the Columbia Athletic Club in

Washington; visited the Y.M.C.A. Gymnasiums in both Washington and Balti­ more; and visited the Bryn Mawr Preparatory School Gymnasium of Miss 26 Garrett in Baltimore. His findings were most interesting and were stated as follows:

. . . our gym net only has nothing to learn from these much vaunted associations, but that the home institution could give them many pointers in the development of the human form .... The purpose of exercise there is almost wholly in the line of athletics. All interest is centered around athletic sports.27

Brendamour' s findings only confirmed what many locals were already saying - that Cincinnati's Gymnasium was second to none.

A third individual of importance who served the Gymnasium during

Murphy's era was Professor Thomas Griffiths. He was hired by the Board of Directors in 1882 as an instructor. In addition to his regular duties, he also offered private instruction in fencing, bread sword, single stick, sparring, gymnastics, and calisthenics. A course of fifteen lessons cost

$10. Under Griffiths instruction, classes were offered every day of the

25 n "Eastern Gyms," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, January 3> lo95-

^The Cincinnati Times-Star, August 25, 1890, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society.

07 The Cincinnati Times-Star, August l6, 1890, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. 187 week except Sunday. The following time schedule was in effect: Mondays:

9-10 and 5-6; Tuesday: 12-1 and 8-9; Wednesdays: 9-10 and 5-6; Thursdays:

12-1 and 8-9; Fridays: 9-10 and 5-6; and Saturdays: 12-1 and 8-9. The 28 Gymnasium itself was open daily from 6 A.M. to 10 P.M.

In 1888 after six years as an instructor, Professor Griffiths was relieved of his duties, which was apparently the result of a financial crunch. There had been some apparent ill feelings between Griffiths and

Murphy previous to this with regard to Griffith's salary. In any case,

Griffiths was quick to blame the financial hardships on bad management - namely Murphy. With the resultant dismissal of Griffiths, Murphy and 29 Brendamcur had to assume charge of all instruction.

Throughout the course of a normal day at the Gymnasium, various classes were being taught by the instructors. A typical day was described by the Commercial Tribune in l8Sf[:

The Gymnasium work proper is most attractive in the evening, although there is a class of business men at 12:15 o'clock, another for professional men and such can attend at 5:15 In the afternoon. But it is at the 8 o'clock class in the evening when one can see the exercise room filled with a crowd of mere or less muscular young fellows, garbed in more or less pictur­ esque gymnasium attire, going through the movements dictated and exemplified by the instructor, who stands upon an elevated rostrum.3°

From the description provided it appears that class instruction was carried out in a way quite similar to our rather typical method of per­ forming basic calisthenics. The leader demonstrated from a position that was set apart from the participants. The participants, who were

mnutes and Records, op. cit.

^ " A Case Of Must," The Evening Post, October l8, 1888. OQ The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, May 93 18975 P- 17- 188 in uniform, followed the direction of the leader in unison.

The class that was offered for business men at noon was most interesting. From twenty to forty men took part. It was largely patron­ ized by business men and professionals who were looking for an opportunity to take a break from the hectic business day. The class was arranged in such a way that each man had plenty of room between himself and his neigh­ bors which allowed him full freedom in the use of his arms and legs. Each man was dressed in tights and wore slippers on his feet. A very ligjit dumb bell was used by each man while the instructor demonstrated and led from a stage placed over the stairway. Some of the particulars of the class are described below:

From the simplest arm and leg movements the pupils are con­ ducted to the more complicated movements until every muscle has been tried. They stoop and strike, they stand on tiptoes and strike in all directions, they guard and lead, singing the number all the time. Every movement is made twenty times, and the two ends of the class will alternate singing in stentorian tones, the odd and even numbers. After twenty minutes of this work, which makes the perspiration roll from those who are not yet in train­ ing, every one climbs the "A" ladder, and then takes turns at the jumping standards, in which the most varied movements are neces­ sary. Some of the men go to the pulleys, the head machines, which develop the muscles of the neck, and the wrist rolls. The pull­ ing and rowing machines are popular, and the more advanced do work on the bars, trapeze, and the traveling rings.31

After completing his physical workout, a gentlemen could then look forward to a bath and rub down. Following this, he could return to work refreshed and physically exhilarated.

Superintendent Murphy felt that there were four reasons why men and women should exercise. These included: 1) to improve an imperfectly

31 "Our Gymnasium," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, November 11, 1894. 189 developed form; 2 ) physical work brings physical power to the worker;

3 ) physical ability and great powers of endurance are associated with greatness as supported by history; and 4) that nature demands it - we can't live without it. Murphy was truly a believer in the sound mind 32 m a sound body concept.

Assistant Superintendent Brendamcur believed that consumption could be cured by exercising. His thoughts on this subject were pub­ lished in the Enquirer in 1894:

Exercise, therefore, is very important in the hygienic management of those who are predisposed to consumption and of those already tubercular. Exercise is net only beneficial as a measure of strengthening the body generally, and thus adding to its resisting power agpinst all diseases, but by increasing the functional activity of the respiratory system, the lungs are rendered less liable to suffer from tuberculosis.

In all cases, the Qymnasium staff advocated that exercise should be taken little by little ever an extended period of time. Short brief spurts were deemed unacceptable. Regular persistent practice was neces­ sary if one was to truly reap the benefits of exercise.

In 1886 the question of exercising for women was addressed by

Professor Griffiths. It was his belief that women should exercise pro­ vided that the exercise was properly taken. He felt that a program for women should net be as strenuous as one provided for men. According to

Griffiths, women could not stand such vigorous training nor was it the intent to develop the muscular structure of women to the extent of men.

Griffiths stated:

32 "Physical Culture," The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, April 25, 1887, p. 6. GO The Cincinnati Enquirer, May 11, 1894, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. 190

Exercise is good anywhere if the right kind and taken at the proper manner. The trouble, however, with a lady or any­ body else practicing gymnastics at. home is, that it is never done regularly and seldom with as good will as at a gymnasium or other place where there is company and excitement. Differently constituted people require vastly different exercises. The large, robust woman could start in with light dumbbells, while a lady.not very strong could not use them for seme time .... Fleshy women are difficult to exercise, as they become exhausted very easily at first .... Few ladies knew how to walk,.and one of the most essential results of thorough gymnastic work with ladies is graceful c a r r i a g e34 .

The whole question of women and exercising was not to be forgotten.

The Commercial Tribune in 1897 brought this question to the attention of its readers in an article which made note of the fact that Cincinnati lacked a well-equipped gymnasium for women. Many cities and towns of only one third the size of Cincinnati were boasting of having such facili­ ties for their women. According to the article, limited opportunities for women were available at: 1) the North, Central and West Turnvereins;

2) the University where a gymnastic training class was being offered for women under Miss May Curtis; 3) Miss Nourse's private gymnasium school under the direction of a Miss Gray; 4) Miss Goldsmith's private gymnasium where private classes were offered; and 5) the small gymnasium at the

Y.M.C.A. under the direction of Miss Ida Goldsmith, who also assisted the other Miss Goldsmith at her gymnasium. The article went on to ask the opinions of a Mrs. Katherine Westendorf of Avondale. She indicated that there was a need of a gymnasium for Cincinnati's business women. 3b She felt that the women themselves should start it and fund it.

34 The Cincinnati Times-Star, October 10, 1886, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. 35 "Women In Cincinnati Gymnasiums," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, April 11, l8975 P- 18. In addition tc all the regular members that the Gymnasium and

Athletic Club entertained during the nineteenth century, a number of professionals and prominent acrobats and athletes made use of the Gym­ nasium facilities. .Among the mere prominent individuals to frequent the

Gymnasium were: the Hanlons, Ravelles, Martinettes and Davenport brothers

(acrobats); Aaron Jones and Mick McCocl (prize fighters); Muldocn and

Whistler (wrestlers); the Robinson brothers (circus performers); Jim

Stickney (great bareback rider); Carnahan (considered tc be the greatest club juggler in the world); and all the members of the celebrated Red

Stocking Baseball Club of 1869. • Of special interest was the visit that the great John L. Sullivan made tc Cincinnati and the Gymnasium in

1889. While in Cincinnati, he utilized the Gymnasium's facilities tc train for an upcoming championship fight that was tc be held in New

Orleans. Besides attracting a let of attention, he also staged a wrest- ■37 ling match with William Muldocn at the Grand Opera House.

In the 1870s gymnastic exhibitions became a thing of common prac­ tice. Spectators by the hundreds would frequent the Gymnasium, or, at a later date, the athletic grounds, to witness athletic demonstrations of the finest caliber. Admission charges ranged from twenty-five cents tc seventy-five cents. At an exhibition given at Pike's Music Hall in 1876, the following events made up the program: pyramidal tableau, tumbling, double trapeze, parallel bars, parlor gymnastics, Indian clubs, health lift and feats of strength, four acrobats, horizontal bar, contortion act,

JnVIinutes and Records, cp. cit. 7 7 "The Only John L," The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, May 29, 192 fencing, flying rings, leaping and sparring. An audience of more than five hundred, including at least two hundred women, witnessed a similar exhibition in 1879. ^

In 1889 an athletic exhibition at the Gymnasium included the following activities: calisthenics, vaulting horse, indian clubs, rope climbing, boys' tug of war, Scotch sword dance, flying rings, trapeze octavo, high jumping and pole leaping, Graeco-Roman wrestling, and sparring. 39

Of particular importance to Cincinnati was the individual exploits of Edmund Brendamour. He was a Cincinnati native who had been born there in l859* He had been employed as a salesman in the wholesale millinary establishment of Samuel Ach and Company. Although only 5 feet 5 inches in height and 128 pounds in weight, Brendamour was to become a great amateur light weight Graeco-Roman wrestler. He was in fact, probably the best in the state. In 1885 he defeated Bennie Jones of England, a world 4o champion, in two straight falls.

By 1890 sparring had become the most popular of the exhibition activities, at least as far as the spectators were concerned. Many highly publicized sparring matches brought over-flow crowds. Tickets to some matches became highly sought after and often brought premium prices to those who were willing to part with them. The Tribune in 189^ had the following to say about sparring:

oO Minutes and Records, op. cit.

39tv.,nEbid. to-,.,’ Ibid. 193

Besides developing the muscles of thousands of citizens and adding to their good health, the Gymnasium has been responsible for the boxing qualities of a great many busi­ ness and professional men. There is no city in America that can show more good. amateur boxers, according to popu- ■ lation, than Cincinnati;4l

Rules for sparring competition in the Gymnasium were established and strictly adhered to. They included:

1 . light shoes, slippers or socks were to be worn

2 . light weights were not to exceed l40 pounds; middle weights were not to exceed 158 pounds; and heavy weights were unlimited

3 . the results of a match was to be decided by two judges and a referee with the referee deciding the match if the two judges were unable to agree

4. three rounds were to be sparred with the first two rounds being two minutes in length each while the third round was to be three minutes in length; intervals between rounds were to be one minute each in length

5. coaching was not permitted while the match was in progress

6. the decision of the officials would favor the competitor who displayed the best style and obtained the greatest number of points;

"the points shall be for attack, direct clean hits with the knuckles of either hand or any part of the t£Ppt or sides of head, or body above the belt; defense, guarding, slipping, ducking, counter-hitting, or getting ..42 away”

"Our Gymnasium,!1 The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, November 11, 1894. 42 Minutes and Records, op. cit. 194

7- the referee had the power to disqualify a competitor who was boxing unfairly.

An additional point needs to be made about the sparring that took

place at the Gymnasium. At no time did these sparring matches turn into

prize fights. The Commercial Gazette elaborated on this fact in 1894:

. . . the managers are as much interested in maintaining a high standard of respectability as anyone else, and take great pains to prevent anything like a knock-out being scored. Some­ times the men get excited and go for one another with consider­ able emphasis, but the time keeper is there with his gong, and, at the first symptom, the string is pulled.43

The Cincinnati Gymnasium Olympic Club, an exhibition team, was

probably the most famous of all teams that were organized within the

Gymnasium. The team was composed of eight members, the best athletes of

the gym, and coached by Superintendent Murphy. Team members included

Edmund Brendamour, Frank Brendamour, Michael Felix, Charles Wachtel,

Paul Millikin, William Robinson, Harry Loewenstein, and Lewis Elsas.

According to the Tribune, "there were among them wrestlers and boxers,

and these doubled with the others in pyramids and ladder work. All were

club swingers, some worked on the bars and rings, others did posing - the 44 statuary business then being a novelty." This team of eight members,

trained in team work, was one of the best, if not the best, all-around

athletic teams in the country. Their, aim was to stimulate interest in

higher athletics. Gnce again referring to the Tribune we find where

"they gave exhibitions on various occasions in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky,

and at one time went to Gallipclis, Ohio where they gave a continuous

43 The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, February 24, 1894, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. 44 "The Summer Heme Of The Cincinnati Gymnasium And Athletic Club," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, May l6, 1857, p. 9- 195 45 exhibition lasting two hours." This Gallipolis exhibition was given on November 13, 1886.

Outdoor exhibtions consisted primarily of track and field events.

At an exhibition given at the Cincinnati Baseball Grounds in 1880, the following events made up the program: putting the shot (16 pounds), walking one mile, throwing the hammer (l6 pound), one mile run, pole leaping, three mile run, tug of war (ligit weight), four hundred and forty yard dash, running higi jump, one hundred yard dash, bicycle race of three miles, hurdle race (120 yards-1 0 hurdles-3 feet 6 inches higfr), 46 and tug of war (heavy weight). -

As mentioned previously, the summer grounds of the Gymnasium and

Athletic Club were procured in 1890. Initially, the Gymnasium had worked out an eight months' option on the grounds at Pendleton for $50 per month.

To raise the money, various entertainments were given. The outlook for a direct purchase of the land looked very bleak until the American Associa­ tion, a rival baseball organization to the , brougat a club to Cincinnati. The head of the American Association, Chris Von der

Ahe of St. Louis, managed to work out a deal whereby his club would use the Pendleton grounds for a sum of $1200 per year, for five years. The agreement also provided the Gymnasium free use of the property for the same five years. In addition, the Gym was also allowed to erect any buildings or make any improvements that they deemed necessary, providing that it didn't interfere with the baseball diamond. As things turned out,

45 >M0ur Gymnasium," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, November 11, 1894.

^kinutes and Records, op. cit. 196 the American Association team, the Kelly's Killers, lasted only one season in Cincinnati and then moved on to Milwaukee. The lease, however, was still in effect. This meant that the Gym had free usage of the grounds for the remaining four years on the lease. In 1896 the lease came to an end. The Gym took immediate steps to procure the grounds on a permanent basis. Ctn April 9> 1896 a payment of $2500 was made on the purchase price of $5000. ^

In addition to the field, clubhouse and grandstand, the summer grounds was also the home of the boathouse. Anchored along the shore of the Ohio River, the blue and white boathouse offered quite a contrast to the clubhouse and grandstand.

The Gymnasium Boat Club was formed as an outgrowth of the old

Olympic Club. Before the Olympic Club expired, seme of its members be­ came interested in boating and aquatics. Members would frequent Smith's boathouse at the foot of Sycamore Street where they would take their turn at pulling the oar. Charles Wachtel, Ed Brendamour and Lew Elsas were the three most ardent boaters. In fact, it was the untiring efforts of these three, especially Wachtel, who were responsible for the organiz- 48 ing of the Gym Boat Club.

The rules of the Boat Club were established as follows:

1st. None but members are allowed to use the properties of the club.

2nd. A member is privileged to extend the courtesies of the club to a non-memberbut must not abuse the privilege.

47 The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, May 16, l8975 P- 9• 197

3rd. Visitors, 'who are members of a foreign gymnasium or boat club, may if accompanied by a member be given permission by the captain to use the properties of the club. 4th. All persons making use of boats must register their names, also name or number of boat, date, time of departure and return in a book kept for that purpose, in charge of the boatkeeper. 5th. Boats must not be overloaded. 6th. After use the boats must be returned to their respec­ tive places in good condition. 7th. All damage to the property of the club should be reported at once to the captain. All expense incurred by such damage shall be borne by the parties at fault, except where such damage was unavoidable. 8th. Members bathing should at all times wear swimming trunks. 9th. Members cannot reserve boats for any future time. All club property shall be at the disposal of the members on application, except such properties as are reserved by the captain for crew practice.49

The Boat Club was organized in the spring of 1890 with Charles

Wachtel serving as the first president. The club had a charter member­ ship of 20. Membership in the boat club was limited to regular members of the Gymnasium. It did, however, prove to be difficult for candidates to be accepted as it was necessary for all candidates to be voted on by existing members. In some case, the existing members tried to preserve BO the exclusiveness of the club.

