Looking Back Through the pages of the Wapakoneta Daily News

100 YEARS AGO, APRIL 3,1921

As a hostelry the city jail has been much in demand here of late, but for punishment of wrongdoers its uses are small in number. The record kept at the jail shows that in January, February, and March, 123 tourists—“sleepers” are their designation on the record—spent a night each at the coop, and all skidooed, too! Compared to these transients are the seven actual arrests made during those three months. Charges were not filed against a single on of the wayfarers who sought the hospitality of the bastille and spent a “pleasant” night on one ore more of the iron beds, or perhaps the cement floor if the coop happened to be pretty well filled. The dungeon mustn’t be allowed to rust, y’know. But seriously, the 123 vagrants have told a story. Their nationalities are many and in the names written on the record can be seen Italians, Austrians or Hungarians, Swedes, Greeks, Germans, negroes, Americans and others whose nationalities are not as easily determined. Probably if each one would have given his reasons from floating around unemployment, unemployment would have applied to a majority of them. Under the conditions and in accordance with the policy of the safety department, to remove the possibility of crime altogether, detention of these men is commendable. They don’t cost the city a cent.

Complications, of which uremic poisoning was the underlying cause, resulted in the death of Daniel Newton Shaw at his farm home four miles north of Uniopolis on April1. He attained the age of 68 years last February24. Mr. Shaw was a school teacher, having taught for 17 years, as did his brother Isaiah. Mr. Shaw was a substantial farmer, was known to be honest and straightforward and was well liked in the community. He was a teacher at Waynesfield for two years.

As a result of a small girl being knocked down several days ago and severely injured, Chief of Police Ague has issued a warning to Wapakoneta bicyclists about riding on the sidewalks. He promises enforcement of an ordnance which forbids such practice and warns that there is a $100 fine attached to infractions of the ordinance.

75 YEARS AGO, APRIL 3, 1946

“The Wapakoneta Airport will be ready for operations in the near future,” says William Reed of Auglaize Aviation Co., promoters of the local project. “It will be a vital step in the ‘Progress for Wapak’ crusade. Almost every American community, large or small, will have an airport. It may be municipally owned or it may be the pasture land that private enterprise may develop. In any event, it will be the center of aviation-flying headquarters for the community….a few of the facilities offered will be plane sales, complete instruction service, maintenance and mechanical work, accessories and equipment, sightseeing trips, charter trips for business men and vacationers, plane rental, hangar rental and aviation gas, oils, and lubricants. We feel that the 80 acres tract of grounds, two miles north of town that we are developing for this project is ideal and the Civil Aeronautics Authority representatives has agreed that we should have no trouble getting it authorized and so designated on the air map. In accordance with civil regulations for a class two airport, there will be three sod-type runways of 2600, 2900, and 2900 feet long, which will provide ample room for the novice as well as for the experienced pilot”….in the process of construction is one multiple-unit hangar which will house six plans in private individual stalls. The administration room will also be housed in this building with a full vision window affording an excellent view of the entire field. The construction of a second hanger of the same type is planned to begin immediately upon completion of the first…. The Auglaize Aviation Co. Has recently been appointed a dealer for the Aeronca Aviation Co., of Middleton, maker of light plans for many years…. Available now are the “Champion” and the “Chief.’ …An air show is being planned in conjunction with the opening of the port and it is sincerely hoped that the citizens of Wapakoneta will enjoy the many entertainments afforded by an airport.

50 YEARS AGO, APRIL 3, 1971

A sure sign of spring is when Charlie (Cedar Point) Brown leaves for C.P. So officially March 31 was spring. Charlie is back at the lake.

The Wapakoneta Area Chamber of Commerce’s contest for the design of a city flag has extended its deadline until April 15. Judges will be Dr. Charles Stienecker, Mrs. Joseph Schmalenberger, Mrs. Robert Brandt, Dr. Gabriel Gurley, Mrs. Maxine Pohl, Ricard Chadwick, and Robert Lietz.

25 YEARS AGO, APRIL 3, 1996

Jeremy Agozinno scored the go-ahead run in the 5th inning as Wapakoneta opened its varsity baseball season with a 5-3 win over Columbus Grove. Chad Bryan went the distance for Wapakoneta, striking out seven and walking two to pick up the win. Agozinno scored two runs on the day, reaching base three times in four plate appearances. He singled, walked, reached on an error, and stole a base. Brandon Drexler had two singles, the only Redskin with multiple hits.