Looking Back Through the pages of the Wapakoneta Daily News

100 YEARS AGO, DECEMBER 18, 1921

⬛ A. Miller, who for the past 30 years has been engaged in the junk business in Wapakoneta, has sold

his business to his son, Merril Miller. Merril Miller, who, for several years. Has been a fireman on the B&O railroad, has moved to Wapakoneta from Lima into the Lynn Snyder property on East Pearl street.

⬛ Albert Dearbaugh closed a deal today with George Kinstle in which he traded 40 vacant lots and

six houses in the Dearbaugh addition near the southeast end of the fairgrounds in Wapakoneta for Mr. Kinstle’s 130-acre farm in Duchouquet township, northeast of Wapakoneta on the Lima and Wapakoneta road.

⬛ A chicken house fire sent the fire truck to the Oscar Erb residence on Wheeler Lane for the second time in five weeks when a chicken house was found to be afire. A recent destroyed another chicken house and its contents. Both buildings were the property of Richard Erb, son of MM Oscar Erb. Foul play was

suspected in the recent fire when shortly after the fire was discovered, a n unidentified man with a lighted torch in his hand was seen coming out of field onto the Brewery Road. He was not apprehended. The fire was

extinguished with but slight damage and loss of only a few chickens.

75 YEARS AGO, DECEMBER 18, 1946

⬛ Carl Hutcheons, athletic director at Blume High School, revealed a set of figures which he hoes will answer the much-talked-about question of the capacity of the Blume gymnasium. In setting the figure at 5-11,

he cited the Wapak-st.marys game last Friday, which found fans standing in every available inch of space

after the bleachers on both sides and on the stage were filled shortly before game time. Persons were turned away before the varsity game got underway. Of the

511 in attendance last week, it was pointed out that 176 were season ticket holders, 312 d paid admission, and a group of 20 were admitted on passes.

⬛ Christmas business is up and down, according to the type of merchandise on sale, according to a survey of the shopping district in Wapakoneta. More people are shopping and in most cases less sales are made in quantity and more in quality. People are buying more expensive articles than last year and not quite

so many, is the report. Department stress voice a rise in sales with heaviest days recorded for last week-end and scheduled for the coming week-end. Drugstores have experienced a slump compared with last year’s

buying. This seems to stem from the lack of buying for soldiers overseas. Furniture stores have had a fairly

steady trend, competing favorably to last year’s sales. They, too, anticipate better records at the end of the

shopping days. Toy sales have registered variable in most instances, with the more expensive toys taking priority over cheaper grades. More money is being

spent on the bigger and better articles, such as bicycles, wagons, trucks, etc.,, with dolls, games, and the like

moving much slower. Toys of a durable quality will be found around most Christmas trees this year.

⬛ LOOK-LOOK-LOOK—WE just received a large shipment of rubber tire wagons, all steel large tires, five kinds to pick from, also large size tricycles and

other sizes and many other Christmas gifts, Come in and see these. A small payment will hold until Christmas. Open every evening until Christmas. Weitz Bike

Shop, Corner Park and Mechanic st.

50 YEARS AGO, DECEMBER 18, 1971

⬛ St. Joe’s Bob Drexler led the Marron and Gold Knights to their 6th consecutive victory last night by

scoring an astounding 38 points against the Miller City Wildcats. The game ended with the Wildcats on the wrong end of an 89-78 score.

⬛ The Redskins of Wapakoneta fell behind early in the game, and then ended up just short of a successful comeback last night on their home court, as they were

handed a heart-breaking 68-64 loss by the Coldwater Cavaliers. The defeat marked the 5th straight game

from which the Skins have emerged winless.

⬛ The Wapak Bicycle Club has cleaned and repaired more than 25 bicycles and donated them to the Wapakoneta Fire Department’s Christmas Cheer program. The total number of bikes donated has increased for the third consecutive year. The bicycle program benefits children and adults alike, although club members like to concentrate on the children’s bicycles,

said Joyce Weitz.

25 YEARS AGO, DECEMBER 18, 1996

⬛ An early morning fire destroyed a building on Cemetery Road. Firefighters from the Wapakoneta Fire Department responded to the fire at Commercial Communication, 15863 Cemetery Road, at 1:32 am. They were on the scene until 5:49 am. The business is owned by Mark Wisener, 302 Washington Street. The origin of the fire was in the office area. The office was fully engulfed in fire when the firefighters arrived on the scene. Mutual aid was provided by the Uniopolis

and Cridersville Fire Departments, which provided water supply and staff power. There were nine Wapakoneta firefighters on the scene, along with 20 firefighters from the other two departments. Commercial Communication provides a repeater service for area

companies and business. Employees are working on the repeater to get the service operational. There were

no injuries.