Following its organizational efforts, the Club purchased an old wharfboat at Ludlow to serve as a boathouse. It was towed to the

Cincinnati side of the river and anchored at the foot of Vine Street.

Soon after the purchase, it was decided that the boathouse lacked needed

^Minutes and Records, op. cit. 50 The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, July 27, 1894, p. 3 . 198

space. A second story was built on providing a clubhouse 15 feet long 51 by 15 feet wide where many a banquet was to take place.

In 1891 after the Gym leased the Pendleton grounds on Eastern

Avenue, the boathouse was towed up river to this new location. For two

years, the old boathouse served its members well. In 1892 the boat club

was incorporated and received a charter from the State. Under this

charter, membership was limited to ninety. In 1893 the membership had

grown to the point where the old boathouse had become inadequate. To

remedy the situation, a contract was let whereby a larger and more

luxurious boathouse was to be built. Upon completion, the boathouse

measured 112 feet in length. It was first occupied by the members in

July of 1 8 9 3 .52

The bottom floor of the boathouse was used entirely for the

storage of boats. The club's boats included barges, canoes, skiffs,

shells, and private crafts (30 in number). Sailing craft were moored

just outside. The Commercial Tribune described the remainder of the

boathouse as follows:

Above, or on the main deck, are the living quarters of the members. The rear room is provided with lockers in which mem­ bers store their bed clothing, their bathing and rowing costumes, their pajamas and their fish outfits. Forward of this is the club kitchen with its steel hotel range, its closets of china, its racks of utensils all carefully scoured and conveniently arranged, its sink with hot and cold water, its refrigerators and its filters. Along either side are racks for the cots of the members and their mattresses. The remaining room - and a room larger than the two already.described - is the cabin, saloon, reception room or sitting room of the club, by which­ ever name one chooses to call it. The walls are hung with

51 The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, May 16, 1897, p. 9. 199

pictures, mostly photographs taken by a member of the club, handsomely mounted and artistically framed and grouped. In one comer is the piano, and adjoining it are a number of string instruments and a for music. Books and cards for whist - the only game allowed on board - form another important part of the furniture, and on state occasions, when a banquet is to be given, the dining table is stretched the length of the room. Boat and equipment cost the club about $10,000.53

During the summer months, many members would assemble together

each evening at the boathouse where a party would take place. Saturdays and Sundays were the busiest days with nearly every member on hand for

some beating or aquatic activity. Fridays, toe, were special days at

the boathouse for it was on Fridays that the women friends of the members were welcomed. These Friday gatherings provided many Cincinnati women

with their first opportunities of "public" bathing. The suits worn by

these female guests were generally rather modest. The most common outfit 54 worn was the short skirt, knickerbockers and long black stockings.

In addition to the socialization aspects of the club, the Gym

Boat Club also competed in crew racing. The Club, in fact, proved to

have the champion crew of the three cities (Cincinnati, Covington, and

Newport) in 1895 and 1896. Other beat clubs that competed against the

Gym crew on a regular1 basis included the Covington Boat Club, Licking 55 Valley Rowing Association, and the West End Boat Club of Covington.

53Ibid. 54 "Pretty Swimmers In The Ohio," The Cincinnati Enquirer, July 7, 1895, p. 16.

55"The Enquirer Will Offer $300 In Prizes - Seme Of The Probable Events," The Cincinnati Enquirer, September 4, 1895, p. 2. 200

Members of the Gym Boat Club crews for the 1895 and 1896 seasons included:

1895 1896

Jack O'Hara: Captain George E. Hentz: Captain

Frank Roberts: Stroke Frank Roberts: Stroke

Charles Kindt: No. 1 Will Hildebrand: No. 1

William Bailey: No. 2 Charles Kindt: No. 2

George E. Hentz: No. 3 George E. Hentz: No. 3

Jack O'Hara: Coxswain George Spreen: Coxswain

The crew team was coached by A. G. Schneider who had been a member of 56 the champion barge crew of New York for seven years.

In 1895 the Cincinnati Enquirer, one of the city's leading newspapers, established a regatta to which they donated $300 worth of prizes including engraved cups and medals. Their purpose in establish­ ing this event, according to the Enquirer, was to "promote the growth of interest in healthful recreation and amateur sport." 57 The event was held at the Ludlow Lagoon, a favorite amusement and recreational estab­ lishment of the time. Individual events of the regatta included:

1 . one mile single scull race over a triangular course for the amateur championship of America.

2 . canoe sailing race over a triangular mile course.

3 . two mile race for eight-oared barge crews.

4. upset canoe race.

The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, May 16, 1897, p. 9- 57 The Cincinnati Enquirer, September 4, 1895, p. 2. 201

5. one-half mile canoe paddling race.

6. novice skiff races (2 ).

7. one-half mile swimming match.

8. swimming match - 100 yards and return. 58 9. single scull race of cne-half mile.

The most important event of the regatta, at least in terms of the value of the prize being offered, was the four-cared barge race. For this event, a Challenge Cup was being offered which, according to the

Enquirer, was the most valuable trophy offered for a rowing match in the

West. The cup itself contained 62 ounces of silver. Three clubs rowed for this honor - Cincinnati Gymnasium Club, Licking Valley Rowing Associa- 50 ticn, and the West End Boat Club.-

The Enquirer Regatta was held on October 6, 1895 and proved to be a magnificent success. Mere than 8,000 people were on hand to witness

this grand spectacle at the lagoon. The Challenge Cup was captured by the crew from the Gymnasium Boat Club - Bailey, Kindt, Hentz, Roberts, and O'Hara.8^

The Cincinnati Gymnasium Boat Club was to continue to be one of the more successful parts of the Cincinnati Gymnasium and Athletic Club

on into the twentieth century. The Beat Club, in fact, proved to be one

of the best in the country. With its magnificent boathouse and its

58Ibid. 59 V"A11 Ready For The Starting Gun," The Cincinnati Enquirer, October 5? 1895? p. 5- 60, "Gymnasium Notes," The Cincinnati Enquirer, October 7? l8955 p.2. 202 numerous amount of beats, the club was certainly the largest and best equipped organization on the Ohio River.^

A second club that was organized within the Gymnasium was the

Cycle Club. This club was organized on March 1 9, 1896 and was the out­ come of a movement started by Superintendent M. C. Longenecker, Dr. Wade

McMillan, Frank Morris, and Joseph Buttes. So successful were their efforts in arousing the interest of bicycling within the Gymnasium, that they were able to enroll 60 members into the Cycle Club in three days.

All members of the Gym ever eighteen years of age were eligible to be members. These under eighteen were eligible to join and organize a junior club. All privileges were granted to juniors except those of voting and holding office. In addition to being members of the Gymnasium, club members were also compelled to be members of the League of American 62 Wheelman. Annual dues were set at fifty cents a year.

The club operated primarily out of the downtown Gymnasium loca­ tion. All runs were started from this downtown location at the Longworth

Street entrance to the Gymnasium. Sunday rides were common as were Tues­ day and Thursday evening runs. Some members could be found at the club six evenings a week.v %

Some of the more popular runs made by the club, at least in 1898, included High Bridge, Kentucky; Dayton, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; and

Indianapolis, Indiana. In each of these runs, about 50 members were on

^"Gym Beat Club," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, April 3? 1895- 62 "The Wheel," The Cincinnati Enquirer, March 19, 1896. fO The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, May 16, 1897? p. 9* 203 64 hand for the ride. All runs were called and led by the club Captain.

Another popular run, known as the Rube run, was established in

1898. This run was an autumn run which signified the end of the riding

season. It was made to a Camp grounds near Newtown on the Little Miami

River. Members participating were attired in seme form cf rural or

"Ruben” costume which was very "Hallcweenish" in nature. The camp grounds were appropriately named Camp Rube. Rations were brought along by the riders to be shared at a cook out at the camp. This run became an annual event.^

By 1899 the Gym Cycle Club was the leading cycle club of the city.

The popularity of the club was evident from the intense interest shown in the club elections of 1899* Two complete separate tickets vied for the opportunity to run the club. No less than eleven elected positions were campaigned fcr.^

A third club within the new Gymnasium, the Gym Baseball Club, was organized in 1892. This club was unlike seme of the other branch clubs in that it was not formed on a permanent basis. Each year the team was recruited from the Gymnasium membership to play for the season. At the close of the season, the club would disband. The first team in 1892 was started as an experiment. Members cf that team included:

64 . Records and Minutes, cp. cit. ^Ibid.

^"The Bicycle Column," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, December 24, l899> P- 3- 204

Oscar Euphrat: A1 Holzman: First/Outfield

William Bayse: James Bettman: Outfield

Jack Ackerman: First Base Jack Reardon: Outfield

Otto Hcefle: Second Base "Doc" Donnelly: Outfield

Charles Minton: Shortstop Roger Lawson: Outfield^

John Henry: Third Base

The team recruited for the 1893 season was somewhat improved ever the previous year's team due to the addition of some new players. Sam

Assur was added to help with the pitching, LeBlcnd was recruited to play first base, and William Bailey was installed at third base. New faces in the outfield included Henry and Longenecker. It's interesting to note that William Bailey is the same man who pulled second oar in the boat crew of 1895. Longenecker was also a member cf the beat club, as well as Superintendent cf the Gymnasium. He was a member cf the crew roster in 1897. ^

In 1894 the club found itself with 30 applicants for the nine cherished positions. It was decided to organize into two teams because of the keen interest. A first or "prize" team was to be selected which would play at the East End ball grounds on Sundays. The second team would play on Saturdays. Uniforms were also selected which consisted of white shirt, blue stockings, and trousers. The two teams organized for the 1894 season were composed cf the following players:

^ The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, May l6, 1897, p. 9* 68-p, . , Ibid. 205

Position First Team Second Team

Catcher Euphrat Euphrat

Pitcher Wagner Baysassur

First Base LeBlond Ackerman

Second Base McCormick Bernard

Third Base Bailey Monfort

Shortstop Mitten Wentheim

Left Field Morton Longenecker

Center Field Calhauhn Holtzman

Right Field Longenecker Lawson^

Also seeing action for the prize team during the course of the season were

Valdois, Higgins, Brinker, Weisman, Henry, Homberger, Weithoff, and

Lattimer.

In 1895 the Gym club won the amateur championship of the three cities. They played forty-one games and managed to win twenty-eight of them. The team was composed of most of the same players who had played in 1894. They were managed by F. Roger Lawson. They played on a regular basis in the Ohio and Kentucky League, a six team league. Other teams in the league included Linwood, Manhattans, Y. M. C. A., Cochrans, and

Hartwell. Games in the Ohio and Kentucky League were played on Saturday 70 afternoons.

In winning the amateur championship in 1895, the Gymnasium club defeated Bond Hill of the Suburban Sunday League three straight games at the close of the season. They also defeated the champions of the Y. M. I.

70 The Cincinnati Enquirer, August 11, l8955 P* 2. 206

League in three straight games. The club was also to go cn to defeat the team from Mayesville, Kentucky by a score of 10 to 4. What made this game so significant was the fact that on two previous occasions, the

Mayesville nine had defeated the Cincinnati Reds, the professional team cf Cincinnati. This gpme was also significant in that it was played before the largest audience ever to attend a baseball game in Cincinnati, 71 72 up to that time. Mere than 10,000 spectators were in attendance. ’

Following the win over the Mayesville team, the Gym team was cn cloud nine. They were ready for any challenge and felt that victory was assured. On October 12, 1895 they were brought back to reality as the

Cincinnati Reds defeated them at the close of the season by a score of

28 to 10. They were no match for the professionals while committing l6 77 errors in the losing cause.

The 1896 Gym Club, again a member cf the city league, proved to be victorious in its pursuit of the city championship. The title, how­ ever, was to be forfeited because of a charge of professionalism which was leveled against their pitcher, Larry Lloyd. On the Fourth of July,

Lloyd had traveled to Washington, Indiana where he pitched a game for money. The Gym Club had, supposedly, received permission allowing Lloyd to pitch in the game. The decision, however, was later reversed forcing 74 the Gym Club to forfeit three games costing them the city championship.

71 1 The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, May 16, l8975 p. 9* 72 "Hooray For The Cincinnati Gyms," The Cincinnati Enquirer, September 2, 1895, p. 2. 77 "Cincinnati Gymnasium Beat Club Winds Up The Season," The Cincinnati Enquirer, October 13, 1895, p. 2. 74 The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, May 16, 1897? p* 9* 207

By the close of the century, the Gym Club was experiencing other attempts at professionalism. Changes in the team membership became more and more frequent. It even reached the point where several team members were not even members of the Gym. Some of the former players had quit 75 the amateur ranks and had turned professional. The urge and the need to "win" became stronger and stronger which lead to a total change in the purpose and philosophy of the Gym team.

In 1897 the Gymnasium began fielding a team in the Association

Football League. The game played was our present game of soccer. Games were played at Manhattan Park.

Members of the Gym team included:

Frank M. Roberts - Manager & Goal Charles Iglaner - Captain & Forward Oscar Euphrat - Forward Jack Hagner - Full Back M. C. Longenecker - Goal Charles Gates - Half Back J. A. Lloyd - Full Back Howard Sharp - Half Back William Brown - Forward Harry Browne - Half Back William Rothengatter - Forward Guy Lewis - Forward Sam Iglaner - Forward A. C. Dogherty - Forward Walter Stix - Half Back Tim Conway - Full Back^

75Ibid.

7^VIi:nutes and Records, op. cit. 208

Two of the members, M. C. longenecker and Oscar Euphrat, were members of other teams. Longenecker, the Superintendent of the Gymnasium, was a member of the crew and baseball teams. Euphrat was a catcher on the baseball team.

The 1897 season was a remarkable season for the Gym football team.

It was remarkable because the Gym team managed to win the Ohio and Ken­ tucky League the first year the team played. The league standings at the close of the season were as follows:

Team Won Lost Tied

Gyms 5 2 1

Shamrocks 5 3 0

Indians 5 3 0

St. Patricks 3 5 0

Bellevue Browns 1 6 17 7

The two key performers for the Gym team included Will Brown and

Charles Iglaner. As it turned out, Brown was the only player who had played this version of football before. He had played in the East and was used as a forward. Iglaner was a star kicker. Many even considered him to be the undisputed champion association football kicker in America. 7 n During the course of the season, he made a kick of 55 yards to goal.

Association football, by the close of the nineteenth century, had become a popular spectator sport in Cincinnati. Large crowds would be on

hand for many of the match ups. When the Gym Club played the Shamrocks,

a large and enthusiastic crowd could be expected.

^Ibid. 78Ibid. 209

Before 1897 the Gymnasium did field a football team which played the collegiate style of football. Little was ever recorded of the Gym­ nasium' s involvement in this style of football. Local opponents included

Hughes High School and the University of Cincinnati. It is known that the

University did beat the Gymnasium team on Thanksgiving day in 1891 by a

7Q score of 18 to 0. The game attracted about 800 spectators.

The Cincinnati Gymnasium and Athletic Club was also involved in several other noteworthy adventures. Some of the more important included the following:

1. They held a great walking match at the old Highland House with the proceeds being donated to charitable needs. Many of the leading 80 society men of the city took part.

2. On occasion, the Gymnasium would send contestants to partici­ pate in national competition. Edmund Brendamour, one such example, parti- 8l cipated in Graeco-Roman wrestling in St. Louis in 1889.

3. They held annual field days beginning in 1891. Nearly all of the local athletic clubs and teams from the universities were present and participated in the numerous events. The records achieved in the 1894 field day competition were as follows: Baseball Throw - 330' 5i" High Jump - 5 ’ 4" 100 Yard Dash - 10.6 sec. Standing Broad Jump - 10' 2|" 200 Yard Dash - 23.0 sec.

79 n '-'"University 18 - Gymnasium 0," The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, November 27, 1891, p. 2. 80 "Our Gymnasium," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, November 11, 1894. Q-1 The St. Louis Republic, June 10, 1889. 210

Shot Putt - 33' 9 3/4" Pole Vault - 9' 6" 440 Yard Run - 53-6 sec. Running Broad Jump - l8' 4|" 880 Yard Run - 2 min, 12 sec. Hop, Skip, & Jump - 441 7i>" 16 lb. Hammer - 8l 1 10" One Mile Run - 5 min. 2.6 sec. 120 Yard Hurdles - 19.8 sec. 82

4. In 1896 the Gymnasium staged a grand minstrel, burlesque, circus and gymnastic show for the benefit cf the Gymnasium Athletic

Grounds. The Program included:

Minstrel Program Burlesque Circus and Gymnastics Grand Entree - 8 Arabian Steeds Ground Pyramids Japanese Perch Act Triple Horizontal Bar Schuetzen Fest Rifle Practice Parallel Bars Australian Boomerang Throwing Bare Back Riding Ladder Pyramids 8

5. According to the Times-Star, the handbook of the Cincinnati

Gymnasium was the first cf its kind to be published. This was a well written, well printed, and illustrative publication that was certainly 84 informative.

