To view the Winter 2015 - Ross County Historical Society
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To view the Winter 2015 - Ross County Historical Society
The Ross County Historical Society 45 WEST FIFTH STREET CHILLICOTHE, OHIO 45601 (740) 772-1936 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.rosscountyhistorical.org Upcoming Events & Programs Holiday Junior Member Program Winter 2015-16 ISSUE Happy Holidays! Need a Gift Idea? (for children ages six to twelve) Hands-on Traditions Saturday, December 5, 2015 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Ross County Heritage Center Learn tricky Victorian parlor games that will make you think while you are having fun. Make ornaments and gifts to take home for you and your family to enjoy for years to come. See toys spanning more than 100 years in time. Refreshments will be served. The program is free for all current junior members & $10 for all non-junior members (the fee includes a one year junior membership). Advanced registration is necessary by calling (740) 772-1936 by Thursday, December 3. Hurry! Space is limited. Christmas Open House at the Franklin House A great gift idea for the history buff in your life is our new 2016 calendar titled The Ohio and Erie Canal through Ross County and Chillicothe. Included are twelve historical photographs of local canal scenes and maps showing the route of the canal through Chillicothe, Ross County & Ohio. Also included are interesting historical facts and events. It is available in our museum store for $9.95 (minus your 10% member discount). Saturday, December 12, 2015 The Ross County Historical Society invites you to a holiday open house at the Franklin House Museum, 80 South Paint Street, Chillicothe. See the newly restored interior of this beautiful century old house decorated for the holiday season. (Please turn to page 3 for further information.) Holiday Hours Ross County Heritage Center Museum Closed: Thursday, Friday & Saturday, December 24-26 and Thursday, December 31. Open: Tuesday & Wednesday, December 22 & 23, 1-5 p.m. and Tuesday & Wednesday, December 29 & 30, 1-5 p.m. McKell Library Closed: Friday, December 25 & Friday, January 1. Open: Tuesday & Wednesday, December 22 & 23, 1-5 p.m. and Tuesday & Wednesday, December 29 & 30, 1-5 p.m. Fall is a great time of year to do maintenance projects. Above (literally) our director and curator re-point mortar joints and replace deteriorated bricks on the alley side of the museum earlier this fall. We thank Dard Hunter for the use of his boom lift and for supplying this photo. 2016 Museum Hours January—March: by appointment only April—December: Tuesday—Saturday 1 to 5 p.m. 2016 McKell Library Hours Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday, 1 to 5 p.m., year ‘round (The museum & library are closed on major holidays.) Winter 2015-16 — PAGE 2 THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER President’s Report, by Henry Herrnstein Director’s Report, by Tom Kuhn Autumn, and a beautiful and productive one it has been thus far, is more than half over. The historical society staff has been busy preparing for the looming winter season. By the time you receive this newsletter the Fall Speakers Series will have come to a conclusion with Margaret Planton’s presentation on her parents’ involvement in finding and repatriating art stolen by the Nazis following World War II. The first program by Cathy Nelson, focusing on the Underground Railroad in Ohio, was excellent, very well-received, and very well attended. The second, dealing with Ohio’s canal system with an emphasis on Ross County, was delivered by David Neuhardt. It, also, was a terrific presentation, well received and well attended. Preparation for winter has involved many projects, large and small, simple and complex. Some will be apparent, some will not, all are necessary. This year’s Christmas Open House will, again, be held at the Franklin House. Upon arrival you will notice the just completed restoration of the front doors, done by Glenn (Bill) Shanks. The house in general is in better condition to receive and accommodate visitors than ever before, and we hope those of you who came to last year’s holiday event there were impressed enough to return again this year and invite your friends and neighbors to come along with you. As a final note, please remember to visit our museum store before Christmas. You just might find an irresistible gift for those history-minded people on your list. On January 1, 2016, the Ross County Historical Society will mark its 120th anniversary. It was on New Year’s Day 1896 that the first meeting to organize a community historical society was held in the Ross County Courthouse. Appropriately, the meeting was chaired by none other than David Meade Massie, the grandson of Chillicothe’s founder Nathaniel Massie. William McClintick, whose home would later become our first museum, was elected president. The organization operated rather informally for the next thirty-five years holding programs, exhibits, and meetings at various locations around town. It wasn’t until 1931 that its members filed Articles of Incorporation with the State of Ohio, and the following