A trip down memory lane - 1

F2BICENTENNIALTHE COURIERMONDAY, JUNE 11, 2012Circus cameby trainDuring the 1930s, Findlay residentswere treated each summerto a few days of fun when thecircus came to town.It came into town by train,unloaded onto Western Avenue,then paraded down Lima Avenue,Hurd Avenue, and BaldwinAvenue, to South Main Street,where it turned south to the vacantlots just beyond Sixth Street, laterknown as Sherman Park.Residents of these streets saton their front porches to enjoy thesight of the animals going pasttheir houses.It was a privilege for me tohave lived on Baldwin Avenue toenjoy the arrival of the circus eachsummer of my childhood.My most vivid memory is of thetime an elephant was led from thestreet onto our sidewalk, where itleft some droppings, to the chagrinof my father and the hilarityof the neighbors. — Mary A.Brucklacher, Findlay.Courtshipby canoeAs a youth, my father workedat the A.L. Askam grocery onWest Main Cross Street, wherethe Rocking U restaurant is nowlocated. During the flood of 1913,he delivered groceries by canoe towest Findlay residents maroonedby the water.A few years later, the samecanoe played an important partin my parents’ courtship.My mother’s family home wason the bank of the Blanchard Riverin what is now the Hancock ParkDistrict office on East Main CrossStreet.Since my mother, several of hersisters, two nieces, and her parentsall resided there, the availabilityof father’s canoe furnishedtheir desired privacy. — James F.Brucklacher, Findlay.Saturday movies,park activitiesI grew up in Findlay and hadmany wonderful memories.As children, my sisters and Ilooked forward to going to themovies (Harris, State, Royal, andLyceum) every Saturday afternoon.During World War II, I workedsummers at the Riverside ParkConfectionary and Taffy stand runby Luther and Grace Mains. Therewere a large number of servicementhat came to the park during theirleave.There was so much activitythere for everyone, merry-goroundrides, dodge-’em cars, trainrides, a bowling alley, concerts,picnics, and fishing in the oldreservoir. There was also a rollerskating rink and the swimmingpool.I also worked at a locallyownedgrocery store during thefood and gas rationing, when youneeded ration stamps to buy certainitems. I have continued livingin Hancock County and would notwant to move anywhere else. —Peg Warren, Rawson.Big family hada milk machineHi. I grew up in the ’50s withseven sisters and two brothers andI remember that San-A-Pure Dairyused to have a milk truck that waspulled by a horse. That sure wassomething!With such a big family, we hadto have a milk machine installedin our house with these big milkcanisters delivered to our house.White milk was what we got. Butone time we got chocolate milk bymistake. Everyone sure liked that!— Jeff Ede, Findlay.Smalltown girlenjoyed FindlayArlington is just 10 miles southof Findlay. What a difference! Mycousin and I looked forward to ourSaturday visits to Findlay.We were so in awe of the OhioOil (Marathon Petroleum Corp.)Building. It was colossal with itssix stories.We would go to Newberry’sand Woolworth’s and look atthe fabulous trinkets. Arlingtonlacked that wonderful bridgemix, so we always stopped at thecandy counter with a few cents inour pockets to spend. Oh, yummy!Hancock County schoolsplayed their basketball tournamentat Findlay High School (CentralMiddle School.) My mom,brother and I would ride the busto Findlay. Before we went to thegame, we ate at a sandwich shopon the courthouse square.So, you see how a smalltowngirl enjoyed Findlay. — PeggyRinehart, Arlington.Test your memory about somenotable bars and other businessesHaving lived in the Findlay areaall 60 years of my life, I rememberquite a few businesses that are nolonger here, but the sites wherethey were still are.Not a lot of people want to talkabout these places, but they wereimportant to our town’s development,like it or not.These were places wherepeople would meet after work,mostly to unwind from a hardday’s work before going hometo their families. Some carried a“reputation,” but they were aroundfor a long time compared to manynowadays.And really, they weren’t THATbad.Much information, good orbad, was relayed in these places,face to face.Most places listed here wereusually the busiest from midafternoonto early evening. Not reallythe “night life.”Some were late-night spots,though. A lot of business deals thatmay have helped shape the futureof Findlay, and possibly put thevery business they were in, out ofbusiness, occurred in these places.I’ve listed the ones I canremember, perhaps you can addto the list.The thing you need to do isknow where the places were. I’velisted the answers after you scanthe list. No peeking! And then Iadded some businesses just to seehow old you are.1. The Palm Steak House2. The Regal Cafe3. The Senate Cafe4. The Coney Island5. The Mecca6. The Dixie Tavern7. The Garden of Eden8. Palmer’s9. The Hollywood10. The Old Millstream11. The Paradise12. The Triangle13. The Brunswick14. The Monarch15. Frita’s16. The Northwind17. Haley’s Bar18. Enck’s19. The Office Bar20. The Old Dutch21. The Party Bar22. The Pheasant RoomThere were also memorableplaces that everyone in the townknew about:• The three movie houses onSouth Main Street?• The business on ClintonStreet that used red caps andyellow caps? Hint: Their logo wason the mirror in the Mecca.• Before they were Great Scot?34 Years and stillgoing strong!From his humble beginnings in 1978,Larry Lauger Sr. built his companyfrom the ground up. With himself andtwo installers, Lauger’s became one ofthe finest flooring stores to serveFindlay & the surrounding communities.Today, Lauger’s Carpet One continuesto be your premier flooring showroomwith hundreds of styles and colors tochoose from. Whether it’s one room oryour entire home, Lauger’s has a floorfor every room in your house.Come in and consult with ourprofessional design staff and seewhy we’re still the one store for yourperfect floor!• The meat market on CrystalAvenue?• Best potato chips in Findlay?Yes, they were made here.• The market on TrentonAvenue, not Walmart.• The two root beer stands onNorth Main Street?• These carryouts: Aller’s, Bud& Joe’s, Tiffin Avenue Carryout(Duh!), The E&B?• The original location of Jac& Do’s?• Napoli pizza?• Morey’s, for the Sundaypaper!• The two burger joints thateveryone went to when Wilson’swas closed?• And last but not least, andclosest to my heart, Findlay’soriginal gas-and-go carryout?OK, the answers as I rememberthem:1. The Rocking U is there now.2. The 200 block of SouthMain Street, on the east side, onthe alley.3. The Gathering is there now.4. On South Main Street, bythe bridge, on the east side.5. Across from the Regal, onthe west side of Main Street.When it burned, it was the oldestbar in Ohio. I think the originalbar is in a restaurant in Texas.6. Oler’s is there now. Samebuilding.7. The Walnut is there. Don’tremember the name after thegarden, but it was different beforeit became the Walnut.8. The Findlay Eagles is therenow.9. The Hollywood. Pretty sureit would be where the ODNR isnow on Lima Avenue.10. Residential, where FishlockAvenue meets East Sandusky.11. Just north of the bridge onthe east side of Main Street.12. Implement dealership,across from the ODNR.13. Below the former Finder’sstore on the corner of East Crawfordand Main streets. That’sright, below. You could go in theentrance off of Crawford. I thinkit’s still there.14. Below the stores just southof the courthouse. When I wentthere, they no longer sold alcohol,but the barbershop and pool tableswere still open.15. The Dark Horse is therenow.16. See Palmer’s!17. Between East Sandusky andCrawford. Had a big circle aroundthe door of the main entrance.18. JimmyJohn’s is there, onTrenton Avenue.19. See the Triangle!20. Right by the Paradise onNorth Main Street.21. Right by the Old Dutch.22. In the old Phoenix Hotel onthe corner of East Main Cross andMain, across from the courthouse.• The three theaters, theHarris and the State, across fromeach other just south of the Elks,and The Royal, between Hardinand West Sandusky on MainStreet.• The Krantz Brewery madeOld Dutch beer. The color referencewas to the identification of“low,” i.e. 3.2 percent content, and“high,” more than 3.2 percent.• Sheck’s.• Ralph’s.• Tasty Taters.• The Country Market.• The A&W, Foulke and Main,and Stewart’s, Bigelow and Main.• Crystal Avenue at the bend,Park Street, Tiffin Avenue at thetracks, West Sandusky and WesternAvenue.• Across from Sportsman’slanes.• East Street and East Sandusky.• East Sandusky and MainStreet.• The Broadway and TheWhitehouse.• Phillip’s carryout .The WhiskeyVenue is there, on West MainCross Street. The carryout wassold for a Bonaza steakhouse thatdidn’t last. The carryout had anoverhang and two Marathon gaspumps underneath. They wereone of the few places open onSunday in the whole area. Theywere famous for the roasted peanutsthat Wolfie’s sells now.• Oh yeah, do you have an original“Colt .22 cal., Fort FindlaySesquicentennial” from Jaqua’s?They sold new for $89.95. Thereare only 110 singles in the world,20 box sets. I don’t know their currentvalue. Any ideas?• Oh, and Dietsch’s, The West-End, and Lucky’s have always beenthe same, as far as I know.I hope I’ve brought back somememories for some my age, andenlightened some younger thanme.Two hundred years old and stillgoing, not bad for an old oil town!Oh yeah, Marathon, originally?The Karg well? The original siteof the Courier? What was wherethe Courier is now?In closing, I’d like to thank mygrandparents — they had a realnice carryout — and my parents,all for taking me around town, andto my wife for putting up with meon this. She’s from Tiffin. — ScottPhillips, Van Buren.Findlay has done everything wellFifty years ago, I watched the parade in the 300block of Tiffin Avenue. I do not recall any of the floats,but I do remember it was four people to the curb andvery intense watching the parade go by.Fifty years ago, I never thought about Findlay everbecoming a shopper’s and diner’s paradise at the farend of Tiffin Avenue.Fifty years ago, I worked in the retail business offood. Today, I have a hard time shopping for food.Everything now is four to 10 (times) higher in thesupermarket or other sellers of food.I have to remind myself minimum wage then was$1 per hour, now it’s more than $7 per hour. MySocial Security check each month is 50 percent morethan I made a month then in wages.Fifty years ago, downtown lacked parking spaces.It was always a chore, too much so. Now, things aregreat, never seems lacking. The downtown area hasreally kept itself in good condition, clean and neatand well-kept stores and storefronts.Fifty years ago, plus some months, Findlay andanother town were where Touchtone phones beganits being. I haven’t seen a dial phone around for along time.Fifty years ago, I remember a wife told me abouther husband. He always wanted to sing in a group setting.There was a notice to form a singing group forthe 150-year program. He tried out and was chosen tobe in the group. She said things in their lives changedso much.They were dairy farmers. He practiced his singingto the cows, a.m. and p.m., at milking time. She saidlife around the farm changed. It became a “happyfarm.”Happy 200 years to Findlay. You’ve done everythingwell. — Robert Styer, Carey.Now2012Photos provided by Hancock Historical MuseumBUSINESS AND MANUFACTURING have always been thebackbone of Findlay’s economy. While many longtime factoriesand businesses operate today, others have long since changed theirnames or shut their doors. Some that used to call our city homeinclude Ohio Oil Co. (shown in the early 1960s, above), which laterchanged its name to Marathon Oil and then Marathon Petroleum.Located at the corner of Jefferson Street and Clinton Court, theKrantz Brewery (below), makers of Old Dutch beer, closed in 1966.THE AMERICAN MASK Manufacturing Co. (above) made a varietyof masks for costumes and various occasions. Located near thecurrent site of the West End Tavern on West Main Cross Street, thecompany opened its doors in 1884 and closed in 1969. RCA (below)manufactured transistors and electronic components. It was locatedon Fostoria Avenue at the current site of Brown Mackie College.Then1978CARPET - LAMINATE - VINYL - CERAMIC TILEHARDWOOD - AREA RUGS300 Walnut Street & Crystal Avenue • Findlay • Ohio • 419-423-8771 • www.LaugersCarpetOne.com • Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm; Sat. 10am-4pm