"The Cincinnati Athletics," The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, June 10, 1894, p. 13. Oo The Cincinnati Enquirer, May 4, 1896, p. 2. 84 The Cincinnati Times-Star, September 20, 1886, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. 6. They established a Gym bowling team in the late 1890s. Seme cf the members included Oscar Euphrat, William E. Conklyn, A1 Claussen, 85 Fred Winkler, James Wheatly, and William Turner. Oscar Euphrat, as men­ tioned earlier, was also a member cf the baseball and football teams.

To summarize the accomplishments and importance of the Cincinnati

Gymnasium and Athletic Club in a few words is most difficult. One can perhaps accomplish this best by simply listing the following facts.

1. The Gymnasium and Athletic Club was an organization for the people - not just the athlete.

2. It was an organization that was to last throughoutthe second half of the nineteenth century well on into the twentieth century while overcoming many difficulties.

3. It was an organization that was to eventually become a "club" of many "clubs."

4. It was an organization that ranked among the best of its kind in the nation.

5. Although being organized for the people, it still managed to aid in the development cf seme very talented athletes.

As to Its exact worth or value to the city of Cincinnati, one would be hard pressed to make such a judgement. We can say, however, that many lives were directly affected by this organization.

8b "Bowling," The Cincinnati Enquirer,' May 22, 1898, p. l8 . Chapter Nine

THE NATIONAL GAME IN CINCINNATI

The first baseball club in Cincinnati was formed through the efforts of Matthew M. Yorston in i860. With being practically nonexistent, especially in this part of the country, Yorston was forced to make his own. This club played baseball and sometimes townball informally at various sites during the Civil War period. The playing sites included: 1) a lot at the foot of Eighth Street; 2) the Orphan

Asylum lot on Elm Street where Music Hall now stands; 3) the old potter's field that is now Lincoln Park; and 4) in the Millcreek bottoms, where the Union Terminal was later built. 1 Early members of the club included:

Dr. John Draper, John C. Davis, James Fogerty, J. R. Brockway, Octavius 2 Tudor, Matt Yorston, Theodore Frost, and others.

Following the Civil War, membership increased so rapidly that a regular organization was needed. Therefore, on Thursday evening, July 15,

1866, the Live Oak Baseball Club was officially born. This was the first official baseball club of Cincinnati. Its first officers included:

John C. Davis, President; R. B. Lee, Vice-President; E. McCammon, Secre- 3 tary; and C. McCammon, Treasurer.

1Lee Allen, "Baseball's Immortal Red Stockings," Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio Bulletin, XIX (July, 1961), p. 191.

^Harry Ellard, Baseball In Cincinnati (Cincinnati: Johnson & Hardin, 1907), p. 34.

3Ibid., pp. 34, 37-

2 1 2 213

With the birth of the first "official" team in Cincinnati came the first match game of baseball. On September 8, 1866, the Live Oaks played the Eagle Baseball Club from Brooklyn, Kentucky, which was near

Dayton, Kentucky. Members of the teams of that first game were:

Live Oaks Eagles

Draper C Mahaffey Frost P Puddler Powers IB Lyford S. Hicks 2B Bricker Fogarty 3B Southard Lee RF Kennedy J. Hicks CF Lusk Brockway LF Ford h Yorston SS Swift

In addition to the early baseball that was being played in

Cincinnati during the early l860s, another popular game was also being played which was very similar to baseball - townball. So similar were the two games that many baseball historians feel that baseball may have evolved from townball or some form of it. Townball, like baseball, appears to have been introduced to Cincinnati in i860. It was a game played on a field with bases marked off at about forty-five foot intervals. The ball used was much smaller and softer than a baseball. The bat, in similar fashion, was also smaller than a normal baseball bat and was swung with one hand. A townball game consisted of four innings with each team having from ten to fifteen players playing at one time. Scores of games compared closely to those of early baseball games. The game was particularly 5 popular with school teachers and young medical interns.

\bid, p. 37-

5Ibid, pp. 30, 33- 214

Although not officially organized, these early towriballers called themselves the Excelsior Townball Club, a name they were to use for three years. They initially played in an area near the old Cincinnati Hospital and later, in l86l, at the Orphan Asylum lot.^

On October 1, 1863 following a suggestion by George F. Sands to organize on a permanent basis, the Cincinnati Buckeye Townball Club was organized. The meeting was held at the office of Luke Kent, a jeweler who was located at Main and Fourth Streets. Club officers that were elected included: George F. Sands, President; James Sherwood, Vice- president; Frank Harvey, Secretary; and John B. Sheidemantle, Treasurer.

Other members included Ben Brookshaw, Eugene Hammett, W. J. Ogden, George

Wehmer, Samuel Hughes, Charles Gould, Charles Jones, W. D. Gibson, Jesse 7 DeBeck, B. 0. M. DeBeck, and George W. Smith.

After securing grounds in the Millcreek bottoms, the Cincinnati

Buckeye Townball Club played under that name until the fall of 1866. At that time, the club was officially reorganized into a baseball club and became known as the Buckeye Baseball Club. The players in 1866 included:

James E. Sherwood Catcher George W. Smith Pitcher Charles H. Gould First Base George F. Sands Second Base B. 0. M. DeBeck Third Base John Shiedemantle Shortstop John L. Boake Leftfield William H. Boake Centerfieldo George P. Miller Rightfield

^Ibid, p. 3 3 .

^Ibid. O Ibid, pp. 33, 3^. 215

The Buckeye nine cf 1867 changed somewhat with the addition of

William H. Skiff (Catcher), William Wright (Second), Thomas Tallow (Third), and John Meagher (Rightfield). The rest of the team remained intact with 9 Shiedemantle being the real key to much of their success. Many considered him to be one of the finest shortstops in the country.

The Cincinnati Baseball Club, which was eventually to become the famous Red Stockings, the real pride and joy cf nineteenth century Cincin­ nati, were formed as an amateur team cn July 23, 1866. The organizational meeting took place in the law office cf Tilden, Sherman & Moulton at 171-

West Third Street. The first name given to the club was the Resclutes, but this was scon changed, at the suggestion of J. William Johnson, to the Cincinnati Baseball Club. Early membership was primarily made up of attorneys, especially graduates from Yale and Harvard. In most cases, these gentlemen had had some exposure to the game in the East."^ The first intercollegiate baseball game was played in 1859 between Amherst and Williams.

The first elected officers cf the club included: Alfred T.

Goshorn, President; Aaron B. Champion, Vice-President; Henry Glassfcr,

Secretary; E. E. Tcwnley, Treasurer; William Worthington, Scorer; and

George B. Ellard, Manager. In addition, many of the city's leading citizens became members. Among the most prominent were Bellamy Stcrer,

Nicholas Longworth, , Andrew Hickenlcoper, Drausin

Wulsin, H. C. Yergason, John R. McLean, W. Austin Goodman, A. Howard

Hinkle, and Theodore Cock. By 1867 the club had 380 members

^Ibid., p. 34. ^ Ibid., pp. 39> 40. ~'‘'*Tbid. 216

The first games played by the club were played cn grounds at the foot cf Ninth Street. Many of the members would get up early in the morning and, after putting on their baseball outfits, proceed to the

Ninth Street grounds where they would play a gpme before breakfast. Upon reaching the grounds, which were located not far from the old Crcsley

Field site, two teams would be chosen - the Morning Glories and the Wide

Awakes

In 1867 the club moved to the grounds of the Union Cricket Club which were located at the foot cf Richmond Street. This move strengthened baseball in Cincinnati as many cf the Cricket Club members became members of the baseball club. The Union Cricket Club had been in existence since

1856.13

In June cf 1867 the Union Cricket Club and the Cincinnati Base­ ball Club merged together as a single team with the latter's name surviv­ ing. A clubhouse was scon built on Freeman Avenue and the grounds were enclosed by means cf a fence. During this same summer, it was also decided to charge admission to the contests. The rate was initially ten cents for home matches and twenty-five cents for foreign matches. Ladies were to be admitted free. The rate became twenty-five cents for all contests in September with ladies being charged the same as gentlemen. 14 No disruptive characters, however, were allowed cn the grounds.

‘'‘^Joseph S. Stem, Jr., "The Team That Couldn't Be Beat: The Red Stockings cf 1869,"The Cincinnati Historical Society Bulletin, XXVII (Spring, 1969), p.~2K '

13 Ellard, op. cit., p. 40.

^\bid., p.. 43. 217

Before the merger with the Union Cricket Club, the Cincinnati

Baseball Club did play four-games during 1866. In the four games, the

Cincinnati Club managed to win two games defeating their local rivals, the Buckeyes, and the Copecs of Covington. Their two losses came at the hands of the Buckeyes. In four games, the Cincinnati Club scored 129 runs, for a 32.25 runs per game average. The opponents managed a mere 15 103 runs for a 25-75 runs per game average. v The game, as played at that time, certainly seemed to emphasize the offense.

The first game played by the Cincinnati Club at the was played on July 1, 1867. This game pitted the Cincinnati nine against the Louisville Club. This game marked the first time in Cincinnati where the general public attended, an admission fee was charged, and a newspaper reporter was on hand to cover the game. According to Ellard, "the first admission ticket ever used for a baseball game in Cincinnati was sold and taken in by Henry T. Lloyd and Henry J. Lloyd on this day.^

The chief opponents of the Cincinnati Baseball Club in 1867 were the Buckeyes and the Live Oaks, both from Cincinnati. The Buckeyes, in most circles, were recognized as the first organized team in Cincinnati, 1 7 having been formally chartered in 1863 initially as a townball team.

Newport, Covington, and Dayton (Kentucky) also had their established nines as did the Cincinnati suburbs of Avondale, Walnut Hills, Clifton, l8 Riverside, and Mt. Auburn.

15Ibid., p. 6 3. l6Ibid., p. 52.

^Stern, op. cit., p. 30. ^^Ellard, cp. cit., p. 6 7. 2 1 8

Toward the end of 1867 the Cincinnati Club formed a "regular" nine who would play throughout the coming year. Many ringers were brought in to form this first "regular" nine. This caused much discord among club members. Many of the truly amateurs felt that this importation of players would kill the game in the city. They therefore organized a 19 second team which they called the Cincinnati Amateurs. Members of that

first "regular" nine included:

Harry Wright - Pitcher Fred Waterman - Third Base Douglas Allison - Catcher Charles H. Gould - First Base - Second Base J. William Johnson - Right Field Rufus King - Center Field J. V. B. Hatfield - Left Field John Con How - Shortstop Moses Grant - Substitute

During the 1867 season, this first regular nine won seventeen

games while losing only one. Their sole loss came at the hands of the

Nationals in Washington, D. C. by a score of 53 to 10. In their most

productive game, this first nine scored 109 runs against the Holts of

Newport while winning by a score of 109 to 1 5. They hit 31 home runs

in this game. On a season basis, this first nine scored 9l4 runs in 18

games for a 50.78 runs per game average. Their opponents scored 432 21 runs for a 24.00 runs per game average.

The first uniform worn by this first nine were designed by

George B. Ellard, a baseball enthusiast and owner of a sporting goods

store. The uniform consisted of a white flannel shirt, knee length

trousers, cap, and very distinctive long red stockings. These

19Ibid, p. 30. 20Ibid, p. 83. 21Ibid, p. 63. 219

distinctive stockings were to become the real trademark of the club in the years to come. Before George Ellard came upon the scene, players were wearing uniforms that were similar to those worn by cricket clubs - 22 shirt, cap, and long trousers.

The person who was responsible for making these uniforms was Mrs.

Bertha Bertram who ran a tailor shop on Elm Street. She made all the

uniforms for the Red Stocking teams of 1867, 1868, 1869, and 1870. In

addition, during the 1870s and l880s, she made uniforms for other local 28 teams - Ravens, Shamrocks, Stars, Riversides, Mutuals, and many others.

Another important event that took place in Cincinnati during the

1867 season was a baseball tournament. This tournament was hosted by the

Cincinnati Club, who therefore did not compete. A number of local teams

and outside teams were on hand for the opening of this tournament which

began on September 24th. Teams were competing for valuable prizes. The

whole affair was a tremendous success with many spectators in attendance.

The tournament was won by the Hickory Baseball Club of McConnelsville,

Ohio. Prizes that were awarded included the following.

First Place - Hickory Baseball Club (McConnelsville) Second Place - Live Oak Baseball Club (Cincinnati) Third Place - Copec Baseball Club (Covington) Fourth Place - Great Western Club (Cincinnati) Best Thrower to Bases - Lansfersieck (Live Oaks) Farthest Throw - Charles H. Gould (Buckeyes) 302 ' 3 " Best Captain - Brockway (Live Oaks) Fastest Runner on Bases - Brooshaw (Buckeyes) 15-3/4 sec. Best Catcher - Ryan (Holts - Newport) Best Pitcher - Bolan (Reliables - Covington) Best First Base - McConnell (Hickories)

22Ibid, p. 83. 2^Ibid, pp. 83-84. 2 2 0

Best Second Base - Charles H. Gould (Buckeyes) Best Third Base - W. W. Pyle (Hickories) Best Shortstop - John Howe (Holts) Best Left Field - Barnes (Copecs) Best Right Field - W. Boake (Buckeyes Best Center Field - Welsch (Reliables)

During the latter part of 1867, Dr. John Draper organized the

Cincinnati Juniors, a team composed of young men between the ages of 15 and 20. The Club was composed of twenty-five or thirty boys who wore the same uniforms as the Cincinnati Baseball Club and frequently played on the Senior Club's field. The Juniors divided themselves into two

separate nines - one composed of older boys and the other of younger boys. The younger nine played together as a team for three years without

a change, while playing more than 75 games. The regular younger nine

included:

Southey Holmes - Catcher James Shannon - First Base George W. Draper - Shortstop Edward Dunlap - Pitcher & Captain Miller Outcalt - Second Base Frank Dunlap - Third Base Joe Bair - Left Field Edward H. Marsh - Center Fieldpc- Ollie McGrew - Right Field ^

In addition to the Juniors, other nines of youngsters were soon

formed throughout the city. Teams could be found in Walnut Hills, Fair- 26 mount, Mount Auburn, Avondale, Clifton, and East Walnut Hills.

On September 26, 1867 delegates from clubs of various towns and

cities throughout Ohio, assembled in Cincinnati to form an Ohio

24Ibid, pp. 55-59-

25Ibid, pp. 68, 7 1. of ^°Ibid, pp. 72, 75, 76, 79, 80. 22 1

Association of Baseball Players. Forty-three clubs were represented when the assemblage took place at the Clarendon Hotel. Of the forty-three clubs represented, seventeen were local. The Association was formed with the following officers elected:

A. B. Champion - President (Cincinnati Club) W. W. Pyle - 1st Vice President (Hickory Club - McConnelsville) W. A. McIntosh - 2nd Vice President (Railway Union Club - Cleveland) Frank Harvey - Secretary (Buckeye Club) J. T. Pringle - Cor. Secretary (Republic Club - Columbus)?„ Robert N. Spry - Treasurer (Riverside Club - Portsmouth)

On December 11, 1867 the National Association of Baseball Players convened for the eleventh time. At this meeting, which was held in Phila­ delphia, George F. Sands, President of the Buckeye Baseball Club of Cincin­ nati, was elected President of the National Association. Sands was the

Ohio representative to the meeting representing forty clubs. The election 28 of Sands marked the first time that a Western man held the top position.

With the election of Champion as President of the Ohio Association and Sands as President of the National Association, Cincinnati became a true baseball "capital." Both the state and nation recognized the impor­ tance and interest that was shown toward baseball in the Queen City, and turned to her for leadership. It was apparent that baseball was to have a very bright future in the Queen City of the West.

By 1868 a number of local baseball clubs were in existence. Many of these teams frequently played on the grounds of the Cincinnati Club.

On days when the Cincinnati Club were net using the grounds, they would be rented out to other various local clubs at a rental rate of $25.00

27Ibid., pp. 59-60. 28Ibid., pp. 48, 51. 2 2 2 per month. When a local club played the Cincinnati Club on its grounds, 29 the local club would receive one-third of the net receipts.

