November-December - Amherst Historical Society

The Grindstone
November/December 2014
Upcoming
Fall/Winter Events
By My Lantern’s Light
October 18 & 19
5:00 - 8:00 P.M.
Sandstone Village
General Membership
Meeting
October 28, 2014
7:00 P.M.
Village Grange Hall
Christmas in the Village
December 7, 2014
Santa in the Grange
2:00 - 4:00
Caroling in the St. George
Chapel
4:00 - 5:00
Note: Change of Date.
2013 Volunteer
Appreciation Brunch in
the Village Grange Hall
December 13, 2014
12:00 Noon
…… And
The History of Christmas Trees…...
No one is really sure when fir trees were first used as Christmas trees. The custom of
a Christmas tree, undecorated, is believed to have begun in Germany, in the first half
of the 700s. Other early Christmas trees, across many parts of northern Europe,
were cherry or hawthorn plants (or a branch of the plant) planted into pots and
brought inside, to hopefully flower at Christmas time. If a family could not afford a
real plant, they make pyramids of wood and decorated them with paper, apples and
candles to resemble a tree.
The history of the modern Christmas tree goes back to 16th
century Germany. In Alsace, dated 1561, states that “ no
burgher shall have for Christmas more than one bush of more
than eight shoes’ length. In Germany, the first Christmas Trees
were decorated with edible things, such as gingerbread and
apples. Then glass makers made special small ornaments
similar to some of the decorations used today. In 1605 an
unknown German wrote: “At Christmas they set up fir trees in
the parlours of Strasbourg and hung thereon roses cut of manycoloured paper, candles, apples, wafers, gold foil, sweets, etc.”
The first Christmas Trees came to Britain sometime in the 1830s becoming very
popular in 1841, when Prince Albert (Queen Victoria’s German Husband) had a
Christmas tree set up in Windsor Castle. In 1848, drawing of “The Queen’s
Christmas Tree at Windsor Castle” was published in the illustrated London News.
In December of1850 the drawing was republished in Philadelphia, but without the
Queen’s crown and Prince Albert’s moustache to make to look American.
In 1885 Christmas tree candles were the cause of a devastating hospital fire in
Chicago. Because of the danger of tree candles, in 1865 Ralph Morris, an American
telephonist, invented the first electric Christmas lights, similar to the ones used today.
the Candy Cane
Around the 17th century many of the Christmas trees were decorated with sugar-stick candies. The first
historical reference to the familiar cane shape goes back to 1690, when the choirmaster at the Cologne
Cathedral in Germany bent the sugar-sticks into canes to represent a shepherd's staff. The all white candy canes
were given out to children during the long-winded nativity services.
The choirmaster’s custom of handing out candy canes during Christmas services spread throughout Europe and
later to America. The canes were still white, but sometimes the candy makers would add sugar-roses to decorate
the canes further.
The first historical reference to the candy cane being in America goes back to 1847, when a German immigrant
called August Imgard decorated the Christmas tree in his Wooster, Ohio home with candy canes.
( Wonder if Santa ‘s tradition of passing out candy canes didn’t come from the choirmaster!)
President’s letter
By John Dunn
As the weather cools down, we look forward to the upcoming events in the village. On October 18 and
October 19, 2014 our third annual “ By My Lantern’s Light” will be held from 5:00 to 8:00. This story
telling happening is turning into a well attended fun evening for adults and children alike.
A General Meeting of the Membership is scheduled for Tuesday October 28, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.
Following a brief business meeting, board member, Matt Nahorn, will speak on the Old Spring and Grant
Thompson from the Lorain County Metro Parks will have a short presentation. I encourage all to attend this
annual meeting and program.
John Dunn
This year “Christmas in the Village” is December 7, 2014 from 2:00 to 4:00 when Santa, Mrs. Claus and a special elf stops
by to visit with the children. Then at 5:00 join us for caroling in the St. George Chapel; a memorable way to end a family
outing in the village. December 13, 2914 is the Volunteer Brunch in the Grange Hall at noon. Any one who donated time,
talent or treasure to the society in 2013, please call Donna at 988-7255 to make a reservation for the brunch.
Each year the Sandstone Village comes to life with lights decorating all the buildings and trees. Make sure to drive through
at night and view the village in all its holiday splendor.
And on behalf of the Amherst Historical Society Board of Directors, Officers and Staff, we wish one and all
A Blessed Thanksgiving, A Very Merry Christmas And Prosperous New Year!.
