Years Ago in Paulding County

By: Melinda Krick

35 Years Ago

From the Paulding County Progress, Nov. 21, 1990:

The county rural house numbering program is nearer to reality as commissioners reported they expect the system to be in effect by mid-February, 1991.

Approximately 46.6 miles of Indiana Hi-Rail Corp. railroad track stretching through Paulding, Henry and Defiance counties is expected to be completed by summer 1991. The line serves area businesses including Antwerp Equity Exchange and Lafarge Corp.

County commissioner-elect Elaine Harp has been invited by the commissioners to join them at their regular meetings to familiarize herself with regular proceedings before she is sworn in on Jan. 1.

Cindy Kauser was a winner in WONW-1280 radio’s “Great Giveaway Sweepstakes.” She received a five-minute grocery store shopping spree as her prize. Another local winner, Diana Clemens, won a trip for two to the OSU-Michigan football game in Columbus.

70 Years Ago

From the Paulding Progress, Nov. 17, 1955:

The Chief Super Market Inc. opened the doors of an ultra-modern super market this week on the corner of Main and Caroline streets in Paulding. The building, which formerly housed the MacKew Equipment Co., has been completely remodeled for the new market with new modern fixtures. Bob DeLaet, Paulding, who has been with the Chief in Defiance, is the manager of the Grocery Department. Larry Heller, who was also with the Chief in Defiance, is manager of the Meat Department.

Western Auto announces the grand opening of Toyland. This year we have gone all-out to gather together the largest selection of toys and other Christmas gifts we have ever had. In the electric appliances we have everything from alarm clocks to Wizard home freezers. Bicycles for any member of the family. Lionel trains and open stock. Autos and trucks from toys to hot-rods. More than three dozen sets of cowboy gun sets. Dolls, musical toys, guitars, accordions, pianos, TV games. Karl G. Werling, Owner.

A committee from the Brown-Auglaize School District has filed a request for a recount of the $110,000 bond issue for an addition to the school at Oakwood. The bonds needed 55 percent to be approved and lacked about 10 votes.

Sixteen new members were initiated on the 30th anniversary of the Paulding Council of the Knights of Columbus. The Paulding Council was instituted Nov. 28, 1925 and seven charter members were presented at the anniversary banquet: Charles Surque, George Reinhart, Frank Reinhart, Alphonse Vetter, Leonard Tempel, Joe Cavanaugh and Francis Minck.

Paulding County merchants and VFW will give away live turkeys, chickens, ducks and geese Saturday at the 12th annual Feather Party in the Paulding Armory. The entire proceeds will be used for the VFW addition building fund and VFW hospital equipment. One hundred merchants are cooperating in the event.

95 Years Ago

From the Paulding County Republican, Nov. 20, 1930:

Paulding County school enrollment during October totaled 3,673.

Last Saturday afternoon, a hurried call came to Paulding for the sheriff. A man had been shot on the first day of the hunting season and was found dead in the woods in Emerald Township. Sheriff Jackson and Deputy Kinkade made a hurried run to the scene. By the time they arrived, the scare had died down and the hunter wasn’t dead, but very much alive. He hadn’t even been hurt, and was perfectly sober. He had been out hunting for a number of hours and was tired. He sat down to rest and was soon sound asleep.

From the Paulding Democrat, Nov. 20, 1930:

Paulding County is one of two in northwest Ohio to show a decrease of over 20 percent in the number of farms from 1920 to 1930. There are now only 1,863 farms in our county, which is 80th among the 88 of the state. With an average decline of 14.4 percent in the state, Paulding County’s 23 percent is an appalling figure.

More than 100 county residents attended the Corn Harvest Field Day in Hardin County. In the state husking competition, Albert Laukhuf of Benton Township placed third in the standing stalk contest. Christ Laukhuf placed ninth in the shock husking contest.

135 Years Ago

From the Paulding County Republican, Nov. 20, 1890:

Labor Statistics of Paulding County – We take the following information from the 13th Annual Report of the Bureau of Statistics of Labor, for the year 1889:

Brick & tile – 6 establishments; average employed (males over 15) 30; wages paid during year $8,678

Cigars & tobacco – 3 est.; average employed 5; wages paid $1,160

Flour mills – 5 est.; average employed 20; wages paid $4,675

Lumber, planed – 2 est.; average employed 10; wages paid $3,930

Lumber, sawed – 20 est.; average employed 100; wages paid $17,975

Printing offices – 2 est.; average employed 12; wages paid $3,237

Staves, hoops, headings – 24 est.; average employed 950 males, 110 children/youths; wages paid $335,200

Misc. – 10 est.; average employed 45; wages paid $14,300

Totals – 72 establishments; average employed 1,172 males 15+, 110 children/youths, 0 females 15+; wages paid $392,152; value of products $1,753,130

In comparison, Paulding County exceeded capital investments and payroll of neighbors Fulton, Henry, Putnam and Mercer counties. Only Defiance County had higher totals.