Wilmington & Clinton County's Bicentennial
1810-2010
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Clinton County
Bicentennial 2010 - Celebrating a Place Called Home: Past, Present, and Future
Mission statement:
The mission of the Clinton County Bicentennial Commission is to promote
awareness of our rich heritage, encourage citizens and communities to plan
activities and sponsor events in celebration of two hundred years of
history, and to envision the promise of the future.
Historic photos used on this site are courtesy of the Clinton County Historical Society.
Bicentennial Office:
13 N. South Street, Wilmington, OH 45177
937-382-1965; 877-428-4748
info@clintoncountybicentennial.com
Where Did The Name of Wilmington Come From?
It is commonly believed that the name of Wilmington, Ohio was adopted because of the early influence of members of the Society of Friends who came to the “Ohio Country” to escape the proximity of slavery in the Delaware and North Carolina areas. Questions remain however. Was it Wilmington, Delaware or Wilmington, North Carolina which the settlers had in mind? From whom or what was the name “Wilmington” itself derived?
The most likely answers to these questions are: 1) Our county seat was named for Wilmington, Delaware 2) Thomas Penn, a proprietor, named the Delaware town “Wilmington” in 1739 in honor of his friend Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington, a favorite of the English King. The Quaker connection is suggested by the fact that Thomas Penn was the son of William Penn. (Frederick J. Buckley, Cutler Bay, FL).
Written by former resident, Fred Buckley
Other Fun Facts
Contributed by Kay Fisher, Executive Director & Curator of the Clinton County Historical Society
When Clinton County was established in 1810, a county seat was needed. In August 1810 they names the county seat Clinton, in September they changed the name to Armenia, and in December changed the name to Mt. Pleasant. In February 1811, the county seat was renamed Wilmington.
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Charles Webb Murphy built the theatre in Wilmington that was to bear his name, the Murphy Theatre. Charles Murphy also at one time owned the Chicago Cubs baseball team.
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The first jail in Wilmington was built in 1810 at a cost of $600. The current county jail is the seventh in Wilmington’s history and cost $6.2 million.
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In 1895, Ohio Legislature enacted a law making women eligible to run as candidates for school boards and giving them the right to vote in school elections. Mrs. Catherin West and Mrs. Ruth Mills ran for the school board and garnered the more votes than any of the male candidates.
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The Blanchester Wildcats basketball team was started in 1906-07 and included both girls and boys.
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On August 16, 1897 the “Clinton” baseball team played the professional Cincinnati “Red Stockings.” The Clinton lost 6 to 5
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The Martinsville Covered Bridge was built in 1871 by Zimri Wall & Company. This company reorganized and incorporated in 1877 and was renamed Champion Bridge Company.
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Rhetta McGee was the first female horse thief in Clinton County.
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Gilbert VanZandt, Port William, enlisted as a drummer boy in the Civil was at age 10. He mustered out at age 13.
Goose Creek in Wilmington
Moulton Wireless Umbrella
The Moulton Wireless Umbrella in 1915 was manufactured on South South Street just north of the railroad tracks. These umbrella’s are today manufactured in Asia, they are mostly used as patio table and beach umbrellas.
Medal of Honor
During the Civil War Jonathan C. Kirk won the Congressional Medal of Honor. Kirk entered Civil War service in Wilmington and in 1894 he received the Congressional Medal of Honor for Volunteering for dangerous service and single-handedly capturing 13 armed Confederate soldiers and marched them to the rear.
Mill Dam Orchestra