ARCHBOLD WEATHER

Golden Notes Of Archbold’s Memorable Past




Ten Years Ago

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Expenses for the Archbold Area School District are down by $1 million compared to this time last year, according to David Deskins, superintendent.

“We have eliminated or reduced four-and-a-quarter teaching vacancies, with two additional positions facing elimination or reduction this year. That doesn’t count vacancies that may not be filled at the end of the year due to the early retirement initiative.”

Sauder Woodworking, Archbold’s largest employer, will add about 200 new jobs to the company payroll after purchasing portions of O’Sullivan Industries, a major competitor for many years.

“I’m definitely pleased to be talking about adding jobs in Archbold,” said Kevin Sauder, president and chief executive officer of Sauder Woodworking.

The company purchased the O’Sullivan brand name and most of the intellectual property associated with the industry. Also included is the license to produce the garage furniture line under the Coleman brand name, plus select drawings, patents, and raw materials.

In a front-page photograph, smoke and flames billow from the windows of the former Coach Light Room building on West Elm Street, Wauseon, Saturday, April 14.

A fire discovered about 2 am ravaged a portion of the city’s downtown. In the photo, Fayette firefighters used a deluge gun and their snorkel truck to battle the flames and Kris Lauber, an Archbold firefighter, uses a hand line to deal with a hot spot. About 300 firefighters fought the blaze.

Speaking during a ceremony honoring local media outlets, Betty Young, president of Northwest State Community College, said the college is interested in building a health and wellness facility. She said it would host numerous physical education events, such as indoor soccer or physical training for Ohio police recruits.

Deaths–Rogerio “Roy” V. Sierra, 81, Archbold; Orval J. Beck, 81, formerly of Archbold; Kathleen L. “Kay” Heer Colon, 82, Wauseon

Zachary Voll, AHS ‘05, son of David and Janise, is a member of the Ohio Northern musical “The Magic Flute.”

Earns Degree– Jamie L. Gearig, son of Marlin and Jane, Grand Valley State University

Dean’s List–Levi Rupp, son of Phil and Judy, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; Alicia Buckenmeyer, daughter of Dean Buckenmeyer and Evelyn Seiler Buckenmeyer; David Lawrence, son of Chuck and Carol; Kacie N. Kauzlick, daughter of Rick and Joy, Grand Valley State University

Twenty-Five Years Ago

Wednesday, April 15, 1992

Current fashions caught up with Pettisville and students are permitted to wear shorts, skorts, and culottes throughout the school year.

The garments, as well as skirts or dresses, may not be shorter than three inches above the knee and must have a hem. Biker shorts, spandex and similar apparel will only be permitted under proper apparel.

This is one of a dozen dress code rules approved by the Pettisville Board of Education.

People who are against the proposed St. Rt. 66-Ohio Turnpike Interchange attended the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Access Ohio meeting Monday, but no one spoke against the project.

In fact, only three speakers addressed ODOT officials and representatives of the consulting firm the state hired to prepare Access Ohio, the multi-modal transportation plan.

Jerry Matheny, Wauseon mayor, spoke and showed a map of his plans for transportation throughout the state.

He supported a highway from Lima to US 127 in Michigan. His proposal for the road calls for the highway to go a mile west of Archbold, following Co. Rd. 24, where there would be an interchange with the Ohio Turnpike. He called the Co. Rd. 24-Ohio Turnpike area “a fantastic area to have an interchange.

He also expressed a need to open a corridor from Northwest Ohio to southeast Ohio. “That would expedite this whole portion of Northwest Ohio. You could get to Charleston, W. Va., and Norfolk, Va., without having to back up.

Matheny also called for support of U.S. Rt. 24, the Fort-to- Port improvement project.

Also speaking was Sue Westhoven, representing the Fort-to-Port improvement group. She told ODOT offi- cials and representatives of the consulting firm improvement and reconstruction of US Rt. 24 could improve safety along the route.

It would also provide opportunity for economic development, attracting new jobs and retaining current ones.

Fifty Years Ago

Wednesday, April 19, 1967

The Charles F. and Velma Engler farm of 63 acres, located at the northeast corners of Ohio Routes 66 and 34, has been approved as the location for the new $5,000,000 Four County Joint Vocational School. The land cost $45,000. It was chosen because it is close to the center of the four-county district.

Water for the new school will be supplied by the village of Archbold.

Steve Rettig, Junior Jimenez, and Dave Rychener have been chosen as delegates to Buckeye Boys State at Ohio University, Athens, in June.

Yoder & Frey, Inc., are making plans to entertain a record crowd next Monday and Tuesday in observance of its 20th anniversary.

Second annual auction held by the Fairlawn Haven Auxiliary at Yoder & Frey Inc., Saturday, grossed $3,782.