THE COURIERMONDAY, JUNE 11, 2012BICENTENNIALF3A Findlay girl’s fond memoriesI am a Findlay girl and veryproud of it!When I think about growingup here, I believe I had almost theideal childhood and have so manywonderful memories.I grew up in the south end oftown between Park Street andWashington Avenue on FirstStreet. It was not a fancy house,but cozy, and we had a great neighborhoodwith lots of kids to playwith.Within one and one-half blocksfrom my house, we had three littlegroceries: One just down my alleyon Second Street, where I wouldpick up Tasty Taters and WonderBread for lunch; Mrs. Hostler’stiny store just around the corneron Park Street was where I used totake cans of cooking grease for thewar effort, to use for explosives,at least that was what we weretold; and another grocery, northin the next block of Park Street,was where we went for good meat.Now it doesn’t get any moreconvenient than that!Growing up in the ’40s, we rodeour bikes everywhere, but whenI was big enough to ride, therewere no bikes for sale because ofthe war.My father came to the rescue.He got together some old bikeparts and the men at his workplacehelped him put together a littlebike for me and I was thrilled. Thepedals fell off once in awhile, and itwas a little strange looking with ahuge lady’s seat, which I was toldhad been Mrs. O.D. Donnell’s!Wow, I was a lucky little girl.I went to grade school at LincolnSchool and it was quite a hikefrom my house, but hike we did,three round trips a day, morning,noon and afternoon.After the first grade, I usuallyrode my bike or, in really niceweather, roller-skated to school. Ido not remember many car ridesto school unless the weather wastruly miserable. Back then, everyonehad only one car and thefathers usually used it.Looking back, I also do notremember more than one overweightclassmate, so the exercisewas good for us! We wouldhurry back and forth in the morningand at noon, but dilly-dallycoming home with our friendsafter school, which was great fun,unless a nasty boy chased you.Riverside Park pool was a hugeattraction for my friend, Jane, andI. In the summer, as soon as lunchwas over, she would pick me upand we would ride our bikes overto the pool for the afternoon. Wewould wear out a couple of bathingsuits a season going down thebig slide.Jane and I were big fans ofEsther Williams and after seeingher movies, we would take our“Mae Wests,” life vests we hadbought at the Army Surplus Store,and do our Esther Williams routinesat the pool.When you are kids, you don’tcare how silly you look. You justhave a good time. If we werevery good girls, a couple times asummer our parents would bringus to the pool after dark and wewould swim with the coloredlights on, and that was a real treat.The movies were a big part ofour lives. We had three theatersto choose from — the State, theHarris, and the Royal. There wasa fourth named the Lyceum, whichwas off limits to nice girls and supposedlyhad “cooties.”In grade school, Jane and Iwould usually go to a Sundayafternoon movie and get there by1:30, before the price would go up.That way, we would have moneyfor popcorn. We loved musicalsand, on the way home, we wouldsing and dance down Main Street.As I said before, kids just don’t getembarrassed!Our Sunday evening suppersalways consisted of what was leftover from our big noon meal, andDietsch’s ice cream with “dope” onthe top. Our dads would always godown and get it and always just aquart of hand-packed because thefreezer in the “Frigidaire” was sosmall.When we were young, themovie would be the decidingfactor where we would go, but injunior high, we would check outwhose boys’ bikes were parked at atheater and, if we liked those boys,that is the movie we picked. Someof those movies were pretty bad!Junior high and high schoolyears were your typical ’50s.We had dances after the footballgames and basketball games,square dances, Y-dances, Campfirehayrides and dances, homecomingsand proms. There wasalways something to look forwardto.We would walk home fromthese activities in junior high atGoing ‘to town’ was a big dealIt was the ’60s. I was a little girlliving on a farm by Rawson. Mygrandma, Vella Cramner Walter,would take me with her “to town.”It was Findlay and it was abig deal. I had to be clean, haircombed, and dressed to suit her.No one went to town dirty ordressed in everyday clothes.Once in town, we would driveto certain houses where Grandma’segg customers lived. Onething I learned is that fresh farmeggs were a hot item.The trunk of the car would becompletely full of eggs. One ladywould buy an entire gross of eggs.Of course, she then sold some ofthem to her customers.When we delivered all of theeggs, we headed to downtown. Wewould park the car, and Grandmaalways let me put the money in themeter. Then, the adventure began.Back then, Findlay’s downtownwas bustling. People were everywhere.The sidewalks were full ofall kinds of people.Business people would dartin and out of the shops and thebuildings. The shoppers wereeverywhere, doing all kinds oflooking and talking. As a little girl,it seemed like a fair. It was fun!Grandma would stop to talkto the usual people we alwayssaw, and it seems, she would talkunusually long to someone shehadn’t seen for awhile.We would go to the shoe store,the hat store, the drugstore, allon foot. I loved the Woolworth’sstore. Lots of stuff to see there.Most of the merchandise wasstocked on tables in long rows, soeven a little girl could see all of it.Another store I liked was BaisleyMeat Market. We raised ourown meat, but there was alwayssomething we needed there. Onceinside, you took a number. No oneseemed to mind the wait becausethere was always someone youknew there.It seemed to be crowded everytime, but I didn’t care. I was mesmerizedby that black-and-whitetiled floor. I would sit and stareat it, following all the lines andpatterns with my eyes. I was fascinatedwith that floor. Then, offwe went.When we needed a bathroombreak, we walked to the courthouse.That huge building looked darkand foreboding, but familiar andinviting, all at the same time. Outfront, the fountain was my favorite.There were flowers everywhere. Ihaven’t forgotten steel signs on thefront sidewalk proclaiming “UncleSam Wants You.”We entered on the south sidedoor. The first room was a smokinglounge. The chairs werecolorful, slick vinyl with standingashtrays set about the room.People would go there to smoke,or just to sit and rest.Through the next door was theladies’ room. There were marblestall walls with wooden doors thatslammed shut on you. The mirrorsand sinks were always clean. Thebiggest thing was the smell, kindof a cross between Pine-Sol andsomething powerful.To this day, a whiff of thatstrong, clean smell overwhelmsme with with memories of mygrandma and downtown, andbeing a little farm girl in the bigtown of Findlay, Ohio. — CarlaLehman, Rawson.Simple times, but never boringWhat a treat it was to be a teenager in Findlayduring the 1950s.In the summer, we “north end kids” would ride ourbicycles to the Riverside Park pool, collecting friendsas we rode along, singing “White Coral Bells.” Thiswe would do every weekday.In the fall, there were the Findlay High Schoolfootball games to attend and “Y” dances. We wouldwalk from those events to Miller’s Luncheonette tocall our parents for a ride home.Winter was a time for basketball games and iceskating on Donnell pond. In the spring, we went tothe movies every weekend.For me, it was over two miles to walk downtownbut it didn’t seem long because, again, we were gatheringfriends as we went. Our first stop was Wilson’sHamburger Shop and, then, next door to Dietsch’sfor a milkshake. Then, to the Harris Theatre wherewe could, hopefully, sit in the balcony!Most of us were dressed alike. We wore Levis.They had to be from Plotts Harness shop and we allhad navy pea coats and wore white sailor hats. Anddon’t forget the saddle oxfords or white bucks!Such simple times they were and we never werebored. All of these special events did cost money andwe earned our way by babysitting, shoveling snow,mowing lawns or whatever “odd” jobs we could find.Most of us got small allowances from our parents,but those allowances had to be earned!It’s amazing that we all got by without cellphonesor computers. We communicated!Findlay has grown since that time and it’s sad tosee changes in our downtown. But bless the peoplethere who continue to survive. — Pat Bauman,Findlay.The Findlay plant was the third ofBall Corporation’s metal beveragecontainer plants, opening in 1973.• The plant has two aluminum beverage can lines that produce 12 oz., 7.5 oz.,and 5.5 oz. beverage cans.• In addition to the aluminum beverage line, Ball Findlay has a steel food canline that produces cans primarily for the nutraceutical industry.• The third product line is the manufacture of closures for the beverageindustry.• The combined production output for the plant is over 19 billion units makingBall Findlay one of the largest can and end plants in the world.night with never a worry aboutour safety. When we were older,I am sure our parents had someworries since we were now in cars.However, the cars were built liketanks then and reasonably safe,but parking in a dark alley for alittle smooching might be anothermatter!High school and college graduationfollowed, then marriage tomy high school sweetheart, John,a week after he graduated fromFindlay College in 1961. A weeklater, he was in the Army Reservesin Kentucky for six months!We lived and worked in Columbus,Indianapolis and Chillicothe,but, in 1966, we were transferredback to Findlay with Cooper. Wewere home again! We raised twosons here who are now two finemen. We worked here and thrivedhere in the last 46 years and I willnever have any regrets.When you can have the wonderfulmemories I have of being a“Findlay girl,” life is full of happiness.What a lucky girl! — LindaSnyder Weaver, Findlay.Since1972Visit C & S where youget quality service thatyou can trust!Your FullService Shop!• Tune-Ups• Brakes• Exhausts• Oil Changes• Radiator Service• Transmission ServiceSince1972C & S AUTO & TRUCK SERVICE334 E. SANDUSKY ST. - FINDLAY419-424-0666Mon. - Fri. 7:30 am - 5:00 pmDr. Jeffrey A. Evans, D.D.S.is Celebrating his 1 YearAnniversary after acquiring thedental practice ofDr. Matthew Kettinger223 W. Crawford St., Findlay419-422-9034Hours: Mon., Tues., Wed. 8:00 am-5:00 pmFri. 8:00 am-4:30 pmWelcoming New Patients!Dr. Evans and his talented, experienced teamcontinue a tradition of providing outstandingdental care to their patients.• The Findlay plant has received numerous awards for its quality and service,and most recently was named a recipient of the H. David Hoover SustainabilityAward. This award is based on the concept of the triple bottom line, being ratedon Environmental Citizenship, Community Involvement and CorporateContributions.• Ball Corporation is a global manufacturer based in Denver, Coloradoand is rated number 297 in the 2012 Fortune 500 rankings.Congratulations Findlay on your 200th Anniversary!

