Compared with Trenton and Poasttown, West Middletown's growth has been the slowest. In 1875 it had only 158 people and about 40 homes. By 1900 its population stood at 200. While Trenton is now a city, and Poasttown has developed a small business district, West Middletown has changed little. However, in recent years there has been a surge of economic growth with a small retail center atop West Middletown hill, and other new firms opening attractive retail outlets in the old town proper.

Geography and fate conspired against West Middletown. The great hills rising so precipitously above the narrow floodplain, gave it little level land on which to build homes and businesses. In the past large earth-moving machinery was not available. Then being so near Middletown, Madison citizens were already close to needed stores, repair shops and services, leaving little incentive for it to develop Its own.

Fate, too, was not kind. Fate stepped in with several disastrous fires. In 1906 the elevator burned to the ground and was never rebuilt. The lumber yard burned in 19 10. The glove factory burned, and even Velte's implement store once caught fire. The ring factory burned to the ground. The 1913 Flood wrecked destruction on the village, discouraging for years any further development in the bottoms. Even Madison House had been previously damaged by fire in 1979.

In addition, West Middletown had a late birth. Trenton and Miltonville had their plats recorded in 1816, while Poasttown's was drawn in 1819, but not until 1854 was Madison City platted. This was after Madison House had been built in 1846.

Being in the Symmes Purchase, Middletown had an early start, with Daniel Doty making arrangements to buy his first section of land in 179 1. The land west of the Great Miami was in the Virginia Military District, and sales did not begin there until 1802. Prior to that some squatters had settled land, which they intended to buy when available at the land office in Cincinnati.

Samuel Dickey was the first recorded settler in Madison Township, arriving in 1799 but both Daniel Doty and Stephen Vail, who built Middletown, also had purchased land on the west side of the river. On his land Vail built a raceway across the bend in the river, and on it a grist mill, which did a good business in the early years before the bridge was built, which was to the north of the old mill. The mill became a landmark, being in operation over many decades. Sometime around 1840 it was acquired by John Mumma, thus becoming Mumma's mill. Samuel McFall also operated a saw mill along the race. Mumma built the Madison House in 1846 in anticipation of the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad which had to buy land from him on which to lay tracks. The Mumma's were a prominent early township family with a daughter of John marrying George C. Barnitz who along with William B. Oglesby was cofounder of Middletown's first bank, the one most widely patronized by the residents of Madison Township.

Jacob Kemp became the largest landowner in the West Middletown area. Jacob bought his land from the U.S. Government. A son, John, later acquired his father's holdings as well as adding some of his own. By the 1830's the Kemps had 3 sections, well over 1,000 acres.

Jacob Kemp's homestead was atop West Middletown hill, and is still standing. John,
his son, later moved into the home place. One of his daughters, Christina Kemp, married a young minister-farmer, Jacob Emrick. Through his wife's inheritance and his own acquisitions, the Emrick's also became major landowners in the area during the 19th century.

Although often credited with platting the village, because one of its major additions was made by another of Jacob's sons, Ed Kemp, it was really laid out by brothers, John J. and William R. Walter, plat being submitted to the Butler County Recorder's Office on May 20, 1854. The Walters also made an additional plat as did Mumma, Doty, and Reed.

The Walter brothers realized that with the coming of the new railroad, known as the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton line that since its station was on the west side of the river, many of its patrons would be headed for Middletown on business. The men purchased a new omnibus and two strong horses. In order to advertise their new business the men had a handbill printed up and distributed it to the local residents. It read:

"Madison House and Railroad Omnibus Line-

"The undersigned are now running on omnibus to and from Middletown station and Middletown for the conveyance of passengers and baggage.

"The first train of cars from Cincinnati reach the Middletown station at 8 o'clock, 43 minutes A.M.; the second train arrives at 5 o'clock, 13 minutes, P.M.

"The first train from Dayton arrives at 9 o'clock, I minute A.M., the second train at 6 o'clock, 18 minutes P.M.

