ANSWERS: 1
  • Historically, some areas in what is now northern Richland Township, Logan County, OhioRichland Township were covered by swamp. During the 1840s, however, settlers moved in, and a town was platplatted around 1846, by which time a small town named Richland had become well established in the southern part of what is now Richland Township. In this year, the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad began to plan for a Rail transportrailroad line through the area. A competition developed between the two towns for the location of a Water tankwater stop for the railroad (essentially requiring the basics of a Train stationstation), which eventually was won by the upstart town. Five years later, the village of Belle Center was officially incorporated by the Ohio General Assembly. The presence of the railroad led to growth for Belle Center but decline for Richland (since renamed New Richland). This railroad origin is responsible for Belle Center's "diagonal" street layout. For many years, many businesses existed in Belle Center, including hotels, Blacksmithblacksmith's shops, restaurants, markets, and even an "Opera House". Today, most older stores are gone, but some establishments still remain. Some of these include three restaurants, a grocery store with gas station, a bank, a hardware store, a Automobile repair shopgarage, an Ice creamice cream stand, and a Bar (establishment)bar. Important parts of Belle Center's history include: * Major fires twice destroyed much of the downtown business block in the 1930s. * The wreck of a train carrying liquid chlorine forced the Emergency evacuationevacuation of all of Belle Center on ThanksgivingThanksgiving Day, 1944. * Belle Center policeman Murray Griffin was http://www.law-forensic.com/cp_lowe.htm murdered on July 5, 1986 in the line of duty. * 86 men from the Belle Center community served in the American Civil WarCivil War. * 14 men from the Belle Center community served in the Spanish-American War. * 163 men from the Belle Center community served in the World War IFirst World War. * 395 men from the Belle Center community served in the World War IISecond World War. * 23 men from the Belle Center community served in the Korean War. * 94 men from the Belle Center community served in the Vietnam War. Important organizations in Belle Center's history include * The Little Red Mill, a general store established in 1889, is still in business. * A newspaper, the Herald-Voice, was established in 1893 and continued until recent decades. * The Belle Center Public Library, which was established in 1925, is one of two independent village libraries in Logan County today. * The Belle Center School District operated from about 1855 until 1970, when it was consolidated into the Benjamin Logan Local School District, Logan County, OhioBenjamin Logan School District. * Four churches exist in Belle Center: congregations of the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, along with a Church of Christ. A congregation of the United Presbyterian Church of North America was organized in Belle Center in 1891 and merged with the Presbyterian Church in 1961. * The Willard Stout American Legion Post was established in 1919 and continues today. * Boy Scouts of AmericaBoy Scout Troop 74 was established at some point before 1944 but has since been disorganized. Today, the Church of Christ sponsors Cub Scout Pack 51. * A troop of Girl Scouts of the USAGirl Scouts is active in the community. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belle_Center%2C_Ohio

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