Description: In 1913 the community of Middletown, realizing the need for a hospital, formed the Middletown Hospital Association, a nonprofit institution. Middletown’s first hospital opened on March 5, 1917. At that time Middletown Hospital was a 28-bed facility with a staff of seven. By 1923 the hospital had expanded to a 100-bed facility. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B02F03_009_1
Subjects: Hospitals--Ohio; Middletown (Ohio)--History--Pictorial works; Butler County (Ohio)--History--Pictorial works.
Places: Middletown (Ohio); Butler County (Oho)
 

Description: Dated 1937, this photograph shows the research lab American Rolling Mill Company, located at 830 Curtis Street, in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1901 the company moved to Middletown, Ohio, to produce rolled steel sheets. In 1904, the plant's workers established a shop committee, an early predecessor to a trade union. Production increased in 1921 with a technological advance in manufacturing coiling sheet steel. The company became Armco Inc. in 1978 and merged with AK Steel in 1999. A note on the photograph's reverse reads "Porcelain enamel, stainless steel and glass block form the exterior of the new research laboratories of The American Rolling Mill Company, Middletown, Ohio. A total of 8100 feet of porcelain enamel was used for exterior facings. From Columbus Chamber of Commerce." This photograph is one of the many visual materials collected for use in the Ohio Guide. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration by executive order to create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed laborers, as well as artists, musicians, actors, and writers. The Federal Arts Program, a sector of the Works Progress Administration, included the Federal Writers’ Project, one of the primary goals of which was to complete the America Guide series, a series of guidebooks for each state which included state history, art, architecture, music, literature, and points of interest to the major cities and tours throughout the state. Work on the Ohio Guide began in 1935 with the publication of several pamphlets and brochures. The Reorganization Act of 1939 consolidated the Works Progress Administration and other agencies into the Federal Works Administration, and the Federal Writers’ Project became the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio. The final product was published in 1940 and went through several editions. The Ohio Guide Collection consists of 4,769 photographs collected for use in Ohio Guide and other publications of the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio from 1935-1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B03F12_018_1
Subjects: Cincinnati (Ohio)--Buildings, structures, etc.; Rolling-mills; Steel industry and trade--Ohio--Middletown.
Places: Middletown (Ohio); Butler County (Ohio); Warren County (Ohio)
 

Description: Caption reads: "View from hill at Middletown Hospital." Middletown is located in Butler County, which is in Ohio's southwestern corner and borders Indiana on its western border. Butler County was established by the State of Ohio on March 24, 1803. Originally a part of Hamilton County, Butler County was named in honor of Richard Butler, who was killed in St. Clair’s Defeat in 1791. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B02F03_005_1
Subjects: Middletown (Ohio); Butler County (Ohio)--History; Middletown (Ohio)--History--Pictorial works
Places: Middletown (Ohio); Butler County (Oho)
 

Description: Dated to the 1930s or 1940s, this aerial photograph shows Armco East Side Works in Middletown, Ohio. Armco was born a Cincinnati steel roofing company, and moved to Middletown in 1901 to produce rolled steel sheets. In 1904, the plant's workers established a shop committee, an early predecessor to a trade union. A 1921 innovation in coiling sheet steel led to a boom in production; the company became Armco Inc. in 1978, and merged with AK Steel in 1999. A note on the photograph's reverse reads "A new wide-cold-reduction Mill at East Works-Armco, nearing completion, representing investment of approx. four million dollars, Note the private tracks for Railway transportation to both mills. A complete History of Armco ready for mailing May 1, 1936. Armco East Side Works. Middletown, Ohio." This photograph is one of the many visual materials collected for use in the Ohio Guide. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration by executive order to create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed laborers, as well as artists, musicians, actors, and writers. The Federal Arts Program, a sector of the Works Progress Administration, included the Federal Writers’ Project, one of the primary goals of which was to complete the America Guide series, a series of guidebooks for each state which included state history, art, architecture, music, literature, and points of interest to the major cities and tours throughout the state. Work on the Ohio Guide began in 1935 with the publication of several pamphlets and brochures. The Reorganization Act of 1939 consolidated the Works Progress Administration and other agencies into the Federal Works Administration, and the Federal Writers’ Project became the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio. The final product was published in 1940 and went through several editions. The Ohio Guide Collection consists of 4,769 photographs collected for use in Ohio Guide and other publications of the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio from 1935-1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B07F12_013_1
Subjects: American Rolling Mill Company; Steel-works--Ohio--Pictorial works; Industries--Ohio--Butler County; Factories--History; United States. Work Projects Administration (Ohio)
Places: Middletown(Ohio); Butler county(Ohio); Warren county(Ohio)
 