The local teams that were in existence in 1868 included the following:

Crescent Baseball Club Avenue Baseball Club Columbia Baseball Club East End Baseball Club Fairmount Baseball Club Ironsides Baseball Club I. X. L. Baseball Club Pastime Baseball Club Red Hook Baseball Club Walnut Hills Baseball Club Lightfoot Baseball Club Crusaw Baseball Club Harmony Baseball Club Hun - ki- do- ri Baseball Club Laurel Baseball Club Marion Baseball Club Red Hot Baseball Club Social Baseball Club Independent Baseball Club Banner Baseball Club Osceola Baseball Club Baltic Baseball Club Indianola Baseball Club Reliable Baseball Club (Covington) Crockett Baseball Club Eagle Baseball Club (Dayton, K.) Monitor Baseball Club Ludlow Baseball Club (Ludlow) Arctic Baseball Club Minneola Baseball Club Resolute Baseball Club Irving Baseball Club (Covington) Haymaker Baseball Club (Covington) Baseball Club30

In 1868 a popular theatrical newspaper, the New York Clipper,began to take a serious interest in baseball. To popularize and publicize the game, Frank Queen, the editor of the Clipper, offered a gold ball to the

29Ibid, p. 88. 3°Ibid, p. 107. 223 nation's best team and individual medals to the nation's outstanding players at each position. These awards were highly coveted and imme­ diately lent prestige to the game. The Clipper was to be sole judge as 31 to who was the best.

In previewing the coming 1868 season, , a writer for the Clipper, and a national authority, "let it be known which teams he considered best. They included the , the New York

Mutuals, the Troy Haymakers, the Chicago White Stockings, the Philadelphia

Athletics, the Baltimore Marylands, and the newly-formed Red Stockings of

Cincinnati, an obscure but up-and-ccming club with a unique characteristic.

Each member of the Cincinnati team, he noted, was under contract to play for the whole season as a professional player at a negotiated rate of pay.

With that announcement, Chadwick became the Red Stockings' biggest 32 booster even though he himself was a New Yorker." Chadwick was thrilled about the professional prospects of baseball. As it turned out, however, a few of the players did remain amateurs during the 1868 season.

The actual Clipper awards were presented in November at the end of the 1868 season. The Red Stockings were fortunate enough to have three Clipper award winners. This provided the emerging Red Stockings with a great deal of prestige. The Cincinnati winners included J. V.

Hatfield (left field), Fred Waterman (third base), and J. William John­ son (right field). Only Johnson, a popular attorney in Cincinnati, was a true amateur. He was also the fastest runner on the team and could run around all four bases in fourteen and a half seconds. His base stealing

^Stern, cp. cit., p. 2J. ^2Ibid., p. 28. 224 efforts were unequaled as he was never thrown out while stealing. On 33 several occasions he even managed to steal home.

J. V. Hatfield, who won the award as the best left fielder, was known for his great throwing ability. On one occasion in Brooklyn in

October of 1872, he threw a ball 400 feet 7? inches.^

Following the Clipper awards of 1868, the rival Buckeyes became an infuriated group. They had had a few professionals among their ranks but none had received as much as an honorable mention in the Clipper rat­ ings. Dissension was the result with the team finally dissolving shortly before the start of the 1869 season.

The Red Stockings of 1868 were made up about half professionals and half amateurs. Rufus King, J. William Johnson, and Bellamy Storer were the most prominent of the local amateurs. Over the winter of 1868,

Harry Wright, the player-captain, persuaded his brother George to leave

Washington and come to Cincinnati to play ball.

During the season of 1868, two other firsts occurred in Cincin­ nati. On October 8, 1868, a game between the Biscuits and the Muffins was reported to the newspapers by a woman, the first such reporting in 87 Cincinnati. The second occurrence was directly related to the Cincin­ nati Baseball Club. It seems that the ball club had brought a number of

Northwest Indians to Cincinnati to play a game of raquette at the ball

grounds. The game was similar to lacrosse and was greatly received by

the Cincinnati spectators. This represented the first time anything

"^Ellard, op. cit., p. 84. ^Ibid, pp. 84, 87,

^Stem, op. cit., p. 3 0 . ^Ibid, pp. 30 -3 1 .

^Ellard, op. cit., pp. 100, 103. 225 of the kind had ever appeared in Cincinnati, and was not to he soon for­ gotten; especially in light of the fact that it took a month to deodorize oQ the clubhouse which they had occupied during their visit.

On April 5, 1869 Alfred Goshom resigned as president of the

Cincinnati Baseball Club and was replaced by Aaron Champion. Champion a lawyer from Columbus, had moved to Cincinnati in 1864 and quickly became interested in baseball. In 1868 he raised $11,000 to refurbish the Union

Grounds as the home field of the Red Stockings. He also sold $13,000 worth of stock with the money going for the securing of players. He would have liked to have purchased the services of every Clipper gold medal winner, but was admonished by the Clipper for such an attempt.The players that were assembled for the 1869 season included:

Name Age Occupation Position Salary

Harry Wright 35 Jeweler Center Field $1,200 Asa Brainard 25 Insurance Pitcher $1,100 22 Marble Cutter Catcher $800 Charles Gould 21 Bookkeeper First Base $800 Charles Sweasy 23 Hatter Second Base $800 Fred Waterman 23 Insurance Third Base $1,000 George Wright 22 Engraver Shortstop $1,400 Andrew Leonard 23 Hatter Left Field $800 Calvin McVay 20 Piano maker Right Field $600 l Richard Hurley 20 None Substitute $600

Harry Ellard had the following to say about these prominent 1869

Red Stockings:

Douglas Allison: was an unequalled cool and steady player whose "chief merit as a catcher lay in a manner in which he handled foul tips, the most dangerous kind of batted balls then .... no matter how hot they came."

38Ibid, p. 9 9. 39 ^Stem, op. cit., p. 32.

^Allen, op. cit., p. 194. 226

Asa Brainard:.the pitcher, "delivered a.swift, twisting sort of hall . . . and very rarely pitched a ball where the batsman expected it."

Charles Gould: was familiarly known as "the bushel basket" because no ball that came toward him ever got by.

George Wright: "covered more ground in his position than any other man in the country . . . he was active as a cat, and the way he pounced on a hot daisy-cutter (grounder) and picked it up, or made a running fly catch, was wonderful."

Harry Wright: was described as "the best captain in the world . . . he was always quiet and self sustained in his demeanor, but he gave his orders with decision, and those were always obeyed implicity."41

Of the original 1869 team, only one member, Charles Gould, was a native Cincinnatian. George Wright, Waterman, and Brainard came from New

York City; Leonard and Sweasy were residents of Newark, New Jersey;

Allison came from Philadelphia, New Jersey; and McVey from Indianapolis, 42 Indiana.

As the 1869 season approached, President Champion sensed that he had a winning club and began making preparations. He scheduled an eastern tour challenging all teams for the undisputed championship of the country.

He even arranged for Harry M. Millar to accompany the team as a reporter Lp. which would provide the team with plenty of publicity.

The 1869 Red Stockings played clubs from to California.

They played sixty-five games without a single loss (there was one tie).

They traveled by rail and boat a distance of nearly twelve thousand miles and played before more than two hundred thousand people including

^Ellard, op. cit., pp. l45-l46. 42 1 Allen, op. cit., p. 194.

4 0 hStem, op. cit., p. 32. 227 ■44 President U. S. Grant. In sixty-five games, the Red Stockings scored

2695 rnns for a 41.46 runs per game average. Opponents managed only 627 , 45 runs for a 9-65 runs per game average.

The one game of the 1869 season that the Red Stockings failed to win ended up being the most controversial game of the season. This game, which ended in a 17 to 17 tie, was with the Haymakers of Troy, New York.

In the fifth inning with the score tied 17 to 17, John Morrissey, the owner of the Haymakers, pulled his team off the field so as to avoid a loss. A loss would have cost Morrissey $17,000 because of a wager he had made. Even though the umpire gave the game to the Red Stockings because the Haymakers refused to play, the game still went into the record book as a tie. The whole affair caused great concern in the baseball world 46 and even jeopardized the future of the game. On August lo, the

Cincinnati Gazette editorialized:

The game of baseball has become a national institution (and) for the most part . . . has been free from the objectionable features which commonly attach to outdoor sports. Bets have, of course, been made upon the issue of match games. But these have been privately made, and the players themselves have, as a rule, we believe, been free from the reproach of using their profession as a means of gambling. This has been notably the case with the Cincinnati Baseball Club. It was organized and is conducted by gentlemen who are incapable of suing the club for the purpose of making money, and no suspicion has ever fallen upon the Red Stockings of ever having resorted to any tricks to win or save money, staked upon their success. Unfortunately, they came in collision last Thursday with a club whose reputation has not been unimpeached, and which so conducted itself here as.to confirm the suspicion that it was the tool of speculators.

44 Allen, op. cit., p. 191.

^Stern, op. cit., pp. 36-37* 46T, . . Q(- Ibid, p. 35* 228

Their conduct was a disgrace tc themselves, a disgrace tc the game, and an insult tc the Cincinnati club and the audience had received them with every courtesy, and treated them with strict impartiality. But the circumstance is chiefly to be regretted because its tendency will be tc prejudice the minds of the public against the game, and lead them to suppose that baseball, like some other sports, is under the control of the gambling fraternity. We hope that this single instance, the first that has ever occurred in this city, will not lead tc such results.47

During the course of the 1869 season, the Red Stockings gained national fame. Following their undefeated eastern trip, the team was

given a royal reception in Cincinnati. They were presented with a 27

fcot-lcng bat that had been made by the Cincinnati Lumber Company. The

bat was designated as the "Champion Bat" and had each player's name in­

scribed on it. The team was treated tc an elegant banquet at the Gibson 48 House which was attended by many local and prominent citizens.

At the conclusion of the 1869 season, the following article

appeared in the New York Clipper:

The unprecedented success of the Cincinnati Club is a bright spot in the annals of the game. The triumphant march of the Red Stockings from one end of the country to the other will pass into the history of the national game as the greatest achievement since the healthful and exhilarating pastime was first incepted.49

Publicity such as this helped establish national fame and recognition

for the young and rising Red Stockings.

In 1870 the Red Stockings continued a winning streak that had

begun back in September of 1868. The winning streak was kept alive

47 "Concerning Base Ball," The Cincinnati Daily Gazette, August 28, 1869, p. 2 .

Allard, op. cit., p. 165.

^The New York Clipper, November 13, 1869, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. 229 until June l4, 1870 when the Red. Stockings were defeated after having played 130 consecutive games without a defeat. This defeat, at the hands of the Atlantics, was tc go down in history as one of the most important games, in terms of interest and exciting play, that has ever been played.

On this June day in 1870, mere than 20,000 spectators were drawn tc the ball grounds in New York to see the Brooklyn Atlantics take on the

Red Stockings. Pre-game betting favored the Cincinnati club by as much as 7 tc 1 odds. The umpire for the occasion was Charlie Mills who was 90 the captain of the Mutuals.

At the end of nine innings, the score stood at 5 tc 5 with a tie game seeming inevitable. The Atlantics, in fact, were content with a tie and had even begun leaving the field. The Red Stockings, on the ether hand, would have no part of it and insisted that the game be continued. The game was eventually resumed with the tenth-inning proving to be a scoreless effort on the part of both teams.

The eleventh inning was a different story. The Red Stockings scored twice and victory seemed assured. The Atlantics, however, did net fold, and came battling back. With Smith on third, and one cut for the

Atlantics, Start hit a long ball to rigjht field. What followed was vividly described in the New York Clipper:

As the ball came towards the crowd they gave way, and it fell upon the bank-side almost dead. McVey (the Reds' Right Fielder) was after it like a flash, but as he stooped to pick up the ball in the crowd one of the partisans present jumped on his back. The crowd did net sympathize with his style of work .... but before McVey could handle and threw the ball, Start secured his third, Smith having preceded him heme.51

•^Ellard, cp. cit., p. 188.

£--] New York Clipper, June l4, 1870, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. 230

Following Start, Ferguson came to the plate. Ellard picked up the action as follows:

The point was to avoid George Wright, and, with this point in view, Ferguson, when he went to hat, stood so as to hit the hall lefthanded, and, as he can use one hand as well as the other, hy this change he drew the ball round from George's reach towards right short, and thereby secured his base on a hit and sent Start home, Joe's run making the score a tie once more, 7 to 7- For a minute nothing could be heard for the yells and cheering which resounded from the crowd, but after quiet was partially restored Zettlein went to bat, and hitting a hot liner to Gould, he made his base, as Gould found the ball too hot and too far out of reach to capture it, but he stopped its force and sent it towards Sweasy. He, however, did not pick it up cleanly, and, in fact, by a bad muff, he not only let Ferguson get his third, but allowed him to steal home, thereby giving the victory to the Atlantics. Hall was the next striker, and as he sent the ball to Sweasy, Zettlein ran for second. But again did Sweasy muff the ball. Pike now came to bat, and popping up a high one for Sweasy to take, a double play was made, Zettlein being put out on returning to second on the fly ball. This ended the game, with the totals at 8 to 7 in favor of the Atlantics.52

Thus ended the incredible winning streak of the Red Stockings.

This streak of 130 games without a loss has been considered by many to be one of the greatest achievements in sport.

Ellard's account of the eleventh inning provides us with two important details about baseball as it was played in 1870. First of all, as demonstrated by Ferguson, switch-hitting was a known art. Ferguson could hit equally well from either side. The second detail relates to the concluding of a game. The game was not complete until the last man was out, -regardless of the score. This must have proved to be rather frustrating and fruitless to the losing team that had to remain in the field until that final out.

^Ellard, op. cit., pp. 194-195. 231

During the 1870 season, the Red Stockings won 62 games while

losing 6 and tieing one. They scored 2,424 runs in 69 games for a 35-13

runs per game average. Their opponents scored 603 runs for a 8.74 runs per game average. On three occasions, all of them occurring in May, the 53 Red Stockings scored one hundred or more runs in a single game.

The baseball fans of 1870 that supported the Red Stockings, were

a fickle bunch as was demonstrated by their lack of support for the team

following that first loss to the Atlantics. Attendance began to drop,

players became restless, and before the season was over, they had lost

five more games. Other teams, on the other hand, were springing up all

over. Many of them even made what would be considered generous financial 54 offers to many of the Cincinnati players. It was obvious that for the

first time in several years, professional baseball was in trouble in

Cincinnati.

With the end of the 1870 season came the actual breaking up of the

Cincinnati Red Stockings. Many of the players had moved on to other clubs

where higher salaries were obtained. The clubs in Boston and Washington

seemed to have an edge in attracting these unsatisfied Cincinnati ball­

players. The actual breaking up of the club occurred on November 21,

1870 when Mr. A. P. C. Bonte, President of the Cincinnati Baseball Club,

sent the following notice:

. . . upon the information thus obtained, we have arrived at the conclusion that to employ a nine for the coming season, at the enormous salaries now demanded by professional players, would plunge our club deeply into debt at the end of the year

^Ibid, pp. 204—206. 54 Allen, op. cit., p. 202. 232

. . . the experience of the past two years has taught us that a nine whose aggregate salaries exceed six or eigjit thousand dollars can not, even with the strictest economy, be self- sustaining . . . the large liabilities thus incurred would result in a bankruptcy or compel a heavy levy upon cur members to make up a deficiency. . We are also satisfied that payment of large salaries causes jealousy, and leads to extravagance and dissatisfaction on the part of the players, which is injurious to them, and is also destructive of that subordi-,-,- nation and good feeling necessary to the success of a nine.

Shortly after the above circular was sent, a meeting was held during which it was officially decided tc disband the club. A public meeting followed at which time the decision was put into effect. And so it was that the great baseball club which had made Cincinnati the cradle of 56 professional baseball, passed cut of existence. Professional baseball did not return officially to Cincinnati until 1876.

When the Red Stockings disbanded after the 1870 season, the play­ ers went their separate ways. Lee Allen provides a pretty good account as to what happened to them after they left the Red Stockings:

Harry Wright: he managed in Boston, Providence, and Phila­ delphia from 1871 to 1893 and then became the National League's supervisor of umpires; he died of pneumonia at the age of sixty at Atlantic City on October 35 1895 and is buried at West Laurel Cemetary in Philadelphia.

George Wright: he retired as a player following the 1882 season and founded the sporting goods house, Wright and Ditson, in Boston; the business prospered tc such an extent that he became a millionaire; he died on August 21, 1937 at Boston at the age of ninety of heart trouble, and is buried in Hclyhcod Cemetery, Brookline, Massachu­ setts .

Asa Brainard: retired in 1874; he deserted his wife and sen; in August 1882 he was reported running an archery club at Pert Richmond, Staten Island; after being badly hurt in the back of the hand by an arrow; he drifted to Denver, Colorado, where he operated a poolroom; he became the first of the Red Stockings tc die (December 10, 1888 at Denver.)