F4BICENTENNIALTHE COURIERMONDAY, JUNE 11, 2012Growing up with a coal stove,milk box & wringer washerI was 8 years old when Momsurprised me with my first bike!Living in the west end of town, weseemed to walk everywhere.It really wasn’t too far downtownto the Kresge dime store,A&P grocery, post office and thethree movie theaters. I could nowride my new bike to Pearl’s and thePhillips grocery when we neededlast-minute items.My sister and I walked to theAdams grade school, where wehad special teachers come in forreligious education, and musicclasses, and recess, every day. Wewore dresses and saddle oxfordsin those days and, if someone wasmisbehaving, there were sent tosee the principal.I also walked to Donnell JuniorHigh after the city bus was discontinued,a long trek in the winter(and I was made to wear boots!)On cold winter mornings, Ihelped bring coal in from the coalbin at the back of the garage. Wehad a “Warm Morning” stove thatsat in the living room that heatedthe entire house.Before the morning, we put themilk box out for delivery on thefront porch. That was our signalfor two quarts. “Shorty” had ahorse-drawn San-A-Pure Dairywagon that came through theneighborhood each day.Another delivery we lookedforward to was from George’sBakery, but only on Saturdays, asa special treat, a package of mapletwist cinammon rolls!Mom taught us to bake andcook on a cupboard, which was alarge piece of furniture with a porcelaintop that pulled out. Therewas a flour bin behind a door onthe left side, room for sugar andspices behind the middle “pushup” door, and dishes and glasseswent behind the door on the right.The drawers were for towels anddishcloths and another set ofdouble doors for pots and pans,all conveniently in one place.I helped with laundry on Saturdays,using a “wringer washer”that we set up on the back,enclosed porch. To dry clothes, wehung them up on the clothesline inthe backyard.Come spring each year, weplanted a garden at the end of ourlot. Of course, the children wereWe’ve got it...Traced back to 1929, Dick’sAuto Supply was originallyowned by the August Familyfor 40 years, specializing inboats, cars, car parts andauto salvage.In 1968 Harold & BarbMain bought the businessand for 30 years servedthe auto parts and autosalvage needs of the localcommunity.Now owned and operatedby Harold and Barb’s son,Dave and his wife Pamsince 1998, they havecontinued the tradition ofproviding auto parts andsupplies and that extraservice that you won’t findat the big chain stores.Pride in ourlocal history.expected to weed and hoe and harvestthe food! I helped Mom canmany jars of food for winter andwe stored them in the basement.My sisters and I took turnsmowing the lawn. At that time,we had only a “reel” mower.Our neighbors had an unwrittencode to watch out for eachothers’ children. It was a timewhen neighbors sat on their frontporches, waving as others walkedby. Mothers walked with babybuggies, children skated andplayed hop-scotch on the walks.We had great times playingkick the can or hide-and-seekuntil it was dark. Of course, thiswas after supper and chores andhomework was done!Sundays were special whenGrandpa and Grandma picked usup for church, then we’d go for adrive and go to Dietsch’s for icecream!I don’t believe my sister andI ever missed a summer day ofriding our bikes to Riverside Parkfor an afternoon of swimming! —Kathleen G. Chambers, Findlay.Back in the day in FindlayMy first memories of Findlay were of The FindlayMotel, where we stayed when Dad was transferredhere with The Prudential. Besides the Holiday Inn,it was the only place in town to stay.Maybe you remember Dad. Was he your insuranceagent? He seemed to know everyone, and everyone,it seemed, knew I was his daughter, back in the dayin Findlay.Growing up on Cynthia Court in the mid-1960s,early ’70s was filled with a sort of childhood magicnot found in the childhoods of today. Fond memoriesof hot summer days “conjegating” under the Roth redmaple, playing basketball at Big Al’s or baseball overat Jacob’s Field, climbing up and sliding down “theramp” on the playground, or sitting inside the tunnelchatting away, back in the day in Findlay.We scoured the neighborhood for discarded popbottles and took them all the way down CrystalAvenue to Griep’s Meat Market, cashing them in forsuckers, candy necklaces, Tootsie Rolls, and candycigarettes. You could get a lot of candy from a few ofthose pop bottles, back in the day in Findlay.(Griep’s Market, located at 417 Crystal Ave., wasowned by Forest A. Griep from 1951 to 1969. It wassold to Annabel Blunk in 1969. It closed in 1981. Thebuilding, including a residence, is still standing andis now a house. Source: Hancock County HistoricalMuseum.)Cool summer nights playing hide-’n’-seek orghost-in-the-graveyard, stealing my first kiss fromthe fellow down the street. We won’t mention anynames, you know who you are, a secret it will stay,back in the day in Findlay.Summer days long gone, replaced by fallingleaves, midget football games with concessions thatincluded those candy cigarettes; punt, pass & kickin the middle of the court. No need to worry aboutcars, they will stop and wait for us to finish the play,back in the day in Findlay.Winter days soon came and the snow piled up highand deep. Still we played outside, digging tunnels,building forts and throwing snowballs at the enemy;making angels in the snow, our cold cheeks aglow.Remember the blizzard of ’78? No electricity, andsnow covering John’s yellow car in the driveway, youcouldn’t see the car or the driveway, back in the dayin Findlay.Spring thaw, roller skating around and around thecourt sidewalk, and the years went by. We left homeone by one. Timmy is with Jesus now, Ed drives forUPS, Jim runs the Christian Book Store, and I haven’tseen Big Al in a long time, but I see his wife at church.Robin Roth is a physical therapist at Ohio OrthopedicsRehab and I haven’t seen Danny in years.Robin, Ranae, Rhonda and Rachelle still visit Annand Fred on Cynthia Court, and I visit with Cindyin the old house at 712. Sometimes we reminisceabout back in the day in Findlay. — Terri Werling,Findlay.Saturday trips memorableFindlay, Ohio, was a favoriteplace of mine. Still is.Every Saturday night, when Iwas a small child, we went to Findlay.We parked on Main Street.The older people and parents dida lot more visiting back in thosedays. That was the thing to do,window shopping and visiting.Most people didn’t have muchmoney but we ate well. Usually weonly had meat once a week. Thatwas on Sundays. Most people hadgardens and some chickens intown. Of course, we country folksraised hogs, sheep, cows and wefarmed with horses. Saturdaynight was for grocery shopping,also.There were five of us children.Bill and I were the youngest. Weloved to go to Patterson’s DepartmentStore and climb up and downtheir open curved metal staircase.And then there was the BostonDepartment Store. At Christmastime,what a thrill it was to go tothe top floor and watch the electrictrains go around and around thetracks. Of course, there were manyother toys, too. You could look butdidn’t touch.Of course, the main attractionwas Santa Claus who always gaveyou a treat, most likely a sucker.Kirk’s Grocery Warehouse hada huge wooden slide to send boxesdown when they were going toload trucks. It curved up the oppositeway to keep the boxes fromfalling off. I tried it once. That wasenough.There was a time when theyhad pet parades in downtownFindlay. Later, they were held atthe Hancock County Fairgroundson East Sandusky Street. Findlayhad other parades, too. A lot ofpeople turned out for them.I attended Washington Schoolon North Main Street, just south ofthat was Dietsch Bros. ice creamstore. What a treat to go downthere at noon. Now it’s a treat togo to their stores on West MainCross and Tiffin Avenue!When I stayed at my grandmotherand aunt’s home on EastSandusky Street, it was fun towatch the horse-drawn, enclosedwagon deliver milk to people’shomes. It was from the San-A-Pure Dairy.There were huckster wagonsthat delivered groceries in thecountry. You were allowed to geton the truck or wagon, as it wascalled, to see if you wanted to buyanything.Two of my aunts started Robinson’sInfant and Children’sWear on East Sandusky Street.Later, they moved to a store onSouth Main Street which also soldHelena Rubinstein cosmetics.Back in those days was theImpress Your Guests 2012 AmenitiesWe are proud to offer upscale accomodations with a friendly and homelikeatmosphere where our staff looks forward to giving our guests exceptional,professional and the most dedicated service possible.With 80 deluxe guest rooms & suites as well asnine different conference rooms, your guest willenjoy the following amenities:• Complimentary Deluxe Continental Breakfast• 50% Off Any Appetizer Coupon• Free YMCA pass• Free Scheduled Shuttle Service Within City Limits• Executive Boardroom (when available)• Full Menu Room Service till 10:00pm• Wireless Internet Connection• Work Station With Two Phone Lines• Personalized Voicemail & Speaker Phone• Handicapped Accessible• Safety Deposit Box• Smoking / Non-Smoking Room Options• Flat Screen TV w/Cinemax• Iron & Ironing Board• Hairdryer• Coffee Pot• USA Today• Business Center• Ample & Secure Lighted Parking• Valet Laundry Service• Refrigerator & Microwave in suitesPhoto provided byHancock Historical MuseumTHE BLIZZARD OF 1978pummeled the Ohio Valleyand Great Lakes region.Winds estimated at 50 to70 mph whipped a heavysnowfall into huge piles.Many residents wentwithout power for days.Some ended up strandedat work, motorists on I-75were stuck in their carsuntil help arrived (or, inat least one case, left theircars and waited the stormout in a weigh station), andanyone with a snowmobile orall-terrain vehicle was askedto drive doctors and otherpersonnel to the hospital. Atleft, a Findlay woman posesfor a quick picture with herdog after digging out of herhouse.beginning of WFIN. My AuntMable Robinson was a wellknownsinger in Findlay. She hada 15-minute program, which shedid without compensation. Afterher death, her sister Olive tookover. I also had the good fortuneof singing on one of the episodes.One room at the radio stationhad WFIN spelled out in hugeletters made with war savingsstamps. Back then, we gatheredmilkweed pods and took them toschool. They were used to makeparachutes.Robinson’s Infant and Children’sWear gave a style review onWFIN at least once. The modelswere babies and children whocame into their store, plus someof us relatives.There was a Farm Bureauband. It practiced on East LincolnStreet. My brother and sisterswere in it. I got to tag along at theback with a baton.Riverside Park, the swimmingpool, and the skating rink were allgood memories.Last but not least, I remembermy mother telling about the 1913flood. They had chickens. Theyand the chickens all had to move tothe second floor to survive. Thiswas at the same home I talkedabout before on East SanduskyStreet. — Julia WittenmyerWilson, McComb.Findlay419-422-4862Fostoria419-435-7755

THE COURIERMONDAY, JUNE 11, 2012BICENTENNIALF5Findlay in 1940s and 1950s:a Norman Rockwell paintingThe fond memories of growingup in Findlay remain inmy thoughts, of a boyhood onBlanchard Avenue where mysister, Judy, and I grew up.What a great time it was withmy pals. We played hockey and iceskatedalong Eagle Creek duringwinter. Sometimes, we skated allthe way out to Camp Berry and,during those warm summers, wecamped along Eagle Creek overnight.With our homemade slingshots,we stalked big game in andaround the fairgrounds and sevenquarries.We didn’t bother anybody andnobody bothered us. We neverheard of sexual predators ormolesters.There were lots of mom-andpopstores in the area. Some hadlarge coolers with water and hugechunks of ice. Those first swigsGrowing up on Defiance Avenueof Dad’s Root Beer almost causedyour throat to seize up.We rode our bikes everywhere.Most of the time, we were atDietsch’s, sipping shakes and playingBuddy Holly on the jukebox.And, guess what? When we left,our bikes were still there.Our bikes were our only meansof getting around. If they brokedown, we tooled to Cussins &Ferns on Sandusky Street anddid our own repair work. It neveroccurred to lawyer-up and go afterthe bicycle company.It was at Donnell Junior Highthat we became aware of girls. Irecall those awkward moments atthe first sock hop at the YMCA,waiting to be asked to dance at thefirst ladies’ choice. The ’50s musicwas the greatest... We never hadan after-dance drive-by. In Findlay,we did the drive-in and it was allAs a childhood resident of theDefiance Avenue area in Findlay inthe ’50s, my memories are of lazy,hot summers and cold winter fun.In the summer, the girls wouldcongregate on neighborhoodporches, gossip among themselves,and watch the cars go upand down Defiance, or ride ourbicycles around the area.If we were lucky enough tohave five or 10 cents, sometimesobtained by cashing in glass popbottles at what I believe was calledthe Ice House on North MainStreet next to the Bonded station,we would walk to the North SidePharmacy, where the Rite-Aidnow stands, and buy a large sodaglass of Coke for five or 10 cents.The Swale, an area behind thehouses on the south side of Defiance,filled with water from theBlanchard River duing high-waterperiods and provided us a place toice skate in the winter. The boysplayed hockey and the girls practicedtheir figure-skating skills.Sometimes, when we felt moredaring, the boys and girls bothwould play crack the whip.The boys built bonfires we sataround to get warm and talk andhave fun.Even more fun than ice skatingwas roller skating at the GreenMill Garden (maybe because I metmy future husband there) and itwas not a seasonal activity.Sometimes, we went to