Hello all, October in Ohio is Archaeology Month, and FARC presents our fifth annual Ohio Archaeology Dinner on Thursday, October 9, at the AHS Sandstone Village Grange Hall. Also in October will be our artifact ID day, on Saturday October 25.
Though our dinner may be in the books by the time you read this, our artifact ID day promises to be an exciting and informational day. On Saturday October 25, we will host a Native American, prehistoric artifact ID day from 10 am until 4 pm,
at the FARC Lab at the AHS Sandstone Village. Bring your flint, bone, stone, and pottery artifacts that have been passed
down, or that you have found on the ground while walking in the woods. We will have experts in various materials there to
tell you what you have and how old it is. Importantly, there will be no appraisals or authentications. Prehistoric artifacts are
part of the finite "archaeological record", and it's value is in defining human cultural activity. Find out the importance of
your artifacts.
Also, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History is having its Archaeology Day on October 18. Check out www.cmnh.org
for more info. Check our website wwww.firelandsarchaeology.org for specific times as these events approach. We hope to
see you at our Sandstone Village lab for one of our lab sessions and our upcoming events.
Brian L. Scanlan
President
Firelands Archaeological Research Center
2
DO YOU REMEMBER?
The Joys of Christmas Past?
How hard it was, as a child, to fall asleep on Christmas Eve, because you knew that Santa would
not come while you were awake?
Vivienne Bickley
Your favorite childhood Christmas? Mine was when I was (yes) only three and a half before the
Great Depression. My uncles doted on me because I was thus far their only niece and they did not
as yet have children. Uncle Jack gave me a beautiful peach-colored dress with rows and rows of ruffles. Uncle
George had made me a white wooden chest for my doll clothes in shop class in high school and Uncle John
covered its lid solid with pennies. I’d never been so rich before! Santa gave me many gifts among which was a
set of toy cooking utensils- - -my favorite was the rotary egg beater just my size. Is that the reason I’ve loved to
cook and bake all my adulthood? Even during the lean Depression years, my parents managed to give me a
nice Christmas. A friend gave them hand-me-down toys from an older daughter and every time they repainted
the toy. Most people associated pine and baking aromas with the holiday- - my aroma memory was paint!
About the time I found out about Santa, I also solved another holiday mystery. I found out who was pinching
the bottom of the chocolates to see what was inside, then replacing them if he didn’t like that one- - my Dad!
Of course, my favorite memories were when my own children were young and Santa had been on their minds
for weeks. Their looks of amazement and sounds of joy will always be remembered. The saying is “ Christmas is
for Kids” but I believe parents get almost as much joy watching their offspring. Magazines still tell you how to cut
down the work to avoid stress at Christmas, but personally, I never could cut down. Loving to cook and bake,
decorate and yes, even wrapping packages, I really had fun preparing for the big day.
Mr. “Jingaling”- - remember “How you ringaling”. Then you must be a baby boomer! I borrowed his line when it
came to explaining the truth about Santa. He said, “ The real one is inside” and as I repeated it often, they finally
caught on.
How you asked for all the wonderful toys advertised on T.V.? After a morning of delight opening their heart’s
desires, that afternoon I discovered my two happily playing with my gift of construction paper, scissors, crayons
and a whole roll of their very own Scotch tape- -the hit of my day! Using their own imaginations was still the best
past-time,
Carolers visiting your home? I’ll never forget Bernie and Pete Wagner on a cold December night with five or
six (to that date) children; two in a buggy, singing at our doorstep. If you miss caroling be sure to join the others
in St. George’s Chapel on Sunday December 7 during “Christmas in the Village”.
I could write a book about the laughs this family had during Christmas season. My husband’s family and he,
himself, were great on joke gifts and I was often the recipient. Len’s friends chose his birthday and Christmas as
times to leave laughable gifts on our lawn, so my memories of laughter go on and on.
Nostalgia is a wonderful thing, but it can work both ways. It can also bring sorrow especially for older people.
So let’s try to concentrate on the good memories and have a
Merry Christmas!
3
The Curious Curators
Charlie Marty, Matt Nahorn, Joan Rosenbusch, & Ralph Zilch
The following items have been newly donated to the Amherst Historical Society, and we are anxious to display
them for all to see. They will be placed in the Octagonal Barn and in the Quigley Museum.
LEFT: Maxine Miller donated the bungehole tool, circa 1900, used to drill openings
in wooden wine barrels. Corks then would cap the hole or a tapered faucet could be
inserted.
BELOW: Maxine also donated this edger, circa 1920-1940, which came from the barn
of her grandfather, Barney Szarka, when he lived on North Lake Street across from
the railroad switch station.
