Looking Back
Through the pages of the Wapakoneta Daily News
100 YEARS AGO, MARCH 15, 1921
Positive and determined steps are now being taken to put the affairs of the new Narco Sales Company on a solid and substantial footing and to promote the manufacture and sale of the new product of the Narco refrigerating plant. Mr. Frank Lothschnetz, one of the new men identified with the Narco Sales Company is in the city and with Mr. Frank Andrews is formulating the plans for the works in hand. At the factory a small force of men are engaged at present cleaning up and getting the plant in hope to resume work at top speed on or about April 1, when the manufacture of the new domestic or dwelling refrigerating machines will be started with a full force of men. Many orders for this type of machine have been taken and the prospect for a big development of this pat of the factory’s work is exceedingly bright. Local interest in the concern is growing daily and there is a laudable effort being made to aid in keeping the factory in this city and to increase its usefulness to the extent of making it one of the big manufacturing concerns of Wapakoneta and an advertisement of the city all over the world where ice is used.
On the heels of other recent announcements came the announcement that the Wapakoneta House Builders’ Co., an organization at will assist in the building of the Wapakoneta of tomorrow, will erect a large apartment house. It is contemplated to build either a two or four apartment building and the company is now in the market for locations. Some were inspected Sunday and a number picked out and options secured on them. The apartment idea is foreign to the original intention of the Wapakoneta House Builders’ C., which at first gave notice that only moderate-price houses would be built. But due to insistent requests on the part of a number of local families to whom an apartment is appealing, the organization decided to digress from original plans to the extent of appeasing the desire of these persons. Home building in whatever form it may assume means the growth f the city, It will directly benefit the real estate owner, as well as 20 or more other lines of endeavor in the city. It is an added benefit to the municipal
75 YEARS AGO, MARCH 15, 1946
With a rousing second-half finish after a slow start the Blume Hi team defeated Galion, 53 to 31, Saturday night to win the district title for the second consecutive year. All the boys played god ball and in the second half has played some of the best basketball they have shown all season. Urich and Cozad were played on the Lima News All-turney team as co-captains, but Miller, Schaub, and Schnell rated high in the list of contestants. Miller has been exceptional in rebound play as also has Schaub and Schnell’s offensive and defensive play has played a large part in the success of the team, A large crowd witness the game, although the gym was not as packed as the previous night. About 500 local fans saw the game.
Two World War II veterans from Wapakoneta are among the 2785 students enrolled at Ohio University this semester. They are Robert Huenefeld, 504 Gibbs avenue, and Robert Wahrer, 408 W. Pearl Street. Huenefeld is a senior who was on the Ohio campus from 1930-34. Wahrer is a freshman and also is registered in the College of Fine Arts seeking a degree in photography.
50 YEARS AGO, MARCH 15, 1971
Ten St. Joseph High School students received honors in the competition at the FBLA convention held in Dayton. Receiving 1st place from St. Joseph were Pat Martens, Mr. FBLA and business math skill contest; Nancy Madden, typing II skill contest; Jane King, state delegate; Elaine Luthman, madam chairman; Mary Lou Koenig, vice-chairman; Debbie Steinke, secretary; Mary Malatesta, parliamentarian; Bonnie Hein, member, al of the parliamentary procedure team. Placing third in the state were: Diane Arnett, speech; Mary Malatesta, Chris Harshbarger, and Nancy Madden, spelling team. St. Joseph Chapter was rated second in the sate. The winning students will represent Ohio at the National FBLA Convention to be held in June at Miami Beach, Florida. To aid in financing the trip a bingo party is planned in the St. Joseph gymnasium. April 2 at 8pm. Mrs. Susan Wilson is the advisor of the group.
A St. Joseph High School senior youth has received a direct appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. Richard Lee Bible, 17, who is a member of this year’s senior class at St. Joseph was notified by U.S. Representative William Mccullough. Richard has been undergoing physical and written tests through this week and will take his final tests Saturday at the Wright-patterson Air Force Base. He is the son of Richard and Mildred Bible.
25 YEARS AGO, MARCH 15, 1996
The Wapakoneta Rotary Club has donated $500 to the Auglaize County Historical Society for the renovation of the former T&OC Freight house into a museum of Wapakoneta industry. On hand for the presentation were Robert Lietz and Steve Henderson, Rotary board of directors, and Greg Myers and Wayne York, ACHS trustees.