themovies on the weekends at theState, Royal or Harris theaters indowntown Findlay.Occasionally, we stopped at“Sweet Little 16.”When hamburgers soundedgood, we biked over to Wilson’s, orwe went over to Broadway to playpinball, while Black Slacks blastedfrom the jukebox. And, when wefelt really brave, the Town Housewas in order, of course, turning upour collars and priming our ducktailsbefore entering.I could go on and on aboutFindlay’s movie houses or theGreen Mill and the Riverside pool,but writer’s cramp is coming on.Findlay in the ’40s and the ’50swas as close to being in a NormanRockwell painting as one can get.I just wish that after I dot my lastperiod, a bowl of Tasty-Taterswould appear, along with an iceddownOld Dutch, and the soundof WFIN’s Joe Darrow countingdown the hits. — L. MichaelMidek, Arlington.Patterson’s Department Storejust to go up and down the circularstairs that graced the interiorof the building.Life 50 or 60 years ago seemedto be so easygoing compared totoday. It seems more children gotjobs in their early teens. Girls werethrilled to be asked to babysit, andboys would take whatever jobswere available to make money.My future husband workedsetting pins in a bowling alleybefore the automated pinsettercame along, and in a horse stable,cleaning stalls, etc.It would be nice to turn backthe hands of time to the daysof our youth when things weresimple and life was easygoing,even without cellphones! — RoseVanWormer, Mount Cory.Deli links Findlay’s past, futureI remember clearly, as a young girl, shopping indowntown Findlay with my mother, especially duringthe holidays. It was so festive with all the lights, evergreen,and music playing from all the stores.It seemed like a big city if you were a little girlfrom Carey!My favorite memory is shopping in Zieroff’s for mydad’s gifts. I must have been very young, as I couldbarely see over the top of the display tables, but Iremember, vividly, the unique plaid linoleum floor.Years later, in January 1989, I made a decisionto change careers and thought a deli would be fun.After checking out many locations, I met with thelandlord at 513 S. Main St. At first sight, I felt thatspace was just too much.It was a late snowy afternoon and many peoplewere just ending their workday and I rememberstanding in the dimly-lit space while the landlordsearched for the lights. Watching all the people on thestreet through the falling snow immediately broughtback the memories of my mother bringing my sistersand me to Findlay to shop at Zieroff’s.All of a sudden, the lights came on and there itwas, sprawled out in front of me! From where I stood,it looked like a huge, plaid football field.Main Street Deli was created right there at thatmoment! I didn’t sleep that night. Instead, I wrote amenu, drew the layout on graph paper, and designed alogo! Main Street Deli opened in May 1989, 23 yearsago. I was able to keep my dream for six years andsold it only because of a family illness.Many people believed it would never make it, buttoday it is considered part of Findlay’s past and a vitalpart of the future of downtown Findlay.Needless to say, I am very proud of that littledeli! Elaine Bruggeman is the current owner and Iwould like to thank her for keeping my dream alive,along with all the patrons who kept coming back andspreading the word.Elaine, one of the best decisions I ever made washiring you. Little did we know that when you walkedout the front door and turned to me and said, “Someday,I’m going to own this place,” you actually would!I wish you many more years of continued success.— Hellen Wittenmyer, FindlayCourthouse waiting room appreciatedNo end to changeAs I sit here in Afghanistan, Isee all these people and wonder,“Where did they come from tomake them who they are today?”Then, I think back where Iam from, and what it was like inFindlay. I meet people here andthey ask where I am from and Itell them. And, surprisingly, I meetpeople who have been to our town.All the way in Afghanistan. Andit’s neat.The older generation rememberswhen Tiffin Avenue was just alarge field, before all the stores andsuch were there, or when Centralwas the high school. Then, I thinkto when I was younger. I rememberwhen there were houses acrossthe street from Meijer and whenwe had a Hills and Kmart.It’s just crazy to think how inthe last 30-plus years this city hasgrown. And to think in another100 years what this place will looklike. It will be unbelievable.I think Findlay needs to askeach generation to bring somethings in and bury a time capsule.And in 80-plus years, they can digit up and remember where theycame from and what their smalltown once was. — Jake Sherman,Logar province, Afghanistan.From Findlay Hardware in 1937toFindlay Hardware in 1976...We are the helpful place.Corner of Front & Main Street419-422-5852Tire & AutoCenterSERVICE YOU CAN COUNT ON!HAPPY 200 TH !“WE DO IT ALL”Locally Owned & Operated616 N. Blanchard St., Findlay • 419-422-1212www.CarkoTire.comAmong my memories of downtownFindlay were the manylocally-owned businesses. Therewere men’s and women’s clothingstores, hardware stores, dimestores, the first discount stores,ice cream stores, restaurants, specialtystores and large departmentstores.Of course there was Marathon,then known as the Ohio Oil Co.The high school was downtown(now Central Middle School)and after school the kids wouldgather at B&G Drugs or Gallagher’ssoda fountains, or perhapsDietsch’s, Islay’s, or Wilson’s. Themovie theaters, the Harris, Royaland Lyceum, were convenientlylocated downtown as well.But, what I really want to shareis my memory of one of the convenientfeatures of the courthouse.As a young girl, the placewhere I was often found was inthe sitting/waiting room locatedon the south side of the buildingwith the entrance off what is nowthe courthouse courtyard.Since all of the shopping wasdowntown then, the shopperswould have to walk between storesand carry their own packages.They did not have shopping cartsor even cars to take their packagesto, since the majority of womendid not drive then. Therefore thecourthouse waiting room was aconvenient resting, meeting, andsocializing place.Sometimes children, likemyself, were left there while theirmothers finished their shopping.I remember being worried morethan once that no one would comeback and I would be left there forever.The room was large and rectangularwith straight chairs liningthe walls and two rows of chairs,back-to-back down through themiddle of the room. The facilitiesand pay phone were in the hallway.Of course, access to the courthousewas open and easy in pastyears. The courthouse is wheremany ladies would visit and waitfor their ride home. — JudyInman Richter, Findlay.PLUMBING, HEATING,A/C SERVICES CO., LLCFOR ALL OF YOURPLUBING, HEATING,AND A/C NEEDS10603 CR 99 • Findlay, Ohio 45840 • Phone: 419-427-2012 • Fax: 419-427-0037WE ALSO DO:• DUCT CLEANING• DRAIN CLEANING• MAIN SEWER REPLACEMENT• MAIN SEWER REPLACEMENTJune Coupon SpecialsFree duct cleaining with a new furnace and a/c$500.00 off any new a/c$1000.00 off any new furnace and a/c 10 year parts and laborA/C Check $59.95*60 month same as cash upon approval*• BASEMENT WATERPROOFINGINSIDE AND OUTSIDE• MAIN WATER LINE• ANYTHING UNDERGROUNDDON’T GETCAUGHT INTHE HEAT!www.siferds.com24 HOURSERVICE7 DAYS A WEEK

F6BICENTENNIALTHE COURIERMONDAY, JUNE 11, 2012Church-buildingjob brought herfamily to FindlayWhat brought my family, theCharles and Virginia Parkinses, toFindlay in the early 1950s was ourdad’s job at the First PresbyterianChurch on South Main Street.Our dad, Charles Parkins, wasforeman, in charge of the men onthe job. He worked for Hasler Constructionout of Tiffin.My brothers and sisters and Ispent a lot of time at the churchwhen it was being put up, fromground floor to the finish. It’s amost beautiful church and we havea lot of memories of the church.The family is very proud of myfather, Charles Parkins, and themen who worked under him, fordoing such a great job. He spentlong hours on the First PresbyterianChurch job on South MainStreet and it was worth it. — MaryParkins Breitigan, Findlay.From park workerto commissionerWhen I was 12 years old, Iworked for Mrs. George Lytle atRiverside Park. She had a standwhere we sold trinkets with “RiversidePark — Findlay, Ohio” onthem. I worked until I was 14 yearsold. It was a fun time for me.From 1987 to 1993, I was thesecond woman on the FindlayCity Council. From 1993 to 2005,I was the first woman elected as acounty commissioner. I never lostan election.I was the only person who hadserved on City Council and as acounty commissioner. — VirginiaR. Clymer, Findlay.At one time, shoppersdidn’t leave downtownI was born in Findlay, and havebeen a resident in Hancock Countyall my life. My parents lived onTrenton Avenue when I was bornin 1956. My grandparents livedbehind us on Madison Avenue andmy aunt and uncle lived around thecorner on Main Street. My dad,Walter, had a heating and roofingbusiness at the rear of Madison.I remember as a child my sistersand I would go to the shopand our grandpa Roy would helpus make sheet metal braceletsand crosses from the sheet metalscraps.My family later moved toShinkle Street. I remember goingto kindergarten at Adams School.The highlight of kindergarten wasgetting to take a nap on a cool plasticmat. Another activity was totravel down the alleys and go toPearl’s, a little carryout where wewould buy penny candy. My sistersand I would have 5 cents each tospend on whatever kind of candywe wanted.Shinkle Street had a lot offamilies with children our age. Wewould play hide ‘n’ seek, flashlight,tag, or any other game we coulddream up. After we were finishedplaying, we would listen for themusic of the ice cream truck tocome down the street. We wouldsometimes be allowed to get icecream. My favorite was the PushUp, orange ice cream on a stick.Dietsch’s ice cream store wasanother place my dad would takeus for a special day out. He enjoyedhis ice cream. Even with all thevarieties they offered, I wouldalways get an orange sherbet cone.Back in the ’60s, there weren’tmany “fast food” places to eat inFindlay. One of the family favoriteswas Wilson’s. A hamburgerwith ketchup and a malt, thatwas the greatest. Another placewas the White House hamburgershop on North Main Street. Therewere six of us in the family andyou could get six hamburgers fora dollar. What a deal.On a Saturday afternoon, wecould go to the movies downtown.There were three movies theaterson Main Street: the State, Royal,and the Harris. We could watch amovie for 75 cents. I remember thefirst Walt Disney movie I saw. Itwas “Mary Poppins.” To this day,it is still my favorite movie. It wassomething special to see it cometo life on the big screen.Shopping downtown was aweekly event. We would go toWoolworth’s and look at all thetoys they had, get some meat forsupper from the butcher shop, andlook at the fancy hats next door.At one time, you could do allyour shopping downtown: shoes atFenstermakers, clothes at JC Penney’s.I always thought it was funto ride the elevator at Patterson’s.You walked in and told the elevatoroperator what floor and thenyou were going. It also amazed meto watch the clerks put papers andmoney in tubes and off they wentto return a few minutes later.When we were shopping, itnever failed that someone hadto use the restroom. The closestrestroom was in the courthouse.You would use the side door andwalk into the restroom that alwayssmelled like Pine-Sol. I thought ithad to be the cleanest restroomaround because of the smell.Once in a while, we would goto the shopping mall. It was on theother side of town so we didn’tshop there as often as downtown.When I was growing up, it was anoutside mall. It was nice but youwalked outside to get from onestore to another.I remember the sesquicentennialin 1962. My mom, Theresa,made my three sisters and me alllong dresses and bonnets to wearfor the celebration. I participatedin the longest-hair contest andcame in second.We all had fun coming togetheras a community to celebrate thesesquicentennial. It’s hard tobelieve 50 years have gone by. Myfamily and I plan to celebrate thebicentennial, especially the paradeon June 14, Flag Day.Flag Day was my dad’s birthdayand he always told us that thecity put up the flags to celebratehis birthday. As kids, we alwaysbelieved him. Those were specialtimes and as I showed family andfriends my story they had fondmemories of growing up in Findlay,Ohio, Flag City. — MargaretSmith Stine, Findlay.Industrial park development significantFriends Service Co. Inc., doing businessas Friends Business Source, came to Findlayin 1991 because of its obvious opportunity inlocation, being right-off I-75, and its people,who represent everything from small businessenterprises to Fortune 500 companies.At the time, we purchased a former officesupply and copier company which had 50 yearsof stability in the community and took on themajority of their employees, which helped usremain knowledgeable of the area and growrapidly. We soon headquartered ourselves here.The biggest area of growth and prosperity Ihave observed in Findlay has been the openingand development of the industrial park locatedacross the street from us on Bright Road. Thepeople, technology and business they have producedand provided have been an outstandingasset to the growth of our area.In my opinion, what will continue to helpFindlay thrive is the fact that we, as a community,seem to be re-establishing our organizationsto work on attracting businesses here. Ithink the community is becoming more confidentin new leadership, as well.Two Fortune 500 companies, several industrialinternational organizations, and thecontinued focus on local, small businesses isexceptional in what is often