year, established the first museum in the McClintick house at 45 West Fifth Street—our permanent location ever since. Over the decades we have been blessed with excellent, forward-thinking leadership on our board of trustees and have always adhered to the principal that the first order of business is to serve our members and the citizens of Ross County. To that end, we have focused all of our resources, energy, and attention on creating one of the finest county historical societies around. We are proud of our original name, remain committed to our founding principals, and look forward to serving the community and region for at least another 120 years. ***** Welcome New Members The Society welcomes the following new members since the last issue of the Recorder (names are in alphabetical order): Kyle Kight Heidi & Paul Piraino Richard Rutherford Dee Stevenson Memberships Make Nice Gifts Memberships to the Ross County Historical Society make thoughtful and inexpensive gifts. Buy them for the history buffs you know by returning the form on page 7. Benefits include free admission to each of our museums and the McKell Library plus discounts at the museum store. The Society’s Wish List Donations of everyday items such as tools and other types of equipment help our staff and volunteers complete a multitude of projects. Since the last issue of the Recorder, we received generous donations from Beverly & John Schwemlein for the purchase of two 8 foot folding tables and the Clarksburg Grange for the purchase of table coverings—THANK YOU very much! If you, or anyone you know, have the following item to donate, please call (740)772-1936. (We would be happy to make arrangements to pick up your donation.) — A set of light weight, long-distance, two-way radios. ***** Gift Ideas from the Museum Store New! Towpaths: A Collection of Articles from the Quarterly Publication of the Canal Society of Ohio, $29.95—an extensive and compelling collection of Ohio Canal history in one book! Edited by Boone Triplett and Bill Oeters. Camp Sherman: Ohio’s WWI Soldier Factory, $17.99 — A brief pictorial history of Chillicothe’s World War I army training camp with over 300 images & photos, by G. Richard Peck. Absalom’s War: The Life and Death of a Young Ohio Farmer in the Civil War, $19.95 — The real life and death story of an enlisted man in the 73rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry including detailed accounts of battles, by Christopher McFarland Clarke. Back In Print! The Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad, and Its Successor—The Baltimore & Ohio: A Study of this Once Great Route Across Ohio, 1851-1988, $25.00 — an outstanding compilation of photos, short stories and newspaper clippings on Chillicothe’s railroad history, by John R. Grabb. The Civil War Journals of Samuel H. Hurst, 73rd Regiment, OVI, $19.95 — a perfect companion to Hurst’s Journal History of the 73rd OVI, compiled by Patricia Fife Medert. Church & High Streets, Chillicothe, Ohio: The Buildings & the People & Other Miscellaneous Structures, $39.95 — the sixth in a series of publications on the structural history of Chillicothe’s historic district, by Patricia Fife Medert. Chillicothe, Ohio: Frontier Settlement to State Capital, $14.95 — An illustrated history of Chillicothe’s founding and role as Ohio’s first capital, by Patricia Medert & Andrew Verhoff. Society members receive a 10% discount on all purchases. A Friendly Reminder The use of articles, photographs, and other items in the Recorder is prohibited without the express written consent of the Board of Trustees of the Ross County Historical Society, 45 W. 5th St. Chillicothe, OH 45601. THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER Winter 2015-16 - PAGE 3 COME JOIN US FOR A CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE The Ross County Historical Society invites you to a Christmas open house at the Franklin House Museum. See this beautiful century old home furnished and decorated for a 1930s Christmas. Special exhibits will include a timeline of historic toys dating from the 1860s through the 1970s, historic Christmas cards from 1875 to 1935, photographs and advertisements of local stores and businesses where Chillicotheans once did their holiday shopping, and photos of historic holiday street scenes in the days before shopping malls. There will also be displays of popular period gifts and live performances of seasonal music by “The Silver Strings” dulcimer ensemble. Please join us for a fun afternoon as we walk down the memory lane of Christmas past. At the FRANKLIN HOUSE MUSEUM 80 South Paint Street Chillicothe, Ohio Saturday, December 12, 2015 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER Winter 2015-16 — PAGE 4 From the Archives, by Pat Medert On Dec. 16, 1943, 631 bombers and fighter planes, of the 8th U. S. Army Air Force, took off from the airfield at Snetterton Heath in southeast England on a bombing raid over the German port of Bremen. Flying in a tight formation on the return flight after a successful mission, two planes belonging to the 96th Bomber Group, 337th Bomb Squadron, collided and crashed near the Church at Poppenwier small village of