Once upon a time in Ada
Things you didn’t know about your own hometown
By Lee Crouse
[email protected]

July 5, 1883 - the Carmen Post No. 101 Grand Army of the Republic was formed.

December 8, 1883 - The Home Savings Building and Loan association was chartered, with Albert B. Charles as secretary, treasurer.

1884 - the law college at Ohio Northern University was formed.

Feb. 1-2, 1884 - the first farmers institute was held at Ada.

Feb. 1885 - the first house numbers were being used.

June 14, 1886 - the first ordinances against liquors sales passed.

March 10, 1886-  the Pennsylvania Railroad put a crossing watchman at Main Street.

1887 -  The Pennsylvania Railroad built the train station at Ada.

January 1887 -  the first attempt of public lighting of the streets was made. The lights were sun gasoline vapor lamps. There were 23 lamps. A man with a cart refilled and lighted the lamps each day.

February 1887 -  McKinley Brothers Drug Store was established. They were the first to introduce the milkshake to Ada in 1888.

June 8, 1887 - C.S. Ashbrook founds the Department of Pharmacy at Ohio Northern University.

January, 1889 -  the first electric street lights were used for the first time.

Dec. 5, 1889 -  the Ada Home Savings and Loan company was chartered.