Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati
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Home / Murray Seasongood

Murray Seasongood

Murray Seasongood was a man of many talents but is best known for his ability to transform Cincinnati into one of the best governed cities in the country in the 1920’s. He lived to be 104 and continued to go to his office at Paxton & Seasongood until he was 100. In addition to being a Harvard trained lawyer, Seasongood was a leader in the National Civic League founded in 1894 by Theodore Roosevelt, Louis Brandeis, Marshall Field and other progressives, was president of Cincinnati Legal Aid Society, taught law at the University of Cincinnati and was Godkin Lecturer on municipal government at Harvard.

In the early twentieth century, Cincinnati’s government was controlled by a venal Republican machine, initially led by Boss Cox and then by his henchman, Rudolph Hynicka, all of whom lined their pockets with public funds. By the early 1920’s the city was nearly bankrupt. When Hynicka asked voters for a special tax levy in 1923, Murray Seasongood gave a speech to the Cincinnatus Association dubbed the “Shot Heard ‘Round the Wards.” He called for the bosses “to produce the goods on what they have or get out.”

The speech sparked intense public interest, and in 1924 Seasongood helped draft a proposed new charter calling for a nine member city council to replace the unwieldy 32–seat body then in place, a council appointed city manager, and a mayor selected by his council colleagues. The measure passed, and then in 1925 when the first council election under the new system was held, Seasongood and other Charterites were stunned when their ticket took six of the nine seats. Seasongood was named the first mayor under the new charter. He served for only four years as he felt, like Cincinnatus, that citizens should help in political life, but not become politicians.

The Jewish Welfare Fund was formed in 1930. Seasongood, having just stepped down as Mayor, agreed to serve as general Chairman of the first campaign with an initial campaign goal of $200,000. The purpose of the Fund was to centralize giving for Jewish philanthropic and social welfare agencies, much as the Community Chest did for the broader community.

Seasongood remained active in civic affairs for another half century, founding the Hamilton County Good Government League and serving on President Hoover’s national commission to investigate housing conditions, among other things. He passed away in 1983 and is interred in our Walnut Hills Cemetery.

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    Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati

    3 days ago

    Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati
    Watch the trailer below to get a sneak peek of "A Cantor's Head," which you can view as part of the Mayerson JCC Jewish and Israeli Film Festival. Join us for an online special event on January 25th at 7:00 pm featuring Cantor Jack Mendelson in conversation with Rabbinic Fellow Jason Cook. vimeo.com/365634990JCGC’s Guardians, our Legacy Society members, and JCGC’s Friends Campaign contributors are invited as guests of JCGC and can RSVP via info@jcemcin.org. Members of the public are welcome to join us and can purchase tickets here: mayersonjcc.org/film ... See MoreSee Less

    TRAILER _ A CANTOR'S HEAD

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    Trailer for the new documentary A CANTOR'S HEAD. Director: Erik Greenberg Anjou
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    Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati

    2 weeks ago

    Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati
    We are proud to sponsor 𝘈 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘳’𝘴 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘥, a documentary about Cantor Jack Mendelson and his legacy, as part of the Virtual Mayerson JCC Jewish and Israeli Film Festival! After watching the film, join us online on Monday, January 25th at 7 pm for a special event featuring Cantor Jack Mendelson in conversation with Rabbinic Fellow Jason Cook.JCGC’s Guardians, our Legacy Society members, and JCGC’s Friends Campaign contributors are invited as guests of JCGC and can RSVP via info@jcemcin.org. Members of the public are welcome to join us and can purchase tickets here: mayersonjcc.org/film ... See MoreSee Less
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    Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati

    1 month ago

    Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati
    Wishing you a happy, healthy, and bright Chanukah from all of us at Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati! ... See MoreSee Less
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Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati
3400 Montgomery Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45207
513-961-0178

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