Dr. Wilfred Cusick was one of the foremost citizens in Blanchester, coming here in 1840 & establishing himself in the practice of medicine, & was also a businessman. He operated several hotels in Blanchester & had the first grist mill. It was located where Pommert's garden is located, that stream furnishing waterpower.
Part of Blanchester bears Dr. Cusick's name. Several years before the Civil War, he laid out in town lots & streets, the territory from Broadway to Church & Fancy Street to Central Avenue. Dr. Cusick was a fast friend of Judge William Baldwin, while Dr. Cusick was a staunch a Baptist as Judge Baldwin was a Universalist.

From: THE HISTORY OF BLANCHESTER compiled by Mrs. Matella Doughman & Mrs S.B. Craig 1940

Dr. Wilfred Cusick was the pioneer physician of the township, he settled here early in the spring of 1840 & secured an extensive practice, to which he devoted his energies until the fall of 1862, when he died.
Beers, The History of Clinton County, Ohio, 1882
Page749.

Dr. Cusick came to Blanchester in 1840 & established himself in the practice of medicine. Not only was he skilled in the practice of his profession, but he was also a town builder.
Soon after his arrival here he built the original Wright House which was a large two-story frame building & stood on the ground now occupied by the Whitenack & Roger's store & the Dreamland Theater. The old structure was later moved down on bourbon street where it may still be seen on the north side of the street.

The tavern was typical of the day & housed many a weary traveler as well as catered to his appetite for both solid & liquid refreshments. For some time a "pay school " wasrun in the upstairs rooms & later the Catholics of the community held services there before the present church was erected.
Later Dr. Cusick built another large frame on the lot where the First National Bank now stands at the corner of Main & Broadway. This building was used for hotel purposes for a while, later being converted into a store and & the Grange Store was there for a number of years. This building, or part of it may still be seen on Cherry street where it was moved years ago.
Then Dr. Cusick transferred his interest to the other side of the railroad & erected the Sherman House, which stood where the Hunter Building is now, & which remained there for years going down in decay until the erection of the Hunter Building about twenty years ago.
Not satisfied with the number of hotels he had already given to the booming village Dr. Cusick next erected the Cusick House on Bourbon street where L. H. Watkins now lives The name of this hotel was afterwards changed to the Central Hotel. It was a most popular hostelry & attracted quite a great deal of trade. For many years it was the best hotel in town & many of our present readers can remember when it was at the height of its popularity. Ed Hawk, now manager of the Hotel Gibson, at Cincinnati, was proprietor of the Central Hotel when he first came to Blanchester, going to the Bindley after it was built.
Like Judge Baldwin, Drr. Cusick also got into the milling business, he establishing the first grist mill while Baldwin had the first saw mill. This grist mill was located where Pommert's Garden is on Broadway. At that time Broadway ran to Bourbon street then turned to the left & went over what we now know as old Broadway street. At that time a tannery stood where Broadway now runs, just between the Riley Grocery& the Sponsler Poultry House.
Judge Baldwin's saw mill was on Second Creek back of the present Haines property. It was a water power mill, for at that time there was a sufficient flow of water in the stream to turn the wheels of the mill most of the year. Since the timber has been cut off the surrounding countryside the stream has gone down in volume until people of today see only little water in it most of the year.
A part of Blanchester bears the name of Dr. Cusick, as he laid out an addition to the village several years before the Civil War, the addition being known as Cusack's Addition to the Village of Blanchester, Ohio. The addition takes in property between Fancy & Center streets & from Church street to near Broadway.
Dr. Wilford Cusick was a real town builder, a good doctor & a man well liked by those who knew him best. His impress will be felt on our village for years to come.
Article printed in the Blanchester Star Republican, Thursday, January 14, 1926. Pages 1 & 8.