LEFT: A carpet or rug beater that was donated by Orville Manes whose
mother-in-law, Marie Pippert-Beesing, used as far back as the early 1900s.
It was not unusual to see women swinging this object against their carpets
hanging on clotheslines, dust and dirt flying everywhere.
Still more interesting items were donated by Mel
Huber whose mother was Evelyn Towne. These
ribbons, circa late 1800, are from various fraternal benefit societies that were organized to carry
out social, intellectual, educational, charitable,
moral, patriotic or religious purposes. They provide members with life insurance and other financial protection benefits in accordance with state
law. They use the earnings to fund membersupported community activities. The ribbons or
badges were worn to show membership.
ABOVE: Ribbons left to right are: two Quarrymen’s Mutual
Benefit Association (organized 1898);
Knights of the Macabee; Amherst Eagles Aerie 1442; Knights
and Ladies of Security (1892).
LEFT: These three ribbons show the backsides of the last
three ribbons in the above picture. The ribbons were reversible and when one of their members died, the ribbons were
turned and worn to show the black side.
4
A Step Back in Time…...Thursday June 6, 1935….Taken from the pages of The Lorain Journal
OFFICERS JAIL FOUR IN RAIDS
Bootleggers Hit Hard as
Lorain Police, Feds Strike Twice
MAKE RECORD HAUL
3,000 Gallons of Liquor taken in Lorain,
Two Stills in Amherst
Seizure of 3,000 gallons of illegal liquor in and near
Lorain this morning by police and state officers, and the
discovery of two large stills in Amherst last night by
federal agents and village marshals, deal two stiff blows
to bootleg liquor sources in this territory.
The 3,000 gallons of liquor found at two storage and
aging plants this morning marked the biggest seizure of
illegal liquor in Lorain and vicinity since prohibition
days.
Big Liquor Supply Found
One of the whiskey plants was located at 1964 E. 30th
st. where 500 gallons of whisky and 350 gallons of alcohol were found, according to police.
The other plant was on Clinton-av. at Stop 7, a short
distance south of the city. It was the largest of the two
and 2000 gallons of whisky and 40 gallons of alcohol
were seized there.
These raids were made by A.J. Mackerty and Frank
Elden, of the police vice squad; Detective E.S. McFadden
and C.M. Hunker, Acting Police Chief George Knapp
and state agents as search warrants sworn out in the municipal clerk’s office.
Turned Over to Feds
The cases were to be turned over to federal authorities, it was announced. Police and state agents
who make the raids shortly before noon, were
watching the places awaiting the arrival of federal
offices from Cleveland before making any arrests.
Two women were being held at the 30th St. plant,
and one woman at Stop 7, it was reported. The
liquor was found in the basement of two houses, and
was in five-gallon containers and 50 gallon aging
barrels. Seizures of the two stills in Amherst
(Continued in next column)
5
TWO HUGE WHISKY PLANTS SEIZED
IN RAIDS IN LORAIN
Bootleggers Hit Hard as Lorain Police, “Feds”
Strike Twice
(Continued from Page 1)
came about when two federal officers passing thru the
village last night, smelled the liquor two blocks away,
according to Elliott Ness, chief investigator for the
district office in Cleveland.
Four men were arrested, two stills, each of 150-gallons
of whisky and 1,150 gallons of mash taken.
Those arrested were Diminic Richichi, 33, who gave
his address as 1735 Livingston-av, Lorain; Frank and
John Duray, 217 W.17th-st, Lorain and Frank Markovish,
26, formally of Lorain but who told officers he had been
living at 381 Seeley-av, Amherst, and operating the stills
there for three or four months, Ness said.
Four Taken to Cleveland
The officers got in touch with E.H. Hayes and Earl
White, village marshals. They watched the house for
awhile. Then Frank Duray drove up about 11 p.m. and
went inside. He was promptly arrested. A little later the
other three men came about midnight and were also
arrested.
The four were taken to Cleveland to face federal court.
All admitted a part in the operation of the liquor plant,
Ness said. Federal authorities said the Amherst plant had
a capacity of 3,600 gallons of mash, but only 1,150
gallons of the mash was working, it was reported. The
stills were located in the basement of the house.
Bootleg liquor was
confiscated by
Amherst city
officials in the
early 1930s during
a raid on a local
home. Shown with
the evidence are,
from left, secretary
Erma Leimbach,
Mayor Clarence E.
Cooper, and police officers, Earl White and Ed Mays.
It just doesn’t happen…..
