A birthday party has been planned by the Bicentennial committee for the enjoyment of the whole community. It will be held July 3-5 at North Park. Most events are free of charge. Details are listed online at www.boro200.com/.
In recognition of the city’s big birthday, this column will recount the birth of the city.
The village of Springboro was platted in 1815 by Jonathan Wright, a Quaker from Pennsylvania. Wright surveyed and laid out the village in a rectangular pattern, with two north-south streets and six east-west roads.
It was the first such town pattern in the Miami Valley.
The name Wrightstown was suggested for the new village but was rejected by the modest Quaker. Wright preferred that the village be named Springborough for the numerous springs in the area. The spelling was later shortened to Springboro.
Reflecting Wright’s religious convictions, a provision was attached to the sale of village lots. For 20 years after the purchase of a lot, the deeds prohibited the sale and production of alcoholic beverages.
In response to this provision, a development was established on the north end of the village. It was called Job Carr’s Addition and the sale of alcohol was allowed there.
Wright built his brick house at 80 State St. Several houses, most of them also constructed of brick, were built in the village and placed close to the street. Many of these dwellings are still standing today, 200 years later.
The village grew and in 1840 had a population of 417.
Several businesses were located in the village. These included general stores, blacksmith shops, wagon and carriage manufacturers, tanneries, a pork house, a starch factory, saw mills, grist mills and woolen mills.
Wright constructed two grist mills and one woolen mill. One of the grist mills was built along the north side of what is now Ohio 73. Springs located on the present-day property of Goddard School were directed into a large pond from which the mill wheel was powered. If the mill were still standing today, it would be located between Edgebrook and Fairway drives.
The other gristmill built by Wright was at 150 W. Mill S. and the woolen mill was on Factory Road. The three mills were connected by a race. Thus the pond on Ohio 73 powered all of them.
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