Poppenwier in the German-occupied province of Friesland, The Netherlands. All the men in the ten- ers recovered the bodies and buried them in the churchmember crews of both planes lost their lives. One of those yard cemetery. In 1945, they were removed to the Amerimen was bombardier 2nd Lt. Robert S. Trusler of Chilli- can War Cemetery at Margraten, The Netherlands. Robert, the son of French and Esther Byrne cothe, shown above. Trusler, was born June 2, 1921, in Columbus, Ohio. The family moved to Chillicothe where his father worked as an instructor at the Federal Reformatory. He graduated from Chillicothe High School in 1941 and was working at the Mead paper mill when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps on March 20, 1942. Trusler trained at the Santa Ana Army Airbase in California and was then sent to Williams Field, Arizona, where he received his wings as a bombardier and commission as a second lieutenant. His last stateside duty station before going overseas in September 1943 was Dyersburg Army Airbase in Tennessee. The parents were notified immediately after the crash that their son was missing in action. In an interview with a Gazette reporter, they said that in the last letter they received, Robert wrote that he had completed twelve missions and would soon go on his thirteenth, one that he dreaded. Mr. and Mrs. Trusler believed he was on the thirteenth mission when he went missing. They were later informed that he was presumed killed in the crash, and on February 18, 1944, an officer from Lockbourne Airbase in Lt. Trusler is in the first row, second from the right. Columbus visited the Truslers to present them the Air Medal, with oak leaf cluster, awarded to their son. His About a year ago, I received an e-mail from René bomber crew had first been recognized on Nov. 16, 1943, Bosma of The Netherlands asking for information about Lt. for their “courage, coolness and skill” while participating in Trusler. He had for some time been researching the air five separate combat missions, and the oak leaf cluster was war over his country and was on a mission to find out as added Dec. 12, 1943, after completing another five mismuch as possible about the Americans who had sacrificed sions. their lives fighting for the freedom of his people. I was able In the late 1940s, those families who wanted to to provide him information found in the archives—the card bring the deceased servicemen back to this country for burfile kept by the staff of the Chillicothe Gazette about the ial near home were allowed to do so. The parents of men from Ross County serving in the Armed Forces during Robert Trusler were among them, and he was reinterred in World War II and the newspaper archives. the Fairmont Cemetery in Camden, Ohio, where the family The planes fell to the ground in open countryside, had once lived. Only seven of the airmen lost near Popparts tumbling to earth in their descent. There was no loss penwier remain at Margraten. of civilian lives or property. Wreckage was strewn far and After the war, the villagers at Poppenwier placed a wide, and it took German soldiers, who were quick on the commemorative plaque in the church, listing the names of scene, weeks to remove most of the wreckage. The villag- the Americans who lost their (continued on next page...) Winter 2015-16 — PAGE 5 THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER Captain Charles E. Becker was a member of the British mission that arrived at Camp Sherman in June 1918. He had served with the Royal Fusilier Regiment in France and had been wounded twice before being given a noncombatant assignment. On August 9, he and four American officers were being transported to the artillery range located on Stoney Creek south of town. The driver lost control of the vehicle on a sharp curve in the road and rolled over an embankment. Becker died instantly of a broken neck, and the other passengers suffered injuries. His remains were taken to Ware’s Funeral Home, and arrangements were made for his burial in Grandview Cemetery. He was survived by his mother and two sisters; three brothers had been killed iin the war. A large number of civilians attended the military funeral, which took place on Sunday, August 11. Also in attendance were the camp commandant, Major General Harry Hale, and his staff. The procession to the grave was led by the 158th Depot Brigade band. Following was an escort on horseback, its color bearer carrying the British Union Jack. An American flag draped the coffin on the horse-drawn caisson as Captain Becker was performing service in the U. S. Army at the time of his death. An army chaplain read the service, and the rites were concluded with a salute by the firing squad and the bugler playing taps. Last spring, I received an e-mail from Jonathan Spurlives on that December day. The inscription above the rell who had attended the names reads: “In a look back to yesterday hid the freedom school in England where of tomorrow”—16 December 1943.” Becker received his education A memorial plaque, and who is now living in this shown right, was also country. School officials were placed in Section 13 of the trying to locate the graves of cemetery