Looking Back
Through the pages of the Wapakoneta Daily News
100 years ago, March 8, 1921
More of the hold-up story… Night Officer Lefty Houtz and Merchant Policeman Wehrle proceeded to the Weber House and stepped up on the front porch and Houtz rapped on the door In response his knock he received instructions to “go around to the back door.” Obediently the officers hipped around and upon reaching the rear door knocked again. Neither of them had their revolvers in hand. Wehrle’s was in his hip pocket under his buttoned-up overcoat, while Houtz had his gun in his side overcoat pocket In response to Houtz’s rap the door was opened by the bandit who was endeavoring to force Custie to open the safe in the kitchen. When the door was flung open the bandit stepped and after the officer had stepped into the house he immediately ordered the policeman to “put ‘em up.” Houtz thought it was a kidding match and as he looked into the muzzle he said, “Where do you get that stuff?” The order was repeated accompanied by an oath and Lefty immedi ately obeyed. He was hustled into the front as sembly room and with the aid of a shove by the bird who was covering the other fellows, soon found a corner where he took up a position with his face to the wall and his hands to the ceil ing. No attempt was made to search Houtz or take his gun away from him.wehrle’s position in the meantime is clouded in a maze of con tradictions. He says that when Houtz stepped into the house he was “right behind him” and saw the fellow cover him with a gun. I stepped back and over into the dark and order Houtz to put ‘em up a second time. I unbuttoned my coat and got out my gun and waited for them to come out. After a spell of waiting Wehrle says he went around in front of the house to go across to the power house to get one of the men over there to help guard the place. As he reached the front yard he ran into Houtz who told him that the bandits had ducked. Wehlre says that he was watching the back door and that no one left the house by that exit….this statement is denied by each and every one of the gambler in the raid. They claim that a few seconds after Houtz had been added to the line the fellows backed out through the kitchen and out of the rear door….(after Houtz met up with Wehrle) the officers started north in an effort to locate the bandits, but the occupants of the Coil house, who had been interested spectators from a distance, informed the officers that the fellows had gone down the B&O tracks toward Auglaize street. Houtz and Wehrle gave chase and went straight to the Stag Cigar sore where they notified Central to call Sheriff Ewing and Deputy May and Chief Ague. These officers re sponded promptly but it is thought the bandits had a car waiting for them somewhere about the Hauss & Bitler elevator and made their es cape before the officers reached the telephone.
75 years ago, March 8, 1946
In January of this year, Auglaize and Allen counties’ oldest baby chick hatchery changed hands, having been purchased by the Stoll brothers, Eldon and L.D. Stoll, from its former owner, B.E. Crider of Cridersville, after almost 30 years of very successful operation as a pro ducer of chicks, which grew into Large White Type Tame English Leghorns, pullets and cockerels. The Stoll brothers plan to continue as a chick hatchery, turning out only quality sexed and straight run big type English Leg horn chicks from the remainder of the famous Crider Strain Flock, which they also purchased separately from the farm. Mr. Crider plans to be on the farm for two hours each day for the entire year to help and assist the Stolls in man aging and turning out the same quality chicks for which he has always been noted. In return for Mr. Crider’s supervision, the Stoll Brothers are to allow Mr. Crider to keep his foxes on the farm during the time the contract has to run The Stoll Brothers’ father, Charles Stoll, was born of parents who were lifelong resident on a farm at what is known as Shinbone a cross road hamlet southwest of Wapakoneta. Eldon Stoll has moved his family permanently to the resi dent on the Crider Leghorn Farm., while L.D lives in Lima.
50 years ago, March 8, 1971
The Annual Festival of Song under the di rection of Mrs. Richard Chadwick will be pre sented at 8 p.m. March 16 in the Blume Junior High School building. The 8th grade chorus consisting of 100 voice and the 90-bvoice fresh man chorus will resent a variety of music, both sacred and secular, including selections f some of the better-known Broadway musicals.
25 years ago, March 8, 1996
Dr. H. Dale Huffer, 56, of Fairmont Road Waynesfield, died March 6. Dr. Huffer had been the owner and operator of Huffer Chiro practic Clinic, Jackson, Center, since 1970, with his sons, Kreg Huffer and Rex Huffer. He was also the owner and operator of Huffer Farms and Cattle Business.