Our Old Bookcase
Every adult learned about the Industrial Revolution in their high school history class. The Industrial Revolution was a time period in the 18th Century when agricultural communities became more industrialized. I recall the story of the village shoemaker being replaced when shoes were made at factories. In the 20th Century, the Age of Computers began replacing private businesses.
A specific example of the arrival of the Age of Computers is reflected at four businesses on South Main Street, Celina. In the 1953 Directory of Celina, four businesses were listed, at Numbers 210, 212, 214, and 216, on the East side of South Main Street. Donald W. Stroefer Insurance Agency was located at #210. Kohns News Agency (Frank, Robert & Russell Kohn) was listed at #212. Borger (Tresa) and Mendenhall (Clara) Millinery was listed at #214. Singer Sewing Center (Elden & Mildred McCalla, Managers) was listed at #216.
By 1957, Storage Ganbles had replaced the Insurance Agency at #210. However, the same 1953 businesses were listed for #212, #214, and #216 in 1957. Three years later, in 1960, The Kohn News Agency, #212, and the Singer Sewing Center, #216, were still listed.
By 1968, South Main Street had no business listings between #210 and #216. All four business listings of the 1950’s had no listing, but #214 was identified as Celina City Parking Lot. That’s right; the site was replaced by an empty lot and a city parking lot. The four businesses of 1953 on South Main Street were gone!
How was the Age of Computers involved with this change? In the 1950’s, private individuals managed Insurance Agencies. Today, individual insurance agencies have combined into larger agencies, with the help of computer record keeping. In the 1950’s, newspapers provided local news to the public. Today, with the help of computers, television and the internet are providing news to the world. In the 1950’s, ladies were purchasing their hats for social occasions from Milliners. Today, few women wear hats and social organizations have been replaced by use of computers, the internet and cell phones. In the 1950’s, many women were sewing their own clothes. Today, many women wear clothes purchased at “stores at the mall.”
Within half of a century, we have witnessed the results of the arrival of the Age of Computers. Family businesses and private businesses are no longer the strength of our local economy. However, right here in Mercer County, I do see a new growth of small businesses, which are serving the needs of citizens and larger businesses. The strong work ethic, the belief in the strength of families, the belief of good schools and students’ graduating from high school, the rise in appreciation of technical education, the pride in communities and their local organizations, their respect for their churches, the belief in honesty and reliability and trustworthiness are all a part of the success, not only in Mercer County but also in rural Ohio Communities. Ohio is adapting to this new way of life and changing with the times. Indeed, we are most fortunate to live in Ohio and be a part of the Age of Computers. Not everyone is as fortunate as we are. I do believe that we are a part of our own success, here in Midwestern Ohio.