Once upon a time in Ada: You'll never believe this story from 1873
Once upon a time in Ada
Things you didn’t know about your own hometown
By Lee Crouse
[email protected]
In April, 1873, pedestrians used a foot-log to cross the stream that flowed through the public square (Main and Buckeye). John Lee found the old 24-inch walnut foot log while excavating in 1922 for a new water line. It was then three feet below pavement and well-preserved.
1874 was the first class was graduated from Ohio Normal.
In 1874 the Northwestern Volunteer Fireman’s Association was organized at Ada. Its first annual convention was held here in 1881.
Stories Posted This Week
Thursday, October 29, 2026
- Bluffton Icon headlines, October 29
- Kenton missing person investigation leads to arrests and discovery of deceased individual
- Ada Council meeting rescheduled for November 10
- District Governor urges Ada Rotary to make lasting impact
- Apollo Career Center honored as Gold Star Institution
- Leading fish expert to deliver Keiser Lecture at Ohio Northern on Nov. 3
- Down Memory Lane: ONU Homecoming celebration in 1925
- Test-to-Treat not Trick-or-Treat
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
- Bulldogs Allen, Rush voted 1st team by NCOSA coaches
- Ada girls soccer eliminated by Grove in district semis
- Northwest Ohio field reports from the Ohio Division of Wildlife
- Can you look up Rotarian in the dictionary?
- Vancrest of Ada to host purse bingo in Kenton
- Karen Kier named to Soroptimist International Gender Medicine Working Group
- Ada ballot for Nov. 3 includes ambulance district, public library and two park district tax levy issues
Monday, October 26, 2026
- Polar Bears sports roundup, October 19-25
- Bluffton Icon headlines October 26
- Jerry R. Wolber, 88, owned Associated Plastics
- Blanchard Valley Health System Announces Updates to Board of Trustees
- Bingo with Officer Penny, October 27
- Farms, Barns & Rural Heritage event celebrates WCOLC 20th anniversary