Editing West Jefferson, Ohio (section)

=== 1870 - 1910 ===
In 1872, the first records of a town seal were recorded. The seal had a copy of the original covered bridge spanning Little Darby Creek on the National road <ref>{{Cite web |title=West Jefferson in Days Gone By series 50 - 59 |url=https://www.hbmlibrary.org/book/export/html/2048 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=www.hbmlibrary.org}}</ref>(now known as U.S. Route 40). Also in 1872, West Street was paved with brick. <ref>{{Cite web |title=West Jefferson in Days Gone By series 50 - 59 |url=https://www.hbmlibrary.org/book/export/html/2048 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=www.hbmlibrary.org}}</ref> The first high school was built around the late 1870's or 1880's, on the current site of Garrette park, and the first class graduated in 1884.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CONTENTdm |url=https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p15005coll8/id/13/rec/13 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=ohiomemory.org}}</ref> It was known as the 'Union Schoolhouse' or 'West Jefferson High School', although few sources back up the former name.

During 1893, the town hall was built,<ref>{{Citation |last=Bartoszek |first=Brandon |title=West Jefferson City Hall |date=2014-07-10 |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/eridony/15400088553 |access-date=2025-03-15}}</ref> which replaced the previous town hall built in 1855. The 1893 hall was the 3rd building to stand there. The first building on that plot is unknown. Originally, it was known as the "opera house",<ref>{{Cite web |title=CONTENTdm |url=https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p15005coll8/id/1891/rec/144 |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=ohiomemory.org}}</ref> due to it housing a movie theatre until sometime in the 1930's or 40's. In 1958, the top few stories (most likely 3 or 4) were removed due to structural instability.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CONTENTdm |url=https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p15005coll8/id/1891/rec/144 |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=ohiomemory.org}}</ref> Oddly, on a cornerstone of the building, the message inscribed calls the town hall the city hall. It is unknown why that was inscribed.