"The founders of Glendale were several gentlemen wishing to build themselves summer residences. They determined to select a place somewhere between Hamilton and Cincinnati, on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad, which was just being built, and they finally decided on the property where Glendale stands. The following gentlemen were interested in the movement, and became, under the name of the Glendale Association, the proprietors of the village: George Carlisle. S. S. L'Hommedieu, Fenton Lawson, Anthony Harkness, Samuel Fosdick, Henry Clark, Robert Crawford, William Burnett,, Edmund R. Glenn, and Lewis Worthington, as well as a few others. In 1851 this association was organized, and was incorporated as a village under the laws of Ohio March 13, 1855, The association bought of E. R. Glenn, John Riddle, J. Watson and others, about six hundred acres of land, which was subdivided into lots and laid out into streets and parks by R. C. Phillips, a civil engineer of Cincinnati. The subdivision is known as Crawford's and Clark's Subdivision of Glendale, so called because the trustees of the association were Crawford and Clark. There were only four residences on the property when it was laid out, one of which was that of E. R. Glenn, and one that of James Glenn, which stood where the residence of Mrs. B. D. Bartlett is, and which, owing to its being so fine, many years ago was called Castle Warwick. The first lot, the one where A. G. Clark lives, was sold to Henry Clark at a premium of $500, which seems very dear, when we think that. John Cleves Symmes bought the land, including Glendale, September. 1794, for sixty-six and two-third cents per acre. The lot where the schoolhouse stands is lot No. 57 of the above subdivision."
The design of the promoters (o)f the village has been abundantly realized. It is certainly one f the most beautiful suburbs of Cincinnati. The plat was made to conform to the configuration of the lands, with no attempt at geometrical regularity. Sharon avenue, it is true. passes through the plat in a direct east and west course, intersected at right angles by Congress avenue, while there are subdivisions adjacent to the original plat which conform to the conventional type, but the avenues of the Crawford & Clark subdivision present almost every variety of curve known to the mathematician. To the uninitiated this is somewhat confusing, but to the residents it presents no difficulties, and is inure than compensated by the added beauty and the park-like aspect which it renders possible. An artificial lake with an area of several acres and several small parks are also among the attractions of the place.
The Meandering Streets of Glendale
The Glendale Lyceum is an outgrowth of the Circulating Book Club (organized in 1880), and of the Library Association of Glendale, which secured quarters, at first over Mr. Bruce's store and subsequently in the Town hall. The Lyceum was incorporated October 8, 1883, The constitution was adopted October 18, 1883, and amended November 7, 1885; membership is limited to residents of Glendale and its vicinity within a radius of three miles, The Lyceum building is a handsome brick structure, of which the corner stone was laid July 4, 1891. It was erected under the supervision of a building committee composed of Samuel Bailey, Jr., chairman; Joseph H. Feemster, secretary; Robert Clarke, treasurer; William A. Proctor, and Charles W. Withenbury. The architect was H. Neill Wilson, of Pittsfield, Mass., and the contractor was Isaac Graveson. The main hall is 40 x 50, with a large stage and appropriate dressing rooms. The library, according to the report for January, 1893, consisted of 2800 volumes, while the museum presents a rich and interesting collection of mineralogical, archaeological, and other specimens and curios. The Lyceum was formally opened February 22, 1892, when Judge Joseph Cox delivered the dedicatory address. Judge Samuel F. Hunt was the orator at the laying of the corner stone.
The Lyceum, an excellent venue for entertaining, events, wedding receptions, etc.
Glendale was incorporated as a village May 22, 1855. The first election occurred on the 13th of August following, when George Crawford was chosen mayor, Samuel J. Thompson, recorder, and Samuel Fosdick, Ezra Elliott, C. Deitrick, B. Roberts, and Stanley Matthews, trustees. The number of voters was fifty-six. Benjamin Sterrett was the first village treasurer. The succession of mayors has been as follows: George Crawford, 1855-56; Anthony Harkness, 1857; Warner M. Bateman, 1858; William B. Moores, 1859: Cyrus Knowlton, 1861 ; I. D. W. Jennings, 1862; Clinton Kirby, 1862; Warner M. Bateman, 1862; Samuel J. Thompson, 1864; Stanley Matthews, 1866: Samuel T. Crawford, 1868; R. M. Shoemaker, 1869; Samuel T. Crawford, 1869; T. J. Haldeman, 1874; R. W. Keys, 1874; Samuel A. McCune, 1876; Florien Giauque, 1882; Thomas Spooner, 1884; Henry B. McClure, 1888. The village building was erected in 1871, and the town hall in 1875.
The Glendale water supply is derived from artesian wells. The work of laying mains was begun September 26, 1892, but water was not supplied to private consumers until June, 1893. Analysis of the water shows almost entire freedom from deleterious elements.
