Black History Month: KKK’s sojourn into Clinton County, Part 2
Editor’s Note: This is Part 2 of a series
written by Neil Snarr commemorating Black History Month.
After the Klavern was built on Ludovic Street and the parade through town was completed, the Klan became a significant entity in Wilmington and Clinton County. In fact, the Klan was a powerful national entity with significant influence in much of the country.
Demonstrating this national influence was a meeting at Buckeye Lake in Ohio: “Officials of the Ku Klux Klan from all over the country will attend a meeting at the Buckeye Lake starting next Tuesday and lasting through Friday… The policy of the Klan on public questions will be taken up said the announcement. At the close of the session of the national officers the Ohio Konklave will start, and will last through Sunday.” (A Konklave is best understood as a secret or confidential meeting.)
Black History Month: When the KKK came to Clinton County
Editor’s Note: This is Part 1 of a series
written by Neil Snarr commemorating Black History Month.
The following question was asked in a 1922 Wilmington News Journal article: “Is the Ku Klux Klan getting ready to invade Wilmington and Clinton County?”
The article went on to say, “An attempt was made to organize a Klan at Xenia some time ago but the organizer went away without accomplishing anything.”
The next year on February 12 the WNJ headlines on the front page read, “Ku Klux Klan Burns Fiery Cross At Sabina.” The article stated, “The cross which was described as being about the size of a screen door, was planted by four men dressed in regalia of the Klan or closely resembling that worn by Klan members.”
World Heritage Site under threat, under water
Neil Snarr photos
Venice, Italy, selected as a World Heritage Site in 1987, could lose its designation and much more if it does not make some drastic decisions concerning its future.
Climate change is the most obvious source of concern – heavy rains and rising sea levels are primary, but the warming temperatures have made it possible for worms from warmer climes to invade this city built on wooden pylons.
Add these together, and recently the water level in the city has increased (and later receded) some six feet. Photos show the famous and absolutely beautiful St. Mark’s Basilica and square flooded and visitors wading in knee deep salt water (an additional source of concern).
The West House: From sumptuous menu to a cure for what ails ya
Neil Snarr - Contributing columnist
From the late 1870s on there were three major hotels in downtown Wilmington: the West House on Main Street where the Masonic Temple building is currently situated; the Midland Hotel, which was built by a Black man on South Street across from the current courthouse (it still stands there mostly unused); and the Martin Hotel at the corner of Main and Mulberry (it was demolished some years ago).
My impression is that the Hawley and the West House were most important to the city, but served somewhat different purposes.
A gift of shoes, 125 years ago - Wilmington News Journal wnewsj.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wnewsj.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.