Looking Back
Through the pages of the Wapakoneta Daily News
100 YEARS AGO, MARCH 27, 1921
■ Cozy Corner Dance to be given the evening of March 2, in the Knights of Pythias Hall. Knost Orchestra will furnish splendid music during the evening.
■ Consider what owners say about the remarkable performances and economies of DODGE BROTHERS Motor Vehicles. Ask them, then see R.C. Haman, Direct Dealer, with sales and service station at the Dixie Highway Garage.
75 YEARS AGO, MARCH 27, 1946
■ HEY KIDS! We GOT ‘EM—YOU WEAR ‘EM. For Boys and Girls. Dungarees and Blue Jeans. Sizes 6 to 18. 8 oz. Sanforized. $1.34. The Zofkie-woehler Co.
■ Military Discharges—harold Kelley, 907 W. Auglaize. Paul Lindermuth, Route 2. Frederick Bode, 111 ½ E. Auglaize. Robert Brandt, Route 1. Charles Corwin, 506 W. Benton. Vernon Combs, 613 W. Benton. Paul Myers, New Hampshire. Paul Earl, 210 E. Parl. Roger Henkener, New Knoxville. Darrel Dawson, Route 4. Carol Tangeman, Box 22, Buckland.
■ Two colored persons, Robert Powers, 29, and his wife, Lillian 35, of Cleveland, escaped injury at 6:30 pm yesterday when an Auglaize River bridge, north of Uniopolis on State Route 65, collapsed. The driver told state highway patrolmen that he approached the bridge from the south with his 19,900-pound American Transport semi-trailer and load of auto car trucks. When the full weight of the tactor-trailer was on the bridge, the bridge came loose from its mooring on both sides and sagged to the river bed, Sheriff William Nieter reported. The collapse occurred at the Auglaize-allen county line. The superstructure of the bridge came down upon the truck.
50 YEARS AGO, MARCH 27, 1971
■ For well over 30 years, the Auglaize County Fair has been a leader in giving the people in northwestern Ohio famous names and outstanding attractions in the show world. For the last several months Secretary Gary Nester and the show committee have been working to select attractions for the 1971 fair, to keep with past traditions. Due to many price increases and diverse interests in audiences today it is becoming increasingly difficult to secure shows that will satisfy the large majority of fairgoers. The show (planned for the 1971 fair) has been geared for both the young and old, and has not only one, but four great stars. The four featured stars are Granpa Jones of the popular TV show “Hee Haw; James Ed Brown, a great new young talent, slated for his own TV program in 1971; a top recording artist of today, Dottie West, winner of a Grammy award and a top song writer in country and western music; also Billy Walker, whose record “I’m Gonna Keep on Loving You,” is at present in the top 10 favorites in our area. The last three stars each will bring their own band. This show is $5,000 plus and should be one of the greatest productions the Auglaize County Fair has ever staged. Due to the overwhelming popularity of the demolition derby, the fair will still have “The World’s Largest Demolition Derby,” this year on Sunday afternoon, August 8. Thursday night of this year’s affair will host Ama-sanctioned four star motorcycle races.
25 YEARS AGO, MARCH 27, 1996
■ Wapakoneta’s 611-acre West Central Ohio Industrial Park “may be bigger, two times, maybe three times (its current size) within the next year,” WAEDC executive director O.H. Koeplin told board of trustee members during the organization’s annual luncheon meeting. Koeplin did not elaborate on that statement, but followed up by revealing that on-going discussion has taken place recently with a “big big corporation, and when I say big, I mean big. You can’t imagine the size.” The address to WAEDC officials may well have been Koeplin’s swan song speech as executive director of the organization. The embattled economic development director has been under fire from some trustees, and during its February 14th regular meeting the panel met for 90 minutes behind closed doors to discuss “discipline or possible disciplinary action surrounding a WAEDC employee.” Koeplin is the board’s lone employee. According to several sources. Koeplin is expected to submit his resigination when the WAEDC board meets in regular monthly session today.