The first postmaster was John C. Wolfe, appointed October 7, 1852. The postal designation at that time was Fosdick, which was changed to Glendale November 28, 1854.
Churches
The First Presbyterian Church of Glendale was organized November 29, 1855, in the chapel of Glendale Female College, with seventeen members. Services were held in the college chapel until 1860, when the present chapel of this church was built. The church edifice was dedicated in April. 1874. Revs. Thomas Spencer, J. G. Monfort, D. D.. L. D. Potter, D. D,, S. S. Potter, and Frank Robbins served as stated supplies until 1861, since which date the pastors have been Revs. Hiram A Tracy, William H. Babbitt, S. H, McMullin and David A. Heron. The following is a list of elders: Jacob J. Packer, John F. Keys, William B. Moores, Stanley Matthews, William B. Probasco, Samuel J. Thompson, Samuel Robbins, Robert K. Brown, Thomas J. Duncan, Hugh W. Hughes, Thomas J. Biggs, Harry W. Hughes, Harry L. Keys, and W. H. Hutton.
St. Gabriel's Catholic Church, Glendale, was organized by Rev. J. C. Albrink, by whom a small brick church that constitutes the rear part of the present edifice was erected in 1859. Mass had previously been celebrated in a small frame house at the junction of the Springfield and Princeton pikes by priests from Cincinnati. Ten acres of ground, fronting on Sharon and Washington avenues and Church street, were donated to the priests by Gross & Dietrich. The pastoral residence was completed in 1863 by Rev. James M. Carey. Rev. James O'Donnell enlarged the church edifice to its present proportions; he also built the school and Sister's house. The succession of resident pastors has been as follows: Revs. Gerald C. Grace, P. A. Quinn, James Henry, James M. Carey, P. A. Quinn, and Nicholas J. Kelly, who assumed charge in 1880.
The Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian), Glendale, was instituted December 25, 1860, and organized January 16, 1861, with C. H. Allen, William B. Pierce. Jacob Purington, and Dr. George F. Foote, councilmen. C. H. Allen donated the church site and money sufficient for the building, " so far as to inclose the same and secure it from damage by paint." The corner stone was laid April 28, 1861, and the dedication occurred October 6, 1861, when Rev. J. P- Stuart officiated and Rev. Chauncey Giles preached. The pastors have been Revs. J. P. Stuart, 1861-62; Frank Sowall, 1863-72; J. H. Einhaus, 1872; J. E. Warren, 1872-73; Edwin Gould, 1873-76; H. H. Grant, 1890-91. In recent years the church has been principally supplied with preaching by the students and professors of Urbana University.
Christ Protestant Episcopal Church, Glendale. Rev. John B. Pradt held the first Episcopal services at Glendale, July 9, 1865. The parish was organized oil the 6th of August following, when John D. Jones was elected senior warden, N. C. McLean, junior warden, and R. H. Shoemaker, Henry Holroyd, George W. Jones, John Titus and Robert B. Moores, vestrymen. Public services were held in the chapel of Glendale College for several months, and then at private houses until 1867, when a small frame chapel was erected on Mr. Fosdick's lot for temporary occuancy. The present stone church was built in 1870 at a cost of $18,000. and consecrated in .July, 1872. by Bishop Bedell. The rectory was built in 1875. and the parish house was added to the church in 1891. The succession of rectors has been as follows: Revs. John B. Pradt, August 6, 1865, to September 30, 1867; Samuel H. Boyer, November 20, 1867, to November 1, 1869; Charles H. Young, April, 1870, to October, 1874; David Pise, D. D., since April, 1875. Rev. Cleveland K. Benedict became assistant rector in June, 1892.
The Glendale Methodist Episcopal Church originated in a series of meetings held in the Town Hall by Rev. It. K. Deem. The first board of trustees consisted of J. H. Moore, N. W. Hickox, William E. Mears, and A. F. Bernhart. The church site, consisting of two lots, valued at $1,000, was donated by Clinton Kirby. who also contributed $500 in cash. The work of building was begun in November, 1886, under the supervision of N. W. Hickox, and the completed edifice was dedicated May 29, 1887. Rev. R, K. Deem, the pastor at that time, has been succeeded by Revs Andrew Hamilton, Charles L. Chapman and Calvin Horn.
Click Here for Glendale Biographies from this 1894 History (pdf)
Glendale 1860
While most towns near Cincinnati had begun as autonomous villages and became suburbs only as the city expanded, Glengale was planned as a community in a rural setting whose residents would work in Cincinnati. In 1851, 30 people formed the Glendale Association and purchased 600 acres, once the farms of John Riddle and Edmund R. Glenn (from whom the village name was obtained), along the line of the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad. Robert C. Phillips planned the town, lots were sold and by 1852 the first house was built.