'’'‘Ellard, op. cit., pp. 210, 213. '’-Ibid., p. 213- 233

Charles H. Gculd: the only Cincinnatian on the team, he managed, the Red Stockings in the National League in 1876; he then became, successively, a clerk in the Cincinnati Police Department, a conductor on Car 612 of the Fairmount Electric Street Car Line, and a pullman conductor on the run tc New Orleans; he eventually died at. the home of a sen, Charles Fisk Gould, at Flushing, Long Island, April 10, 1917; he was buried at in Cincinnati.

Doug Allison: remained in baseball until 1883 and then became a federal employee in Washington, serving as a post office clerk, and guard at the National Museum; he was a talented crayon artist; he died of heart disease in Washington on December 19, 1916.

Charles J. Sweasy: after he retired as a player in 1878, he went to Newark, New Jersey where he became a street vendor, peddling oysters; records indicate that he died at Newark on March 30, 1908.

Andrew J. Leonard: born in Ireland but a lifelong Bostonian; he played until 1882; he died at the Boston suburb of Rcx- bury on August 22, 1903.

Calvin A. McVey: became manager of the Reds in the National League in 1879; he then moved tc San Francisco where he engaged in business; he was wiped out by the fire that followed the earthquake in 1906; the National League granted him a small pension, and he died in the poorhouse at San Francisco, August 20, 1926.

Fred A. Waterman: became a resident of the city after concluding his baseball career in 1875; he joined the Cincinnati police force in 1880, after which he became a private watchman at the old Fifth Street Garden in 1884; subsequent positions as a clerk, bartender, brick­ layer, plasterer, and daylaborer; he died of tuberculosis at Cincinnati Hospital on December l6, 1899 and was buried in Wesleyan Cemetery.

Richard Hurley: he went tc Washington and disappeared; he was unable to be traced.57

A complete list of all the members of the original Cincinnati Baseball

Club from 1866 tc 1871 can be found in the Appendix (A).

•^Allen, op. cit., pp. 198-200. 234

The real importance cf the Red Stockings to baseball goes beyond their extraordinary achievements that they made on the field. They established the fact that baseball could indeed succeed at the professional level. They drew sc much 'attention that clubs began to spring up every­ where, with everyone wanting to get in on the act. By 1871 baseball had become established to the point that the first major league, the National

Association of Professional Baseball Players, was formed. This league was the forerunner cf the National League tc which Cincinnati would eventually belong.^

The Red Stockings must also be given credit for being the first team tc be operated under a system of management. The individual credit for this must go to John P. Joyce who was the secretary cf the Cincinnati

Red Stockings in 1869. His idea of management was sc well received that during the following year, more than a score of cities followed the example of Joyce and hired regular managers to keep their teams in good shape and in proper order (disciplined).

In 1876 the newly reorganized Red Stockings became charter members of the National League. Under Jcsiah L. Keck, President, the team moved its grounds from the rear of Lincoln Park tc the old beyond the Stockyards. Later, during the same year, the Bank Street grounds were secured.^

The Cincinnati Baseball Club cf 1876 consisted of the following players: David P. Pearson, Catcher; William C. Fisher, Pitcher;

58 J Ibid., p. 191.

•^Ellard, op. cit., p. 214.

Ibid. 235

Charles H. Gould, First Base; Charles J. Sweasy, Second Base; A. S. Booth,

Third Base; Henry Kessler, Shortstop; Charles W. Jones, Left Field;

Robert Clark, Center Field; Emanuel Snyder, Rigit Field; and Samual J. 61 Fields, Substitute.- The team was managed by player-manager Charles H.

Gould. As manager, Gould guided his team to but nine victories during the entire season while losing fifty-six. As a result of this disasterous season, Gould was relieved as manager. In addition, the team was also unloaded leaving the city without a professional team. The Red Stockings were officially dropped from the National League for the 1877 season. A scrub team did manage to play the 1877 schedule but it did not count 62 toward the championship. The only positive thing that can be said about the 1876 season is that the Red Stockings did become the first team to have a ladies day, a tradition that was to last well into the twentieth century.^

It is interesting to note that Charlie Jones who first joined the

Reds in 1876, became the first player in professional history to hit two home runs in the same inning. During his years with the Reds he was known for his hitting ability and nearly always topped the .300 mark in batting average. His career was cut short, unfortunately, when his wife threw pepper in his face during an argument. "With his eye- 64 sight failing, he quit as a player and became, of all things, an umpire."

6lIbid, p. 215. 62Ibid, p. 234. AO - Dick Perry, Vas You Ever In Zinzinnati? (New York: Weathervane Books, 1966), pp. 207, 217. 64 Ibid, p. 219. 236

Things did improve for the Reds in 1878 with the acquisition of

William and James White. Known as Will and Deacon, the first brother battery in professional baseball managed to capture the fancy of Cincin­ nati rooters. Will was also the first player in the major league to

wear glasses. During the 1879 campaign, Will started and completed 75

gpmes cut of 8l total games played. He also appeared as a relief

pitcher in one other game.^

From an administrative standpoint, 1878 proved tc be a rather

busy year. At a meeting of the Board of Directors cf the Cincinnati

Baseball Club held on February 26, 1878, it was decided on a motion by

a Mr. Johnson . . . "to sell a reserved seat in the Grand Stand with a

coupon bock, but no particular seat."^ At a special meeting of the

Board of Directors held on March 2, 1878, it was decided on a motion

by a Mr. Mack . . . "to authorize the President to make a contract for

the uniforms of A. G. Spalding & Brothers of Chicago."*^7

At the close of the 1880 season, the National League forfeited

the Cincinnati franchise for two reasons: 1) that the Cincinnati people

insisted that the club be permitted tc sell beer in the park; and 2 )

that the club should be allowed to rent the grounds to amateur teams for

65Ibid., p. 21 8.

^Minutes and records cf the Cincinnati Baseball Club, The Cincinnati Historical Society, Box 1.

67Ibid. 237

Sunday afternoons. Both of these were considered out-of-line by the league. Because of the expulsion, the Reds were forced to play the next nine seasons as members of other leagues.^

In 1882 Cincinnati became a member of the American Association along with teams from Philadelphia, Louisville, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Baltimore. The 1882 season marked the first time that the Reds won a pennant while competing in a regular championship race. This also was 69 the first year for the American Association. ^

The 1882 Champion Reds were led by the following officers: Aaron

S. Stern, director; Louis Kramer, President; Louis Herancourt, Treasurer;

0. P. Caylor (one of the most brilliant baseball historians the game ever

knew), Secretary; Charlie Fulmer, manager; and Charles N. Snyder, field

captain. The players included:

William H. White - Pitcher Henry McCormick - Pitcher Charles N. Snyder - Catcher Phil Powers - Catcher Dan Steams - First Base John A. McPhee - Second Base W. W. Carpenter - Third Base Charles Fulmer - Shortstop Joe Sommer - Left Field Jimmy Macullar - Center Field Harry Wheeler - Rigjrt Field™-. Harry Luff - First Base

The Cincinnati team of 1882 won fifty-four games while losing

twenty-six. At the conclusion of the season, the Cincinnati nine met

- William Schwarberg, "A History cf Physical Education at the University of Cincinnati," Unpublished Dissertation, Columbia University, 1956, p. 6 8.

^Ellard, op. cit., p. 230 .

7°Ibid., p. 233. Chicago, the National League champions, in a brief.two game series on the

Bank Street lot in Cincinnati. The series was split between the teams.

White was the winning pitcher in one game with McCormick the loser in

the other. With this short series, Cincinnati, the cradle of the pro­

fessional game, was thus the scene of 'the first match between champions 71 of two major leagues.

Although the players of the 1882 Reds were visably weak at the

bat, they were, however, experts in the field. Fielding and batting

statistics of the 1882 team are as follows:

Cincinnati Batting

Games At Bat Runs Hits Avg.

Carpenter 80 353 80 125 • 354 Stearns 49 215 29 65 • 302 Snyder 72 311 47 90 .289 Sommer 80 357 81 101 .280 Fulmer 79 324 53 90 .277 White 54 208 27 55 .264 Wheeler 76 344 60 86 .250 Luff 28 120 15 29 .241 Macullar 79 301 45 70 .232 McPhee 78 321 43 70 .218 Powers 16 56 4 12 .212 Thompson 1 5 _~, 1 .200 McCormick 26 95 4 12 .126 Kemmler 3 11 — 1 .090 Tierney 1 5 .000

Totals 3026 489 807 " .266 Cincinnati Fielding Put Outs Assists Errors Chances Avg.

White 22 344 9 371 • 976 McCormick 12 128 5 145 . 966 Steams 334 18 29 395 • 936 Powers 89 i4 9 112 • 935 Luff 264 7 23 292 • 931 McPhee 274 214 42 530 .921 Sommer 191 9 18 218 .918 Tierney 10 1 1 12 .910 Snyder 366 92 47 505 .907 Fulmer 132 249 45 426 .895 Kemmler 9 2 3 16 .813 Wheeler 178 28 33 230 .857 Carpenter 138 166 59 363 .838 Macullar 137 13 12 162 .827 Thompson 0 0 1 l .000

2157 1285 335 3777 .912

In 1883 the following salaries were listed for the Red

McCormick _ $2500 Jones - 1400 McPhee - 2000 Taylor - 1400 Reilley - 1800 Maffley - 1300 Snyder - 1700 Summers 1200 White - 1600 Carpenter 1100 Fulmer — 1600 Macullar - 8507o Powers 1500 Deagles 600 Corkhill 1400

Admission to home games for the 1883 season was listed

1) General Admission - 252) Pavillicn - 40<^; 3) Grand Stand - 50c

and 4) Carriage Gate - 50^.

72 "Base-Ball," The Cincinnati Enquirer, October 22, 1882, p. 1 2 . 73 Salary Ledger of the Cincinnati Baseball Club, The Cincinnati Historical Society, Box 6. 74 Minutes and records of the Cincinnati Baseball Club, The Cincinnati Historical Society, Bex 1. 240

In 1884 the fielded a team in Cincinnati giving the city two professional teams. This Union Association team was under

the direction of Justus Thomer, President; Frank B. Wrigjit, Secretary; and George Gerke, Treasurer. During the 84 campaign, the Union team played on the Bank Street grounds while the Reds were playing their home

contests on a Western Avenue plot between Findley and York. Neither

Cincinnati team made much money that year with the Union team suffering 75 the greatest financial loss.

The 1886 Reds were composed of the following players (their

salaries are listed also):

Snyder — $2000 Jones — 1800 McKeon - 2000 Lewis — 1800 Keenan - 2000 Corkhill — 1800 Mullane - 2000 Caylor - 1500 Reilley - 1800 Baldwin - 1500 McPhee - 1800 Pickiney - 1500, Carpenter - 1800 Hillmann - 9001 Fennelly - 1800

A. S. Stern was President of the Reds with G. H. Schmelz serving as manager.

During the 1886 season, visiting teams received a 12|(zS guarantee

on each admission according to an agreement worked out between Stern and

Schmelz. The ball grounds were leased for $625.00 for every three months used. This amounted to a shade more than $208.00 per month. The

Cincinnati Gymnasium was also used for pre-season training purposes.

^Ellard, op. cit., p. 233*

^Cincinnati Baseball Association Ledger, The Cincinnati Historical Society, pp. 69-84. 241

A fee of $75*00 was charged for usage from February 15, 1886 to April 15,

1886.77

It's interesting to note that internal problems and minor diffi­ culties were not uncommon to the Reds of this era. In a letter from A. S.

Stern to Louis J. Hauck, the Secretary-Treasurer, Stem advises Hauck to notify several players that some team equipment was still charged out to them and that the management expected it to be returned in good shape. r^Q Equipment in question included bat bags, jackets, and uniforms. Base­ ball spikes, although, not in question at this time, were provided by the

. 70 team and cost approximately $1.3 7 a pair.

A baseball contract between player and management, during this time, was according to the rules of the American Association of Base

Ball Clubs. The terms were explicitly spelled out. A typical contract between player and management can be found in the Appendix (B).

When team or Association rules and regulations were violated, such happenings didn't go unnoticed. Fines were levied from the local office as well as the Association office in Columbus, Ohio. The follow­ ing include some of the fines that were levied during the 1887 season:

^Letter from G. H. Schmelz to A. S. Stem, December 24, 1886, The Cincinnati Historical Society, Box 1.

7^Letter from A. S. Stem to Louis J. Hauck, November 15, 1886, The Cincinnati Historical Society, Box 1.

7%[inutes and records of the Cincinnati Baseball Club. The Cincinnati Historical Society, Box 3* 2 4 2

Baldwin - $20.00 Violation of playing rules

Fennelly - 10.00 II II II II

H. Nicol - 5.00 I! II It II

0 1 Connor - 10.00 Curfew violation

Smith - 10.00 11 M

Baldwin - 10.00 n 11

Carpenter - 5.00 Net running an infield hit

Tebeau - 5.00 Coaching outside box 8o Tebeau - 10.00 Improper language and misconduct

The Reds of 1887 and 1888 are listed below with salary comparisons

the two years:

1887 1888

Mullane $3,009.98 $2,529.98

Smith 1,379.9^ 2 ,350.06

Reilly 2,304.59 2,355-04

McPhee 2,339.92 2,504.98

Carpenter 1,844.98 1,905.27

Fennelly 2,039.98 2 ,171.18

Corkhill 2,324.90 2,067.30

Baldwin 1,793.40 1,696.04

Tebeau ■ 1,839.98 2,005.04

Kappel 1 ,681.15 1 ,750.00

Serad 1,539.96 983.64

80 Letters from W. C. Wickoff and.G. H. Schmelz to A. S. Stem, The Cincinnati Historical Society, Box 1. O'Connor $1,543.46 $1,573-63

Nicol 1,939-88 2,055-04

Oehler 817-50 917-50

Keenan 1,739-88 2,070.04

Hart 100.00 528.61

Weldon 999-99 999-98

Schmelz 1,995.00 3,000.00

Jones 771-41 ______

Watson 400.00 ______

McKeough 228.15 ______

Niland 325.00 ______

Shea 171.42 ______

Widner 250.00 ______

McGinnis 750.00 ______

Viau 2,539-98

Bligh ______500.03

Weyhing ______635-00

Hettesheimer ______625-00^

On August 27, 1887 Hugh Nicol made baseball history when he had a perfect 6 for 6 day at the plate. In six times at bat, Nicol secured five bases on balls and one double. Bases on balls were known as phantom hits and were appropriately recorded as hits. It also took five balls, at that time, to secure such a phantom hit. In addition to his perfect day 82 at the plate, Niccl also stele six bases.

Cincinnati Baseball Club Expense Ledger, The Cincinnati Histori­ cal Society, Box 1. Qo "Base-Ball," The Cincinnati Enquirer, August 28, 1887, P- 2. 2 4 4

During the 1888 season the Reds played 124 games. Association teams included Kansas City, St. Louis, Louisville, Cleveland, Baltimore,

Brooklyn, and Philadelphia. Of the opponents played, Brooklyn proved to be the team that attracted the greatest number of spectators. In 19 games with Brooklyn, both home and away, the Reds were to realize

$16,032.41 as their share of the gates. This amounted to an average gate of $843.81. Kansas City proved to be the worst drawing team netting only

$7,838.25 for 19 games. This averaged cut to $412.54 per game. For the

124 total games, the Reds share amounted to $7 2,253.85 for a $582.69 per game average. 83

From its inception in 1882 until, and including, 1889, the

Cincinnati Reds remained a member of the American Association. The Reds greatest achievement in the league, of course, occurred in 1882 when they won the championship. In 1890 the Reds became a member of the National

League to which they would belong throughout the remaining part of the nineteenth century. Other members of the National League included

Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, New York, Cleveland, and Pitts­ burgh.

In 1891 Cincinnati once agpin found itself supporting two pro­ fessional teams. The teams, the Cincinnati Nationals and the Cincinnati

Associations, were both known as the Reds. The manager and catcher of the Association team was Michael J. "King" Kelly. Kelly’s team played on Cincinnati1 s east end but proved to be anything but a crowd pleaser.

On Receipt and Disbursement Ledger of the Cincinnati Baseball Team, The Cincinnati Historical Society, pp. 4 0 - 6 2 . 245

Their stay in the Queen City was rather short for they folded at the 84 close of the season.

In 1892 the Cincinnati team was taken over by Charlie Comiskey.

He managed the team for three years with little success. During those years, the Reds finished fifth, sixth, and finally tenth. William "Buck"

Ewing took ever the managing duties in 1895. Under his direction, the

Reds supposedly became the first professional team to go south for a

trip. This supposed fact, however, can be refuted. The

first spring trip, in fact, took place in 1888 under the direction of G.