where the airmen former students who had lost were first buried, and its their lives in the war and were translation is : “To rememseeking information about those ber the 20 Americans who men. My correspondent was lost their lives near Poptasked with finding Becker’s penwier 16 December grave so that he could place a 1943,” below which is the small cross with an inscription same inscription from inthat was provided in rememside the church. brance by the school . He and Thousands of a fellow student were in ChilliAmerican servicemen who cothe in June and stopped at the museum to pick up the lost their lives in two world material on Becker from the newspaper archives and to wars are buried in cemetercomplete their mission in the cemetery. ies in foreign lands. Few It is gratifying to know that later generations recogforeign soldiers are interred in this country; a British officer nize the sacrifices that were made to preserve the freedom lies in a grave in Chillicothe’s Grandview Cemetery.** they now enjoy. During World War I, soldiers were trained at Camp *The Truslers had two other sons who served in the miliSherman, near Chillicothe, and at the end of their training, tary—Kenneth in the Army Air Force and Jack in the Army. they were shipped overseas to the battlefields of Europe as **A member of the German navy from World War I and a combatants in a war which was being fought in trenches. prisoner of war at Camp Sherman is buried in Greenlawn This was a form of combat in which the American army had Cemetery. no experience. Consequently, officers from both the British and French armies were sent to the camp to aid in training Note: The Poppenwier photos were provided by René Bosmas, and the remainder are from the photo archives. the troops. (continued from previous page) ***** Winter 2015-16 — PAGE 6 THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER From the Photo Archives, by Lisa Uhrig As Christmas approaches, many people will be heading out to the malls on North Bridge Street to do their holiday shopping. However, until the mid 1970s, downtown Chillicothe was a bustling center of commerce. Stores such as Schachne’s, Mayfairs, Frankels, Woolworth, Kresge’s and Norvell’s were all major department stores that supplied the shoppers’ needs. A recent donation of window displays and interior views of Norvell’s department store was a wonderful addition to the Photo Archives. Norvell’s was located in the Masonic building at 51 East Main Street. Walter M. Norvell & Russell E. Hartley bought the dry goods store of Stutson and Johnson in 1913. Mr. Hartley sold his interest in the business to Mr. Norvell in 1923, and Norvell’s department store continued to operate until about 1967. These photos were taken from c. 1938-45, when Harry Ottman was the store manager. Norvell’s Department Store decorated for Christmas ***** Norvell’s employees, Harry Ottman, far left, and Walter Norvell, far right. “Gone with the Wind” window display ***** THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER Recent Acquisitions of the Museum and Library (Listed in order received since the last issue of the Recorder) 64. Book – First German Reader, 1853; Print – framed “Res. of W.T. Jennings, Colerain TP. Ross Co. O.”, c. 1876; Plane – wooden, tongue cut; Pennant – wool felt, for Sesqui-Centennial of Northwest Territory, 1938, donated by Darwin Drake. 65. Magazine – The State Magazine, May 1, 1954, Columbia S.C., article about John Bennett; Article – Youth In Pleasant Places, by Martha Trimble Bennett, from The Horn Book Magazine, June, 1960, donated by Elizabeth Leal. 66. Purses – (2) with 3 changeable covers, c. 1975, donated by Helen Phillips. 67. Photographs – (8) views of buildings & places in Chillicothe; Postcard Album – c. 1916, donated by Julia Pierson. 68. Photograph – framed, of WWI soldiers with French family includes George Ballard of Chillicothe, 1917; Certificate – to George Ballard for service in WWI, issued 1968, donated by Lesley Howson Stavola. 69. Script – The Time Traveler, A play about Chillicothe, August, 2015; Script – “Gather & Share: Mary Worthington & Friends”, A play about Paint Street, Spring, 2013, written & donated by Kezia Sproat. 70. Poster – WWI, Co. H 166th Inf., Roll of Honor, Oct. 1917; Periodical (bound) – The National Picket Guard, Volume I, 1890, Cincinnati, Ohio, RCHS Purchase. 71. Quilt – appliquéd red & green on white cotton, maker & date unknown; Bedspread – “candle-wicked” white-on-white cotton, made by M. Ross, 1852, donated by Alan R. Cory. 72. Scrapbook – related to Frank Rais of Chillicothe and his association with William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill); Photograph (copy) – of Frank Rais Home, 179 Church St., Chillicothe, c. 1905, donated by Marilyn Moncrieff. 73. Book – Illustrated Guide to Cincinnati and the World’s Columbian Exposition, by D.J. Kenny, 1893; Printed Material – related to the Hopewell & Claypool families of Hardy Co., WV, donated by Eleanor Heishman. 74. Ledgers – (4) Evans Insurance Company, Chillicothe, Ohio, c. 1890; Maps – Sanborn Insurance Maps of Chillicothe, Ohio, 1925, donated by Robert C. Evans. 75. Doll, Trunk, Clothing & Accessories – c. 1930, donated by Barbara Fabrey. 