January 2020 newsletter

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VOLUME 22, ISSUE 1 JANUARY–MARCH 2020

Officers
President: Angie Hoschouer
Vice–Pres: Doug Allen
Recording Sec’y: Kay Dawson
Corres. Sec’y: Wilma Schroeder
Treasurer: Jack West

Directors
Cleva Collar (2020–2021)
Glynn Marsh (2020–2021)
Robin Perkins (2020–2021)
Doris West (2020–2021)
Barb Eller (2020)
Bill Gothard (2020)
Monty Mercer (2020)
Ron Papp (2020)

THE PRESIDENT’S CORNER by Angie Hoschouer
As we head into the second decade of the 21st century, the 2020s,
I want to take a look back before we look forward. For those who may
not know this story, in 1998 I was one of the original group of people
who founded the Historical Society. I was 31 years old and by far the
youngest member of that group. Together we set forth and established
a nonprofit organization with the purpose of preserving all historical
aspects of Randolph Township.
Through the years I have drifted in and out of the society. I held
offices including Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, chair of
the Ways and Means Committee, and Publicity Chair. Who knew that 21
years later, I would move up to President?
Those who know me know my love for history. I truly believe
that everyone has a story. Thank you to everyone who has shared their
family’s stories, photos, and personal mementos. Our historical society
would be in name only if it were not for your generosity. I hope you will
continue to support the historical society through your donation of family
histories, memorabilia, donations via membership and visitation, and
donation of your time through volunteering.
I am thrilled to be leading this organization and I thank you for
your vote of confidence.
2019 Corporate Members
Carra Builders Comm. Const.
Inc.
City of Clayton
City of Englewood
City of Union
Kindred Funeral Home
Landes Fresh Meats, Inc.
Mill Ridge Village Retirement
Community
Thank you!
We list our valued sponsors
on our website.
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
All functions are at the History Center unless otherwise noted.
Meetings on 2nd Wednesdays
Jan. 8, 1:00 p.m./business meeting/
miniprogram: Englewood Fire Chief Buddy Bergman

Feb. 12, 1:00 p.m./business meeting/miniprogram: TBA
Mar. 13, 1:00 p.m./business meeting/miniprogram: TBA

Office Phone: 937-832-8538
Email: rths@frontier.com
www. rths.org

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QUARTERLY SUMMARY
OCTOBER 2019: Glynn Marsh announced that after the September meeting, at which he agreed to
be nominated for president, Angie Hoschouer had expressed a willingness to serve and he wished
to step aside in her favor. In a meeting before the business meeting, the board of directors had agreed
to have Cable Brothers install new paving blocks in front of the entrance and have Glow Electric
install new heaters in the restrooms. New display cabinets on either side of the dais now have lights
and display war and military artifacts. In accordance with the donors’ suggestion, fire-department
memorabilia donated recently are being evaluated for sale if they are not related to Randolph Town-
ship. Doris read the slate of officers to be voted on in November. After the business meeting, Misti
Spillman presented a miniprogram on Cemetery and Gravestone restoration, showing photos of
some of her work at Woodland Cemetery in Dayton and other cemeteries around the area.
NOVEMBER 2019: New officers were elected. (See list of officers on p. 1.) October’s deposits
to the checking account included an amazing (and very welcome) $2,075.00 from donations, and
$1,010.00 from memberships. The History Center had five visitors, a Cub Scout pack planned to
visit on Nov. 18, and Ivan Clark offered the History Center as a meeting place for the Northcreek
Homeowners Association to discuss their disbandment. While Windows 7 no longer has technical
support, Ivan questioned whether upgrading the old computers to Windows 10 was possible. An
early cold spell stopped any progress on moving the Te-Co statue, installing the French drain along
the north side of the building, or moving the Englewood Fire Station 2 plaque from the Ward Center
to the History Center and interrupted the placing of the paving bricks at the entrance. There was no
miniprogram.
DECEMBER 2019: Doris read a poem, “Snow Days,” and several members shared memories of
playing outside in winter in childhood. (See p. 4.) The Center had 23 visitors in the last month, in-
cluding four Cub Scouts and five of their parents, and 14 members of a homeowners association
used the Center as a meeting place. On Dec. 4, Kay gave a talk about Earl Heck, including excerpts
from his history, to a group of senior citizens at St. Paul’s Catholic Church. It was well received, and
the group is interested in visiting the History Center in the spring. The used-book/holiday ornament
sale on Dec. 6 and 7 brought in $422.The paving blocks in the front entrance have been installed,
look very nice, and, more to the point, provide a level, smooth approach to the front door. The bath-
room heaters are on backorder. Outgoing President Doris West thanked all the officials who had
served during the past year and the board members whose terms will last through this year. She
turned the gavel over to new president Angie Hoschouer, who spoke briefly about her involvement
with the RTHS since its beginning. (See p. 6.) There was no miniprogram.

