West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 42 by Charlie Miller

NEWS ITEMS: The following items are from the Madison County Democrat- 

___August 3, 1865- “The West Jefferson Oil Well.” Mr. Horace Putnam of West Jefferson in this county, assures us that there is no humbug in the report that petroleum is found in a well on his premises. The oil is there, but where it comes from is a mystery. The oil bubbles up from the bottom of the well through the water from some deposit below. 

___October 19, 1865- The eclipse of the sun will commence at 8 o’clock this morning and continue until nearly noon. The best view of the eclipse is said to be through a glass-----of beer! 

___September 20, 1865- President Johnson arrives in London with General U. S. Grant and Admiral Farragut. 

___April 27, 1866- The large upstairs room of the Town hall was rented to Dr. McCullough and George Lewis on behalf of the Good Templars for use as a lodge, for $24.00 per year. 

___June 3, 1866- Village business- The levy of 1 ½ mills on real and personal property taxes is to be used for Corporation purposes. (The 2021 tax rate for West Jefferson is 62.80 mills) 

____1866- The Recorder was instructed to notify the Superintendent of the National Road to have a culvert built under the National Road to effectively drain the pond of stagnate water in the west part of town, adjoining Mrs. Mason. The natural course of the water is obstructed by the National Road as it is now. (This is where Pond and Bridge Streets got their names.) 

____April 18, 1867- George W. Lewis was appointed a committee of one to get 20 shade trees in front of Town Hall. August 23, 1867- The Recorder is instructed to post notices prohibiting ball playing within the Corporation limits. 

____September 30, 1867- $60.00 was appropriated for a carload of bricks for the purpose of laying pavement on Main Street. The total cost was $97.11. E. S. Hancock was contracted to lay the pavement. (Elijah S. Hancock was appointed Postmaster on March 30, 1861and served until 1865. In 1850 he was listed as a farmer and dealt in hides, that year he processed 300 hides and had two employees. 

____1868- J. B. F. Taylor, successor to Thos. C. Sael, druggist, and medicine, in the brick building block, opposite the Post Office.