considered as thesmall town of Findlay, Ohio.I feel we need to work on attracting newtalent and always seek out new partisans, similarto the way a business does with its employeesand clientele. If we stop, simple attritionwill be our demise as a civic entity.Finally, some continued focus on programsto assist and build entrepreneurs of tomorrowwill be essential in our consistent growth.Utilizing the great institution of the Universityof Findlay would do us well, too.The university, for example, has the personnel,structure and new talent we will needin order to progress in the next five, 10, 15,or even 200 years. We, at Friends BusinessSource, have already taken part in givingback to the university and realizing the greatwealth of knowledge and talent they can offerour Findlay, Ohio.Here’s to another 200 years! — Ken Schroeder,Findlay.Appreciated what they hadMy dad was one of four sons born to David and Rosa Brown, andlived on West Front Street in Findlay. Our grandfather was killed in amotorcycle accident when the boys, George, Dave, Ralph and Roy, were2, 4, 6 and 8 years of age. Grandma Rosie was a cook at Salsbury’s, andthen the Palm Steak House on West Main Cross Street, east of Dietsch’s.They lived directly behind Dietsch’s ice cream store, and just east ofthe train depot.When we would visit, I liked to sit outside when the trains arrivedand imagine all the places the passengers were coming from and goingto. How exciting to travel anywhere!We would visit every week, because our Grandma had running waterwhere Mom would do laundry, and we could take a hot bath. Since welived in a converted barn near Houcktown, there was only a well, andwater had to be pumped and heated. What luxury to have hot, runningwater!Every Saturday, my brother and I would go to a movie at the HarrisTheater, then stop back at Dietsch’s for a huge ice cream cone for thelarge sum of 5 cents. I loved Saturdays!Since Dad worked at Cooper, every year we got to go to Cooper Dayat Riverside Park, and ride all the rides. Of course, by standards now,it was absolutely nothing, but back then, it looked like the best place inthe world! And the best of all was the taffy in the concession stand. Idon’t think there’s ever been better!World War II was really hard on our parents’ generation, for so manyreasons, but it made that generation and the next appreciate what wedid have, and the simple things we had in life. — Lois Brown Allion,Bloomdale.Surprise storm arrived in 1966Findlay’s downtown retail stores were open on Saturday nights only.In the early 1950s, my friend’s parents would go shopping at that time.Frequently, Sue would invite us to go swimming with her at RiversidePark on warm summer nights while her parents shopped.During the time of Findlay’s sesquicentennial celebration, my husbandand I were married. Our vocalist lived out of town so, while here,she was able to join us in the festivities.We all enjoyed the performance of the grand sesquicentennial pageant.It was reported that about 600 people participated and nearly70,000 attended this gala event.Our area received a big, wet snowfall on Nov. 3, 1966. Many peoplewere unable to get home from work, including my husband, because ofthe severity of this surprise storm. My uncle remarked he had nevershoveled so many leaves and snow at the same time!It was reported on the radio that grocery stores would open for a fewhours on Sunday, since we had been buried in snow since Thursday. Atthat time, “blue laws” were in effect and only emergency services operatedon Sunday. — Diane Knight Schaller, rural Findlay.Favorite spots, favorite memoriesThe most amazing time of my life was from the time I was a little girland I would come to Findlay and stay with my beloved aunt. She livedon West Hardin Street and within a few blocks of downtown Findlay.My cousin and I would walk downtown and spend the whole daylooking into the store windows and, before we would go home, we alwayshad a soda at the counter of the dime store on Main Street. We loved togo into Patterson’s Department Store and try on all the pretty dresses.I even bought a prom dress there and, in my senior year, went to theFindlay High School prom with a beau from Findlay.The absolute most exciting time was when my aunt would take usto the park for a picnic and we would ride all the rides there. I lovedthe beautiful carousel and the dodg’em cars.Findlay has always held a special place in my heart. We have raisedour children here and now our grandchildren live here, too. Our favoriteplace to take the grandchildren is Dietsch’s ice cream parlor, just as itwas my favorite many years ago!This wonderful town has many, many wonderful memories for me.— Karon Makrancy, Findlay.A GreatSMILEwill payTruckload & Dedicated Service, 3PL & WarehousingServicing the Midwest, East, SoutheastA Tradition of Delivering Excellence!1960-2012dividendsfor a lifetime!FINDLAYPEDIATRICDENTISTS INC.wear a properly fi tted mouthguard for all contacts sportsJACKSON E. WINTERS, D.D.SEstablished and Serving Children’s Dental Needs Since 1980200 LIMA AVE., FINDLAY,OHIO 45840419•422•2051 800•466•KIDSFAX 419•422•5069419-422-5742www.garnertrucking.comVern GarnerP.O. Box 1506, CR 313, Findlay, OH 45839Jean Garner

THE COURIERMONDAY, JUNE 11, 2012BICENTENNIALF7Riverside Park provided great joyI was born in 1944 at the oldBlanchard Valley Hospital onSouth Main Street and have livedhere practically all of my life. Mymother, father, brother and I grewup in a great big house on CenterStreet, where the Salvation Armychurch now stands.Our greatest joy in life wasgoing to Riverside Park to goswimming and riding the rides.A little pond with fish in it wasdirectly centered across from thefenced-in deep swimming pool.My brother and I often threwpennies into it and hoped our wishwould come true.I loved the merry-go-roundmost of all and recall hangingonto the pole of the horse until myknuckles turned white. It made mefeel brave and every time we wentpast my family, I’d wave like crazy!Either Mom or Dad would hangonto me to be sure I didn’t fall, foradded security. The very loud andcheerful music added to the gaietyof this whole experience. The carouselorgan produces a thrill andvisions of merry-go-rounds as wellas other happy childhood memories.I’ve often thought of how amerry-go-round relates to lifein general. Sometimes we justgo ’round and ’round gettingnowhere, and then there are theups and downs to life.Actually the earliest knowncarousel dates back to around500 A.D. Riders in baskets weredepicted suspended from a centralpole. The word carousel originatesfrom the Italian garosello andSpanish carosella, “little battle,”used by crusaders to describe acombat preparation exercise andgame played by Turkish and Arabianhorsemen in the 12th century.This prepared and strengthenedthe riders for actual combat. EuropeanCrusaders discovered thisdevice and brought the idea backto their own lands.A carousel was also a trainingdevice for the ring-tilt, consistingof wooden horses suspended fromarms branching from a centralpole. Riders aimed to spear ringssituated around the circumferenceas the carousel was moved by aman, horse, or mule.Early carousels had no platform.The animals would hang onpoles or chains and fly out fromthe centrifugal force of the spinningmechanism. They were oftenpowered by animals walking in acircle or people pulling a rope orcranking.By the mid-19th century theplatform carousel was developed.With the technological advances,bevel gears and offset cranks wereinstalled on these carousels, thusgiving the animals their up anddown motion.The first carousel in the UnitedStates was created in Hessville, 25miles from Toledo. Many feel thegolden age of the carousel to beearly 20th century America.Recently, my girlfriend, granddaughterand I returned from avisit to The Merry-Go-RoundMuseum in Sandusky where welearned much information onthe carousel, its history and theexhibits on display. It was at thismoment I felt inspired to writeabout my love for riding the merrygo-roundas a child at RiversidePark.How proud I was of myself asI waved with much enthusiasmand joy to members of my familywatching me pass by. I lookedforward to trips to RiversidePark more than any other entertainment.I recently got a disc of historicRiverside Park from our HancockHistorical Museum and burst intoecstasy as I reviewed all the oldrides at this park. What a thrill!Mom would pack us in a wagonand take us to the park for swimmingand the rides. I still rememberhow rough the cement wasat the bottom of the pool for theyounger kids. I always had scrapedknees after swimming, but thatdidn’t stop me!There was a little guy namedGeorge Lytle who ran the trainaround the track, the second trainpurchased for this park. There wasa roller coaster, and little boatsswimming around in circles aschildren happily rang their bells.I loved the swingsets because theframework was so very, very talland I could swing very, very high.I remember how large theteeter-totters were and how mybrother laughed with glee as heslid off the teeter-totter on his waydown. Boom!Big bands, concerts and somefamous entertainers performedCourthouse waiting roomwas handy for visitorsSince the Hancock CountyCourthouse was renovated andmodernized, many younger folksdo not know about the ladies waitingroom next to the restroom areaat the southeast corner of thecourthouse building.This room was used by womenwaiting for their rides or for a cabto pick them up to go home. Duringthe 1950s, it was still uncommonfor older women and housewivesto drive a car. My mother was onewho did not drive.My childhood home was inRawson, so whenever we hadmedical/dental appointements atdowntown offices in Findlay, wetraveled to town with someonewho worked in Findlay. Beingin town all day, we waited at thecourthouse in between appointmentsand shopping.We had lunch at one of ourfavorite places: at Wilson’s, theWoodland Restaurant, or atKresge’s lunch counter.Then, late in the afternoon,Mother and I would walk to theA&P store or Kroger store toget groceries. We wanted to bechecked out by the time our drivergot off work and planned to pickus up at the grocery store for theride home.During the 1950s, the A&Pwas east of the post office on WestMain Cross Street and Kroger wasin the building on the corner wherethe Great Scot store is today.On a tragic day in December,a few days after Christmas, mymother was hit by a car whilecrossing Main Street alone in ablinding snowstorm. Since Momwalked slowly due to polio, hercoat got covered in snow and thecar’s driver was unable to see her.I was waiting at the courthousefor Mom. So, I especially rememberthe kindness of help from thecourthouse cleaning lady, Mrs.Amy Sands, and a policeman, whocame to the waiting room to pickme up.As a frightened 10-year-old, Iwas thankful for that policemanand the medics who helped calmme down as they put me in thefront seat of the ambulance takingmy Mom to the hospital.Fortunately, she had no brokenbones, just bruises, and needed torest in the hospital for a few days.It is good that Findlay stillhas great people, both male andfemale, to serve as police, fire,and medics for helping at times ofcrisis. — Janet Grubbs Fadley,Fostoria.there often. Many times differentbands would play in the park onweekends and many times I gotto watch my dad play the drums.He was really good!There were also times whenperhaps a circus would be comingthrough town and we’d walk to thepark in the evenings to watch thenail-biting high-wire acts. Somehad nets and some didn’t.The big old concession standwas the “cherry on the sundae”as we wrapped up the day or eveningbefore going home. Therewas a section where one couldplay games to try to win prizes.I especially liked fishing out fishwith a little net and usually I wasdisappointed in the prize I hadwon. But it was fun trying!Then there was the homemadetaffy in all kinds of flavors, andcotton candy. It always seemedon weekends that many familiesgathered for big reunions. That’ssomething that doesn’t happen asoften as it used to and it saddensme.After church on Sundays, we’dusually drive around some townsand see many, many familieshaving picnics outside and playingall sorts of games. Picnicshave rather gone by the waysidetoday as well. I guess it’s becausehusbands and wives do not staytogether very long anymore. Thevows they take in marriage to staytogether as a family and work outtheir problems doesn’t seem tohappen much anymore.I recently dug into the pasthistory of Riverside Park andwas amazed at what all they hadto offer. The House of Mirth hadtrick mirrors in it and a tilted floorfor the children. Chautauqua Weekeducated and entertained adultswith lectures, concerts and othercultural activities.The Chautauqua was heldon the spot where the WashingtonMonument replica now is. Awooden auditorium offered showsand entertainment in the summer.Here many celebrities performed,such as The Five Columbians,including Marilyn Miller. In 1920,this wooden auditorium was torndown.Remember the roller rink? Toobad it’s gone. There were Shootthe-Chutesrides, or a 10-cent rideon one of the launches down theriver. Paddleboat rides were availablefor a ride down the “old millstream.”Our Riverside Park was notedas being one of the earliest andlargest amusement parks in northwesternOhio, dedicated in 1906where the old waterworks used tobe. Trains brought visitors from asfar away as Cleveland. Of interest,in 1907 a 70-foot, 250-passengersteamer made its first trip fromMain Street to Riverside Park.A dance pavilion and 2,000-seat auditorium were built in 1907.The bathing beach was made inthe old reservoir. Then, in 1925,came the Green Mill Dance Hallbuilt on the side near the dam.Then, in 1936, shelters, a