"Those desiring a conveyance to the railroad station will leave their names and residence at the principal hotels in Middletown. Fare--One dime will be charged for each passenger, trunk included. Extra charge will be made on all extra baggage. J.J. and W. R. Walter, Nov. 15, 185 1. "

After getting the omnibus running the two Walter brothers decided to lay out a plat for West Middletown. It was recorded May 20, 1854 as Madison City.

West Middletown's most noted landmark, Madison House at Ohio 122 and Front Street was destroyed by fire on May 26, 1993. Owner Bud Wilmot erected a new structure on part of the site carrying the same name, but in a modern, fireproof building. The old Madison House had been built before the village itself was platted, so on the original plat recorded in 1854 is a sketch of the building as it appears on Lot No. 1. The historical record reveals that It was built in 1846 by John Mumma.

The original structure was a plain brick structure, typical of the times, that was 2-1/2 stories high, and 72 by 21-1/2 feet. It contained 30 rooms above ground, I I in the basement. Later additions were added to the back. Then in the early 1880's the great front porch was added at two levels. There were two ballrooms in the old Madison House and people came from miles around to the dances.

At first, Madison House was an important stagecoach stop. As a hotel it was considered fine in its day. The north room which later became a grocery storeroom, served as the hotel office and barroom, and behind it was the dining room. It served two stage lines. The Ohio Stage Co.'s route originated at Cincinnati and went by way of Lebanon, with the first overnight being at the Golden Lamb. The second-day's travel ended with the overnight at Madison House. The third-day route followed the turnpike by way of Eaton to Richmond. The Western Stage Co. also stopped at the Madison House. It made a daily trip between Cincinnati and Dayton, by way of Trenton following the old road to Madison House for lunch, then on to Poasttown and
the old stage road cutting across to Carlisle.

In September 1851 the first locomotive on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad arrived at the hotel.

Madison House meals in the early 1850's were 15 cents each, but Louis Wagner, proprietor at the time, paid 5 cents a pound for beef, 6 cents for pork; 15 cents for a pound of butter or coffee; potatoes were 40 cents a bushel and flour 4 cents a pound. Turkeys were 50 cents each, chickens 15 cents.

Wagner's barroom inventory listed such items as lamps, decanters, tumblers, chairs, benches, a clock, handbell, writing desk, plus pitchers, candlesticks and holders, glasses, bottles and platters--total value of $240. His bar was stocked with 12 gallons of sherry, 15 bottles of brandy, 4 bottles of white wine, 4 gallons of punch extract, 4 gallons of East India bitters, 10 gallons of white whiskey, 5 gallons of gin, 2 gallons of peach brandy plus "sundry liquors and bottles at bar."

The railroad brought a new clientele to Madison House. First the men who operated the lumber car arrived and worked at putting down the ties and track and then afterwards, they must be maintained. These "working Railroaders" an itinerant group, brought news of the outside world and excitement to Madison City. They had lodging at Madison House for $2 a week, paying $.15 for a meal. However, when the big officials of the line stopped for dinner, they were charged $.25 a meal as they had liquor, extra side dishes and fancy desserts.

During its heyday, Madison House itself was in reality a mini-mall. In its storerooms along the front were a grocery store, tavern operated by Albert Beckford; agricultural equipment warehouse owned by William Long; W.C. Ward's wagon and buggy shop; Samuel McFall's cabinet shop; along with J.M. Gardner's shop where he made shoes and boots; and Eckelbarger and Joe Thunn had blacksmith's shops. Nearby was another tavern, 2 blacksmith shops, and the railroad depot, where Lee Crider was the agent. Madison was a self-sufficient village and its citizens boasted of no need "to cross the river" to shop in Middletown.