This past August the German heritage of Amherst was again celebrated at the village, and we must say, it was our best endeavor
so far! More families attended and stayed longer to enjoy the festivities. We listened to your suggestions and discussed with the
food vendor the issue of long wait times to get food and beverages and requested a kid friendly menu. Also, more activities were
made available for the toddlers.
The German Fest, a major fundraiser to benefit the society, replaces the Amherst Olde-Time Jamboree. We are pleased to report,
to date, we have generated more revenue for the society at this one-day event in the Sandstone Village with far less work hours
involved than what was raised at the last few Jamborees. Another advantage is the village is being introduced to more people
many who say, “We didn’t know this was here”.
Large major fundraisers “just don’t happen”. It take time, talent and treasures from many volunteers who generously donated
either their time, talent or treasure. We acknowledge with our thanks the following volunteers: Bob Pallante, Terry Traster,
Charlie Wearsch, Ron Towne, Richard Rumpler, Jim Wilhelm, Charlie Marty, Matt Nahorn, Tom Roth, Chip Rathwell, Mayor
Dave Taylor, Dave Bauman, Marilyn Jenne, Jami and Don Anderson, Gerry and Dennis Armstrong, Kathy and Ted Litkovitz,
Sue and Ron Sauer, Jay and Jean Rounds, Amy Pallante, Molly Lynch, Sharon Substanley, Mary Miller, Kay Clark, Lilly Krebs,
Joan Rosenbusch, Ruth Haff, Kathy Dielman, Maddie Dielman, Jan Orseno, Shirley Young, Elaine Breen, Carol Hiltabidel,
John Dietrich, Donna Breckenridge, Marie Robinson, Judy Ryan, Debbie Czapp, Kelly Post, Joe Miller, Steve Bukovic, Kelly
Miller, Daniella Szalay, Sherri Rumph, David Schaeffer, U.S. Bank Employees and the Amherst Soccer Team.
Additional acknowledgment to our 2014 sponsors: Nordson Corporation Foundation, The Nord Family Foundation,
Marilyn Jenne, North Coast Eye Care, Main Street Amherst, Metro Computer Resources, Giuseppe’s Wine Cellar,
The Mermaid Tale, O’Toole, McLaughlin, Dooley & Pecora Co, Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation, Kaleidoscope
Hair Design, Sliman’s Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep & Ram, Mercy Foundation of Lorain County, Just Joey, Cleveland Zoo,
Columbus Zoo, Amherst Cinema, J.C. Penny, and Vaughnteriors.
The committee is currently working on the German Fest Event for August 8, 2015 and welcomes any suggestions.
Contact Donna at the office at 988-7255.
We are looking forward to seeing you on August 8, 2015 at the German Fest.
German Fest Co-Chairmen,
John Dunn, Martha Pallante and Donna Rumpler
2013 Volunteer Appreciation Brunch
Please note the change of date for the brunch.
It is December 13 at noon in the Grange Hall.
The brunch is to acknowledge and thank those who
volunteered either at the village, in the Quigley
Museum, at the office, or participated in historical
society community related projects in 2013. For reservations call Donna at 988-7255 by November 1, 2014
6
Annual General Membership Meeting
A General Meeting of the Membership is scheduled for
Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in the Grange
Hall.
Matt Nahorn will present his program on the Old Spring
and Braun Brewery. Grant Thompson from the Lorain
County Metro Parks will also give a short presentation.
The Genealogy Corner: # 54 - Orville Manes
Working with family trees is like a box of chocolates... "you never know what you're gonna
get." A few weeks ago the strangest string of events unfolded that made doing genealogy so
worth the effort.
Last month Dave and Jan Schubert, drove to Amherst from Willoughby Hills to check out
Orville Manes
some family information in the Cleveland Avenue Cemetery. As they left to return home they
came upon a sign advertising our German Fest that was being held at the Sandstone Village. They said to
each other, "That sounds interesting... let's go." So they headed off to check us out. When they arrived
they noticed the fact that the German Fest was being sponsored by the Amherst Historical Society and they
became even more interested. "Maybe someone there could help us in our quest to find out more about our
family", they thought. So they went to the German Fest and were then told to stop by the Historical Society
on the following Thursday morning when the genealogy group would be doing research. Before they left
they bought a raffle ticket on a "basket of cheer."