bandshell and pool bath house madefrom bricks of the old waterworkswere added.The year 1978 marked therenovation of the waterfront,beginning a new era. There werebig-name bands, which highlightedentertainment.What I’d like to say to people200 years from now is, “Never losethe joy of the child within you!”Take time to have fun andcreate beautiful memories for yourfamilies. This is what the childrenwill remember growing up, the funtimes and enjoyable times spentwith family. It really is importantthat parents take the time to enjoytheir families and create lastingmemories.My favorite memories I cherishwith my family are the RiversidePark experiences. I rememberwagon rides and talking with myparents, the simple things. Nomatter how busy my mother wascleaning house, baking, cookingand the rest, she always took thetime to talk with me and listen.It’s so very important to listen tokids.As I see it, Riverside Parkbrought families closer togetherand responsibly provided premiumentertainment for the entirefamily, not to mention the manypleasant memories to cherish.Providing many shelterhousesfor reunions in particular surelywas responsible for enriching thelives of people and families in ourcommunity. — Janice J. Sartore,Findlay.Many memories at RiversideI would like to share the storyof my childhood. I was born afterWorld War II at Miller McCombHospital, as were a number of myfriends at the time, and grew upout by Portage Chapel Church inthe ’50s and ’60s.Our mothers would carpooland take a load of us to Findlayfor swimming lessons at RiversidePool. I remember cold morningsholding onto the side of the pool,while the instructor stood on theedge, wearing a sweatshirt, whilewe tried to swim, or at least keepwarm.After the lesson, we would havetime to ride the Riverside Train,ride the merry-go-round, etc.There were a lot of rides therethen: bumper cars, the little boatsthat went around in a circular tankof water, the little cars that wentaround in a circle, and a couple ofothers.I also remember there was abowling alley in the one buildingthat, I believe, had pins set byyoung men by hand. And there wasthe taffy pull, cotton candy, etc.,in the stalls along the midway. Ibelieve the popcorn, etc., was ina bigger building, which is now ashelter house.Along the swimming pool wasa small pool that held goldfish. Youfelt you had arrived when you werebig and brave enough to go downthe big slide into the pool. Indeed,Riverside Park was a very busyplace in those days!By the way, there was one veryunique thing that we saw eitherdirectly or going to the park, andthat was the San-A-Pure horsedrawnwagons on their deliveryroute.The driver would get out ofthe wagon with his carrier holdingthe bottles of milk, and deliverthe bottles on the doorstep, pickup the empties, and go on to thenext house, while the horse wouldtake the wagon and stop and waitfor him on the street in front ofthe second house. Try that with atruck today!Of course, there was the HarrisTheater downtown with its twobalconies; Patterson’s, with itsspiral stairway; and Zeiroff’s, withthe stacks of hat boxes above theshelves of goods; the hobby shopdown by the bridge, where theelectric trains would disappearthrough the back wall; Croy’s grocerystore, where they would pluga watermelon so you could try itout; Big Boy on North Main, withthe call boxes for curb service;and, of course, the old Wilson’s,the first fast-food restaurant intown.Thanks for the memories. —Larry W. Todd, Bloomdale.THE CREDIT UNION DIFFERENCETHANK YOU FINDLAYWe Service All Makes & Models• Competitive Rates • FREE ESTIMATES24 HOUREMERGENCYSERVICE610 3rd St., Findlay 419-423-5833All major credit cards accepted1800 E. Sandusky St., Findlay, OH 419-422-3936At Brinkman’s Country Corner located in Findlay Ohio, wepride ourselves on a Tradition of Quality. We are not youraverage grocery store. We take great care in providingour customers with the best quality foods, produce, meatsand seasonal foods available. Brinkman’s grocery storehas been a proud part of the Findlay community for overtwo decades, and we look forward to providing you anunparalleled level of service and unmatched food quality.It’s Better at Brinkman’s!www.brinkmanscountrycorner.comWe’veRemodeled!Join Us For aUnique DiningExperienceAuthentic Japanese Cuisineand SteakhouseServing Downtown Findlay Since 1994406 S. Main St., Findlay, OH • 419-424-1007www.japanwestfindlay.comMelrose Avenue StaffWe’re proud…going strong…and ready to serve our membersfor many more years to come.www.hancockfcu.com1701 E. Melrose Ave125 Trenton Ave

F8BICENTENNIALTHE COURIERMONDAY, JUNE 11, 2012Sodas, Sting-Rays, and delivering the newspaperGrowing up in Findlay in the1960s on the far north side presentedme and my neighborhoodfriends a challenge when it cameto consumption: Consumption asdefined by pre-teens and teenagersin 1960 as food, drink and other“necessities” needed to stay alive.Our boundaries, as prescribedby my parents, were given specificgeographic delineation points.This changed with age, from beingrestricted to our immediate yardto travels to the Food Center onNorth Main Street when I hadturned 10 or 11. Freedom came inchunks as I grew from a tricycle tomy shiny red Schwinn American26-inch two-wheeler.Speaking of my red Schwinnis an example of consumerism.My previous bicycles were usedand had training wheels. So on mysixth or seventh birthday, I waspresented with a sign of prestigeamongst my friends: a gorgeousChicago-made bicycle.From this day forth I had“wheels,” which trumped pedestriantravel by volumes! My avenuesof consumption quadrupledafter I mastered riding a 26-inchbicycle at the age of 7.After days of help from friendsand family holding the bike andlaunching the bike and me, Idecided I could do this on my own.I discovered that by holding thebike and running alongside it onthe curb, I would (hopefully) jumpon and let the momentum carryme on to victory.So, I didn’t have to wait untilthe ice cream man jingled hisway into our neighborhood daily,I could hop on the bike and headto points south on Main Street.There was an old hold-out fromthe Dixie Highway days, an agingmotel. It had a pop machine thathad Frosty Root-Beer for a mere15 cents!Further down past Vince andPaul’s Pizzeria about a mile wasour summer haven, Fout’s carryout.Once inside you had six orseven coolers that had a metalroll-down door that held the popwe longed for! From Pepsi, Coke,Vernor’s (old people’s pop, wealways thought), to Kick-A-PooJoy Juice (pre-Mountain Dew)and Variety Club favorites like red,orange and cream soda. It was 12cents for a 12-ounce, 15 cents formost 16-ounces, plus two cents fordeposit. At the counter, we hadLaffy Taffy, Slim Jims and hugePixy Stixs. It was a wonderlandfor our wanderlust of processedsugars. Hmmm good!One of the most unusual hauntsof me and others was Siebert’s giftshop on Bell Avenue. It was thesecond from the last house on thesouth side, almost on the railroadsiding crossing Bell Avenue andSmith’s Foundry. It consisted ofMrs. Siebert’s ranch house andan unattached garage with thesmall shop on the side. You couldalways smell the dozens of cats shehoused in an enclosed house onthe side of the shop.We would knock on her door,if the shop was locked. She wouldcome out smiling, with an apronon, key in hand to unlock the shop.Once inside, we were greetedwith dozens of boxes of candycases full of small toys like woodairplanes, spinning tops and occasionallya cap gun. She stocked alarge array of balloons that wecoveted for their prices, two fora penny, and ability to hold water.Some days we left with over 50balloons and mouthfuls of grapebubble or Blow-Pops.On days close to Mother’s andFather’s days, Mrs. Siebert wouldbe overjoyous and greet us withher whistled voice, saying, “Niceday out today, boys.” She usheredus in to a small showcase filledwith handstitched, embroideredhandkerchiefs for the mothersor monogrammed white ones fordads. Dishcloths, towels and abevy of other hand-crafted articlesgleamed in the small case.The trouble was that afteryou purchased the hand-madearticle, wrapped it up and gave itto your mother, the cat odor stillremained! My mother alreadyknew where the box came fromjust from the “odorfied” package.Nevertheless, all of us kept her inbusiness.Farther south we had an oldgreen former Clover Farms storethat was simply called Main’sMarket. This was the favoritehangout for after-school kidsfrom Northview School. It was abit different because instead of alljunk food like Fout’s, it was a realgrocery store with a real butcher(Mr. Mains), and produce.The one great thing it hadwas several shelves of pennycandies, including Mary Jane,Chick-O-Stick and Bit-O-Honeys.Mr. Main’s daughter sat on top ofthe old counter with a coffee canshe made change from. Yelling to“hurry up” and “don’t finger thefood” were her common catcallsat us.As we became older, say 10-12,our boundaries expanded farthersouth, thus giving us more opportunitiesto become larger, gratifiedconsumers. The Sundry Shop andFood Center became our extremeboundaries during these years.Food Center was owned by myneighbors, the Gainsleys.We would lean our bikes outsideand walk in to check out theaisle that had toys, while Ralphand his son Jeff Gainsley wereperched high up in their office inthe back next to the meat counter.On occasion, they would spotus and wave to us. We always feltwelcomed there.During the spring, we boughtbox kites and a rocket that was along tube that you pushed down,using the air pressure to shoot itupwards 20 feet or more.The Sundry Shop next doorwas a haven for us as it had toys,candy, hobby supplies and theannual spring supply of beanshooters. Ten cents for red straws,the shooters, and neatly stapledhand-packed brown bags of navybeans, 15 cents small, jumbo fora quarter.Once I spent over an hourselecting, and 85 cents for thepurchase of a red, white and bluerhinestone pin for my mother’sbirthday. I was so excited as Ipeddled with my package swayingon the handlebars of my bikeas I headed home.As I turned 13, a small clothingstore opened next to Petti’s restaurant.It was called “The PantsPocket.” It carried all of the muchneededclothing by many youngmen my age. One of my “dreams”of being a young consumer wasto be seen riding my green Sting-Ray with braces on my teeth (theywere really crooked!), wearing thelatest fad, a wet-look blue windbreaker,with wind blowing in myever-lengthening hair.I achieved this after I boughtthe jacket at the new store. ThereI was, heading on North MainStreet toward Rinks Bargain Cityon the east side’s new shoppingdistrict, with my mind on how Iwas going to afford the Beatles’new white album. ( I still own it!)“Collecting for the Courier”were the all-too-familiar words Ispoke every Saturday in 1969 and1970. It was the all-important dayin the life of a Findlay newspaperboy, customers paying their tabsfor the past week’s newspaper.Earning money for my Sting-Ray and the other essentialsspurred my desire to find a newspaperroute that might be available.The Blade and the LimaNews were rags that were dispensedafter school, but you hadto buy the route from the boy whowas “retiring” from his area.I wasn’t interested in paying foran evening route. Besides, someof my older friends I admired hada Republican-Courier route. Soit had to be the big white canvasbags emblazoned in blue letters,“The Republican-Courier.”However, the Republican-Courier routes were not sold onthe open market. You had to findsomeone who was leaving andthen apply for the job. A few dayslater, Dave Wiler told me that hehad found another job and hisroute could be available.Even though the routes werenot sold, I still had to impressDave by buying him an occasionalice-cold 16-ounce Pepsi (his dadworked at Pepsi), followed up witha spicy Slim Jim from Fouts’ carryoutor Main’s Market.It worked, and he offered mehis route, but I had to work withhim while on summer break. Itwas a trial period, I suppose, tosee if I could get up at 3:30 a.m.six days a week, and fling wads ofwords bundled up in green rubberbands, landing them on the porch— no bushes or rooftops, please!Dave was wonderfully patientand fun as we traveled the dimlylightedstreets early in the morning.Of course, having two doingthe work made the job easier andenjoyable. But now the day of reckoningwas waiting for me at thecirculation manager’s office. I hadto go to the office of the paper andofficially apply.It was located behind the courthouse,housed in a former brickchurch. Our door was located offSouth Cory Street. Peddling myold red Schwinn American bikethere was easy because, in mymind, I already owned that greenfive-speed Schwinn Sting-Ray thatlured me weekly to Jim the BicycleMan’s shop just south of CenterStreet.I was interviewed by JohnCain, the circulation manager, andMr. Deeter, the route supervisor.I don’t remember all of the questionsor the answers I gave, butthis was the first real interview Ihad been in, so I was nervous.However, John was very congenialand seemed to understandthe minds of young boys. Theonly thing I had to do after I wasapproved was to get my parents’signature! I could picture myselfwith a bag full of coins jingling asI went door to door collecting thegood old “dough-ray-me!”After the parents’ signature,I headed back to Dave’s house tostrike a deal for all of the necessarytools of the trade. First therewere the huge carrying bags. Hehad two, but I needed three, followedby the all-important rubberbands, brown water-proofed bagsand the card punchers. We agreedon a fair price and I was now acontract entrepreneur!Mr. Deeter came over beforemy first day to go over the rules.Papers had to be delivered by 6a.m., correct bookkeeping methods,and no fooling around. Hehanded me a