Newark, Ohios Ginger Bread Row

[508preach]

Now I knew my hometown had a bawdy past but I didnt know this was a part of it nor did I know this even existed.

But this appeared as an article in the Newark Advocate recently

http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20100228/LIFESTYLE/2280325/1076/communities04/Coffee--Tea-and-History--Where-was-Ginger-Bread-Row?

Coffee, Tea and History: Where was Ginger Bread Row?
BY RAYNOLA ST. CLAIR • February 28, 2010

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Buzz up!Twitter FarkIt Type Size A A A Ginger Bread Row was only a block long, but did it pack the power.



You can bet the temperance movement had a battle on its hands on this block of downtown Newark. It was well known for its wickedness and was like a busy port because of the canal -- a busy place from 1825 into the 1860s.

While in today's time you can find folks around the courthouse catching a wink or two at night, Ginger Bread Row was home to many homeless, criminals, drifters and canalers who were, let's say, quite ornery.

When I think of gingerbread, I think of cakes and cookies. Did this have anything to do with how Ginger Bread Row got its name? Why, yes it does!

Bakers on Ginger Bread Row did make cakes. Legend has it that the baked good went quite well with beer, rum, hard cider and rot-gut whiskey. Whew, this sounds like the wild side of downtown Newark, wouldn't you agree? I can just picture the battle between the women and uncontrollable bunch unable to talk plainly or stand up straight.

On the other hand, Saturday night was a big deal; those canal folks provided plenty of booze and rowdiness. Pull up a chair, get the popcorn, and sit back to watch the crowd. This was free entertainment, and I am sure many had a jolly good time of it. As a matter of fact, they had the entire section lit up with torches. Now, hold on to your hats, folks; you have to read this next part!

Would you believe the strong men of Hog Run -- yes that is right, Hog Run -- would come to town along with folks from Mary Ann Furnace and Hanover (the Little Natchez Under Hill). They came for what was called "General Muster Day," and it all took place on Ginger Bread Row. It was a time to settle all those disputes and quarrels that had been building. I am trying to picture this in my mind, and I see people standing on the sidelines rooting for their pals. Later, another temperance movement called Fantastics ended the great General Muster Day.

Now, wouldn't you think with the name Ginger Bread Row this area was filled with craft shops and baked goods? I guess I will be checking out places before I travel to make sure they are what I think. How about you? After all that drinking and carrying on, they just about took a bath in whiskey and hard cider. I mean it was poured over them to heal their wounds -- ouch! Ginger Bread Row was one block from the Square on the south side around South Second and Canal streets.

Resources: Chalmer Pancoast "Our Home Town Memories" and Nola Rogers (my mom, the walking computer and encyclopedia)

Raynola St. Clair is the past president of the Licking County Genealogical Society. E-mail column ideas to her at raynola1@yahoo.com.

[Hank Trent]

Re: Newark, Ohios Ginger Bread Row

Oops, double post!

[Hank Trent]

Re: Newark, Ohios Ginger Bread Row

Don't you love reporters who seem more interested in drama than context.

Okay, Newark was a canal town. Yes, they all tended to have rowdy sections. And due to the militia laws, there was a muster day in most towns where all the males required to be in the militia had to show up, and of course it was a general festival also, like it always is whenever crowds gather, so there was typically fighting and drinking.

Both canals and militias hit their heyday in the antebellum era. The description could fit most any canal town of the 1830s-1840s. It's cool to know the local nicknames and specifics, but the way the story's written, it just makes all the activities sound so bizarre and unique and wild and wacky...

After all that drinking and carrying on, they just about took a bath in whiskey and hard cider. I mean it was poured over them to heal their wounds -- ouch!

Uh, what? Is the author thinking of cowboy movies or something? Alcohol would be considered good in that era as a cooling rub for bruises, but disinfecting wounds with it, was long after the combination of canals and militia musters had generally faded.

Later, another temperance movement called Fantastics ended the great General Muster Day

Obviously the General Muster Day could only be legally "ended" by a change in the militia laws, but I get the point that a temperance movement could certainly shut down most of the celebrating.