Schmelze. The trip included stops at New Orleans, Houston, Galveston,

Austin, Forth Worth, Dallas, Shreveport, Vicksburg, Jackson, Birmingham,

Montgomery, Mobile, Memphis, Chattanooga, and Atlanta. In a letter from

Schmelze to Stem, the southern trip was mentioned:

About the southern trip it is this way. It takes a couple of months to break a team into working the way you want them to work. I am anxious to start the championship season next spring with a team that is broken in and that knows exactly what I want them to do at all points of the game. I can't say to you, "I will make money on this trip, or even that I will make both ends meet." But I can say this: That if we have good luck on weather I don't believe we will lose anything, and I'm satisfied that I can bring the team back in tip top working trim - that is what I want to go for.°5

The final game of the 1892 season under Comiskey has gene down

in the record bocks as a historic occasion. On October 15, 1892, Bumpus

Jones, from Cedarville, Ohio, became the first Red pitcher ever to pitch

a no-hit game. The game was played before only about 800 fans at Cincin­

nati. The opponent was Pittsburgh. The no-hitter had even more

84 Perry, op. cit., p. 219-

from G. Schmelze to.A. Stem, January 2, 1888, The Cincinnati Historical Society, Box 3- 2 4 6 significant meaning in that this game was the first game Jones ever pitched in the National League.^

Up until 1894 the game of baseball had not fully developed to its present state. The game, as we know it today, reached its fully developed state in 1894 when overhanded pitching from 60 feet became a reality. Up to that time, pitching had been solely underhanded.

In 1896 the baseball world proposed to set aside a day to be known as Harry Wright Day. The purpose of the event was to raise funds so that a monument could be erected over the grave of the former idol of the base­ ball world. The day was observed in Cincinnati, Boston, Philadelphia,

Baltimore, Louisville, Washington, Detroit, New York, Kansas City, India­ napolis, Rockford (Illinois), and Derby (Connecticut). Games were played in each of these cities with all the proceeds going to the Memorial Fund.

The official date for this event was April 13 , 1896. ^

The most notable event of the 1898 season was the second nc-hitter to be pitched by a Reds pitcher. The feat came on April 22, 1898 and was pitched by Theodore Breitenstein. The opponent was Pittsburgh and the score was recorded as 11-0. Only 28 men faced Breitenstein with no one reaching second base.^

Baseball slumps were not uncommon during this early era of base­ ball. The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune calls attention to the slumping

Reds in an article that appeared on August 22, 1898:

^"Not A Hit," The Cincinnati Enquirer, October l6, 1892, p. 6.

^Ellard, op. cit., p. 24l. 88 "Net A Single Hit," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, April 23, 1898, p. 3- 247

The alarming regularity with which the Reds have slumped every fall In the past three years has occasioned no end of comment among the baseball critics and the public. Per a time it seemed that the Reds would net slump this season, for on every trip but the present one they played splendid ball on the grounds of their opponents .... Just why the Reds should slump in the fall of the year when the ether teams play their best ball is a matter of conjecture .... overtraining theory? °9

Newspaper coverage of nineteenth century baseball was quite good.

Ellard even said that "it seemed that especial care was taken to make the 90 reports of these games of early days very interesting." In most cases, the newspapers were kind to the locals when they were winning. They were, however, less than kind, in many cases, when reporting losses. Umpiring was often severely criticized and losses were often blamed on the umpires.

Expenses incurred by a baseball team, especially one that was on the read, were numerous. Some of the expenses incurred by the Cincinnati

Baseball Club during the late l880s included:

1 . laundry - pants and shirt (100 each); coat (150); towels and socks (50 each)

2. bats - one dozen sold for $5-00

3. baseball gloves - $3.50 a pair

4. carriage rental - $4.00 each in Philadelphia

5. medical services - $3.00 to $5.00 each

6. hotel charges - $53-65 for 2 3/4 days for 13 men in St. Louis

7. railway tickets - New York to St. Louis cost $24.25 per man

89 "Baseball," The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, August 22, 1898, p. 3.

^Ellard, op. cit., p. 96. 248

8. ice - 1^ per pound^

Summary

The history of "baseball in Cincinnati is an important part of the total American . The deeds and accomplishments of players and teams in Cincinnati during the nineteenth century, are almost unparalleled. To recount the contributions to baseball that were made in

Cincinnati, is too great a task. One needs only to be reminded that from

Cincinnati came the original "blueprint" from which subsequent professional teams were to evolve. Cincinnati can truly be considered to be the birth place of professional baseball.

^Minutes and records of the Cincinnati Baseball Club, The Cincinnati Historical Society, Box 1 & 2. Chapter Ten

A FINAL LOOK AT THE QUEEN CITY

Up to this point, the third purpose of this study, the "why" aspect has been ignored, or at least somewhat slighted. The first nine chapters have primarily been directed toward bringing out the important facts and developing the feeling or idea that Cincinnati is unique and that she has made a number of important contributions to the world of physical education, sport and recreation. But, with all this clearly established, there still remains the unanswered question of "why

Cincinnati?" Why did the previously mentioned sporting events take place or develop in Cincinnati? Why did she, Cincinnati, become a leader in physical education and sport? It is at this point that the writer submits the five following reasons which he believes answers the

"why" question:

1. Geography - geographical features

2. Cincinnati's settlers - mere specifically, the Germans

3- Transportation systems

4. The business and industrial nature of the city

5. Educational opportunities

Geography

Geographically speaking, the city of Cincinnati was built on what may be termed an "ideal location." It may be termed ideal for a number of reasons. First of all, Cincinnati was built on the banks of the Ohio

249 River, one of the most important inland waterways in the country. This waterway provided a natural means of transportation. Settlers coming from the East could use this waterway to make their way from Pittsburgh cn down the Ohio. Supplies and materials could be brought in by this means also. Without the Ohio River Cincinnati would not have developed into the Queen City that we knew today.

The location was ideal also because of her location in relation­ ship to inland waterways. The Great Miami River flews into the Ohio River just west of Cincinnati; the Little Miami River flews into the Ohio River just east of Cincinnati; and the Licking River flews into the Ohio River almost directly opposite Cincinnati. These three waterways provided natural pathways by which settlers could extend their settlements inland from the Ohio River. Because of her close proximity to these major tributaries, Cincinnati became the center of the geographical region.

With all this water power available, it was little wonder that Cincinnati became an industrial giant.

Another geographical feature of Cincinnati that helped make her location ideal was her aesthetic beauty. Many of the German settlers were lured to Cincinnati because of the resemblance of the Ohio River Valley to the Rhine Valley in Germany. The resemblance, according to many of the original German settlers, was striking. This certainly helped make many of the German settlers feel somewhat at heme.

Cincinnati Settlers - The Germans

Cincinnati would never have developed into the nineteenth century city that she was without the settlers - mere specifically, the Germans.

The Germans and ether settlers, came to Cincinnati initially by means of 251 the Ohio River. The area, as previously noted, was aesthetically pleasing to them because of the resemblance between the Ohio Valley and the Rhine

Valley.

The German influence became very strong in Cincinnati during the nineteenth century. Customs and habits that were a part of the German culture in Germany became a part of these relocated Germans. Of particu­ lar importance to this study was the value that was placed on the physical development of the body. The German system of gymnastics or physical culture, that had been developed by Jahn in Germany, was brought over with the German immigrants. As was noted earlier, the first German Tumverein in the United States was established in Cincinnati in 1848. Other gymnas­ iums, including the Cincinnati Gymnasium and Athletic Club, were to develop during the century and were obviously influenced by the Germans and their gymnastic system. In addition to the influence they had on the gymnasiums, the Germans also played a very influential role in the introduction and development of physical education in the Cincinnati schools. Cincinnati was one of the first cities in the nation to require physical education as a part of the total school curriculum.

Transportation Systems

In addition to the Ohio River, and her immediate tributaries,

Cincinnati also benefited from other means of transportation. These other means included a canal system, the railroad, a system of streets and highways, and the incline railways.

With the completion of the Miami and Erie Canal, which connected

Cincinnati to Lake Erie, another means of transportation was opened to

Cincinnati from the East. Settlers and supplies were then able to be 252 shipped directly from New York and Pennsylvania to Cincinnati. This canal system helped Cincinnati become the main midwest industrial and business center during the nineteenth century.

Because of Cincinnati's geographic location, on the Mason-Dixcn

Line, she became an important link to the South. Although she was consid­ ered a northern city, there was a considerable amount of southern senti­ ment in the Queen City. With this "bridge" between the north and south existing in Cincinnati during the early l800s, one can fully understand why Cincinnati became the leading and most important railroad center in the midwest as the railroads came into prominence. Like the canal, the railroad, in turn, helped immeasurably with the industrial and business development of Cincinnati.

Cincinnati also benefited from a "natural" as well as man-made system of streets and highways. Early settlers who came overland to the

Queen City, had the advantages of traveling on old buffalo and Indian trails. In most instances, Ohio1s terrain proved not to be a disadvantage to the overland traveler. As state roads and highways were built and a system of streets was established in Cincinnati, the Queen City, once agpin, was able to reap the benefits that resulted.

Except for the aesthetic beauty, which appealed to the Germans,

Cincinnati's hilly terrain proved initially to be a drawback to its settlement. The "Seven Hills," as they were known, were natural barriers to Cincinnati's outward expansion. Initial expansion was limited primarily to the creek and river valleys that extended inland. With the building of the inclined railways, the problem of transportation (a quick and easy means between an cut-lying hill area and the basin city) was solved. 253

The hill areas became more appealing tc suburbia minded settlers.

Cincinnati was able tc expand and develop rapidly, during the nineteenth century, as an industrial and business center because of the transportation systems that were accessible tc her. Without them, Cincin­ nati would probably have failed to become the industrial giant that she was during the nineteenth century.

The Business and Industrial Nature of the City

During the nineteenth century, Cincinnati became one of the greatest inland industrial cities in the United States. New business enterprises and industrial establishments were attracted to the Queen

City throughout the century. One needs only to go back to the geography and transportation sections of this chapter tc discover why the various industrial and business firms selected Cincinnati. Geographically,

Cincinnati's location proved tc be most ideal. As for transportation, the means and sources were second tc none. Everything needed tc establish and maintain new and expanding business enterprises were present includ­ ing the most important element - hard working people.

Because of her business and industrial nature, nineteenth century

Cincinnati found herself in an accommodating position. In particular, she had to provide for the leisure needs of the wealthy and prominent business class. It was the businessmen (lawyers, doctors, merchants, etc.) who frequented the gymnasiums both during the day (over the noon hour), and during the afternoon and evening sessions. It was also the same businessmen who brought new and entertaining leisure activities to the city (tennis, golf, archery, croquet, etc.). It was the lawyers, doctors and medical students who first took up the game of baseball in a serious way. It was also these same businessmen who made spectator

sport and amusement so popular in the city - they paid the admission

fees to witness sparring events, balloon ascensions, horse races, and

baseball games.

It's also important to note at this time that several sporting

goods manufacturers and businesses were established in the Queen City

during the nineteenth century. Some of the mere important included:

1. J. C. Bandle & Son: one of many gun dealers.

2. Cincinnati Glove Factory: a tanner and manufacturer of

baseball gloves.

3. John Brunswick: built the largest billiard table factory

in the world.

4. John Blakeney Shoe Store: sold baseball shoes.^

5. P. Goldsmith of Covington: manufactured baseballs in 1875-

The Company moved to Cincinnati in 1897- In 1936, it bought the Craw-

ford-MacGregcr-Canby Company of Dayton and became known as the MacGregor 2 Sports Products, Inc. MacGregor was later bcugiht cut by Brunswick.

Educational Opportunities

A fifth factor that helped make Cincinnati the physical culture

leader that she was during the nineteenth century was the educational

opportunities that were available in the Queen City. As was mentioned

earlier, it was Catherine Beecher who first instituted, in Cincinnati,

^Minutes and records of the Cincinnati Baseball Club, Cincinnati Historical Society, Box 1 & 2. 2 Perry, op. cit., p. 215- 255 a physical culture requirement at her Western Female Institute. Such a physical culture requirement eventually was instituted in the public schools of Cincinnati nearly thirty years later, making Cincinnati one of the first cities tc require physical culture in the country.

It was also the medical and law schools of the city that attracted the young lawyers and doctors. It was these young lawyers and doctors who first took the game of baseball seriously in the Queen City.

This section would net be complete without some mention of the

University of Cincinnati which was established in 1872. Tc the University goes the distinction of helping to popularize football and track and field during the l880s. Beth became popular spectator sports in the late nine­ teenth century.

CINCINNATI VS. NEW ORLEANS

As mentioned in the introductory chapter', the only ether major work of similar nature that has been completed up to this time is The

Rise of Sports In New Orleans: I85O-I9OO by Dale Somers. Having used

Somers' work as a basic guide, it seems only fitting that seme compari­ sons be made between the "Crescent City" on the Mississippi and the

"Queen City" on the Ohio.

Beth Cincinnati and New Orleans experienced similar growth patterns throughout the nineteenth century. Although New Orleans had approximately seven thousand people in 1803, as compared to less than one thousand for Cincinnati, both cities entered the twentieth century with populations close to three hundred thousand (Cincinnati: 325,000;

New Orleans: 287,104). By comparison, Cincinnati's population in 1850 256 was broken down as follows: 44^ foreign b o m (primarily German, Irish, and English), 2% Blacks, and more than 50% classified as native Americans.

New Orleans' 1850 population included: 4C$ foreign b o m (primarily French,

German, and Irish), 2^% Blacks, and 35^ white native-born citizens. The

Creoles, before 1865, were defined as natives of Louisiana, whether 3 French, Spanish, Americans, or German.

According to Somers, speaking of New Orleans, "the city attracted great masses of people in the nineteenth century because it was a , 4 thriving, prosperous port." Cincinnati had also attracted her masses because of the same basic reasons.

With regard to economic growth and development, a notable differ­ ence was evident between the two cities. In the Queen City, manufacturing played a major role in the city's economic growth, whereas in New Orleans, manufacturing played a small role. Instead, the Crescent City relied on 5 trade and commerce.

On the whole, Cincinnati's public education system was good.

Somers, on the other hand, stated that "public education remained generally poor throughout the nineteenth century.Higher education in New Orleans also lagged behind that of Cincinnati' s with opening in

1884.

Some of the similarities that existed between the two cities in the whole area of recreation and sport included:

■^Dale A. Somers, The Rise of Sports In New Orleans: 185O-1900 (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1972), pp. 4-5. 4 b 6 Ibid., p. 5 . Ibid., p. 6 . Ibid., p. 280. 257

1. Many of the residents of both cities spent their leisure hours at public spectacles and commercial amusements.

2. Shooting clubs became popular in both cities during the l860s and declined in popularity in the 1890s.

3. The billiard craze hit both cities in the l860s. Brunswick built a billiard table factory in Cincinnati and Messrs. Willett and Co. 7 built a similar factory in New Orleans.

4. The velocipede mania hit both cities in the late l860s with a big boom occurring in cycling during the l880s.

5. Tennis and golf were initially played by members of exclusive social clubs. The New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club was established in 1876 making it the oldest club in the country. Tennis was introduced in g Cincinnati in 1878. Golf got its start in both cities in the 1890s.

6. Track meets became popular in both cities during the 1890s.

Cincinnati had somewhat of a head start with initial interest occurring in the late l880s.

7. Collegiate sports became popular in both cities during the late 1880s.

8. Horse racing was a popular spectator sport in both cities throughout much of the nineteenth century. Harness racing came to New

Orleans in 1843 when H. Gates, a former manager of a trotting track in q Cincinnati, helped establish the New Orleans Trotting and Pacing Club.

Black jockeys could be found in both cities.

9. German Tumvereins were established in both cities around mid­ century (Cincinnati in 1848 and New Orleans in 1850). Local gymnasiums

^Ibid. ^Ibid., pp. 211, 216. ^Ibid., p. 35. 258 appeared in both cities shortly after the Turners had established their

Turnvereins.

10. A post season football game was played between the University of Cincinnati and the Southern Athletic Club in 1897* The game was played in New Orleans.

11. Other activities such as hunting, fishing, croquet, archery, and roller skating proved tc be popular in both cities.

12. Technology had a profound effect on sports in both cities.

An expanded railroad network provided the means for traveling athletic teams. Horses were also shipped by rail from one track to another. The telegraph, a second important technological innovation, helped expand the reporting of sporting events. Newspapers expanded their sporting coverage as a result of telegraph information. Contests such as pistol shoots could even be conducted by telegraph.

Some of the more noted differences with regard tc recreation and sport include the following:

1. Although boating and boating clubs were in existence in both cities, yachting was popular only in New Orleans. proved to be an excellent body of water for yachting. The Ohio River, on the ether hand, was less than desirable.