new blue routeaccount book and blank cards forthe balance of the year. We shookhands and I was an official Couriercarrier!The alarm went off at 3:30a.m., but I couldn’t sleep becauseI was excited! For what? Gettingup early six days a week, not beingable to stay up late and havingfriends shun your invitations forsleep-overs. Who wants to helpEric and get up way too early?What was I thinking?Photos provided byHancock Historical MuseumTHE REPUBLICAN-COURIERcrew was always ready todeliver the latest news.Shown here in 1962, paperboys (above) and print shopemployees (left) alike workedtirelessly to get the morningpaper onto your doorstep.Nevertheless, I got dressedand tried to be quiet as I headeddownstairs. But my mom heardme and got up to fix me a snackas I headed out. As I pulled thegarage rope to roll up the door,I was greeted and scared by Mr.Deeter, who informed me that thiswould be the routine for awhile.He drove away and staring at mewere two huge bundles of thepaper.I was known to the paper deliverymanas Route 65 and my averagedaily customer log hovered ataround 125 customers. My neighborhoodhad no sidewalks, so Islung both bags like bandolierswith around 60 flat papers.Dave had taught me that it wasfaster to walk and fold, band andtoss as you walked. It took awhileto catch on, almost like the walking-and-chewing-gumscenario weall laugh about.The grass was wet with dewmost mornings, rubber bandssnapped my fingers and the printblackened my hands, but I wasaccomplishing something.Half of the route required mybike and the bags, hanging off oflead hooks attached on my handlebars.Many times the load wouldshift and tumble I would, or paperswould fly into the wind. So goesthe life of a carrier!See SODAS, Page F9The Hancock CountyAgency on AgingTHANK YOUFOR 30GREAT YEARS!Celebrate Findlay’sBicentennial1812 2012Reflect on the past and look toward the future.Programs we offer include:• Activities • Chore Services• Fitness/Wellness • Mobile Meals• Outreach• Volunteer Guardianship ProgramHancock CountyAgency on Aging339 East Melrose Ave.419-423-8496Mission Statement:To enhance and supportthe quality of and respectfor older adultswww.hancockseniors.org730 S. Main St. • Findlay(419) 423-1114

THE COURIERMONDAY, JUNE 11, 2012BICENTENNIALF91940: A ‘sweet, country, tidy town’In 1940, Findlay was a sweet,country, tidy town that had an oldfashionedflare. It was friendly,God-fearing, family-oriented,where men were proud to work,and their wives chose to be mothersand homemakers, as theirmothers before them. However,women were also in the workplace.Walking down Main Street,business after business openedtheir doors to accommodate youngand old alike. As a child from firstgrade at Lincoln ElementarySchool until my senior high schoolyears, I remember the fancy dressshops with the beautiful styles ofthe day displayed in their windowson mannequins.Men’s clothiers were just asnice. Men wore suits as the norm,not just on Sunday for church orspecial outings. People presentedthemselves in a different way andattitude than what they do today.It was a kindness, a trustworthyway, a feeling of gratefulness thatmeant respect for one another.Findlay was perhaps 10,000population in those early yearsbefore manufacturing companiesand construction began to changethe skyline.Main Street was Findlay.There was no mall. State Route224 (Tiffin Avenue) was farmlandand country homes, many of thosefarms were passed down from generationto generation. The landwas beautiful as far as the eyecould see, but, by the ’60s, progresswas on the way.Downtown were drugstoreswhere prescriptions were filled,magazines and newspapers weresold, as well as greeting cardsand gifts. Remember Johnson’s,Central, Gallagher’s, S&S, B&G?All popular, and several had sodafountains — ice cream sodas, anickel Coke, a light lunch.Findlay was busy with diners,hotel dining rooms, small restaurants,lunchrooms and sandwichshops. The Phoenix, Craig’s,Wilson’s, Miller’s, Broadway andIsaly’s were wonderful choices.Most people called them “10-cent stores,” F.W. Woolworth’s,S.S. Kresge’s, and J.J. Newberry’s.We would buy anything from anickel to a dollar. Aisle after aisle.This young girl was amazed withwhat was available, so near, yet sofar away.The movie theaters were popularwith everyone. At night, themarquee lights flashed, the ticketlady sat in a booth, just outside thedouble doors. Entering, a tickettakertore our ticket in two pieces,and we had the choice of popcornin a box, candy, and a drink in apaper cup to enjoy as an usherwith a flashlight took us to ourseat. Believe me, that was special.Hollywood at its best.SodasContinued from page F8Rain, wind, sleet, and let’s notforget snow, clogged my progress,but the paper had to be delivered.Customers were generally kindand patient with me. It was 50cents a week when I started, but,by the twilight of my career, it hadreached $1.75 bi-weekly.The Hillcrest apartments hadyoung couples who would leaveand not pay me, or other dwellerswho simply swiped their neighbor’spaper, which would result inme having to scurry over beforeschool to bring over another copy.On occasion, my parent’s paperdisappeared because I needed togive it to an angry early-morningcustomer whose paper just vanished.But I had the crew-cut ’50slook in Mr. Haas, who would takesome of my Saturday collectiontime with a challenge of a game of“horse” or 21, or the kindly Burleyfamily across the street, usheringme inside on cold days, plying mewith cookies and hot chocolate.Yes, good always outdid the badmost weeks, and I grew up learningabout life and people.And my parents helped outon cold, windy and wet days bydriving me to the faraway streetsof Bell Avenue, Hilltop, Waddle,Hillcrest and Lotze. Some days,my mother cooked me eggs andtoast, and I hate to admit, wake meup after I would turn off the alarmand roll back to sleep.Once, an angry customer threwhis payment at me because thepaper didn’t always land squarelyin front of his door. My dad interceded,calling John Cain. TheIt was still too soon beforemodern technology entered thescene. The ’40s, ’50s and ’60swere the years that changed livesgradually. Findlay was changing,too. The big push for education,construction and travel was onthe rise.Greyhound Bus was on EastSandusky Street to all cities inOhio and farther. Morey’s, at thecorner of East Sandusky Streetand South Main, was a center ofattraction for newspapers, magazines,books, greeting cards andgifts, a true standby.Dietsch’s little candy shopwas across the street years ago.Their sugar mints, green, whiteand pink, all flavored, are still myfavorites.The A&P grocery, the mainFindlay grocery on West MainCross Street across from FindlayHigh School, was our Saturdaynight objective.It had an automatic door. Enteringwas the fragrance of coffeebeans being ground (no instantcoffee yet). It was a small market,but convenience food hadn’t beeninvented yet either. So, buying thebasics to cook from scratch was allto depend on for preparing food.Two sacks of food lasted all week,probably under $5.West of Findlay on 224 was theCountry Market. The building isstill standing. In those days, it hadgroceries and meat market on oneside, a retail section on the other.Spent my time selecting a bagof candy from a long showcase.The atmosphere was homey withits squeaky floor and wonderfularomas that spelled “country.”Department stores such as Patterson’s,Uhlman’s, Boston Storeand, later, Lasalle’s offered somuch for everyone.But I mainly remember whenpurchasing an item, we wouldtake it to the cashier behind thecounter. She wrote up the bill andwith our cash placed them in asmall metal container that wasconnected to a track. With a push,the container traveled along thetrack upstairs, to the second floor,to another cashier. She acceptedthe money, made change, and sentthe receipt and change back to thefirst cashier. That system didn’tlast long, but the store did.That was also the time whenclerks were available to actuallyassist a customer to make selections.How times have changedour system of shopping today.Findlay is blessed withchurches for all faiths. In the earlyyears, they were attended faithfullyby families to give thanks toour God.Looking over the congregation,people were dressed with respectas they praised him. The idea toThere is just no place like homeFindlay was a wonderful place to live. I often think of growing up inFindlay in the ’40s and what a safe and special time it was in my life.We lived at 128 George St. and I went to Washington Elementaryfor six years. My first-grade teacher was Miss Fox and needless to say,her last name was very scary.My mother would walk me to school every day and make sure I wasseated at my desk. The minute mother was gone and the teacher’s backwas turned, I would run all the way home, taking all the back alleysas shortcuts and sitting on the front porch steps when mother arrived.I love coming back home to Findlay to visit. I have lived in severalother cities, but there is just no place like home. — Sue Jones Hansen,Placitas, N.M.next collection Saturday, I hadan apology from that Bell Avenuecustomer. Thanks, Dad!My dreams and goals werebeing answered: Sting-Ray waspurchased by Jim’s layaway planand, eventually, I added the obligatorypaper bag hooks on it, too.But I lost out on many a sleepover,mischievous summer night andsweet deep sleep because of mypaper route.My days were numbered, whenI became interested in girls, cars,and cars and girls. It wasn’t coolto be in high school and a newspaperboy.So, one day, a much youngerand eager redheaded boy taggedafter me collecting on that Saturdayin the fall of 1971. He toowanted a Republican-Courierroute. So he offered to help ringdoorbells, fold some papers on aSaturday, followed by a volley ofquestions and him handing me acold bottle of Frosty root beer hepurchased from the machine byPetti’s Alpine Village restaurant.He was anxious and in the zone,and I was looking at motorcycles.“Can you get up at 3:30 a.m.?”I asked the young redhead as hehanded me a Reese’s candy bar. Henodded and we walked together,he dreaming of a 10-speed bikeand me, I was looking at a YamahaEnduro. It appeared that my circleof life was rounding the corner in1971.Life just didn’t get any betterfor me in those days of sodasand Sting-Rays. Newspaper boysgrow into adults and carry withintheir own stories swirling in theirminds, wondering if they couldstill hit the porch on their firstshot. — Eric VanRenterghem,Mount Cory.“come as you are” would be lessthan acceptable then. The HolyBible was our guide and the hymnalswere our source of singingpraises to him.Remember when Jackson’s FurnitureStore on Main Street gaveto every graduating senior girl inFindlay and the county schoolsa miniature cedar chest, a hopechest before she was married?That little chest, after 60 yearspast my graduation, still sits on myvanity. It advertised Lane CedarChests.We can’t forget Riverside Park.The picnic shelters were alwaysbusy with families celebratingreunions of one kind or another.Long ago, the scenic boat rideswere fun (as were) the buildings,now gone, where we could ridethe bumper cars or roller skateto snappy music of the day. Thekiddie pool and adult pool werealways popular, and a large crowdinvariably would turn out for bandconcerts, local talent and those ontour.Standing along the curbs towait for the parades, whether forholidays or special events, was“the best” memory as a youngperson.Loved the floats, school bands,displays from local organizations,the military, and seeing the bigbeautiful convertibles with signs.The mayor and special dignitariessat on the back seat wavingto the crowd. But the best part ofthe parade was the Findlay TrojanBand, loud and peppy, marchingin time with the major and themajorettes.There was a day when parkingwas allowed in Court Place,a small street that circled aroundthe courthouse. Offices, a car dealership,The Republican-Courierwere neatly tucked in that areawhich led north to West MainCross Street.Straight north was Broadway,also known as The Farmer’s ParkingArea, always full on Fridaynight when the townspeople andcountry folks gathered in littlegroups downtown to shop, toreacquaint after a long week onthe farm or workplace. So manypeople, so little space!In those days, cars parkedtoward the curb, not parallel. Itwas not uncommon to see peoplewatching other people from theircars. The 1940-50 vehicles weresomething to see, hear, and ridein.Now, at 78, I still miss thered brick streets and the statelymaple trees that lined Findlay’sstreets; having a family doctorwho took time with us and cared;when there were only two majorbanks; when Montgomery Ward’sand Sear’s had thick catalogues,plus a Christmas catalogue; whenDeep rootsI was born in 1946 and raisedin Findlay. I left Ohio in 1972,after graduating from the MedicalCollege of Ohio in Toledo, andmoved to Jacksonville, Fla. It wasmy intention to move back, but, asthey say, “I got sand in my shoes,”and have lived down here since.It has been my experience thatyou can take the boy out of Ohio,but you can’t take the Ohio out ofthe boy.I have deep roots in Findlay,visit often — was just there formy dad’s 104th birthday — andam contemplating moving back towrap up my life in the next fewyears.Happy, happy celebration! Iwill be back on July 4th, but willprobably miss much of it. I toldmy sister to get my audiotapefrom the time capsule from 1962,if she could. What fun that wouldbe! — Dr. John M. Moorhead,Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.listening to a baseball game onmy radio, sitting on the porchwas thrilling; when driving to theToledo Zoo and later on to the newmalls was a once-a-year happening.From Findlay to Toledo wasa long way and had to be plannedahead.Even though television wasbeginning to appear, our familydidn’t have one until 1952. Beforeit took over our home, we enjoyedrecords on a small record player.Spayth’s sold TVs, appliances,records and gifts. Hagen-Renakerfigurines still fill my chinacupboards today. It was a specialstore on Main.Happy anniversary, Findlay!You’ve provided us with unforgetablememories. A special tributeto our forefathers who laidout the land and began its story.To our leaders, past and present,providing a city that standshonorably and vital to those whochose to love and respect it. Toour God, who gave us his blessingand showed us truth. We especiallypraise and give him honor.— Lila Rose Huysman Roszman,Marion.BINDEL’S APPLIANCELocated in downtown Findlayfor over 44 years!214 South Main St. • 419-422-6954www.bindelsappliance.comPUT YOUR FEET IN GOOD HANDST.C. Reed D.P.M.Trena Reed D.P.M.New Patients WelcomeServing Findlay & the surrounding area since 1995.• Foot & Ankle Surgery • General Footcare• Diabetic/Wound Specialist • Heel Pain• Sports Injury Treatment• Sports Medicine Ankle Injury• Care for the Entire Family• Total Support Orthotic-Quality• Bunions, Corns, Warts,Sandals for Men & Women Ingrown Nails714 Beech Ave.Findlay419-425-FEET (3338)

