Postcards: Lexington, Ohio

In the spring of 1812 the first cabin was constructed in what is now Lexington, Ohio.  Amariah Watson brought his wife and four children from Knox County and soon after his arrival he constructed a sawmill and a gristmill.  Watson got along well with the local tribes in the area and made friends by grinding their grain in his gristmill.  Around 1815 Jacob Cook built the first tavern and in 1825 William Damsell built the first grocery store.  It wasn’t until 1839 that Lexington was officially recognized as a village by the U.S. Government.  In 1870 the population of Lexington was 482 persons, according to the U.S. Federal Census, that number had grown to 4,822 in 2010.

For more information on Lexington, Ohio check out these books:

Tales of the old-timers : the history of Lexington / by Robert A. Carter

Looking back at Lexington : a history of the Village of Lexington, Ohio 1813-2002 / / compiled and edited by students and teachers at Lexington Junior High School

Looking back at Lexington, part 2. Voices of Lexington : a history of the Village of Lexington, Ohio 1813-2003 / / compiled and edited by students and teachers at Lexington Junior High School

Looking back at Lexington, part 3 Glimpses of Lexington : a history of the Village of Lexington, Ohio 1813-2005 / / compiled and edited by students and teachers at Lexington Junior High School

Enjoy these postcard images of Lexington, Ohio, click on image for more detail.

Built in 1850 on church St., this is now The Richland County Museum.

Constructed in 1894 was a two-story, six-room brick school building.

Originally erected in 1907 at a cost of $7,960.

the Frye House set on the edge of town square until the 1960s.

Delaware St. looking North.

Delaware Street looking south.

Main Street.

Main Street.

Main Street.

in 1906 Vincent Frye founded the Frye Condensing and Caramel Company and produced Caramel Candy.

The factory burned to the ground in 1909 and was later rebuilt.

Lexington Cemetery, established in 1849.

Lexington Cemetery, established in 1849.

In 1878 the wooden covered bridge was torn down and an iron bridge was put in its place, during the flood of 1913 the bridge was washed out and replaces with another iron bridge. In 1937 a steel and concrete bridge was constructed and in 1988 the State of Ohio constructed a four lane bridge.

The original station was located on the south side of Main St. and on the east side of the tracks, this newer station built before WWI was located across the road and across the tracks. Today this is the Lexington Senior Center.

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