AREA NEWS AND NOTES

Correction
In the October 2019 newsletter, the outside lighting was mistakenly credited to the wrong
company. Glow Electric actually installed the outdoor lighting.

Caution urged
This summer’s repaving of Valleyview Drive seems to have increased traffic on the street.
While this will increase the public awareness of the History Center, it does pose an increased traffic
hazard. All members entering by History Lane or parking in the southwest parking lot are reminded
to be careful crossing Valleyview Drive, as motorists aren’t expecting to encounter traffic or many
pedestrians.

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THE FAMILY TREE
by Kay Dawson
Scenes of the Past
I once read about a person who, looking through
an old family album, found a photo of people he
wanted to identify. He consulted a photographer,
purchased the recommended solvent, and carefully
detached the photo from the page.
On the back was written, “The whole gang of us,
a week ago Saturday.”
I recently shared that person’s frustration. In
cleaning out some old items, I encountered photos
older than I am. (Yes, young people, we did have
cameras back then!)
A few were labeled. The portrait of a young girl
and an infant was of my mother and her younger
brother. The boy was brain injured and died when
my mother was 10; they were never able to be play-
mates. I’d always known about him, and he is buried
with my grandparents in Memorial Park on N. Dixie
Dr., but until I saw the picture, I never thought of
him as a real person, let alone as my uncle. Now I
wonder how his existence, health, and death shaped
my mother’s personality and how different she, and
my relationship with her, might have been had he
lived to be her brother and my uncle. For one thing,
she always exhausted herself trying to create for us
the large family Christmas she had never had.
But other photos took some detective work.
About two dozen small photos showed mountain
scenery with young men planting trees, playing
games in front of a barracks-looking building, or just
posing for the camera. After I found the certificate
discharging my father from the Civilian Conserva-
tion Corps in 1937, a little Internet research con-
firmed that I was looking at pictures taken at his
CCC camp in Utah.
And when I scanned one
photo into the computer and
cropped and enlarged it, I
realized it was a photo of
my father at age 21. The
ears and face and eyes were
familiar; recognition had
been delayed by the full
head of hair he had then.
Others I could identify
from family stories. My
mother had told me of visit-
ing Cincinnati in 1937 with
a friend to see the damage
from the Ohio River flood. And in her 80s, she
phoned from a hospital bed at midnight, befuddled
by sedatives and insisting she was stranded in Cin-
cinnati by floodwaters and asking for rescue. A
historical society in Cincinnati confirmed the pic-
tures I found were of that flood, and officials were
pleased to have them.
Identifying photos is this winter’s project. I’m
going to try to project the color slides, some of them
75 years old, onto a screen, photograph them with
my digital camera, and preserve them on a thumb
drive. At least the ones I can identify.
Some, of course, are not worth preserving. On
his first trip to Pennsylvania, my younger brother
was fascinated by the mountains. Unfortunately, he
didn’t realize the viewfinder on his simple camera
did not show the exact scene in front of the lens just
below the viewfinder, and my mother wouldn’t al-
low him to unfasten his seat belt. Would anyone like
to see a lot of photos of the dashboard of a 1964
Ford Falcon? (I shouldn’t laugh; years later I came
back from a trip to England with several close-ups
of my finger that had been in front of the lens.)
But too often many photos that would be of in-
terest to a family, to family members of other people
in the photos, or to local historical societies are lost
forever.
Please identify photos you take before you
forget what they are.
Membership Report by Wilma Schroeder
Memberships Processed
October–December
Corporate: City of Union (r).
Family: David & Belinda Bleam (R), Carolyn &
John Bruns (r), Gordon & Bonnie Harris (r), Charles
& Phyllis Sheets (r), Ron & Mary-Ann White (r).
Individual: Allen County Public Library (r), Cathy
Allison (r), Anita Bannerman (r), David Brust (r),
Sally Carles (r), Cleva Collar (r), Kay Dawson (r),
Bill Gothard (r), Dorothy Lurz (r), Judy McDowell
(r), Barbara Weikert (r), Lenette Newell Wilde (r),
Beverly Zellers (r).
Lifetime: Doug Allen (r), Phyllis Pence (r),
Howard Ullery (r).
Sustaining: Clifford Humphrey (r).

The Society is fortunate to maintain a very high
membership renewal rate. We continue to add new
members each year, but lose some of our valued
older members to death and relocation. We value
each and every member and work hard to make the
Society a valuable resource for history in the
community.