The general store would survive the longest. During its long service, store keepers came and went, including Reed and Co.; Abraham Crider, Harvey Snider, Harry Selby, Dan Snider, John Pritchard, Dan Shartle and John Hunt. It was the last old-fashioned general store in the area. Hunt took over the store on Aug. 19, 1919, and as late as World War 11 was still selling kerosene lamps with glass chimneys and stove pipe. Richard Leichty was a customer and recalls the pot-bellied stove and stock "that included about everything." A street is named for the Leichty family. longtime residents of West Middletown. Madison House had survived the two great fires that swept through the village in times past, and the great flood of 1913.

The coming of the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad, now known as CSX, and for many decades as the Baltimore and Ohio, brought a "Golden Age" to West Middletown. It became a major shipping point on the rail line, with several small industries taking advantage of its convenience as well as the farm community.

In 1877 Hartley and Curtis with the help of the C.H. and D. Railroad had built a large grain elevator which stood west of the main tracks across the road. It was a two-story frame structure with a ramp leading to the second story, so wagons could be unloaded and the grain drop down through chutes into freight cars below. West of the grain elevator was a switch track, then another warehouse plus another track and another warehouse. Farmers brought
their corn, oats, wheat and barley In horse drawn wagons to the elevator. Wilson Long owned an agricultural warehouse.

These same farm wagons with double decks of sideboards, brought in fat hogs, sheep, steers and heifers to be loaded into freight cars headed to the Cincinnati market. Ed Veldt ran the stockyard with its cattle chutes.

John P. Schaeffer built a large lumber yard destroyed by fire in 1913, and there was also a saw mill to cut farmer's logs into lumber. George Velte owned a large implement store, which sold to farmer's in a 50-mile radius. N.J. Selby ran a coal business as did J.M. Harlan. The Ward Poultry farm handled all types of poultry and eggs along with feed. Later Guy Hatton would be in this business. With the coming of the automobile, Dan Snider began to sell Ford autos in West Middletown, before moving his operation to Middletown. The West Side Garage was established along Route 122 with three mechanics on duty.

More recent years found Banker's Coal and Feed Store, along with businesses operated by Strodbeck and Weikel. On Jacksonburg Road was Rosedale Farm which supplied the area with roses and other flower plants. Then Augspurger's opened their large greenhouses along Howe Road.

George Coddington owned the largest industry, the Coddington Wax String factory, being based upon one of his inventions. A description of it is found in a 1921 News-Signal article. It reads, in part: "At the Coddington Wax String factory, wax strings are made and shipped to all parts of the U.S. This industry has been in operation for many years and the goods manufactured there have become so well-known that they are now considered a necessity and the housewives much prefer the cleanly wax string to old-fashioned method of pouring sealing wax on their canned goods. The wax string does away with the possibility of accident by burning with the hot sealing wax and this one feature alone had made the Coddington wax string a well-known commodity."

"At present the factory is operating, making approximately 180,000 strings daily. This gives employment to about 20 people and the work is clean and the surroundings pleasant."

At one time, sealing wax played an important part in canning. Some still remember when heated sealing wax was poured from a special small iron utensil around the grooved rim of a tin can.

Using the new string method, the impregnated string with its red wax was placed in the groove and a heated iron would seal it without the "muss and fuss" of the liquid wax.

George Warren Coddington obtained his patent of this new method sometime around 1880 and set up a plant to manufacture them. After his profitable string invention, in 1886, he turned his mechanical genius to making a fruit can fastener, patent number 336,796. He had noted that when a can or jar was in use that sometimes a "slight blow to the lid would cause the sealing material to become detached," resulting in spoilage. His new fastener prevented this. In the same year he received a patent for a new head for the glass jar.

A son, George D.C. Coddington, inherited his father's inventive ability, working on improvements to the submarine for the U.S. Navy and many other projects that brought him national attention. It was he who built the beautiful home still standing on the West Middletown hill north of Ohio 122.

When the wax string business was hit by the development of the new rubber ring, lie
returned home to his father's factory. He had soon invented new and improved rubber rings, noting those in use were not a tight enough sea] to preclude spoilage. He designed a machine to coat these rubber rings with a wax that made the proper closure. It was patented Jan. 5, 1904.