Fulton County Elementary Spelling Bee will be held Monday, April 24, at the Elmira Elementary School.

The walls of the former Hotel Vernier building have been sandblasted at the corner of Depot and North Defi- ance Streets.

Residents of Archbold and German Township showed interest in tornado preparation when 150 persons attended a meeting Monday night in the American Legion Hall.

Workmen have been redecorating the exterior of the Town & Township Hall building, pointing brick and stone and painting the metal trim and window casings.

Nofzinger Motor Sales was broken into sometime Thursday night and $55 was stolen. Thieves forced the front door. The same night a window was broken in the rear wall of Fish’s 5 & 10, but was not entered. No trace of the robbers.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

Wednesday, April 15, 1942

Mr. John Rich is promoting a new enterprise in Archbold. It will offer deep freeze service to the public. Patrons will rent a large box to store meats, fruits, vegetables… whatever one wishes to freeze at belowzero temperatures.

To make room for the business, two old buildings at the rear of the Norton Hotel property on Depot Street have been torn down and the property cleared for a new 30×60 building.

Every household in the nation will soon be in the sugar rationing program. Sugar will become scarce because of manufacturing gunpowder.

This is the first nationwide experience in food rationing.

Victor, son of Mr. and Mrs. G.C. Merillat, arrived home Saturday to spend two weeks with his parents. Victor was at Pearl Harbor when the Japs attacked, Dec. 7. He saw the Arizona ship bombed while he was aboard the Tennessee. He has been transferred to Norfolk, Va.

An advertisement by La Choy Food Products asks farmers to contract to grow 5 to 20 acres of tomatoes. Meet our representative Norman Klein, Saturday, April 18, between 10:30 am to 3 pm, on the second floor of Stotzer Hardware.

There will be a meeting of the Red Cross, Friday, April 17, at 1 pm, at the Archbold & German Township Hall. Women should bring scissors and thimbles, scraps of percale, cretonnes, sateens, muslins and wool. Sewing will be done for Navy and Army Hospitals.

Salvage pickup is Saturday in Elmira. People living in the country who have salvage to donate to the war effort should take it to the barns on the properties of Mr. C.F. Grime on East Holland Street, or Glen Whipple on Stryker Street.

100 Years Ago

Tuesday, April 17, 1917

An Amish boy in Wauseon High School did not stand when the school sang “The Star Spangled Banner.” Some boys locked him out on the fire escape and he was told not to come to school again. His father explained the boy had been taught that war is wrong and God commanded, “Thou shall not kill.” And it was because of that belief his family came to America. The boy agreed to stand in the future and was permitted to return to school.

Spring clean up is here. Now lets also clean up your conscience and bring back my Pipe Vise and Pipe Wrenches. If you are ashamed to bring them in daytime, just lay them at the door some evening at my place of business and the night watchman will take care of them.– Eli P. Nofziger.–adv.

Theodore Roosevelt and his four sons want to lead a brigade into France to fight the Kaiser.

Sunday was Easter in Hunkeyland. The few boxcars of foreigners working on the new steel rails on the Lake Shore Railroad in Archbold celebrated the day as they did in the old country.

Four sheep, one cow, 12 chickens and 20 cases of beer were slaughtered to make a Hunkey Holiday. They had a phonograph with a bunch of Hunkey songs and sermons, and they also sang and danced to strange tunes. Everyone is satisfied the day was properly celebrated.

If every town in the United States would furnish as many men to serve in the army in proportion to population as has Archbold, there would be no need of conscription.

Friday, April 20, 1917

The Ohio State Board of Health has written Archbold regarding the sewerage problem in Archbold. It is evident that Archbold never will have drainage until it is properly done. Just now the village is too poor to dig a sewer. In a few years when our debts are paid and our credit is again established, a sewer will not be difficult. Contractors can be found with modern machinery to put in the sewer for half the estimated cost.

The French and English are still driving the German Army from French territory back toward Germany proper. During the past two weeks, some 30,000 German prisoners and 180 square miles of land have been captured from the Germans.

Persons driving any vehicles, autos, wagons, buggies or pushcarts must pass to the right of the post at the North Defiance and Stryker streets. Such is now the requirement of the state law.–Mayor August Ruihley, mayor.–adv.

Archbold bakers have been compelled to raise the price of bread. The law does not permit bakers to make a loaf less than one pound, but says nothing about the price. Recently the loaves have been weighing from one to two pounds and selling at 10 cents.

Congress passed the seven billion-dollar bill. The billions are to be loaned to the allies. Congress is likely to debate a while on the conscription, press censorship, and treason matters.

Six Archbold merchants are offering special bargains for today and tomorrow. Those who take advantage of these offerings will beat old High Kost-of-living to a frazzle.



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