It's Ada in the first decade of 1900
Here's a colorized post card of Ada from the first decade of 1900. The post card identifies its location as South Main Street by moonlight.
It is possible that the two buildings on the right are part of the Ohio Northern University campus?
Tom Lehman of Ada responds: The old photo of Ada this week is the corner of South Main and University. That is the Brown Building on the corner. In the background behind it you can see the front of the Duke Building which is still standing. They tore down the Brown Building in the 1970s, I believe.
A couple things to notice:
A street light hangs across the street.
The street does not yet appear to be bricked.
The tree lawn is wider than today.
The next photo shows the flip side of the post card, mailed to a Miss Lelia Legler of Defiance.
The post mark is Aug. 9, appearing to be 1908.
It reads: "Was up to see your mother last night. Every thing is awfully dead and everyone one out of town. Went to church this morning."
Lovingly,
B.M.
It reads like a Twitter message of today.
Stories Posted This Week
Monday, September 21, 2026
Sunday, September 20, 2026
- Charmaine M. Spradlin, 74, worked for Associated Plastics
- Bulldog boys soccer win vs. Old Fort
- How Dillinger robbed a Bluffton bank
- Ada School Board recap: School fees waiver estimate is $57K, intervention and after-school program report
- Ada Barnyard Farmers results from 2026 Hardin County Junior Fair
- Rodeheffer awarded Choice One Engineering scholarship
Saturday, September 19, 2026
- Bulldog golf 3rd at final BVC tourney, 2nd overall
- Bulldog football win vs. Perry
- N. Main St. arrest and drug seizure on August 18
- Christian Nationalism poses problems for American democracy
- Weekend Doctor: When should you see an endocrinologist?
- Letter: Background regarding public meeting on data center moratorium
Friday, September 18, 2026
Thursday, September 17, 2026
- Bluffton Icon headlines, September 17
- Bulldog girls soccer 0-0 tie vs. Riverdale
- Bulldog boys soccer loss vs. Riverdale
- Roundhead poet publishes third book
- Bulldog volleyball wins in four vs. Riverdale
- Sept. 15 Ada Council: Impact of big ticket pool repair, public urination ban goes into effect
- Hall named 2026 OMLA Regional Administrative Assistant of the Year
- Play Bingo with Officer Penny at the Ada Public Library
- Adult Book Group books available at APL
- Ada Schools exceed state standards on 2025-2026 Ohio Report Card
- Oct. 6 ONU Trike-A-Thon will raise funds for St. Jude's
- Antibiotic resistance: More to learn