Looking Back Through the pages of the Wapakoneta Daily News

100 YEARS AGO, MAY 5, 1922

⬛ Two large copper stills, a quantity of mash, a jug containing some liquor and a funnel

stuffed with liquor-soaked cotton is the “plunder” obtained for evidence y Sheriff Ewing,

Deputy Ed May, and Constable Grant Wolph in a raid made on two farms northeast of Uniopolis. The two stills are “dandies” to use the descriptive adjective of the officers. The equipment was brought to town and placed in the

sheriff’s office at the county jail to be used as evidence in trial. The equipment was brought to town and placed in the sheriff’s office at the

county jail to be used as evidence. Other apparatus was confiscated.

⬛ Armed with search warrants issued by Squire B.C. Belcher, the officers swooped down on the farms of Frank Naus and Walter Harrod in Union township, Constable Wolph was left at the Harrod home to place Mr. Harrod under arrest upon his return. Constable Wolph returned at midnight to report that Harrod, father of five children, had not returned. His wife

said is was the first tie e had remained away from hoe. At the Harrod home Sheriff Ewing

said, the odor of fermenting mash was so strong that passersby could not fail to detect the presence of liquor-making apparats, The equipment was located in the kitchen and the large barrel of mash was sitting near an open window no more than 40 feet from the road…..

⬛ The officers then proceeded to the Naus farm two miles north of Uniopolis and a quarter

mile east of Uniopolis. Here the presence of the quarry was detected by means of the olfactory

senses. Ab old sed removed quite a distance from the Naus farm house had its windows

boarded up, the doorsteps were still wet, and a strong odor of white mule reeked throughout the vicinity. Sheriff Ewing pried the door open and entered. Here the men discovered 15 vinegar and molasses barrels. Four contained

mash and two others were filled with water…. The 15 barrels were rolled out and demolished. A crowbar left in the shed afford considerable assistance. Deputy May said. While the officers were engaged in the work of destruction, the owner of the farm Frank Naus, approached. He said, according to the sheriff, that he “did not know anything about the distillery…..”

⬛ PIANOS FOR RENT during the summer vacation. Rent can apply on purchase. A victrola will entertain you also during the vacation.

$15 and up. Terms can be arranged. Sarver’s Music Store.

⬛ New and Delicious ICE Cream—orange-crush, Honey Fruit Salad, Grape Pineapple Bits. In these Creams of super-quality you

enjoy the same genuine fruit fragrance and deliciousness you like so well in fresh fruit. One taste will prove it. Serve it when you entertain. Fine for all social events Your dealer can

supply you. Made by Fisher’s Purity Dairy Co. Our sanitary plant and method of manufacture

open to patrons for inspection.

75 YEARS AGO, MAY 5, 1947

⬛ The HI-Y Y-teen dance was held Friday evening in the Blume High Auditorium. Social committee chairman of the two clubs, Dan Mckeever and Betty Lou Fisher were in charge

of the affair. The theme followed that of an “old-fashioned barn dance” with a scare-crow

in the middle of the floor, a hay-loft, ad brown and yellow crepe paper decorations. Music was provided by a juke-box. For the program, the Moonshiners comically played a list of varied numbers. The program of dances was quite different than usual. There were blackout dances, elimination dances, girls’ tags, boys’ tags, whistle dances, and a Grand March, plus the usual slow and fast dances.

⬛ The rural students who will enter Blume during the next school term as freshmen were guests of the Blume Student Council. They were

instructed by Mrs. Opal Parlette of Uniopolis and by Miss Winona Bailey of St. Johns. The future frosh met Mrs. Charles Miller and Mr. John Crites, deans of girls and boys respectively, to iron out their schedule difficulties for the coming year. Senior council members who

acted as guides during the day were Queenie Kah, Neil Armstrong, Dan Mckeever, Beverly Bailey, Dorcas Chapman, George Vetters, and Betty Jo Line.

50 YEARS AGO, MAY 5, 1972

⬛ The old order changeth. It used to be we could depend on mushroom report, tales,

fibs, and exaggerations from the likes of Riley Hardacre, Paul Fisher, Jr., Herb Howard, Don Rhind, and even Dorothy Franklin. Now the

reports come from other sources. For instance: Harold Schmaltz was in with a big brown bag full of them. Nice size, too. Not only that, he

said that he picked all of them in one hour and within 100 feet. Mrs. Paul Fisher, Sr., found one

in spite of the handicap of having her husband along with her. And so it goes. Bob Schilling

is unusually quiet these days, so we have to presume that his past prowess as a mushroom hunter is ebbing.

⬛ John A. Poppe, well-known in New Bremen and Auglaize County business and civic affairs, has successfully completed his Ohio Bar

examination, qualifying him to practice law in the state. Poppe plans to practice law in Auglaize County.

25 YEARS AGO, MAY 5, 1997

⬛ Josh Ulrey had a big day in helping the Wapakoneta boys’ track team to a fifth place finish in the Troy Invitational. The Redskin senior finished 2nd both in the 110 meter high hurdles and the 200 meet intermediate hurdles. His finish of 41.9 seconds lowered his own school record. Becky Krieg won the discus event in the

meet to help the girls’ team finish 6th overall.