Looking Back
Wapakoneta Daily News
100 YEARS AGO, MARCH 30, 1921
Manager Lendell Johnson of the local motion picture houses stated Monday night he will show no photoplays in which Clara Sith Hamon appears. Following her acquittal of the murder of Jake Hamon, Republican National Committeeman, at Ardmore, Oklahoma, she announced her intention of going into motion pictures and immediately exhibitors over the entire country, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, announced they will display no plays in which she has a role. Manager Johnson said it would damage the reputation of the local playhouses, which have always exhibited the very bets films obtainable, to show plays in which Clara Smith Hamon appeared, although the plays themselves might be alright.
Someone threw a scare on Auglaize Street Monday evening which resulted in Night Officer Lefty Houtz drawing his gun from its holster and holding it at the position of “attention” in his pocket. It all came about when three local young fellows, among them a garageman, staged a scene that looked realistic and a tall stranger notified Chris Schnell, who in turn set Lefty on the heels of the supposed bandits. Aforesaid three young fellows ran out of gasoline at the corner of Auglaize and Blackhoof streets. They pushed their Ford in toward the curb at Schnell’s café and the tall stranger saw them set off on a run down the street. His suspicions were aroused. Visions of auto thieves and bandits flashed across his mind. An investigation disclosed that the Ford was untagged. Without more ado he bounded into the café and notified Chris, who telephoned Lefty, who came running prepared for a fight But alas for the three investigators. What looked mighty suspicious was merely circumstantial evidence. The trio of young men had been riding considerable distance and became cold, so when they ran out of gasoline and left the auto parked on Schnell’s corner they set off on a run for a garage to get a supply of gas. The tall stranger…was commended, despite that it wasn’t the real stuff. A crowd collected about the Ford.
The Beckman Electric Service Station of Lima will open a branch station at No. 5 South Blackhoof Street. They will give service, recharge, and repair all makes of storage batteries and will handle the famous EXIDE battery for Auglaize County.
I will open an Adams-barre System of Vulcanizing and Retreading in the Patterson-koch Block, entrance on Park Street, opposite the Kreitzer Buggy Company. Bring your old tires and tubes and have them repaired at prices that will startle you.— Wapakoneta Battery Service Station, Wilbur Debois, proprietor
75 YEARS AGO, MARCH 30, 1946
NEW EQUIPMENT for our restaurant now installed. We are in a position to furnish GRILLED T-BONES, GRILLED PORK CHOPS. Sunday Dinner Special—baked Southern Ham with sweet potatoes and Steaks and Chops. S & E Restaurant
On account of the shortage of beer the biweekly supper of the Eagles Lodge, scheduled for April 2, has been postponed until April 16, Secretary Walter Meyer announced.
Athletic teams of Blume High were honored last night at the annual athletic banquet, held in Blume Memorial Gym, with the mothers of the athletes as hostesses. Coach Paul Schofer was honored by the “downtown quarterbacks” represented by Paul Fisher, former city councilman, who presented in a brief speech a check of $800 to the coach to “buy an automobile or anything else” he may desire. The check was presented as a token of the esteem in which the downtown coaches hold the coach.
50 YEARS AGO, MARCH 30, 1971
Forest “Frosty” Purdy, 508 E. Auglaize St., died today, March 30. A well known former businessman in this city, he was 73. Mr. Purdy owned and operated the Purdy Garage, Inc., for 38 years until his retirement in 1965, He was a veteran of World War I. At one time he was president of the Wapakoneta Chamber of Commerce.
25 YEARS AGO, MARCH 30, 1996
O.H. Koeplin, executive director of the Wapakoneta Area Economic Development Council, has submitted his resignation during a regular meeting the council’ board of trustees. Koeplin’s letter of resignation, dated March 22, stated his intention to leave the position effective June 15 “to pursue other interests.” That date comes just nine days after a planned grant opening ceremony a Wapakoneta’s Amcast Industrial Corporation plant, which is expected to include Ohio Governor George Voinovich as a participant. WAEDC trustees met in executive session for some 30 minutes during the meeting for the expressed purpose of discussion an “employee relationship.” Koeplin was invited to remain for the session but departed some five minutes after the closed-door talks began. Board chairman Paul Watercutter appointed a search committee of Rex Katterheinrich, Jay Koenig, and David Reichelderfer as well as non-voting members John Johnson and Kurt Kuffner) to begin efforts to secure a new director.