Description: Caption reads: "Tennis courts at Douglas park. Minnestoa Ave., south of 18th avenue." Middletown is located in Butler County, which is in Ohio's southwestern corner and borders Indiana on its western border. Butler County was established by the State of Ohio on March 24, 1803. Originally a part of Hamilton County, Butler County was named in honor of Richard Butler, who was killed in St. Clair’s Defeat in 1791. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B02F03_007_1
Subjects: Tennis courts; Middletown (Ohio)--Social life and customs--Pictorial works.
Places: Middletown (Ohio); Butler County (Oho)
 

Description: Caption reads: "Tennis Courts at Goldman park. Highland St. near Grand Ave." Goldman Park is a 23.5 acre park located at Highland and Roosevelt Blvd. This park features playground equipment, picnic shelter, picnic tables, softball diamonds, and double tennis courts. Middletown is located in Butler County, which is in Ohio's southwestern corner and borders Indiana on its western border. Butler County was established by the State of Ohio on March 24, 1803. Originally a part of Hamilton County, Butler County was named in honor of Richard Butler, who was killed in St. Clair’s Defeat in 1791. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B02F03_013_1
Subjects: Middletown (Ohio)--Social life and customs--Pictorial works; Tennis courts; Butler County (Ohio)--History--Pictorial works.
Places: Middletown (Ohio); Butler County (Oho)
 

Description: Reverse reads: "Butler Co., Middletown, O. Swimming pool at Verity Park. Aug. 10, 1936." This is a photograph of a swimming pool at Verity park in Middletown, Ohio. It was most likely one of 45 municipal swimming pools built by the Works Progress Administration. Middletown is located in Butler County, which is in Ohio's southwestern corner and borders Indiana on its western border. Butler County was established by the State of Ohio on March 24, 1803. Originally a part of Hamilton County, Butler County was named in honor of Richard Butler, who was killed in St. Clair's Defeat in 1791. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B13F02_018_001
Subjects: Swimming pools; Recreation; New Deal; Works Progress Administration; Ohio--History--Pictorial works; Federal Writers' Project.
Places: Middletown (Ohio); Butler County (Oho)
 

Description: Caption reads: "Miami Tennis court. Miami St., at Fleming road." Miami Park is 3.35 acre park located off Miami and Reinartz Blvd. This park features playground equipment, picnic tables, tennis court, and basketball court. Middletown is located in Butler County, which is in Ohio's southwestern corner and borders Indiana on its western border. Butler County was established by the State of Ohio on March 24, 1803. Originally a part of Hamilton County, Butler County was named in honor of Richard Butler, who was killed in St. Clair’s Defeat in 1791. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B02F03_012_1
Subjects: Middletown (Ohio)--Social life and customs--Pictorial works; Tennis courts; Butler County (Ohio)--History--Pictorial works.
Places: Middletown (Ohio); Butler County (Oho)
 