2. Prize fighting was a popular spectator attraction in New

Orleans. Pugalistic activity in Cincinnati was pretty much limited tc sparring. Some rcugb and tumble activity did take place.

3. Baseball boomed in both cities following the Civil War.

Professional efforts commenced in Cincinnati in 1869 but failed to begin in New Orleans until 1884. 259

4. Bowling was an activity that struggled in New Orleans. The

Queen City, however, experienced a bowling mania in the 1890s.

SUMMARY

This study has traced the history of physical education, sport, amusements, and recreational pursuits of Cincinnati in the nineteenth century. Significant events, institutions, agencies, and individuals that were important to this topic have been presented. Seme of the mere important findings, which help support the claim that Cincinnati was a leader in sport, physical education and recreation include:

1. According to a local newspaper, Cincinnati had the largest ice skating rink in the world around the mid l860s.

2. Cincinnati had one of the first fishing clubs in the country

(1829).

3. Billiards were sc popular that Brunswick built a factory for the manufacturing of billiard tables in Cincinnati.

4. Balloon ascensions were very popular with spectators attrac­ ting as many as one hundred thousand persons tc a single launch (1835-1872).

5. Catherine Beecher established the Western Female Institute in

Cincinnati in 1833- Calisthenic exercises were required of all the attending girls.

6. Cincinnati hosted a meeting in 1838 in which a key address called for the introduction of gymnastic exercises into the American system of education.

7. Cincinnati was a national shooting center during the 1870s.

The American Sharpshooters' Society had its national headquarters in 260

Cincinnati in 1870. Cincinnati had 26 shooting clubs by the mid l880s.

8. Cycling became extremely popular in the 1890s with both national and world champions coming from the Queen City area. These champions included A. N. French, C. E. Tudor, George Bauers, Harry

Sidwell, and Harry Gibson.

9. In the late 1890s, Cincinnati led the nation in the number of bowling alleys being built. Mere than 500 teams were entered in leagues in 1897.

10. Cincinnati became the tennis center of Ohio in the 1890s.

The Cincinnati Tennis Club wenthe state championship three straight times.

11. Cincinnati was tc rank with New York, Washington, Louisville, and New Orleans as having the best horse racing facilities in the country.

Harness racing was extremely popular.

12. The first German Tumverein in the United States was established in Cincinnati in 1848.

13. Cincinnati was one of the first cities in the country tc require physical training or activity in its schools in i860.

14. The University of Cincinnati had the first football team from Ohio tc play in a post season game.

15. The Cincinnati Gymnasium and Athletic Club ranked among the best in the nation during the nineteenth century.

16. According to manuscript records, a handbook, printed by the Cincinnati Gymnasium, was the first of its kind.

17. The Cincinnati Red Stockings were the first paid professional baseball team. 261

18. Cincinnati became the archery center of the state in the late 1800s.

19. Cincinnati had some of the finest amusement establishments in the country during the nineteenth century.

To say that Cincinnati was a unique nineteenth century city is certainly an understatement. Cincinnati, a city more than 700 miles from the coast, was responsible for a great number of contributions to the world of physical education, sport, and recreation. The surface has only been scratched. It is hoped that further research will be conducted. The Queen City, with the interesting history that she has, will always provide interested historians with new challenges. APPENDIX (A)

LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE ORIGINAL CINCINNATI BASEBALL CLUB, 1866 TO 1871

W. G. Allen A. Bevis W. L. Avery J. F. Brewster D. E. Adams W. C. Boothe G. W. P. Atkinson A. D. Bullock Larz Anderson James A. Bailey Nicholas Longworth Anderson James R. Brockway C. E. Anderson C. A. Boynton K. B. Ashfield Aaron B. Champion L. Apjones S. M. Chester A. Adae William H. Calvert Matthew Addy C . Calvert Douglas Allison J. E. Cochnower Asa Brainard W. H. Chatfield A. P. C. Bonte Theodore Cook C. E. Bonte M. H. Crane C. M. Beesley G. F. Cooke Harry Beesley Quinton Corwine J. H. Bascom Robert W. Carroll Silas Bascom William M. Caldwell George Bascom Charles E. Callahan Julius Blackburn A. G. Corre Howard B. Bates Alf. Cutter Harry C. Bates Enoch T. Carson Isaac Bates, Jr. W. A. Clarke N. P. Bartlett H. Colville R. M. Blatchford E. W. Coles Hunter Brooke James Cunningham F. F. Brookes G. G. Cox James H. Beattie A. J. Clark Samuel J. Baker Charles Coleman George W. Baker Edward T. Comegys W. F. Burton William B. Carter R. B. Burton Charles E. Cottom Ammi Baldwin W. C. Cooke W, H. Baldwin James Carson F. H. Baldwin H. C. Cady William P. Babbitt John Draper W. J. Breed B. F. Davidson H. P. Belknap Ozro J. Dodds W. E. Brown W. B. Dodds H. N. Brown S. S. Davis J. W. Batchelor H. L. Davis 262 Lewis Davis G. W. Goodhue A. W. Dawson C. C. Gaff Cyrus Douglas J. W. Gaff Hiram DeCamp Carter Gazlay Howard Douglas W. S. Grcesbeck C. B. DeCamp Frank Getty C. H. Doughty Theodore E. Gregg William J. Dunlap Oscar Gregg Edward Dunlap William Greenwood Robert E. Dunlap R. H. Galbreath J. A. Devin John Con. How. F. H. Dugpn George Henshaw William Doyle Murat Halstead J. M. Donovan H. H. Hobbs R. J. Dalton J. L. Haigjat George B. Ellard Joseph L. Hall John B. Ellard W. H. Hall A. C. Edwards W. F. Hall C. M. Erkenbrecher Holmes Hoge Charles M. Epply H. Henley William H. Epply William Hobart H. Echert J. H. Hunter B. F. Evans William P. Hulbert James C. Ernst F. E. Hukill H. M. Ernst Edward W. Hutchins R. H. Elias J. Huston A. Franklin M. B. Hagpns E. A. Ferguson S. J. Hale Dr. Z. Freeman H. R. Hobbie W. France A. Howard Hinkle M. S. Forbus Frank Hinkle A. H. Foster J. V. B. Hatfield I. D. Foster A. M. Healy J. H. Finnegpn J. C. Healy John Findlay J. C. Huntington E. S. Frazer C. L. F. Huntington W. B. Farrin H. D. Huntington Alfred T. Goshom Mark Hollingshead E. C. Goshorn F. Hassaureck Henry Glassford G. Holterhoff Moses Grant James B. Grant John Holland L. A. Green H. F. Heckert C. P. Griffith F. V. Hudson Griffith P. Griffith Jas. T. Irwin W. S. Griffith J. William Johnson W. Austin Goodman Thomas Johnson James N. Gamble A. G. Jenney W. A. Gamble John P. Joyce Charles H. Gould C. W. Jordan J. B. Guthrie L. Jacobs T. C. Gaddis N. A. Jeffras . C. Gillmore Rufus 'King, Jr. H. L. King W. E. Moore Samuel L. Kemper J. Wayne Neff W. M. Kennedy Peter Rudolph Neff Josiah Kirby William H. Neff W. F. Keppler M. P. Neff Henry Kessler George W. Neff A. Keeler C. H. Nash Nicholas Longworth William P. Neave T. D. Lincoln Halstead Neave A. H. Love Thomas Neave, Jr. H. B. Lupton James L. Neave C. A. Lockwood W. P. Noble R. S. Lee Len Norton M. V. B. Lee E. F. Noyes R. W. Lee G. Netter A. S. Ludlow J. DeS. Newhall W. E. Ludlow J. H. O'Shaughnessy F. G. Ludlow Louis O'Shaughnessy H. Lane T. D. O'Donnel H. P. Lloyd William Owen Frank H. Lawson W. A. Oakley Henry Lewis George Pickard James Landy B . P . Pierce John R. McLean A. H. Pounsford S. B. W. McLean Oliver Perin J. E. McLaughlin Joseph S. Peebles James W. McLaughlin H. Prentiss George McCammon Henry Paul A. F. A. McCord George H. Pendleton J. J. McDowell J. L. Pugh J. J. McCullom John D. Pugh J. M. McKenzie Harry Pugh R. H. McKenzie George W. Pickering William McMaster William Procter A. McCormick R. B. Potter C. W. Moulton I . B . Quick C. E. Marshal Charles Rammelsberg Stanley Matthews Frank Resor C. Bentley Matthews Chas. 0. Resor Thomas J. Melish I. Burnet Resor C. B. Montgomery William Resor, Jr. C. E. Malone F. H. Rollins J. H. Mills W. E. Rianhard L. E. Mills S. W. Ramp J. M. Macy R. Ringwalt George A. Middleton W. S. Ridgeway E. C. Middleton R. F. Rogers W. H. Murphy J. F. Randolph H. S. Miller Job E. Stevenson H. M. Merrell Bellamy Storer, Jr. R. F. Morgpn Edward Stansberry C. B. Marsh C. H. Stevens C. K. Schunk John C. Whetstone Charles J . Stedman William H,. Williamson Henry H. Shipley Harry Wright Murray Shipley Benjamin F. Wright C. Shotwell Nathaniel. Wrigit W. M. Snowden William H. Woods Thomas G. Smith John S. Woods W. B. Smith Drausin Wulsin James S. Smith Lucien Wulsin E. F. Smith R. B. Wilson Earl W. Stimson F. E. Wilson George Shillito, Sr. C. P. Wilson Peter Schoenberger H. C. Whiteman W. H. H. Small J. L. Wayne, Jr. Charles Selves J. H. Walker C. E. Stewart C. S. Walker W. D. Scott William Worthington David Schwartz Edward Worthington John L. Stettinius J. Warfield J. P. Santmeyer Asa Woodmansee William P. Stoms F. A. Woodmansee Horace Stoms F. Wolcott C. W. Starbuck E. Wentworth B. D. Z. Sedam J. A. Webb H. B. Sinks I. S. Wise Fred Waterman E. B. Seeley Jacob Worth H. W. Seney J. W. Wilshire Charles S. Scanlan William B. Wilshire W. C. Schellinger D. Wachman W. P. Thomas B. W. Wasson C. W. Thomas B. F. Williams J. A. Townley D. A. White Edward E. Townley C. C. Winchell Octavius H. Tudor R. H. Weatherhead Thomas H. Tudor H. C. Yergpson William Torrence H. C. Young1 J. M. Tucker Jas. J. Taylor W. W. Taylor L. M. Thayer Eli Terry W. C. Townsend William Tilden Howard Tilden Henry C. Urner George Vandergrift H. Van Valkenberg Leon Van Loo

^Ellard, op. cit., pp. 115-123 APPENDIX (B)

BASEBALL CONTRACT

First. That he, the said party of the second part, will play base ball and perform, any and all services in relation thereto that may be required of him by the said party of the first part for and during the term or period of Seven Months commencing on the 1st, day of April, A.D. 1887 and ending on the 31st. day of October, A.D. 1887, inclusive.

Second. That he, the said party of the second part, shall, during the said term, give and render his -exclusive services as a base ball player, unto the said party of the first part, and that he will not without the written consent of the said party of the first part, leave its service, or perform any services in any capacity for any other base ball club or organization; that he will not offer, agree, conspire or attempt to lose, nor willingly or willfully contribute to or aid in the losing of any game of base ball; and that he will not be interested in any pool or wager on any such gpme or games, but will render to the said party of the first part his best service, aid and assistance at all times during said term of employment.

Third. That during the - whole of said period, he, the said party of the second part, will well and truly perform the duties which may from time to time be assigned him having relation to base ball playing, by the said party of the first part, by or through its officers, or accredited employer; and that he will well and truly serve the said party of the first part in any and all capacities and posi­ tions for play that may be assigned to him from time to time, as often and in such manner as to it, the said party of the first part, may seem fit; and that he will yield a cheerful and prompt obedience to all the directions of the said party of the first part, and will hold himself subject to its orders at all times during the entire term of his employment as aforesaid.

Fourth. That he, the said party of the second part, shall strictly obey and comply with all rules and regulations which have been, or may be from time to time made and insti­ tuted by the said party of the first part for the regulation and government of its players and employer; and that he, the said party of the second part, will obey and be subject to the constitution and all rules and regulations of the said,

266 the American Association of Base Ball Clubs, from time to time in force during said period of his employment.

Fifth. That he, the said party of the second part, will absolutely refrain from drunkenness and all and any excesses or dissipation whatever, from gambling in any form, and from all conduct or behavior dishonorable, disreputable, or con­ trary to the spirit of the rules and regulations which have been, or may be, instituted and made by the said party of the first part; and that he will use his best endeavor to protect and keep his health, strength and skill as a base ball player during the term of his employment by the said party of the first part as aforesaid.

Sixth. That he, the said party of the second part, hereby assumes all risks of accident or injury in play or otherwise, and of illness from whatever cause, and of the effects of all accidents, injuries or illness occurring during said period.

Seventh. That he, the said party of the second part, will keep himself fully informed concerning all rules and regu­ lations now in force, or which may hereafter be instituted, of and by the said, the American Association of Base Ball Clubs, and of and by the said party of the first part.

Eighth. And it is hereby mutually agreed by the said parties hereto, that should the said party of the second part, at any time or times, or in any manner fail to comply with the covenants and agreements herein contained, or any of them, or with any of the rules and regulations of the said, the American Association of Base Ball Clubs, or with the rules and regulations of the said party of the first part, which now are or may hereafter from time to time be made or instituted, or should the said party of the second part at any time or times be careless, indifferent, or conduct himself in such a manner as to injure or prejudice the interests of the said party of the first part, or should the said party of the second part become ill or otherwise unfit, from any cause whatever in the judgement of the said party of the first part, then, and thereupon, the said party of the first part shall have the rigjit to discipline, suspend or discharge the said party of the second part, as to it the said party of the first part shall seem fit; and the said party of the first part shall be the sole judge as to the sufficiency of the reason for such said discipline, suspension or discharge. Ninth. It is further understood and agreed that the said party of the second part shall, at the beginning of his term of employment, provide himself, at his own cost and expense, with a uniform to be selected and designated by said party of the first part, consisting of the following articles: 2 shirts, 2 pairs of pants, 2 pairs of stockings, 2 pairs of shoes with spikes, 1 jacket, 1 necktie, 2 belts, and 2 caps. All of which, during the whole term of his employment, he is to keep in thorough repair, and replenish as required, at his own expense; and he agrees to appear on the field at the beginning of each game in. which he is to play in an entirely clean uniform, all cleaning of the same to be paid for by himself.

Tenth. And the said party of the first part for, and in consideration of the full and complete performance of the foregoing covenants and agreements by and on the part of the said party of the second part, hereby covenants and agrees to pay to him, the said party of the second part, the sum o f at the rate o f per month payable^ semimionthly on the 15th. and 1st. of each month.

^Baseball Contract of David T. McKeougji of the Cincinnati Baseball Club, The Cincinnati Historical Society, Box 1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books:

Beecher, Catherine. Calisthenic Exercises. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1870.

. Educational Reminiscenses and Suggestions. New York: J. B. Ford & Co., 1874.

______. Physiology and Calisthenics. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1870.

. Treatise on Domestic Economy. New York: Harper & Brothers, 185?.

Betts, John Rickards. America's Sporting Heritage: 185O-I950. Reading: Addison-Wesley, 197^

Dabney, Wendell P. Cincinnati's Colored Citizens. New York: Negro Universities Press, 1970.

DeChambrun, Clara Longworth. Cincinnati: Story of the Queen City. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1939•

Dulles, Foster Rhea. America Learns To Play. New York: D. Appleton - Century Co., 19^10.

Ellard, Harry. Baseball In Cincinnati. Cincinnati: Johnson & Hardin, 1907.

Feck, Luke. Yesterday's Cincinnati. Miami: E. A. Seemann Publishing Co., 1975.

Foote, John P. The Schools of Cincinnati and Its Vicinity. Cincinnati: C. F. Bradley and Co., Power Press, 1855.

Ford, H. A. History of Cincinnati, Ohio. Cleveland: L. A. Williams and Company, l88l.

Gerber, Ellen W. Innovators and Institutions in Physical Education. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1971.

Goss, Rev. Charles Frederic. Cincinnati: The Queen City 1788-1912. Vol. II, Cincinnati: S. J. Clarke, 1912.

Greve, Charles T. Centennial History of Cincinnati. Vol. I. Chicago: N.P., 1904. 269 270

Harlow, Alvin F. The Serene Cincinnatians. New York: E. P. Dutton, 1950.

History of Cincinnati.and Hamilton County, Ohio. Cincinnati: S. B. Nelson and Company, 189^.

