Looking Back Wapakoneta Daily News

Through the pages of the

100 YEARS AGO, JULY 20, 1921

▪ An infant child of MM Philip Green, residing in the west end of the city, is a sufferer from infantile paralysis. The outcome of the case is very much in doubt because of the fact that medical attention and strict sanitary care were not secured early in the child’s illness. The case with all of its features is a distressing one and while it has been given there is still much more that might be done.

▪ Physicians attending Master Paul Bush, who sustained injuries in his hand when a dynamite cap exploded in his hand when he sought to remove dirt from its cavity, state that he is getting along very well and that if mothing unforeseen happens he will be out and with his gang again. As a precaution an anti-toxine for tetanus was administered to him Tuesday afternoon. It is thought that he will be better for this and danger of more serious results is eliminated.

▪ The Federated Library will not be open this Saturday afternoon, on account of Chautauqua, but will be open next Saturday afternoon, with Mrs. Chas. Frech in charge.

75 YEARS AGO, JULY 20, 1946

▪ Adolph Manzelman, Route 5, and John Valenti, Route 6, have recently enlisted in the Regular Army. They made application at the Army Recruiting Station in Wapakoneta, and were sent to Fort Hayes for a physical examination and then to Camp Atterbury for assignment.

▪ The Carl Abe company has won recognition for the accuracy and uniformity of its custom grinding and mixing service The local firm recently

received a Certificate of Mixing Accuracy for 1946 following analysis at the Ralston Purina Company,

St. Louis, Missouri, of samples taken from regular mixes prepared for customers from the mill. The certification will be posted in a prominent place at the Carl Abe Coal Company as evidence of the ability of the local equipment to service farmers with custom mixing that will help them achieve

maximum production from their grains,

▪ AUTO RACES at the Christler-ammon Speedway Jul21st at Jackson Center, Ohio, 10 miles west of Indiana Lake, on OUR NEWLY OILED

SPEEDWAY, after an interval of three weeks in which the operator of the track, Mr. Ammon was

hospitalized for surgery. During this time, rack improvements and an oil treatment have improved the 3-10 mile speedway considerably. Several new cars to appear, such as Buick 8 cylinder racers, Mercury V-8 racers to show the public some of the fastest racing programs you will see anywhere. The

speedway has one of the fastest qualifying records, being 21 seconds even. Qualifying trials at 1:30; races at 2:15. Christler-ammon Speedway, 10 mile west of Indian Lake. Ice Cream and Refreshments

served.

50 YEARS AGO, JULY 20, 1971

▪ Two years ago today, Wapakoneta was on the threshold of world renown—an honor bestowed

because one of her native sons had been chosen to perform a feat unparalleled in history. Unable to witness the event at the scene, hundreds of newsmen and spectators descended on Wapakoneta and used it as a substitute location from which to help tell the story of humanity’s first moon landing. It was Sunday in Wapakoneta. MM Stephen Armstrong had gone to church that day to pray for the safety of the Apollo 11 astronauts—their son Neil and his crewmen Michael Collins and Edwin Aldrin. From the garage behind the Armstrong home,

newsmen told the world how a mother and father feel when their son is performing one of the most

significant and possibly most dangerous feats of all time. Their messaged were carried by special telephone lines installed in the garage, and by a giant television tower erected behind the house. Shortly before 10 pm a crowd began gathering at the Armstrong home, Elsewhere in Wapakoneta, nearly every television set was turned on. A set was hooked up on the Armstrong lawn and another in the garage. At 10:56 p.m., history was made.

▪ The Armstrongs have loaned the Chamber of Commerce many of the gifts they have received from well-wishes during the past two years. These gifts from across the nation and around the world

are on display today in downtown stores. Some of the exhibits will be houses in the Armstrong Museum scheduled to open July 20 next year. Pm the third anniversary of the moonwalk.

25 YEARS AGO, JULY 20, 1996

▪ It’s A Street Fair—from barbeque chicken dinners, corn on the cob, and hula hoops, all types

of activities could be found Tuesday evening during the street fair at the Auglaize County Courthouse. The event was held in conjunction with the

Sister Cities visit of more than 100 visitors from Lengerich, Germany. The German visitors learned to clog during a demonstration. The Dance Company from the MD Dance Centre was one of several featured performers as well. The evening concluded with a concert by the Wapakoneta Community Choir, which was followed by an ice cream social.