A big wave of temperance interest came in the 1840s, at the tail end of the big militia era, increasing in influence as the new Ohio Constitution was passed and up through the 1853 election in Ohio, about the time both the canals and the militias were waning (though interest in militias revived in the late 1850s). In fact this Ohio writer in 1851 spoke of holding a fair "just as our fathers and mothers did when they went to the great 'general training.' I think a good Fair would be a great deal more useful than the 'muster day' of olden time; don't you!"

So if the "Fantastics," the temperance movement and the fading of the general muster day were around that era, it would be very typical not only of Ohio but nationwide. I'm curious about the name "Fantastics." It's on odd name for a temperance society, though it could be a nickname for a group that dressed up to march in the temperance parades that were common in the movement.

It's the kind of article that makes me want to write the author to learn more about the local history (Newark's only a couple hours from me) and share a common interest. But from past experiences, those kind of discussions never end well, and I could see this one quickly devolving into "what do you mean my mom doesn't know everything!"

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[508preach]

Re: Newark, Ohios Ginger Bread Row

The "General Muster Day" I dont think refers to a militia muster, having grown up in that area I know in the Hanover and Mary Ann Areas they had their own militias, they wouldnt have traveled to Newark for it. And even then Newarks militias would muster in at the Fairgrounds, during the civil war it was known as Camp Sherman and today it is known as the Newark Earthworks park. That area is a bit aways from where they say Ginger Bread Row is. (Well not a bit aways but for horse and walking days it was a bit aways)



None the less an interesting article.

[Hank Trent]

Re: Newark, Ohios Ginger Bread Row

The "General Muster Day" I dont think refers to a militia muster, having grown up in that area I know in the Hanover and Mary Ann Areas they had their own militias, they wouldnt have traveled to Newark for it. And even then Newarks militias would muster in at the Fairgrounds, during the civil war it was known as Camp Sherman and today it is known as the Newark Earthworks park. That area is a bit aways from where they say Ginger Bread Row is. (Well not a bit aways but for horse and walking days it was a bit aways)

Well, here's the Ohio law from that era (passed 1831) mentioning how the Licking County militia fit into the large scheme of things, and here's the law on musters.

Looks like there was a company muster required the first Friday in September, and a regimental muster on a staggered schedule in September so they could be inspected. A company could get out of regimental or battalion muster if it was more than 15 miles away.

Were the militias in Hanover and Mary Ann companies or regiments? I'd expect them to be companies, not regiments, and if so, Hanover would be within the 15-mile limit to muster with the regiment in (presumably) the county seat of Newark. Don't know how far out Mary Ann is.

Of course, there's the possibility that "general muster day" was just an expression for a grand meeting, but I'm still guessing it was literal, since it would be such a logical day for everyone to be gathered anyway, and after the drilling was done the fights would begin.

Later on in the late 1850s, when the militia was revitalized it looks like there were similar annual brigade musters, larger than company musters.

None the less an interesting article.

Definitely.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[508preach]

Re: Newark, Ohios Ginger Bread Row

Mary Ann is probably I'd say a good 10 miles North of Hanover so its a little farther away from Newark than Hanover is.

But even then doing a regimental muster or a battalion muster I cant see it being done in Ginger Bread Row I still see it being done at the fairgrounds.

Probably what the author referred to as "General Muster Day" in Ginger Bread Row was those who were at the fairgrounds that trickled away from the muster to Ginger Bread Row looking for a little lewd fun.

And from that logic I highly doubt the "Fantastics" ended a government ran General Muster Day.

[Hank Trent]

Re: Newark, Ohios Ginger Bread Row

Probably what the author referred to as "General Muster Day" in Ginger Bread Row was those who were at the fairgrounds that trickled away from the muster to Ginger Bread Row looking for a little lewd fun.

Yes, definitely, I didn't mean that the muster was actually held there, just that on the day of the muster, the men would go down there, as you said.

And from that logic I highly doubt the "Fantastics" ended a government ran General Muster Day.

True, though I suspect they ended a lot of the fun. :)

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[508preach]

Re: Newark, Ohios Ginger Bread Row

True, though I suspect they ended a lot of the fun. :)

Reformers will do that from time to time.