Years Ago In Paulding County
By: MELINDA KRICK
20 Years Ago
From the Paulding County Progress, June 21, 2006:
The Paulding Pool was busy last week as the high temperatures brought in a record attendance. Water aerobics and swimming lessons also are being offered.
Verl Dasher, who has spent most of his life working with the Boy Scouts, has published a book, The Adventure Patrol. In it, the longtime scoutmaster details many of his backpacking and canoeing outings.
Oakwood EMS and Fire Department will hold a groundbreaking for the new fire/EMS station on June 29.
Paulding County Relay for Life exceeded its goal by raising $50,000 June 2-3 at the fairgrounds. Thirty teams walked around the track to support the American Cancer Society and raise awareness. There were 82 cancer survivors at the opening ceremonies this year, compared to 60 last year.
60 Years Ago
From the Payne Reflector, June 16, 1966:
Two long-time Payne school teachers are retiring. Mrs. Clara Gorrell has taught 47 years. An estimated 2,000 children have passed through her classroom. Her first year of teaching was in Jackson School with all eight grades. Miss Enid Kilpatrick has set a record of teaching 48-1/2 years at Payne. She taught second grade. She began her career at Logtown, Benton Township for a year, then a year at Happy Corners in Harrison Township.
A group of 40 workers will begin a religious census of all Paulding County residents on June 17.
The free public museum, based on the collection of the late Otto E. Ehrhart, well-known naturalist and photographer, has been completely refurbished for the summer season. The museum is located in the Antwerp City Hall. Installed in two large display cases are murals depicting early scenes in Paulding County. Local artist Norma Jean Hughes has contributed a large painted mural showing scenery along an early mud road.
From the Paulding Progress, June 16, 1966:
Governor James A. Rhodes will be the guest speaker at a groundbreaking ceremony of the industrial shell building at the new 75-acre industrial park on Road 144 [Gasser Road] at Paulding.
Water flowed for the first time Monday in Paulding’s new $1 million water system. The system includes a water reservoir, a fresh water storage tank, pumping station to pump purified water into the distribution system, and a 250,000-gallon water storage tower. The purification system has a daily capacity of 1.5 million gallons.
85 Years Ago
From the Oakwood News, June 19, 1941:
Due to a misshipment of type, the Oakwood News is unavoidably late this week.
The removal of Oakwood’s historic iron cage calaboose from the building that had housed it for many years just off Main Street and its consignment to the acetylene blowtorch of Kohart’s Auto Wrecking Co. marks the obliteration of some of the somber history of erring sons as well as the memory of some notorious criminals housed there, for safe keeping, until they could be transferred to the county Bastille at Paulding. Chief of the dramatic incidents that featured this grim old cage was the time the building was dynamited, in the dead of night, to prevent the incarceration of a “leading citizen” who had been caught selling liquor on Sunday.
Due to the great response to the free shows sponsored by the merchants of Oakwood, it was decided to have an additional program on Saturday nights beginning June 21. The show last Wednesday was interrupted so that the Joe Louis–Billy Conn fight could be presented over the loudspeaker. After the bout, the picture was finished.
Fire caused by an overflowing water heater fuel tank in the rear room of Bidlack’s new barber shop burned it so badly that it will have to be rebuilt.
From the Paulding County Republican, June 19, 1941:
The Shawnee Council Boy Scout camp, on the Auglaize River south of Defiance, was dedicated last Sunday as the council’s permanent camp. Eight scouts from Paulding Troop No. 27 attended a three-day camporee: Ralph Holesworth, Alvin Loop, Justice Parrish, Red Kipker, Herbert Haney, Gene Stahl, Robert Davis and Ralph Nicelley.
Fort Brown Park will be hosting three celebrations: Northwest Ohio coon hunters’ “Big Coon Chase” on June 22; “Old Fiddlers’ Reunion” June 29; and July 4 festivities including ball game (Kalida vs. Fort Brown), races (row boat, swimming, obstacle, slow bicycle), greased pole, duck chase and boat rides.
Ray Guerin, proprietor of the Guerin’s Electric Shop, and Homer Zimmer, manager of the Grand Theatre, returned from a week’s fishing trip in Canada with a catch of 76 trout and wall-eyed pike. The sportsmen “weighed in” at the Community Lockers and a weight slip of 110 pounds of fish supported their report.
Coming soon to the Grand Theatre: Henry Fonda in “The Trail of the Lonesome Pine”; “The Singing Hill” with Gene Autry plus Episode 5 of “Adventures of Capt. Marvel”; “That Night in Rio” with Carmen Miranda; and “The Flame of New Orleans” starring Marlene Dietrich.
110 Years Ago
From the Paulding Democrat, June 22, 1916:
National Guard in Mexican Conflict: An order was issued last Sunday by President Wilson and the war department for the mobilization of practically the entire National Guard of all states for service. Capt. R.C. Leslie, of Company B, Second Regiment, Paulding, received an order by telephone Monday morning to mobilize his company and prepare for orders to move as soon as possible.
There are plans for a petition for a vote of the people of the county on the subject of issuing and selling bonds for constructing and equipping a county hospital.
Paulding business men have decided Paulding shall have a Fourth of July celebration. One of the star features planned is a mammoth automobile parade, with at least 600 machines in parade. It is also planned to have a motorcycle parade. A ball game is booked between Payne’s fast team and the Paulding boys. Fireworks, a high-class band to give concerts on the square day and night, races, a merry-go-round and other special features are being arranged.
