Looking Back
Through the pages of the Wapakoneta Daily News
100 YEARS AGO, SEPTEMBER 22, 1920
■ An immense concourse of people from far and near assembled in the city Sunday to pay final tribute to the memory of David Fisher, son of County Auditor Charles Fisher. It is proven that memories of the sacrifices made by the American soldier boys on the battlefields of France are still fresh in the minds of people in this vicinity, for their presence at the funeral attested their devotion to those who made the supreme sacrifice. The American Legion especially carried out its part well, 125 of the boys turned out. They assembled at the Fisher home, 509 West Mechanic Street, at 1 o’clock and formed an escort for the remains. Headed by the City Band the the colorbearers with the standards of the nation and American Legion escorted the remains to St. Paul Evangelical Church, where an impressive service was conducted by the Rev. C.E. Schmidt. Besides the American Legion that took up its line of march westward to the Greenlawn Cemetery, there were upward of 150 F.O. Eagles and several hundred other persons. Everywhere along the route of the procession townspeople crowd the curbs and stood with bared heads while the cortege passed. Three special Western Ohio cars were waiting at the Auglaize and Mechanic street intersection and conveyed the crowd to the cemetery. It was estimated that more than 200 autos (also) conveyed persons to the ceremony. Six former bosom friends of the deceased soldier acted as pallbearers, Robert Fisher, Joe Miller, Earl Bechdolt, Ed. Fran, Harry Hay, and Charles Zink
■ A large delegation of local Grand Army of the Republic and Women’s Relief Corps members left on various southbound B&O trains for Hamilton, where they transferred to the CI&W line for Indianapolis to attend the annual national encampment, which will continue until September 25. The G.A. R. Delegation included Nathan Kerst, commander of Kyle Post; Thomas Kinstle, George Williams, Henry Schwartz, Francis Decker, George Conner, and Charles Went of this city, and W.B.A. Williams of St. Johns.
■ Passersby on Willipie Street have been wondering just what color the ornamental canopy over the entrance in the new telephone company will finally assume. When the work on the canopy was completed the roof was painted green. After a few days it was re-painted in white, and now it is green again. It’s about as changeable as the skin of a chameleon, but the different changes are probably due to the variable whims of the manager, Walter Fleming, he trying to satisfy the color fancy of the board of directors. The Hiberians evidently have won.
75 YEARS AGO, SEPTEMBER 22, 1945
■ More about the Sweetland 25th Anniversary Party—mrs. Ann Snyder acted as mistress of ceremonies for the brief program, during which the guests presented Rus with a book containing clippings of events that have transpired in his flied ring the last 25 years and the signatures of every guest at the part. Even Rus himself when called upon was unable to talk, beyond expressing his thanks for all the friendship that had been shown him. He declared it was the “greatest day in my life” surpassed only by his wedding day. Ice cream, cake and punch were served to the guests. Each piece of cake had a silver dollar implanted in its icing and underneath the dollar had been place a slip showing the name of one of the guests. The person who drew his own name under his dollar was rewarded by being presented another dollar.
100 YEARS AGO, SEPTEMBER 22, 1970
■ Dr. Dale Kile, president of the Auglaize County Heart Association, has named Mrs. Edward Ewing as chairman for the 1971 Wapakoneta Herat Campaign. He noted that she has been active in Wapakoneta civic affairs, including previous Heart Fund efforts. Mrs. Ewing is past president of the Wapakoneta Woman’s Club, resides at 441 W. Auglaize Street, and is associated with her husband in the management of the Hub Restaurant. She will be working with David Smith, general chairman of the Heart Fund activities in eastern Auglaize County.
25 YEARS AGO, SEPTEMBER 22, 1995
■ A beautiful, stately building at the corner of Perry and Main streets, which for years has sat mostly idle during daylight hours is becoming a little more hectic. The Elks Lodge has expanded its repertoire to include a daily luncheon menu available to the public as well as to members of the fraternal organization. According to Elks Club manager Susan Norman, the decision to offer a luncheon alternative was a natural for the downtown establishment. “We just felt the downtown could use more places where people could go for a sit down lunch. Sometimes people just don’t want fast food; they want a place where they can sit and converse,” said Norman. And Norman has assembled a team of food service veterans to prepare and serve those meals. Chef Deb Hook has more than 14 years of kitchen experience, while waitresses Marcia Herriot and Deb Meinbreg have been keeping customers satisfied more 20-plus years. The staff also includes food service specialist Travis Baeumel.