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photo by Benita Heath
From left, Ironton Port Authority Chairman, Mike Haas, Ironton Economic Development Director Bill Dickens, Carolyn Carter and Mayor Rich Blankenship hold the panel before it is installed at Third Street and Park Avenue.
Wife of Ironton founder honored
Published Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Another remembrance of Ironton’s past as an industrial player in the 19th Century has been put in place. Monday morning a banner commemorating Elizabeth Clarke Campbell went up on the corner of Park Avenue and Third Street.
Campbell was the wife of ironmaster John Campbell, who was one of the leaders in the pig iron industry, well-known abolitionist and organizer of the city of Ironton.
The Campbells were married in Hanging Rock on March 16, 1837, at the home of her uncle Robert Hamilton, who built the famous estate there of Grey Gables, later the home of a member of the Means family and colorful businessman Ducky Corn. The couple had seven children and Elizabeth Campbell was born in 1815 and died in 1893.
Soon John Campbell’s banner will be placed above Park Avenue at the location of the banner now of singer Bobby Bare. Bare’s banner will be placed a block away at Bare Boulevard.
On the other two corners will be other founding fathers of the one-time industrial hub of the Tri-State — Hiram Campbell and W.D. Kelly.
Selecting the banners and finding financial backing has been the work of Carolyn Carter, a representative of the Ironton Port Authority. She has spent the past 10 months researching the background of those who were pivotal people or places that are part of the city’s history.
“My reason for doing this is to bring out historical facts and pictures,” she said in a recent interview. “The people of Ironton who didn’t realize how steeped the city is in history can see this on the pictorial panels.”
Upcoming projects include putting up four panels commemorating the Ironton-Lawrence County Parade at the intersection of Fourth and Center streets, where the parade traditionally kicks off.
On the corners will be a panel for the parade’s committee; Twister, the riderless horse who appeared in 11 parades; a Union soldier; and Confederate soldier.
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Comments
Posted by km1972 (anonymous) on May 19, 2009 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
For the love of God...don't you people have something better to do?
Posted by pinkpearl6886 (anonymous) on May 19, 2009 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why move Bobby Bare to replace it to John Campbell? Is it a Political FAVOR Mayor!?
The history of Ironton is interesting but it does not help us who still work OUT OF TOWN and pay the huge water bills so signs can go up to prove someone found this Town.
My kids attend Ironton schools have to walk cracked and missing sidewalks and smell the sewers every day get those things fixed. We don't care about the past for now it's the daily living we worry about....
Posted by MasterChef (anonymous) on May 19, 2009 at 12:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Doesn't Ironton still have a "Founders' Day" these banners could wait for?
Like "pinkpearl6886" I'm more concerned about ever-increasing bills from the city than I am about feeling all "warm and fuzzy" about Ironton's past.
If you're just into banners, how about an "Ironton Welcomes (Insert New Business Name). Start at 3rd and Center, then see how far up 3rd the city gets this year.
Posted by john_mushenhouse (anonymous) on May 19, 2009 at 2 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ovbiously there is little, if anything to brag about nowadays. Afterall, a drug infested welfare culture is not bragworthy. Maybe to the politicos who are getting wealthy off of this culture, but not the good people of the county.
Wake up Blankenship, Hass and Dickess and get some jobs instead of your picture in the paper. Carter, this really isn't high society either.
Posted by john_mushenhouse (anonymous) on May 19, 2009 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh yeah, 10 months to research 3 or 4 people. No wonder the port authority isn't doing anything for jobs. Pitiful, just pitiful.
Posted by howards5 (anonymous) on May 19, 2009 at 2:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, I must say that I agree with the previous three comments! Who cares?!?!? We have more pressing matters to address--quit worrying about the past MAYOR?!?!?
Posted by cashmere (anonymous) on May 19, 2009 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
yeah, howards5, try worrying about reading comprehension, this story is not about a past mayor.
tone down the bitterness history haters. The banners will look pretty, and that's that. They are not going to make your water bill go up or down.
Posted by snowglobe (anonymous) on May 19, 2009 at 3:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you for making Ironton just a little bit nicer. One banner at a time is better than nothing. So what if it took several months to complete the project? What were you negative ones doing to help your community?
Posted by john_mushenhouse (anonymous) on May 19, 2009 at 4:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I send hard earned money to the welfare mission from a job in another state. What about you.?
The research on these people have all been done by the historical society and Briggs library.
They need to go to work to help out the good people of the county before they all move away.
One banner is not quite one family moving. They should all resign.
Wake up and smell the banner.
Posted by cavalier (anonymous) on May 19, 2009 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I thought it was interesting that a Confederate soldier will be going up also, hope a flag is not involved.
Posted by snowglobe (anonymous) on May 19, 2009 at 4:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I work in three states, but choose to live in Ironton because of the kindness, safety factor, low cost to operate a motor vehicle, no personal property tax and relatively low crime rate.
The glory days of Ironton are long gone. The structure of the nation is just different. The industry that once thrived here has moved on and Ironton has seen the downturn because of that.