The following Thursday Donna, our Administrative Assistant, put a gift basket on the work table and said the
winners would be in shortly to pick it up. We then realized who they were. Yes, it was the couple that found
us at the German Fest and soon they arrived to claim their prize and go through our records. They were
researching the Dellefield Family and thanks to Orville Manes, our long-time historian and genealogist, we
had much to show them. As they combed through the records, Orville walked in with some paperwork
under his arm. We never know what he will be bringing for us to research from his mountain of family
names (over 60,000) that he has gathered over the years. Uncannily he had brought a family tree chart to
show us and believe it or not it was the Dellefield family tree. We asked, "Oh, so you knew they were
coming here today?" and he looked puzzled and said, "who?” Orville was not aware of the situation
whatsoever. It was just a stroke of luck that he picked the Dellefield tree to research that morning.
If Dave Schubert didn’t know it before, he now knows that he is the first cousin twice removed of
George M. Dellefield, the great-grand nephew of George Dellefield and the great-great-great grandson of
Henry Dellefield.
Here is just a taste of what we found in our research for Dave and Jan…
Henry Dellefield, grandfather of George M. was born in Germany about 1776. Serving under the
brilliant soldier, Napoleon Bonaparte, he was with him in his Russian campaign, spending the winter
near Moscow. He was twice married. His second wife, whose maiden name was Dute, was the
mother of his son George. She survived him, and with her three sons, Henry, George and Anton,
came to the United States, locating in Ohio, where she died in 1872, aged seventy-seven years.
George Delafield, born in Germany, June 20, 1833, came to Amherst, where he secured employment with Judge Harris, grandfather of the postmaster general of the United States. A few years
later he bought fifty acres of the Brace tract land in Elyria township, and continued buying sixty,
forty, sixty, twenty and ten acres, until he had two hundred and forty acres, and was there busily and
successfully engaged in tilling the soil until his death, April 14, 1901. His first wife, whose maiden
name was Mary Schmitkons, died February 17, 1873. She bore him seven children. He married his
second wife, Margaret Schmitkons, a cousin of his first wife, and to them ten children were born.
George M. Dellefeld was born on the parental home in Elyria township, August 30, 1866, and received his early education in the school of his district. Working with his father until attaining his majority, he was well trained in the many branches of agriculture, and in 1892 bought from his father
the old Ab Ely place, consisting of sixty acres of swamp land, and twenty acres of the old Wilford
farm. Here Mr. Dellefeld has made various and substantial improvements, having in 1895 erected
his fine residence, while in 1898 he repaired and remodeled his large barn.
Dellefield Road in Elyria was named after the Dellefield family.
7
.
Non-Profit Org
U.S. Postage
Paid
Amherst, OH
Permit No. 4
T H E A M H E R ST H I ST O R IC AL S O C I E T Y
1 1 3 SO U T H L A K E ST R E ET
AMHERST , OH 44001
P H O N E : 4 4 0 -9 8 8 -7 2 5 5
F A X : 4 4 0 - 9 8 8 -2 9 5 1
E M A I L : A M H E R S T H IS T O R Y @ C EN T U R YT E L . N ET
W E B : W W W . A M H E R S T H I ST O R I C AL S O C I ET Y . O R G
T H E A M H E R ST H I ST O R IC AL S O C I E T Y
BOARD
O F D I R EC T O R S
Jami Anderson
Charlie Marty
Paul Bires
Col. Matthew Nahorn
John Diedrich
Kelly Post
Kathy Dean-Dielman
Joan Rosenbusch
John Dunn
Jim Wilhelm
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
ADDRESS LABEL
Frank Janik, Esq.
The Amherst Historical Society wishes to acknowledge
a charitable remainder trust created by Mr. Evan Nord
and administrated by
The Community Foundation of Lorain County.
Grindstone edited by Bob & Martha Pallante
and Donna Rumpler, Printed by SQP Print Center
Donation of Amherst Police Department Artifacts
Retired Detective Dan Jasinski of the Amherst Police Department with articles he recently donated to the
historical society from his collection of early 1950s law enforcement artifacts. Long range planning anticipates
displaying early police memorabilia in the village. Pictured is Detective Jasinski displaying the shirt retired Police
Chief Art Koppenhafer was wearing when he was stabbed by a prisoner he had arrested and placed in the back seat of
his police car. This occurred when police cruisers did not have the protective screen between the front and rear seats.
Dan Jasinski holding Police
Chief Koppenhafer’s bloodstained shirt.
Among the artifacts is a pair of two-way radios
which have been replaced by lighter, smaller units.
Also a patrolman's baton and hat, a 1950s arrest log
and a variety of uniform badges.
Hat and decorated jacket
belonging to a member of
the Amherst Police
Competitive Shooting Team.