76. Deed – selling land from Nathaniel Massie estate to Jacob Hare, 1820, signed by Wm. Creighton, Sr. and Cadwallader Wallace, donated by Charles Sadler. 77. Toys & Books (children’s) – c. 1980 donated by Lissa Wittrup. 78. Photograph – Freddie Myers who flew 3000 feet in the air in a run-away airship, 1910, donated by Stewart Zody. 79. Book – Tupper, The Complete Poetical Works of Martin Farquhar Tupper, c. 1850, donated by Jeanne Masmoudi. 80. Digital Photograph – of William E. Evans Insurance Office, 1896; Uniform Jacket & Accessories – Boy Scouts, c. 1920; Uniform Pants – U.S. Army, c. 1917, donated by Robert C. Evans. 81. Land Grant – John Yancey, 1814 signed by President James Madison & Edward Tiffin, March 8, 1814; Certificate – Insurance Policy for the estate of William Carson, 1899, donated by Robert C. Evans. 82. Game – “Peter Coddle’s Trip to the World’s Fair”, purchased at World’s Fair, c. 1940; Jigsaw Puzzle – “Mt. Vernon”, with WWII War Bond stamp on box, c. 1940; Magazines – (19) Jack & Jill and Child Life, 1940 – 1942 and other items, donated by Martha Gerber Rittinger. 83. Booklets – (6) WWI Training & Technical Manuals, donated by Pat Medert. 84. Photographs – of Norvell’s Department Store, Chillicothe, OH, 1938 – 1945, donated by Susan Bowen. 85. Book – The Military Career of Thomas A. Ware, Jr. 1942 – 1978, 2010, compiled, edited & donated by C. Lee Ware. 86. Timetable – “Scioto Valley Traction Co., October 23, 1917”, donated by Barbara Pape. 87. Posture Brace & original box – “Nulife Posturite Garment”, 1941; Handmixer – c. 1930; Hair clippers – hand-powered, c. 1940; Waffle Iron – c. 1950 and other items, donated by Gary Argabright. ***** Winter 2015-16 — PAGE 7 The Ross County Historical Society Welcomes __ New Member __ Renewal Name________________________ Address______________________ City, State, Zip________________ Phone_______________________ Date_________________________ Are you interested in volunteer work? Yes__ No__ I have enclosed a check made out to the Ross County Historical Society for $___________________. ( ) My employer will match this gift. Employer’s name:_______________ _____________________________ MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP Junior (12 & under) ......... $10.( ) Teacher ........................... 15.( ) Individual ......................... 20.( ) Family ............................. 30.( ) Contributing..................... 75.( ) Group/Club or Business ......................... 100.( ) CONTINUING MEMBERSHIP Life (per person).............. 500.( ) Patron ............................. 750.( ) Benefactor ...................... 1,000.( ) Your benefits as a member of the Ross County Historical Society include: Quarterly newsletter 10% discount in museum store Free admission for museum visits by member and out-oftown guests Free admission to many Society programs Reduced fees for workshops and special programs The Ross County Historical Society is a non-profit 501(c)(3) institution. Your gift may be tax deductible Please make checks payable to: THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 45 West Fifth Street Chillicothe, Ohio 45601-3227 (740) 772-1936 Non-Profit Org., U.S. Postage Ross County Historical Society PAID 45 West Fifth Street Chillicothe, Ohio 45601-3227 Chillicothe, Oh 45601 Permit No. 230 NEWSLETTER DATED MATERIAL • OPEN AT ONCE Winter 2015-16 — PAGE 8 Officers and Trustees of the Ross County Historical Society Henry Herrnstein ....................... President Erc Picciano ................ 1st Vice President Ron Bowen................. 2nd Vice President Tim Barada................................ Secretary Bob Casari ................................Treasurer Tom Kuhn ................... Executive Director Judy Benson ................................ Trustee Vic Cleary ..................................... Trustee Neil Coleman ................................ Trustee Lewis Coppel................................ Trustee Alan Davis .................................... Trustee Richard Enderlin ........................... Trustee Chris Harrod ................................. Trustee Robin McKell ................................ Trustee Pat Medert.................................... Trustee Bob Nelson................................... Trustee THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER The RCHS Welcomes Junior Member... Name_____________________________Telephone # ____________ Address __________________________________________________ City________________________State______Zip Code ____________ Birthdate_______________________Grade in School _____________ Parent/Guardian’s Name _____________________________________ Parent/Guardian’s Signature __________________________________ What are your hobbies? _____________________________________ Are your parents members of the Historical Society? - Yes Is this a gift membership? - Yes - No - No From Whom?______________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________ Please send $10 with this form to The Ross County Historical Society 45 W Fifth Street Chillicothe, OH 45601-3227
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