The Reservoir War: A History of Ohio's Forgotten Riot in America's Gilded Age, 1874-1888

No Compromise! The Reservoir Must Go! After peaceful appeals to the state legislature failed, the fiercest discontent in the history of Paulding County, Ohio, finally reached its climax on the night of April 25, 1887. The destruction was complete after a series of explosions again lit up the darkened towpath of the Wabash & Erie Canal. To quell what it considered a lawless mob, the State of Ohio deployed three infantry companies and one light battery of the Ohio National Guard from Toledo, Ohio. With a Gatling gun in tow, the first troops arrived in Paulding County the following evening. Weaving together an abundance of primary and secondary sources, Jerett W. Godeke uncovers the history of this largely forgotten event. The Reservoir War is the most exhaustive history of this remarkable riot to date and is an essential read for those seeking to know more about this fascinating chapter in the history of Paulding County.