Description: This photograph shows a portion of South Main Street, towards Central Avenue, in Middletown, Ohio. Rails and power lines for an electric streetcar run down the middle of the bustling street. A sign for State Routes 4 and 73 can be seen in front of the church, which stands at the northeast corner of 1st Avenue and South Main Street. The church on the right has been demolished, however the Sorg Theatre, located at 65 S. Main St., is still standing, and renovations began in 2009 to return the Ford style theater to it's original splendor. Just past the theater is Eureka Confectionery, which was most likely owned by George Eliopoulos, and which was located at 327 S. Main Street. A Sears Roebuck store can be seen just before the Middletown Savings and Loan Building, which stands at the southeast corner of South Main Street and Central Avenue. The tall building at the north west corner of S. Main St. and Central Avenue was the First National Bank. Just before that is the U.S. Hotel and V.W. Bond Co. Furniture. Many of these buildings have been demolished. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B04F02_34_01
Subjects: Theaters--Ohio
Places: Middletown (Ohio); Butler County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph of the Middletown Building and Deposit Association nearby State Routes 4 and 73, in Middletown, Butler County, Ohio. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B02F03_008
Subjects: Building and loan associations; Banks and banking
Places: Middletown (Ohio); Butler County (Ohio)
 

Description: Dated September 19, 1936, this photograph shows women of the Butler County Emergency School's sewing project sewing at someone's home. Butler County Emergency School was a Works Progress Administration program at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The photograph's caption reads "Butler County, Middletown, Ohio, Seventeenth Street. Sewing and different types of Needlecraft. Mrs. Thenie Latham, Teacher." The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was a government office that hired unemployed Americans to work on various government projects from April 8, 1935 to June 30, 1943. In the first six months that the WPA existed, more than 173, 000 Ohioans, including both men and women, found employment through this program. More than 1, 500 unemployed teachers in Ohio found work through the WPA teaching illiterate adults how to read. In twelve separate counties, primarily in southeastern Ohio, more than twenty-five percent of families had at least one member working for the WPA during the late 1930s. By the end of 1938, these various workers had built or improved 12, 300 miles of roads and streets and constructed 636 public buildings, several hundred bridges, hundreds of athletic fields, and five fish hatcheries. WPA employees made improvements to thousands of more buildings, roads, and parks within Ohio. WPA artists also painted a number of murals in Ohio post offices. This photograph is one of the many visual materials collected for use in the Ohio Guide. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration by executive order to create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed laborers, as well as artists, musicians, actors, and writers. The Federal Arts Program, a sector of the Works Progress Administration, included the Federal Writers’ Project, one of the primary goals of which was to complete the America Guide series, a series of guidebooks for each state which included state history, art, architecture, music, literature, and points of interest to the major cities and tours throughout the state. Work on the Ohio Guide began in 1935 with the publication of several pamphlets and brochures. The Reorganization Act of 1939 consolidated the Works Progress Administration and other agencies into the Federal Works Administration, and the Federal Writers’ Project became the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio. The final product was published in 1940 and went through several editions. The Ohio Guide Collection consists of 4,769 photographs collected for use in Ohio Guide and other publications of the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio from 1935-1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B02F04_013_1
Subjects: Sewing; Teachers; Education; African Americans; Schools--Ohio; Works Progress Administration
Places: Middletown (Ohio); Butler County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph of several young people on a roller coaster, taken by John Sheckler of Middletown, Ohio. The image was one of ten to win Honorable Mention in the Professional category of the Spirit of Ohio Bicentennial Photo Contest. In August 1976, the Ohio American Revolution Bicentennial Advisory Committee (OARBAC) began the Spirit of Ohio Bicentennial Photo Contest as part of a larger effort in Ohio to celebrate the 1976 American Bicentennial. The contest was meant to document "the spirit and character of the people and places which represent Ohio during [the] bicentennial year," and to create a permanent photographic archive of the year's festivity for use by future researchers. Both professional and amateur photographers submitted over 500 photographs for consideration, all taken within the state between January 1 and December 31, 1976. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA2734AV_B01_07
Subjects: American Revolution Bicentennial (1976); Roller coasters; Amusement parks; Sports and leisure;
Places: Middletown (Ohio); Butler County (Ohio)