In the early 1920's Ball Brothers, leaders in the glass jar industry, began negotiations, and ended up purchasing the Coddington patent rights for a princely sum. By this time it was evident that the days of the small owner-operated industry were coming to an end, resulting in West Middletown losing its major industry. Its smaller glove factory had burned some years before. The wax string production had fallen from a peak of 300,000 a day to half that number. Housewives had begun to buy canned goods, rather than home canning.

The string factory discontinued operations around 1924, but some years before that time other machinery had been installed in the building, which was making binder twine used by the new threshing machines, which not only cut but automatically bound, with twine, the wheat into sheaves. Both manufacturing operations ceased about the same time that the structure was converted into Coddington's Machine Shop, operated by a new generation of Coddingtons. As far as known, Jack Coddington is the only local descendant of the family bearing the same surname, although there are other descendants as the Coddingtons trace their lineage back to Doty and Vail.

During the early 20th century many prominent people lived in the West Middletown area, having homes and farms along the Middletown -Eaton Road (Route 122).

Among the families best known those of Krafzig, Carnahan, Hinkle, Williamson, Childs, Kemp, Kennel, Holderman, Daub, Snyder, Marts, Smith, Schenck, Brelsford, Pylon and Shafor.

C.E. Irvin bought some land off the Yost-Emerick estate, painted the buildings, built new ones and added shrubbery and roses. Rosemont Farm, became a poultry and a truck farm.

Clarence Childs died, but his son Burns Childs, a graduate of the Ohio State University School of Agriculture, took over management of the farm. Next to It was the Yost farm, which was purchased by R.B. Carnahan, an Armco engineer. He hired H.W. Jefferson who was in the dairy business to manage the farm. He and young Burns Childs introduced some new innovations in agriculture. On the ridge was the old Williamson homestead, owned by George Williamson, representing the third generation of a family that settled there in 1815. Many remember it as the later home of the George Slade family.

On the south side of the ridge was the home of Martin Daub, who was one of the first to get electricity and adapt it to farm operations. By 1917 land values along the road had shot up to $ 100 an acre.

The Kemp homestead was across from the church. The beautiful farmhouse and land was purchased later by a son-in-law, Jacob Emerick.

The Kemp family owned large sections of land in the West Middletown area, including most of the hilly land north and west of the village, then known as Madison and later Heno. Jacob Emerick worked as a hired hand for John Kemp, married his daughter and then took over the home farm. One of the daughters married a Childs and another, a Yost.

West Middletown also had the amenities of life. The one-room school set atop the lower hill since pioneer days, later replaced by a modern consolidated brick building. Mail could be picked up at the post office
The Baptist Chapel also served a a public meeting place. The Township building was for government business, and Is where the Madison School Board met, And where its clerk handed out teachers' pay checks each month. The railroad depot was always a place to hang out during the days of passenger travel with the community getting a new station in 1910, now gone, but the old one still stands.

With the growth of the area, the growth of West Middletown is inevitable. Only a quirk of nature dictated the growth of Middletown eastward rather than to the west. Most fine residential sections in America's cities are found to the west, this being in the zone where the prevailing winds blow from the southwest. This means the fresh, clean air is found on the west side, before being polluted by the city's industry.

Being across the river from an ever-growing Middletown meant that West Middletown fought to maintain its own identity. The original town had been named Madison but there being another Madison in Ohio, when a post office was granted to the town in 1882, the postmaster general demanded another name be chosen. According to legend, as old-timers were discussing the new name around the cracker barrel in the general store, a can of Heno tea caught their attention. So the town was named for the tea. But in 1907, the postmaster general again intruded, observing the village was within the shadow of Middletown, and only a few postal workers had ever heard of Heno, making it difficult to sort and forward mail to the place. The government ordered the village to accept the name of West Middletown. In 1963 the postmaster general in another decree closed the West Middletown post office, transferring its business to Middletown.

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Last Updated  04/17/2007
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