Leonard, Fred E. and George B. Affleck. A Guide to the History of Physical Education. Philadelphia: Lea & Fehiger, 1947.

Lucas, John A. and Ronald A. Smith. Sagp of American Sport. Philadelphia: Lea & Fehiger, 1978.

McGrane, Reginald C. The University of Cincinnati. New York: Harper & Row, 1963.

O'Conner, Richard. The German-Americans. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1968.

Perry, Dick. Vas You Ever In Zinzinnati? New York: Weathervane Books, 1966.

Roseboom, Eugene H. and Francis P. Weiseriburger. A History of Ohio. Columbus: The Ohio Historical Society, 1969.

Shotwel 1 , John B . A Hi story of . the Schools of Cincinnati. Cincinnati: The School Life Company, 1902.

Smith, William C. Queen City Yesterdays: Sketches of Cincinnati in the Eighties. Crawfordsville, Indiana: R. E. Banta, 1959.

Somers, Dale A. The Rise of Sports In New Orleans: 1850-1900. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1972.

Spears, Betty and Richard A. Swanson. History of Sport and Physical Activity in the United States. Dubuque: Wm. C. Brown Co., 197b.

Van Dalen, Deobold B. and Bruce L. Bennett. A World History of Physical Education. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, Inc., 1971.

Zucker, Adolf, ed. The Forty-Eighters. New York: Columbia University Press, 1950.

Periodicals:

Allen, Lee. "Baseball's Immortal Red Stockings," Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio Bulletin, XIX (July, 1961), pp. 191-204.

Crouch, Tom D. "Up, Up, and - Sometimes - Away," The Cincinnati Historical Society Bulletin, XXVEII (Summer, 1970), pp. 1 Ob-132. 271

Dunlap, James F. "Sophisticates and Dupes: Cincinnati Audiences, 1851," Bulletin of the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio, XIII (April, 1955), PP- 86>-97.

Hindreth, William H. "Mrs. Trollope In Porkopolis," The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, LVIII (January, 1949), pp. 36-3 9 .

Knigfrt, Marion. "Historic Mount Adams," The Cincinnati Historical Society Bulletin, XXVIII (Spring, 1970), pp. 27-38*

Maurer, Maurer. "Richard Clayton - Aeronaut," Bulletin of the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio, XIII (April, 1955), pp. 143-150.

Metzner, Henry. "A Brief History of the North American Gymnastic Union," translated by Theo. Stempfel, Jr. Mind and Body, XX (May, 1913), pp. 9^1-101.

______. "A Brief History of the North American Gymnastic Union," translated by Theo. Stempfel, Jr. Mind and Body, XXI (November, 1914), pp. 358-364.

Miller, Zane L. "Cincinnati: A Bicentennial Assessment," The Cincinnati Historical Society Bulletin, XXXIV (Winter, 1976), pp. 231-249.

Neufeld, Maurice F. "Three Aspects of the Economic Life of Cincinnati from 1815 to 1840," The Ohio State Archa,eological and Historical Quarterly, XLTV (January, 1935), PP- 65-80.

Salomon, J. C. F. "Introduction of Gymnastic Exercises Into The American System of Education," Transactions of the Eighth Annual Meeting of the Western Literary Institute and College of Professional Teachers, Cincinnati: James R. Allbach, I839, pp. 198-206.

Schultz, Charles, ed. "Glimpses Into Cincinnati's Past: The Gest Letters, 1834-1842," Ohio History, LXXIII (Summer, 1964), pp. I57-I7 9.

Smith, Ophia D. "The Early Theater of Cincinnati," Bulletin of the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio, XEII (October, 1955), pp. 231-253.

Spiess II, Philip D. "The Schuetzeribuckel: Cincinnati Perpetuates an Old German Custom," The Cincinnati Historical Society Bulletin, XXV (October, 1967), pp. 240-245.

Stem, Joseph S. Jr. "The Team That Couldn't Be Beat: The Red Stockings of 1869," The.Cincinnati Historical Society Bulletin, XXVII (Spring, 1969), pp. 25-4 1 .

Stevens, Harry R. "Folk Music On The Midwestern Frontier: 1788-1825," The Ohio Stale Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, IA/II (April, 1948), pp. 126-146. 272

Streit, W. K. "A Century of Progress In Physical Education," The Physical Educator, VI (March, 1949), pp. 17-19-

Tolzmann, Don Heinrich. "Musenklange aus Cincinnati," The Cincinnati Historical Society Bulletin, XXXV (Summer, 1977), pp. 115-129-

Tucker, Louis Leonard. "Cincinnati: Athens of the West l830-l86l," Ohio History, LXXV (Winter, 1966), pp. 11-25.

Wilby, Joseph. "Early Cincinnati," Ohio Archaeological and Historical Publication, XIV (NM, 1905), pp. ¥15-454.

Wittke, Carl. "Ohio's Germans, 1840-1875," The Ohio Historical Quarterly, LXVI (October, 1957), pp. 339-352.

______. "The Germans of Cincinnati," Bulletin of the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio, XX (January, 1962), pp. 3-l4.

Wood, William. "Physical Education," Transactions of the Eighth Annual Meeting of the Western Literary Institute and College of Professional Teachers, Cincinnati: James R. Allbach, 1839, PP. 207-224.

Zimmennan, Mrs. James M . , ed. "The Sport of Kings: Horseracing in Cincinnati," 'Pie Cincinnati Historical Society Bulletin, XXXI (Summer, 1973), pp. 104-113.

Newspapers:

The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette,

"Physical Culture," April 25, 1887, p. 6. "The Only John L," May 29, 1889. "The Turf, Athletic And Other Sports," July 3, 1889, p. 6. "The Turf, Baseball And Other Sports," July 7, 1889, p. 3* "Ohio State Archers," July 11, 1889, p. 5. "The Diamond Field, Turf And Other Sports," July 19, 1889, p. 6. "The Diamond Field, Turf And Other Sports," August 9, 1889, p. 6. "University 18 - Gymnasium 0," November 27, 1891, p. 2. February 24, 1894, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. "The Cincinnati Athletics," June 10, 1894, p. 13. "The Moire Antique," July 3, 1894, p. 12. July 4, 1894, p. 3 . "Coney Island," July 5, 1894, p. 8. "Handsomely Remembered," January 3, 1895, P- 2. "In The Bicycle Domain," April 5, 1896, p. 9- 273 The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, "Our Gymnasium,'" November 11, 1894. "Eastern Gyms," January 3, 1895- "Gym Boat Cluby" April 3, 1895- "Women In Cincinnati Gymnasiums," April 11, 1897) P- 18. "Wheels And Wheelers Of 97)" April 11, 1897, P- 19- "Pin Splinters," April 11, 1897) P* 24. "Home Of The Strikes And Spares Club," April 25, 1897, P* 24. "The Cincinnati Societies In The Great North American Turner Bund," May 9, 1897, P- 9- "The Cincinnati Gymnasium And Athletic Club, Familiarly Called The Gym," May 9, 1897, p. 17- "With Rod And Gun," May l6, 1897, P- 4. "The Summer Home Of The Cincinnati Gymnasium And Athletic Club," May 16, 1897, P. 9- "Local Amusements," July 4, 1897, P* 10. "Bicycling," July 4, 1897, PP- 26-28. "The Game Of Croquet," July 18, 1897, P- 7- "Bicycling," July 25, 1897, p. 28. August 29, 1897, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. "For A Football League," September 5, 1897, P* l4. "Bowling Season Of 97-98," October 10, 1897, P* 2 5. "Not A Single Hit," April 23, 1898, p. 3- "Down The Alley," July 3, 1898, p. 7* "The lagoon's Fourth," July 3, 1898, p. 10. "City Golf Clubs," July 3, 1898, p. 16. "Pride Of Avondale," July 5, 1898, p. 6. July 12, 1898, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. July 20, 1898, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. "The Wheel," August l4, 1898, p. l4. "Baseball," Augast 22, 1898, p. 3 . "The Queen City Of The West," September 4, 1898, p. 2 9. "Clifton Golf Club," October 16, 1898, p. l4. "Clifton Golfers Win," December 4, 1898, p. l4. "The Bicycle Column," December 24, 1899, P* 3- The Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, July 9, 1848, p. 3. : July 15, 1848, p. 3 . August 3, 1848, p. 3* The Enquirer, "German Turners," September 3j 1876, p. 9- "The Cincinnati And Americus Boat Clubs," September 3, 1876, p. 9- "Weber Defeats Tucker In The Three-Mile Race," September 24, 1876, p.9 October 1, 1882, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. "Base-Ball," October 22, 1882, p. 12. "Base-Ball," August 28, 1887, p. 2. "Dresselhaus Wins Again," August 29, 1887, p. 2. . "The Gun," August 29, 1887, p. 2. May 29, 1889, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. "Not A Hit," October 16, 1892, p. 6. May 11, 1894, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. "Pretty Swimmers In The Ohio," July 7, 1895, P- 16. August 11, 1895, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. "Hooray For The Cincinnati Gyms," September 2, 1895, P- 2. "The Enquirer Will Offer $300 In Prizes - Some Of The Probable Events, September 4, 1895, p. 2. "All Ready For The Starting Gun," October 5, 1895, p. 5- "Gymnasium Notes," October 7, 1895, P« 2. "Cincinnati Gymnasium Boat Club Winds Up The Season," October 13, 1895, P- 2. "The Wheel," March 1 9, 1896. May 4, 1896, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. "Bowling," May 22, 1898, p. 18. August 27, 1899, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. "Cincinnati In Eighteen Hundred And Two," August 7, 1904, p. 4. "Horse Racing In An Earlier Day," October 24, 1920. April 1, 1923, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. November 12, 1938, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. July 27, 1964, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. The Cincinnati Evening Chronicle, January 5j 1869, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. January J, 1869, p. 4. January 12, 1869, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. March 17, 1869, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. April 10, 1869, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. July 23, 1869, p. 3. The Cincinnati Times-Star, September 20, 1886, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. October 10, 1886, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. August 3 S 1889, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. August 16, 1890, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. August 25, 1890, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. "The First Gymnasium Organized By Sam Barrett," October 30, 1890. "A Sanatory Gymnasium," January 21, 1891, p. 4. November 9j 1891, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. "The Gym Boat Club," September 1, 1892, p. 6. "Robinson Circus, Cincinnati's Own, Spread Name Of City To Four Comers Of U.S., June 5S 1940. January l4, 1948, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. "Turning Back The Clock," February 13, 1948. The Cincinnati Daily Gazette, October 13, 1858, p. 1. "Concerning Base Ball," August 28, 1869, p. 2. The Cincinnati Graphic, "Murphy And The Gymnasium," March-21, 1885, p. 18. The Evening Post, "A Case Of Must," October l8, 1888. The Kentucky Daily Commonwealth, June 27, 1892, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. The New York Clipper, November 1 3 , 1869, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. June l4, 187O, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. The St. Louis Republic, June 10, 1889, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. August 1, 1889, clipping, Cincinnati Historical Society. 276 Other Publications: Academlca, Vol. Ill, No. 5, January 1883. (University of Cincinnati Student Publication) Academlca, Vol. Ill, No. 6, February 1883. Academica, Vol. IV, No.-3, January 1884. Belatrasco, Vol. I, No. 7> October 1880. (University of Cincinnati Publication) Board of Education, Fourteenth Annual Report of the Trustees and Visitors of Common Schools to the City Council of Cincinnati (Cincinnati: 1843) • ______. Twenty-Ei^bth Annual Report of the Common Schools of Cincinnati (Cincinnati: B. Frankland, 1857). ______. Thirtieth Annual Report of the Common Schools of Cincinnati (Cincinnati: B. Frankland, 1859). ______. Thirty-Third Annual Report of the Cincinnati Public Schools (Cincinnati: Johnson, Stephens & Morgan, 1862). ______. Thirty-Fifth Annual Report of the Cincinnati Public Schools (Cincinnati: Times Steam and Job Printing, 1864). ______. Thirty-Sixth Annual Report of the Cincinnati Public Schools (Cincinnati: Times Steam and Job Printing, 1865). ______. Thirty-Ninth Annual Report of the Cincinnati Public Schools (Cincinnati: Times Steam and Job Printing, 1868). ______. Fortieth Annual Report of the Cincinnati Public Schools (Cincinnati: Gasette Co., 1869). ______. Forty-Second Annual Report of the Common Schools of Cincinnati (Cincinnati: Wilstack, Baldwin & Co., 1872). ______. Sixtieth Annual Report of the Public Schools of Cincinnati (Cincinnati: The Ohio Valley Company, 1890). ______. Sixty-Third Annual Report of the Public Schools of Cincinnati (Cincinnati: McDonald & Eick, 1893)- ______. Sixty-Fourth Annual Report of the Public Schools of Cincinnati (Cincinnati: The Ohio Valley Company, 1893). ______. Sixty-Fifth Annual Report of the Public Schools of Cincinnati (Cincinnati: Elm Street Printing Co., 1894). ______. Sixty-Sixth Annual Report of the Public Schools of Cincinnati (Cincinnati: Elm Street Printing Co., 1895). ______. Seventy-First Annual Report of the Public Schools of Cincinnati (Cincinnati: Public Schools, 1900). ______. History of the Schools of Cincinnati and Other Educational Institutions, Public and Private (Cincinnati: 1900). Cincinnatian, 1894. (University of Cincinnati Publication) Cincinnatian, 1895- Cincinnatian, 1896. Cincinnatian, 1897* Cincinnatian, 1932. Cincinnati Central Turners Souvenir Program, 1948. The McMieken Review, I, May 1887. (University of Cincinnati Publication) I, June 1887. III, May 1889. IV, October 1890. V, January 1891. VII, Janaury 1893- VII, March 1893. IX, December 1894. ^ IX, January 1895- X, December 1895* X, February 1896. X, April 1896. X, May 1896. X, July 1896. XI, January 1897* XII, February 1898. XIV, December 1899* Ohio laws, Vol. 5, I8C7. Ohio laws, Vol. 67, 1870. Ohio State Reports, Vol. 52, 1819. University of Cincinnati Catalogue, 1895-9 6. University of Cincinnati Record, Ser. I, Vol. I, 1904. Ser. I, Vol. 16, 1920. Ser. I, Vol. 19, 1923 . Walnut Hills Higji School, The Remembrancer, Cincinnati, 1906. 278 Miscellaneous: Cincinnati Baseball Association ledgsr, The Cincinnati Historical Society. Cincinnati Baseball Club 'expense ledger' for 1887-1888, The Cincinnati Historical Society. Cincinnati Baseball Club 'minutes and records, The Cincinnati Historical Society. Cincinnati Baseball Team receipt and disbursement ledger, The Cincin­ nati Historical Society. Cincinnati Baseball Club ■ salary ledger, The Cincinnati Historical Society. Cincinnati Gymnasium Association manuscript, The Cincinnati Historical Society. Cincinnati Gymnasium and Athletic Club minutes and records, The Cincinnati Historical Society. Cincinnati Shooting Club records and Constitution, The Cincinnati Historical Society. Contract between David T. McKeougfr and the Cincinnati Baseball Club, 1887. Financial Records of the Central Turners 1868-18755 The Cincinnati Historical Society. Hadley, Chalmers. "The Cincinnati Angling Club," manuscript, The Cincinnati Historical Society. Hilton, David A. "The History of Walnut Hills Higji School," Unpublished Master's Thesis, University of Cincinnati, 19^+7• Letter from A. S. S t e m to Louis J. Hauck, November 15, 1886. Letter from Edward Murphy to the members of the Gymnasium, June 1, 1878. Letter from Edward Murphy to the members of the Gymnasium, MarchJ, 1889. Letter from G. H. Schmelze to A. S. Stem, December 24, 1886. Letter from G. H. Schmelze to A. S. Stem, January 2, 1888. Letters from W. C. Wickoff and G. H. Schmelze to A. S. Stem, miscel­ laneous material, The Cincinnati Historical Society. Lewis, Stanley W. From Bustles to Shorts: A History of the Cincinnati Tennis Club,' manuscript material, The Cincinnati Historical Society. Records of the Cincinnati Schuetzen Park Company, miscellaneous papers, The Cincinnati Historical Society, one box. Schwarberg, William. "A History of Physical Education at the University of Cincinnati," Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Columbia University, 1956. University of Cincinnati Records of Minutes, Vol. 1, Dec. 1859 - Dec. 1876. Vol. 2, Jan. 1877 to Aug. 1883. Vol. 4, 1892-1898. University of Cincinnati Minutes of the Board, Vol. 5j November 20, 1899- Walker, F. A., ed. Autobiographical Sketches of Caleb Swan Walker, The Cincinnati Historical Society.