F10BICENTENNIALTHE COURIERMONDAY, JUNE 11, 2012

THE COURIERMONDAY, JUNE 11, 2012BICENTENNIALF11Remembering a simpler,family-oriented eraDear Nunny: It’s been many years since I have spoken to you or haveseen you. Your love and pride for Findlay follows through in me andmy life today. My nostalgic remembrances bring a smile to my face andallow me to reflect the special events which transpired while growingup in Findlay in the ’60s and ’70s.Some of the happiest and fondest memories were when you took meto the State and Royal theaters. I remember admission to the moviehouse on Saturday was a canned good. Sitting in the Royal Theaterwith the big velvet chairs made me feel so grown up!After enjoying a movie or a cartoon, you would take me downtownto look in the store windows. Going into Patterson’s Department Storeand allowing me to ride the rickety, gold elevator was so special andfun. The circular staircase was also a treat to venture down to the firstfloor where you would be waiting for me.All the workers and people you knew were all friendly and kind.People took the time to chat and visit. As a child, this is what I remember.Lastly, I couldn’t forget our innumerable visits to the downtownDietsch’s on Saturday or after special events. It was so much fun to sitat the soda fountain and enjoy our yummy ice cream treats. They madethe best chocolate sodas and mallow creams in the county! Even today,it’s still a pleasure to get ice cream with my children.These were just a few special memories I experienced in Findlay.That era in Findlay was simplistic and family-oriented. Life was verygood growing up in a smaller, friendly town. Thank you for the memories,Grandma!In loving memory of my grandmother, Ruth Webb. — Lori Dierksheide,Findlay.Grandmother’s storiesof a one-room schoolhouseMy grandmother, Velma Fout, wrote this out for my son, Todd Bailey,when he was in school at Van Buren 20 years ago. I kept her letter andwanted to share it for the bicentennial. This will give you a view of whata school day was like for her in the early 1900s.“My first year at school, in 1907, was at the old Huber on BlanchardAvenue. It is now the administration building. The next year I attendeda little red school, eight miles east of Findlay. It was heated by a largeold wood stove which the teacher had to stoke often and for light wehad oil lamps on the wall. There was only one room. The teacher drovea horse and buggy back and forth each day.“All eight grades were seated by grades. The teacher would call eachgrade, one at a time, to the front row where we would have our class.“At recess time, we all left the building. Some of us played roundtown, that is a ball game. Others just wandered around. For water, wehad a pump in the yard with a tin cup on a wire. We all drank fromthe same cup.“The teacher for punishment would shake the kids, some were quitebig and she would always grab them by their arms.“So, one time, the older boys had misbehaved and knew they werein trouble, the girls decided to put pins in their sleeves. The shakingdidn’t last very long, but now everyone was in trouble, so they calledthe school board. I don’t know what was said to the boy, as I was 10years old, but we did not do that again.“We walked two miles to school and, in the wintertime, we wouldlay down in the snow and make angels by moving our arms up anddown in the snow.“There were no restrooms, only a small outbuilding at the back ofthe lot with two holes. We carried our lunch in the tin dinner pails andate in the schoolhouse.“At the end of the school term, all our families brought a picnic, eachchild had a poem or reading to give for entertainment, then we werehomeward bound.” — Luanne Bailey, Findlay.Findlay memories go on and onAs my hometown celebrates its bicentennial,what do I remember most about Findlay?I recall many “bits and pieces” over the years.These recollections include:Playing a game of putt-putt golf and thenenjoying root beer milkshakes at the attachedcafe ... canoe races on the Blanchard River on7/4/76 (for our country’s bicentennial) ... themanual merry-go-round and the teeter-tottersat Riverside Park ... movies (usually Disney)on a Saturday night at The Millstream Drive-In ... Olympic torch relay down Main Street ...Budweiser horses trot down Tiffin Avenue...The Dog ‘n’ Suds drive up (de-coder ringtoys with every meal) ... Findlay High Schooland Findlay College football games ... chippedham sandwiches from Lawson’s ... “fishing”game and shredded chicken sandwiches atWhittier Elementary School social ... numerousHalloween and Memorial Day parades... Hancock County Fair every fall ... annualdachshund races and basset hound waddles ...Findlay (Men’s) Garden Club summer tours... ongoing Balloonfest and the original OhioBank-sponsored balloon launch at the FindlayAirport (remember Planter’s Mr. Peanutshaped balloon) ... shopping at Bargain Cityand Hill’s Department Store ... Roger Powell’sannual Easter sand sculpture (whether at RiversidePark or at the fairgrounds) ... ice skatingon the Blanchard River ...Bush comes to Findlay ... Christmas onMain Street including the luminaries, lightdecoratedfire truck, and “Rudolph” banneracross the street ... Grandma and I riding ourbikes down the “hill” at Maple Grove Cemetery... sesquicentennial-painted fire plugs ... picniclunches with family at Riverside and Riverbendparks ... hiking and cross-country skiingat Riverbend ... playing tennis at Rawson Park... milkshakes, sundaes, and ice cream conesat Dietsch’s...The “maze” known as Central Junior HighSchool ... the unpleasant smell of Centrex inthe summer air ... the “vegetable/fruit pricewars” at the corner of Blanchard and Sanduskybetween The Fruit Basket and Brinkman’s ...watching Hill’s Department Store’s 4th of Julyfireworks display from Grandma’s front yard ...crowd gathering at West Sandusky’s railroadcrossing as an old-fashioned steam engine wentthrough town ... blimp visits Findlay airport...Grade school field trips to Hancock HistoricalMuseum and Little Red Schoolhouse (guideIda Rupright) ... sledding at Rawson Park inthe winter ... flying kites at Adams ElementarySchool ... calliope (keyboard instrument withsteam whistles) event at Riverside Park ... fishingat the reservoirs with Uncle Bob and Dad(old better than new) ... The Healing Field (offlags) after 9/11...Dunkin’ Donuts’ apple fritters on Sundaymornings ... closing up the house and goinginside for Findlay’s weekly mosquito spraying... feeding the ducks at Riverside’s WatersidePavilion ... the blizzard of ’78 — when wewalked to Great Scot down the middle of SanduskyStreet and got cherry pie because a truckwas stranded on West Main Cross...Various out-of-business restaurants likeRax, Lone Star Steakhouse, Ryan’s, Duff’s,Ponderosa, Bonanza, and Frontier ... swimminglessons at Riverside Park ... and the memoriesgo on and on. — Deb Oberly, Findlay.Rural life before and after World War II am Ilene Metzger Hoy, age 83.My husband, Dick, and I still liveon the farm my parents bought.We have raised our three sons andadopted daughter here. I’ll writewhat I can remember that my parentstold me.My father, Merritt B. Metzger,was born in 1898 in Biglick Township,Hancock County. His parentswere farmers and farmed withhorses, which he and my motheralso did until he got his firstMcCormick tractor.He told that, in 1917, their barnburned to the ground. They lost acouple of horses and other cattle.Also, that same year, his motherdied and older brother left forWorld War I.Someone asked his father howhe could go through such a tragicyear and his father replied that,in the mornings, he would try towhistle a little louder.My mother, Lola A. ThomasMetzger, tells that her parentsmoved into Biglick Townshipwhen she was six weeks old. Hermother died when she was 11years old, but was cared for byher Aunt Cassie, who came to livewith them until she married.Both my parents attended theRuckman school on Route 330, ahalf-mile south of state Route 224.My dad took the eighth grade (for)three years because he liked thebooks and liked going to school.Of course, they had to walk toschool and I can remember themtelling how hard it was to walk inthe snow in the wintertime and, inthe spring, the road was so muddy.Mom had to walk back throughthe woods. She said that her firstday of school she fell over therail fence and her father said sheshould stay home for a year. So,the next year, they had a cousincome and stay with them and walkwith her through the woods.My mother passed the Boxwellexamination and then went intoFindlay to high school. Sometimes,her father took her toFindlay on Sundays and got heron Fridays, or he would take herto Arcadia and she would take theinterurban line that ran from Fostoriato Findlay. She stayed in arooming house during the week.She told that, while she wasin high school, that because ofWorld War I, all the students hadto burn their German books and,after the war was over, there wasa big celebration and parade onMain Street.Those years she lived in Findlayshe liked going to the park.They would take a boat from MainStreet to the park. I think she saidit was called the Past Time boat.She graduated from Findlay HighSchool in 1919.She and Dad were married in1921 and she tells that when theysaved $100 between them, theygot married. Her dad gave thema few chickens and Dad’s fathergave them a cow to help themget started. They rented for a fewyears and bought their first farmin 1925 and this is the farm wherethey raised my two brothers andme.They later acquired more landand Dad enjoyed farming andMom enjoyed being a stay-at-homemom. Of course, the years werehard going through the Depression.On Saturdays, for many years,we went to town and they tookeggs and cream to the City Marketand sold. Then, she had money tobuy groceries and other things weneeded.Sundays we were always inSunday school and at the churchin West Independence. Mondaywas wash day and Tuesdays werespent ironing. Mom made all of mydresses.In the wintertime, they butchereda couple of hogs and a beef.They helped Grandpa Metzgerand her aunts and uncles do theirbutchering, too.Dad died when he was 93and Mom lived to be 95 and sixmonths. They are buried at theUnion Cemetery near West Independence.— Ilene Metzger Hoy,Alvada.Vanlue senior trip repeatedI was born in 1922, so I don’tremember much until the 1930s. Ithought they were the good years.We were a farm family, so we hada place to live and enough to eat.In those years, every familyhad a grandparent, or relative,or someone who needed a home,staying with them.I never went to a one-roomschool. Most of the centralizedschools had been built in HancockCounty. I think there were 11.I started the first grade atVanlue School in a new buildingwith 40 other first-graders with ayoung teacher.We must have been a subduedbunch of children. We must havelost quite a lot of students becausewe graduated 25. A lot of studentswent all 12 years there.Our senior year, we took aschool bus to Washington, D.C.We stayed in a nice hotel, but wehad to stay three in a bed — samesex. Entertainment was throwingpaper bags of water out the windowsat other school groups.We seemed to enjoy each other,so, in 1990, we chartered a busand made a trip to Washington,D.C., again, with our wives andhusbands.Now, there are only four orfive classmates left, and I’m one.— Grace Moyer, Findlay.Since 1955, United Way of Hancock County has raised$64,479,244to improve people’s lives.That’s what it means to celebrate a Bicentennial.And, that’s what it means to LIVE UNITED!To our friends and neighbors…For more than fifty-six years the United Way of Hancock County has worked hand-in-handwith you to make our community a better place to live, work and raise a family. We havealways endeavored to fulfill your expectations and assure that the resources you providedfor community services get the greatest “bang for the buck”.Although times have changed, needs have changed, and your expectations of how we serveour community have changed, the one thing that has not changed is our commitment tobeing an effective and efficient partner with you in meeting our communities’ challengesand striving to achieve community aspirations.Thank you for allowing us to serve you. We are committed and dedicated to helping ourcommunity LIVE UNITED for at least another fifty years.Sincerely,Keith G. DuVernayPresident & CEOUnited Way of Hancock CountyLiveUnitedHancockCounty.org419-423-1432

F12BICENTENNIALTHE COURIERMONDAY, JUNE 11, 2012