Preserving it's history is important - it gives us time to reflect on the past success and strive to become better by looking for new avenues for growth.
If you research and compare the cost of living in our neighboring cities/states you will likely find that Ironton is not that bad of a place to live and raise your families. We may be in a bubble here, but overall it's a nice bubble.
Posted by john_mushenhouse (anonymous) on May 19, 2009 at 6:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope the banner was made in the county at least.
Posted by Vil (anonymous) on May 19, 2009 at 6:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have no clue how anyone can make these attacks in an article about something so nice for our town.
Keep up the good work of attempting to beautify our downtown and celebrate our history,
Posted by MasterChef (anonymous) on May 19, 2009 at 8:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I just don't see the connection between the founder's wife and Memorial Day. Memorial day is to honor our service people, ALL our service people.
Maybe you'd like to see some Christmas lights framing the banner?
Posted by cashmere (anonymous) on May 19, 2009 at 10:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is no connection between the founder's wife and the parade. There is just another sentence about how these people want to put up banners commemorating the parade AS WELL as the founders of Ironton. No one is besmirching service people!
I think Carolyn Carter just likes local history and happens to be a member of the Port Authority. She just wants to point up some of the history of Ironton. It's not a conspiracy to destroy jobs or raise taxes.
Posted by jroush1 (anonymous) on May 20, 2009 at 6:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow! Try to do something nice and look at what happens. I loved the sentence referring to Ducky Corn as a "colorful businessman". He was colorful, and he was a businessman. He was also much more. Remember the Ritzy Ray?
Posted by john_mushenhouse (anonymous) on May 20, 2009 at 7:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think that the uproar is about the people pictured who are in charge of bringing economic relief to the county putting up a banner. Also, a person doing ten months of research which was already done by two agencies in the county when she should have been getting jobs.
The people want jobs and not a bandage over a wound. The few who praise their buddies here must think they are in high society. I believe they are in utmost denial of what has happened to Ironton the last few decades. Corrupt politics, near - sighted business decesions, development of the welfare society, wholesale movings, high crime and drugs all over the place.
We are to get excited over a banner.
Get off your ego. The town is a cess pool. You change it by getting the economy and the culture right. This just isn't happening as more and more move out leaving the welfare and drug addicted to hold their hand out.
The leadership has failed including the stooges pictured getting their ego boasted for a banner.
Was it made in China?
Posted by pokerface (anonymous) on May 20, 2009 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
People need to put more time & effort into something more other than those stupid banners our tax dollars are paying for!!! how much did those banner cost we coulda done something for the elderly or the youth with all that money! Ironton is very selfish!! STUPID BANNERS!!! Time for a new mayor!
Posted by FlightPath (anonymous) on May 20, 2009 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As a former resident of Ironton for 18 years, I was able to see my hometown corkscrew itself into the mess it is today. Each time I visit my first first drive is straight up 3rd street from the fountain to the city limit sign at Coal Grove. As each block passes I become saddened at the missing buisneses that once made this city what it was. It is not the fault of the present Mayor, but he does own a small piece of the shared responsibility along with the past years of bumbleoids that were elected to manage our city. What did they do for us? Look around at the vacant spots and delapedated buildings..Drive over to KY and see the booming buisnesses that line their streets..Big name eateries, shopping, an economic boom, some of wich could of been on this side of the river!!...But No, the hardliners were in and the local boys were not letting any outsiders in to take the local buisnes customers..Well, THEY DID, Da Jokes On You!!...Ironton has failed and rests on the bottom of the pile, still kicking though....Change has got to happen..And it wont happen on it's own, the ones in charge must wake up and make it happen..Ask yourself "What would John and Elizabeth Campbell say about the shape Ironton is in now?...I think they would be ashamed to have their name and picture on a flag and sign at the entry to this mess....
Posted by kce (anonymous) on May 21, 2009 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"FlightPath" you make some excellent points and I totally agree with your last sentence.
I'd like to add these thoughts. I came to Ironton from Kentucky a few years back because my future bride was born and raised in this town and had convinced me of the financial advantage of being an Ohioan vs. a Kentuckian. I admit I did and still do feel that Ohio had a better method of taxation on vehicles. At least they don't ding ya every year for taxes on your ride. But that has to be the only icing on the cake anymore. I paid zero personal income tax, but living in Ironton tacks on 1% of my gross earnings and where the heck it goes, nobody knows. My Property Tax in Ky for same apraised home was less, my water bill never exceeded $35 (yes w/sewer costs) and here in Ironton I has never been that low. Matter of fact just double $35 and add a few bucks and your close. And the electric, per KW is higher in Ohio too. So no advantage there. Now add to these costs the levies to fund all kinds of things that someone(s) think is needed and the advantage of living in Ironton goes right up in smoke in a hurry. Now I'm sure I'm going to get replies of go back to Ky. Believe me, if the housing industry wasn't so deep in the dungon that I'd loose my keister trying to sell, I'd have done so already.
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