Looking Back
100 YEARS AGO, OCTOBER 19, 1921
NOTICE: Stockholders and patrons of the St. Johns Co-operative Co. are hereby informed that the
St. Johns Cooperative Co. is not going into the hands of a receiver as reported by outsiders. Cooperation among farmers in the St. Johns territory has not had a fair trial. Give it a chance to make good by giving the elevator your patronage. Come and get fence, feeds, posts, salt, coal, flour, etc.
Western Ohio c0-cycle current was switched on with only a few minor mishaps last Saturday and gave service on one of the municipal circuits Saturday night. The remainder of the city was lighted in the usual way. The new equipment as it now stands is capable of lighting the entire city, according to a
statement by municipal power employees, but the entire load will not be switched over to the new “juice” for a few days. All of the city north of the river, west of and on Blackhoof Street, on Harrison between the B&O and Water Street, on Mechanic between Blackhoof and Perry and Perry Street from the T&OC railroad south are operated by the new current. Both the latter and the current generated
by the old machinery will be available during the day. A number of incidents, some of them laughable, resulted during the day. Light men traveled about the city in an auto o change the transformers, “doctoring” them up so they could take care of the
increased :kick” in the current. But before some of the consumers were reached it was found the new
stuff contained a lunch like that of Missouri Mule or a bottle of home brew. For instance, the lady down in the West End who had much trouble under the
old system in heating her electric curling iron found that the new current would heat it red hot in three
seconds. Before Saturday she was doing good if she had it warmed in 10 minutes. Electric heaters and other apparatus were also on a rampage, but after the light men got around and changed the transformers so the current would register 10 instead of 220 volts, all was well.
The legion of friends in this city and vicinity of Mrs. Lillian Morrey, wife of Editor William Morey of the Auglaize Republican, will be pained to learn that she is critically ill at their home on West Auglaize Street and that her condition is extremely
serious. Two physicians have been in constant attendance at her bedside since early this morning when her illness first developed and every effort to
save her life is being put forth. Ms. Morey is suffering with uremic poisoning and since about 6 o’clock this morning has been unconscious.
75 YEARS AGO, OCTOBER 19, 1946
Wapakoneta and the Home Appliance Company received some publicity the other night on the Truth or Consequences program, broadcast from
Hollywood. A letter from the Appliance company was read in which they said they used the sponsor’s product to clean washing machines. Of course they had to poke a little fun at our city’s name. It went
something like this, as we recall it: “Wapa-ka-whota?” “Wapakoneta.”
If the kids who soap windows this Halloween would just leave the cake, everyone would welcome
them.
50 YEARS AGO, OCTOBER 19, 1971
The Wapakoneta High School DECA Club is accepting all types of goods as donations for the DECA Bargain Center located at the old Stolte building, 10 E. Auglaize Street. The Bargain Center will
be open for business October 22-23. The club has anything and everything, and invites the public to
stop by and look around. Proceeds from the sale will be used for club activities throughout the year.
Old Fashioned Breakfast—2 eggs, toast, coffee: 25 cents. This Week Only! Happy Humpty Drive-in Restaurant, RR1 Wapak-fisher Road
The Greenlawn Cemetery Association of Wapakoneta elected officers at its October meeting. President Frayne Combs, vice president Richad Brading, treasurer Edwin Stroh, secretary Ralph Walther. Trustees also include Fred Fisher, Marshall Koenig, Henry Johnson, Karl Koch, Fred Wintzer,
and Harry Smith. Rogen Lehman is caretaker and Thomas Lamb is his assistant.
25 YEARS AGO, OCTOBER 19, 1996
Wapakoneta City Schools Maintenance Supervisor Steve Heitz was awarded the Partner in Education Award in a surprise presentation at Thursday night’s board of education meeting. Deb Zwez presented the award, which is issued annually by the Noon Optimists Club in recognition of individuals who make significant contributions. Zwez is also
executive director of the Chamber of Commerce. Heitz was fooled into attending the meeting by being asked to report on the house in Harmon Park. He is a 13-year employee of the district and began his local career as a custodian at Blume Junior High
School, and was promoted to district maintenance supervisor. Zwez said that Heitz “always has the safety of the people of the school district in mind,” and that he was praised by school officials for his willingness to “go beyond the call of duty.”