Looking Back

100 YEARS AGO, APRIL 5, 1921

▪ A young couple that arrived in Wapakoneta Thursday evening and were willing to accept quarters in the city jail as their lodging for the night presented a new problem for Patrolman Fred Houtz to solve. About 7 o’clock Houtz was accosted by them at the corner of Willipie and Auglaize streets and the man asked for a place for himself and wife in the city jail overnight. “We’re not particular. We haven’t a cent of money and are hunting work,” the man said. The officer learned the man was a cigarmaker and both had walked from Sidney during the day. They were neatly dressed and carried with them a small handgrip and a package of clothing. Reluctant to give the woman such poor quarters as could be afforded by the jail, Houtz cast about for some other lodging for them and made an effort to lodge them in the county jail, but nothing could be obtained there. Proprietor Walter Lyman of the Central Hotel came to the front upon suggestion of the officer and offered them a room for the night and their suppers. J.P. Smith, a meat salesman from Piqua, helped the good work along by offering to buy their breakfasts for them in the morning. They registered as Chas. Roescher and wife of Cincinnati. According to the story they told they have been unable to find work and are in bad straights. They may attempt to find employment here, they said. It was the first time that a woman had ever offered to accept lodging in the jail, which is furnished just as the builders left it and totally unfit for occupancy by a woman. Her willingness to stick by her husband event to the extent of occupying the jail is an example of marital love and devotion. If Mine Host Lyman hadn’t done the Good Samaritan act, Patrolman Houtz would have been forced to permit them the use of the jail or advance them the price of a room.

▪ Preparations for the new rifle range of the Wapakoneta Rifle Club on the Earl Winget farm northwest of the city are being talked about and it is possible the club may get a bunch together one of these nice days and go out and put up the necessary apparatus, or at least superintend the job. The new site is located just south of the horseshoe bend of the Auglaize River on the Glynwood road and will probably provide an excellent range for small rifles, which is the purpose to which it will be devoted, the club retaining the range on the Crow farm northwest of town for larger arms. The members have a number of new revolvers and a quantity of ammunition coming in which should arrive in time for the spring shooting.

75 YEARS AGO, APRIL 5, 1946

▪ Four Rotarians who have returned from Army or Navy service since the close of the war were paid honor last night at a ladies’ night affair sponsored by the Rotary Club and held I he basement of Elks Home. They were: Major Fred Berlin, Major Clyde Berry, Captain Randolph Norwood, all of the U.S. Army and Lieutenant Riley Hardacre, U.S. Navy. Their wives were presented corsages at the close of fitting remarks made by Paul Boesel. President Richard Brading was in charge of the program, which followed a dinner served by the won o the St. Johns ME Church, under direction of Mrs. C.M. Metz.

▪ Clarence E. “Buck” Veit was exhibiting his find of mushrooms, the first of the season for him on the afternoon of April 2. He gathered the two tiny specimens on the Alfred Lunz farm south of Wapakoneta, saying that he had gathered a gallon bucketful and the two he showed were the overflow. Several thousands of the fungi could have been put into the gallon bucket, if any. He yielded further light on the Veit mushroom gathering by Dr. Alfred Veit, holder of the mushroom record for several seasons past, by saying that he had been the finder of all Doc’s mushrooms in past years. One of yesterday’s mushrooms was nearly one inch long.

▪ ANNOUNCEMENT—I am happy to be back to my former position as manager of the local Gable Store after 21 months of service in the armed forces, 16 months of which were spent in the European theatre. Tilden Kaiser, who faithfully served you in this capacity during my absence will be leaving the city and will be located with the Gamble Organization at Columbus, Indiana.—melvin Simons

50 YEARS AGO, APRIL 5, 1971

▪ The following telegram was sent to Lt. William Calley, Fort Benning, Georgia. “We the people of Wapakoneta, Ohio, home of the first man on the moon, have set out to free you. We are circulating an advertised petition to be mailed to the President of the United States by registered mail. Paul and Shirley’s Marathon.” Paul and Shirley put out a petition at their station by the Chalet and next week it will be mailed to the President. Those favoring the petition are asked to sign.

25 YEARS AGO, APRIL 5, 1996

▪ Wapakoneta’s sidewalk program was revived at council’s recent meeting, with the caveat that only the reconstruction of existing sidewalks will be mandated in the immediate future. After failing to muster the necessary votes during its March 6 meeting for legislation mandating the construction of new sidewalks in some areas of the city where none currently exist, council voted 7-0 to have legislation prepared about existing sidewalks. In other business council learn he Wapakoneta Economic Development Council has selected Safety-service Director Rex Katterheinrich to be its representative at the Hanover (Germany) trade fair on April 22-27.