Looking Back
Through the pages of the Wapakoneta Daily News
MARCH 4, 1923
■ Wapakoneta Auto Show Legion Auditorium, March 22-23-24. Newest Lines of Accessories. Music-afternoon and Evening
■ DO YOU KNOW YOUR WAPAKONETA? An Explanation of Our Industries-wapakoneta Hollow Ware. All the iron used at the Hollow War Company of this city comes from Tennessee. It comes in the form of pig iron, and is here melted in a large cupola heated with coke with a compressed air draft. Just as much is used as is needed by the moulders. It is then moulded into different cooking utensils, irons and radiator shells for trucks. From the foundry articles are taken into the polishing room where they are polished in boxes called tumblers which turn while an air blast is passed through to remove all the sand and dirt. They are then taken to machines which grind and polish them; some are finished in this state while other materials as skillets and irons are nickel plated by means of electricity and polished. The kettles are given a coat of paint to prevent them from rusting. The iron tops are painted with aluminum paint and packed and shipped six in a box. The skillets are made in sizes from three to fourteen. Different kinds of iron kettles, and sugar water kettles, are made. Both wooden and iron-handle waffle skillets are made round and square in shape. The Hollow War ships its goods over the entire United States, however, little is exported. The company is one of the leading industries of this city and furnishes steady work for the 60 men employed there.
■ The following named young women appear as Cameo Girls in the musical comedy “The Cameo Girl,” to be sponsored by the Moose and to be given at the Brown Theatre on arch 12 and 13: Hazel Slygh, Naomi Lammers, Irene Slygh, Coral Knox, Helen Lammers, and Kathryn Slygh. They appear during Robert’s solo, “My Girl of the Cameo.” Mr. Byron Davis [portraying] the handsome Robert, and the young ladies, in their wonderful costumes, will make a picture never to be forgotten.
■ Carpenters are making progress on the Brown apartment building on Willipie street. The roof is ready for laying and the work on the interior is being pushed to a very rapid conclusion.
MARCH 4, 1948
■ A Wapakoneta man is dead, another miraculously escaped death or serious injury, and six businesses or organizations suffered damage which may run up to $40,000 0r $50,000 as a result of an early morning fire on February 29 in a large storage barn near Werner’s Market in the rear of the 200 Block of East Auglaize street. The victim was Albert Nuss, 64, native of Auglaize County. The known for years as the old Dr. Orr Veterinarian and Sales Stable was engulfed in flames about 2:40 am. Suffering damage in the fire were the following: Standard Churn Company, Gamble’s Store, George Wehner Tin and Plumbing Shop, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Bernard Oen’s Garage, and equipment of Herb Seitz Bakery. A miraculous escape from the building was made by William Jacobs, 76. Early reports had Kermit Combs, Wapakoneta, listed lost, but these later proved unfounded. He was seen later at the fire scene. According to a story told by Mr. Jacobs, the blaze started when Mr. Nuss attempted to rekindle a fire in a stove in the rear of the building by throwing kerosene on coals. An explosion followed and the fire spread quickly. More about the fire on Tuesday….
MARCH 4, 1973
■ There wasn’t a more surprised person around last week when Rollie Keltner was presented a certificate by Cecil Hicks at the Lions’ Club, making him a Kentucky Colonel. Rollie’s nomination was made by Cecil, himself a Kentucky Colonel for many years and a native of Columbus, Kentucky. Rollie is from Henderson, Kentucky….. gordon Cummings has been a Colonel for several years, as is Bob Evans, the sausage maker.