Looking Back
Through the pages of the Wapakoneta Daily News
100 YEARS AGO, FEBRUARY 24, 1921
■ The official automobile record for the year 1920 as issued by the Secretary of State gives the number of passenger cars and trucks in each county. Auglaize County is credited with 3474 passenger cars and 522 trucks. Other neighboring counties: Allen County—7281 cars and 865 trucks, Mercer County—3449 cars and 237 trucks
■ PUBLIC SALE ! Pure Bred Percherons, High Class Grade horses, Big Mules, Cattle and Farm Equipment. Sale to be held on the Elliott Farm on the Middle Pike, 8 miles east of Wapakoneta on March 2. The Elliott farm consists of over 1100 acres and never conducted a public sale. The breeding of this stock is the result of the life-time effort of the late Elliott Bros., whose reputation as Percheron breeders was widely known. Elliott Bros. made several trips to France and imported the horses that made this farm famous. I have too much stock and equipment and this is an opportunity for you to get something food. Inspection of the stock is invited at anytime. –Dr. R.A. Elliott, Wapakoneta, O. Route 5
75 YEARS AGO, FEBRUARY 24, 1946
■ There has been considerable adverse comment on the way the distribution of nylon hose has been handled in Wapakoneta heretofore, hence we think it no more than fair that the step the Uhlman store has taken to put this on a coupon basis should bring commendation. This method of selling principally to the customers who have time and opportunity to watch arrivals is not fair to farm women and others not in a position to rush to a store as soon as a line forms.
■ We don’t want to appear to butt into the affairs of citizens, especially of good friends, but we feel that the city should by purchase or otherwise secure enough ground from the owners of the Timmermeister block and the land adjoining to the east to assure a fire alley through there wide enough at least for the fire apparatus to go through. This should be a beneficial thing to all concerned—particularly to the adjoining property owners.
■ Sometime we may have at least one-way streets through the fire alleys, streets which would be used extensively to relieve traffic and paring conditions in the business area. Our city is growing and new problems are presenting themselves as a result. We are not the quiet little German-american village of a generation ago—for better or for worse.
50 YEARS AGO, FEBRUARY 24, 1971
■ Wapakoneta parochial schools are no more in danger of closing than any other schools in Ohio, according to school officials, contrary to published reports. St. Joseph, like most other public and parochial schools, is having its financial problems, according to the Rev. Clement Alt, pastor of the Wapakoneta parish and superintendent of parochial schools here. However, Father Alt said he was optimistic that St. Joseph would be able to continue normal operations next year. He said the St. Joseph School Board would meet March 2 in regular session to discuss school financing and other maters for the coming year. Father Alt also pointed out the board traditionally does not act on teacher contracts until after the regular March meeting of the school board. “St. Joseph parish has been very pleased with the cooperation of the community and the public school board,” Father Alt said. “and with that continued support, we shall be able to continue our educational program.”
■ The Wapakoneta High School DECA Chapter had a very successful night at its District Leadership Conference held at Coldwater High School. The following students form Wapakoneta will represent Wapakoneta at the State DECA Conference March 19in Columbus. Donna Stowell won first place in the Miss Ohio DECA event. Barb Boehringer won first place in Current Marketing Topics. Marla Place won second in Business Vocabulary. Dave Baeumel won second in Public Speaking. Dave Smith won third in our Free Enterprise System.
25 YEARS AGO, FEBRUARY 24, 1996
■ The former Blume High School has completed its transformation from learning center to living quarters. One tenant is already residing in the building, which is now known as Blume Alumni Senior Apartments. According to Jacobs Investments, Inc., operations manager Bill Mawbry, “We hope Blume will once again work o be a valuable part of the community.” Applications for senior citizen residents ae currently being accepted and visitors have been invited to tour the facility.
■ The Auglaize County Unit of the American Cancer Society recently announced the appointment of Wapakoneta resident Sandy Truesdale as unit president, following the resignation of Sandra Koenig. Koenig’s resignation was necessitated by her transfer to the Troy office of 5th 3rd Bank. Truesdale and her husband Eric are the parents of one daughter. An assistant vice president at Bank One, Truesdale is also Banking Center Manager at the downtown Wapakoneta location.