Looking Back Through the pages of the Wapakoneta Daily News

100 YEARS AGO, OCTOBER 19, 1920

Pure, unadulterated cussedness has broken loose among the kids in Wapakoneta. In addition to that, a spirit of daredevil has taken a firm hold and it is only a question of time until one or more will be seriously, if not fatally, injured, or have to be taken to a doctor to have fine shot and salt picked from the epidemis ( sic) of his rear anatomy. A practice that is dangerous has been going on, on Defiance Street, will cause trouble for someone before long and consists of a bicycle rider pulling half a dozen kids behind hm on roller blades. The youngsters on skates hold fast to a long rope and make good time coasting behind the rider. Sometimes when the outfit reaches the junction of Defiance and Blackhoof streets the speed is considerably and already there have been several narrow escapes from collisions with automobiles. Parents should bear in mind that any child injured in an accident from that cause is paid for. The street is not… a play ground or skating rink for the children.

Several truck raiser and gardeners have reported to the police that their gardens have been invaded and that cabbage and other late garden truck has been wantonly pulled and thrown about the lots. If one certain gardener catches the marauders in his patch, the doctors will have a job…. Parents should warn their children to be careful and to stay out of other people’s yards and gardens. After there has been an accident or an arrest, it is too late to take preventive measures.

Learn something about the progress the old town has been making in an industrial and business way during the past few months. Wapakoneta has been making some improvement. New factories and industries have been started and several of the old institutions have gone into new hands. You should know about it. Not only should you receive this benefit from attending the chamber of commerce session, but you should give your support to the cause of civic progress and improvement. Hon. Daniel Mooney will be with us. H w ill have something to tell Wapakoneta folks about his work in South America. Addresses will be made by Herb Sheets, R. B. Anderson, E. R. Kuck, Mr. Carnes. They will tell about the new institutions in Wapakoneta. And Charles Kahn in charge of refreshments as found the coffee cups….

75 YEARS AGO, OCTOBER 19, 1945

Word has been received from Private First Class Conrad Veit of the U. S. marines to his parents, MM Conrad Veit, Sr., and his grandmother, Mrs. Ellsworth Burden, that he had arrived in Japan at the Naval Base Sasebo, which is located 48 miles from Nagasaki. Private First Class Veit had been located at Hilo, Hawaii, for six months before leaving for Japan. Peanut brittle and Spanish salted peanuts made daily Get them today for the boys overseas.— Francis Sweetland

50 YEARS AGO, OCTOBER 19, 1970

John Crites, whose career as a science teacher received nationwide attention, died suddenly October 18, at his home, 506 Rauthland Avenue. He was 76. He and his wife moved to Wapakoneta from Allen County in 1944, at which time he became a member of the Wapakoneta School system’s teaching staff. One of his pupils was astronaut Neil Armstrong. Armstrong gave much credit for his early interest in things scientific to his former mentor, Mr. Crites.

Swift and Simple Shopping Morning ‘ til Midnight. Pull In— Pick Up— Pay— Pull Out. We are dedicated to give you more leisure hours per week. We carry a complete line of part items snacks, ready- made sandwiches, cold drinks, salads and cheese. Shoup’s Short Stop Food Market, 208 Defiance Street

25 YEARS AGO, OCTOBER 19, 1995

The abrupt end to the meeting of Wapakoneta city council left several visitors speechless. Literally enforcing a slightly different version of council rules than seemingly were in effect two weeks earlier, Council President Tony Valenti, refused to acknowledge questions from the council gallery and entertained a motion to adjourn in rapid fashion. When visitor Jack Abel attempted to question council concerning its refusal to hear comments from the citizenry during a public meeting, Councilman David Campbell offered a terse reply: “This meeting is over sir; this is no longer a meeting.”

Looking Back is compiled by Everett II