Tucson Ohio
December 30, 2007
Post Tags: Ontario-Ohio , Smith-Manufacturing , Tucson Real Estate , Tucson Real Estate Market , Tucson-AZ-Real-Estate , Tucson-Ohio
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
I was searching/surfing the net the other day and came across another Tucson in the United States; Tucson, Ohio. Anybody that reads this site often knows I’m a Buckeye (a worthless nut) born and raised in Ohio. A little town of Ontario, Ohio. Being from Ontario with the name of Smith I know what it is like to have an identity crisis. When our family would travel people seeing my Ontario school jacket would call out “Hey, Ontario where you from?” Of course they thought it was Ontario, Canada a much larger place than Ontario, Ohio that had a single light at the center of town.
One time when we were on our way to visit friends in Connecticut. We were traveling through Pennsylvania when we drove past the “Smith Manufacturing Plant” Dad promptly said “Look Kids, that’s where we all came from.” Wow, I had no idea, I thought we came from Ohio and it turned out we were from a plant in Pennsylvania.
You can see how my life has been influenced greatly by identity crisis. When I ran across this single reference to Tucson, Ohio I put it in the back of my internal filing system to visit again soon.
When people think of Tucson they automatically assume it is Tucson, Arizona. I can understand the identity crisis those growing up in Tucson, Ohio must face when being asked, “Where are you from?” So what is this Tucson in Ohio like? It is in Ross county, that too sparked some interest since I’m part of the Ross family and remember going to the Ross family reunions. I didn’t know the family had a County named after them at the time. I might have been more impressed, but I was a kid so maybe not.
Today I started doing my research in earnest. First looking for maps and photos of the place. Not a lot of luck there, here is a combination of what I found for the location using two map sources.
Next was a search for history or any written documentation I could find on the town. I don’t know the date of this writing but here is some historical background I was able to find.
“The only villages in Harrison township are “Mooresville” and Tucson. . .
Tucson is noted chiefly as being the location of the only grist mill now in the township. This is a modern flouring mill, with fair capacity, and excellent reputation for fair dealing and good work. It was established about 1842 by Samuel Wheeland as a saw mill, and also a limited capacity for grinding certain grains. Ten years later Mr. Greenberry Hanson purchased and refitted it for its present purpose. Since coining into the hands of the present owners, the McGee Brothers, it has been further enlarged and modernized. There is one general store at Tucson, the Gray Brothers being the proprietors; there is also a postoffice, mechanical shops, and eight or ten residences. The village was formerly called Charleston, and is located on the upper Walnut near the north line of the township. There are no churches or lodges in either of these villages.The first justice of the peace in Harrison township was David Clark, who was elected in the spring of 1813″
I don’t think I would want to be trying to sell real estate in Tucson, Ohio. I can also see why it is important when writing about Tucson Real Estate, or the Tucson Real Estate Market to be sure I identify it as Tucson AZ Real Estate so as to eliminate any confusion. After all life is confusing enough don’t you think?
And after I got a little older I realized I didn’t come from a manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania, that was a relief !
December 30th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
Of course they thought it was Ontario, Canada a much larger place than Ontario, Ohio that had a single light at the center of town.
Reminds me of Paris… Texas.;-)) Seen the movie?
I can also see why it is important when writing about Tucson Real Estate, or the Tucson Real Estate Market to be sure I identify it as Tucson AZ Real Estate so as to eliminate any confusion.
I don’t think there’s any real reason to worry, Dave.;-) Until fairly recently, not too many knew of Tucson, AZ. I wouldn’t lose any sleep fretting over Tucson, Ohio.;-)
May 30th, 2008 at 7:39 am
As a native of Tucson, Arizona, thank goodness, I used to live in Middletown, Ohio. A town not to far from the knock off Ohio town. The weather and area are not close to rivaling the Arizona city which is a more interesting place and, although, was much, much nicer in the 50’s and 60’s, is still a great place to live in spite of all the people from other places who have moved here. Wish the Ohio people could have been more creative and named their town Phoenix or Tempe or Yuma or something. Since they obviously stole the name of their town, why not one of those other Arizona cities?
May 30th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Bill,
You made my smile with that one. My son lives in Arizona City, he really likes it up there. He’s one of the “new” residence. Been up there about 4 years now.
I agree with the name for Tucson, Ohio. But wonder if the confusion might have been greater had they named it Phoenix, Ohio.
May 31st, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Of course the Ohioans could say Arizona did the same thing with Buckeye, Arizona couldn’t they? Is there no originality anywhere anymore?
November 16th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Well then, let’s TOTALLY mess things up by not forgetting that Tucson, AZ also has a ‘Smith’ manufacturing plant (Smith Pipe & Steel). I discovered Tucson, OH some 7 years ago while surfing the I-Net, as you’ve recently done, Dave. I took WSI (Water Safety Intructor) courses about 37 years ago at the UofA swim pool with Archie Smith, son of the owner, while we were qualifying as lifeguards for the City of Tucson (AZ) Parks & Rec Dept. Archie had his Private Pilot’s License then (I had a Student License) and we sometimes used to fly together.
November 16th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
ps/ Dave, Bill: the state of Ohio does not yet have a ‘Why, AZ’ - or a ‘Strawberry’,'Bumblebee’ or ‘Ft. Defiance’ - but they do have a ‘Dudleyville.’ And, we already know Pennsylvania has a ‘Shanksville’ (I have the history documented from 911). Maybe we should all sit down with a ‘Place Names’ book for all three states and find out how much they’re alike? (we already know they’re different) Suspiciously, I see another ‘Club’ forming … could be a good excuse to drink beer.
~Bob Shank Jr. - former Raytheon
November 16th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Bob,
We need an excuse! No one ever explained that one to me.