Our Old Bookcase
“The golden age of postcard collecting in the United States dates from the 1890s to the beginning of World War I,” said Ann Bowers, university archivist for Bowling Green State University in an excerpt from “Our Postcard Past: Passport to History Series” published by the Mercer County Historical Society. “Today, postcard collecting has become a popular field of collecting. The postcards themselves have gained wider acceptance by researchers as important historical sources.”
How is the Mercer County Historical Society, Inc. serving Mercer County government and Mercer County’s citizens, in the past and continuing this service in the present and future? Parts I, II and III reflected on the national, state, county and local history books. Part IV reflected upon historic references for historians, geologists, genealogists and cartographers. Part V addresses the historic value of postcard images.
The postcard above preserves the early history of Coldwater’s Holy Trinity School. The following statement was a part of “The History of The Coldwater Schools,” by Eugene Weber.
“In 1913, after the great increase in the size of Coldwater, due to the growth of New Idea Company, the Holy Trinity Catholic parish members decided to form their own school. Construction of their building started in 1913, but the school started operations before the building was built. Sisters of the Precious Blood from the Maria Stein Convent provided the teachers and the rooms were rented from the public school, and also in the Hall of the Knights of St. John. In 1914, the school moved into their new building, which was located north of the Holy Trinity Church. The building had six classrooms and an auditorium. Later, the auditorium was converted into classrooms, as was the basement area. In 1935, the Holy Trinity School system closed operations, and the building was rented by the public school as East School. The students became public school students. Today, this building is used for parish activities.
“In 1938, the citizens of Coldwater began erection of a new high school, which was opened in 1939. The new high school was built on North Second Street, on the west side of the street. The old high school, on the site of the present United Methodist Church, was razed.”
Other important facts of the preservation of the local history of Mercer County’s Communities are the local historians. For this particular history of Holy Trinity School, Eugene Weber was a high school teacher at Coldwater Schools. Each community has recognized its local historians, whether of the community, the schools, the churches,and/or the service organizations.
County Historical Society President Joyce Alig may be contacted at 3054 Burk-St. Henry Road, St. Henry, OH 45883, histalig@bright.net or 419-678-2614.