Pictured at the Zieger
House plaque are, from the left, Dorothy Cooper, Stuart Sharpnack,
Louis McFarland, Jean Droste, Thomas Cooper, Dr. Emily Lutz, W. W.
and Carol Higgins, Judy and Steve Spicer, and Stephanie Sharpnack.
By DAVID AMEY
HERALD STAFF WRITER
The misspelling of a name on an historical marker in
downtown Circleville has been corrected.
"Once and for all the Zieger family will have a well earned visible
reminder of its place in the history of the city of Circleville,'"
said Stuart Sharpnack, president of the Roundtown Conservancy.
In May of 2005, at the request of the Roundtown Conservancy, members
of the Circleville Service Department, headed by Louis McFarland,
removed the Zieger Historical Plaque from its place on the southwest
corner of Scioto and West High streets.
The plaque which has been in place since 1978 was removed to be sent
to the Sewah Company for correction of the name and refurbishing.
The name on the plaque has long been a source of controversy as the
name was spelled "Zeigler" instead of Zieger.
"The spelling was obtained from Fairfield County records," said
local historian W. W. Higgins, who notes instances where the family
name also has been misspelled as "Zeiger" and "Seeger."
The plaque was originally placed on the comer by the Masons and the
Ohio Historical Society to honor the family of Jacob Zieger Sr.
This location was chosen because it was the site of the home of his
son, Jacob Zeiger Jr.
According to 1880 History of Franklin & Pickaway Counties, Ohio, the
second story of this home was the first site of the Court of Common
Pleas of Pickaway County.
According to the text on the marker it was also the meeting place of
the Pickaway Lodge 23 of the Free & Accepted Masons from April 26,
1813, until 1825.
The house which now stands at this location is not the original
Zieger home, but is a duplex owned by a Columbus resident.
Also Jacob Sr. and his son-in-law,¬ Samuel Watt, donated "a
considerable portion of the land on which the city is located, for
public purposes," Higgins said.
When the historical plaque was removed from its pole, the
Circ1eville City Service crew that removed it found the pole needed
replaced. Thanks to donations by interested citizens, the pole and
plaque were both replaced.
The plaque and pole were reworked by the Sewah Company in Marietta
and have been reinstalled by city crews.