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ACQUISTIONS

From Shirley Frick: Various newspaper
articles from her mother’s collection:
“McGuffey’s Readers Recall Early Heritage”;
“The Waterwheel Farm Grist Mill on Rt. 48”;
“Aullwood Center Farm Barn Burns and is
Replaced.”
From Mary Geiger: “Tail Light” lantern used
on the back of Interurban trains in the late
1800s.
From Angie Hoschouer: Criss-cross
directories: July 2004 Polk City Directory,
Dayton, Ohio;
July 2004 Polk City Directory, Dayton North
Suburban;
2008–2009 Haines Directory of Dayton, Ohio,
City & Suburban;
2011–2012 Haines Directory of Dayton, Ohio,
City and Suburban.
From Andrew Bliss: Walt Disney’s
Ferdinand the Bull metal toy.
From Glynn Marsh: A three-ring binder with
“Histories of Various Mennonite and
Missionary Church Groups.”
From John R. Papp: a large photo of 1961–
1962 kindergarten class at Englewood
Elementary School.
From Barbara Weikert: The “Randolphian,”
1927 Randolph High School Yearbook;
Randolph Shamrock newsletter of October
1951;
Randolph Shamrock newsletter of November
1951;
Randolph Shamrock newsletter of December
1951;
Randolph Shamrock newsletter of February
1952;
Randolph Shamrock newsletter of March 1952.

PLAYING OUTSIDE
At the December meeting, members shared memories of playing outside in snowy weather.
As an only child, Doris West remember playing with her collie dog, which she trained to pull
her on her sled.
Monty Mercer recalled sledding down the hills in Irvington Plat and that “I was always
anxious to get out of school but we didn’t get out very often.” Ron Papp, also in Irvington, played
along the river and played hockey on a creek that flowed into the Stillwater and “I remember one of
my friends went out on the ice and broke through. We got him out.”
Angie Hoschouer, 11 during the 1978 blizzard, said that no one could make it up Thelma
Avenue, where she lived at the top of the hill, “so we built snow ramps and we started at the top and
we could just start at the top and slide down.” She also skated on the lake at the Englewood Dam,
sledded down the side of Englewood Dam, and, thanks to an uncle living in Kettering, sledded down
Suicide Hill.
Kay Dawson remembered one winter school break when her mother took her and her brother
hiking in John Bryan State Park, promising them a special treat at lunch. The treat was s’mores, but
“my little brother liked setting the marshmallows on fire and I liked eating the chocolate, and that
was all we got out of the s’mores. She was so disappointed!”
Cleva Collar had a different experience, since she grew up in flat country 100 miles north of
the area, but she remembered one year when snow drifted up against a fence and froze into ice. “We
started hollowing out the drift and we had an igloo and it was fun to sit in there and talk and sing and
do all sorts of things until it started to melt just enough that we didn’t feel safe anymore.”
If you have memories of childhood adventures during snow days or winter vacations, let us
know. We can add them to our oral histories. You can mail them into the History Center on
Valleyview Drive, email them to RTHS@frontier.com, or call 832-8538 and someone will be glad to
tape-record them.

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RECENT HAPPENINGS AT THE RTHS HISTORY CENTER
New look inside and outside
Some changes planned for this year didn’t get done. The cement base for the statue that stood outside
the Te-Co building could not be poured before the cold weather set in. Similarly, plans for a trench to drain
water from Valleyview Drive to the bluff above the river and to move and arrange the Gingrich stones on the
south lawn had to be put on hold. (We could use some young muscles to help with this.) And the City of
Clayton has not found time to move the plaque identifying Firehouse 2 from the Janice Ward Center to the
History Center. In addition, the hockey games the Tidy Bowl men hold in the toilet bowls will continue for
a while; in other words, the new heaters for the restrooms haven’t arrived yet.
The interior of the History Center has undergone some changes Thanks to some generous donors, the
RTHS has acquired some corner cabinets and has placed them at either side of the dais in the meeting room
and in the foyer.
The cabinets in the meeting room contain artifacts and pictures relating to military service of local
residents. The RTHS could still use any military memorabilia from the Korean War and Operation Desert
Storm. Donated or loaned items should have some connection with the Randolph Township area. The society
will accept items from the Civil War and World War I, but will only accept further WWII items if the Center
does not have examples of these items.
The cabinet in the foyer contains items the RTHS has for sale.
The outside of the Center also has changed,
primarily to provide more safety, although the new
look is also attractive. The new paving blocks at the
front entrance give a smooth entranceway and a very
tidy look and should provide easier maintenance. The
trees along the south fence have been trimmed to keep
limbs from falling on adjacent property; the RTHS
wants to be a good neighbor. And the new outside
lighting makes it much easier to enter and leave the
building after dark.
Anyone living in the area who would like to
help with projects or would just like to contribute by coming once in a while to take a turn dusting or
vacuuming is very welcome. And, of course, at business meetings or once public hours resume in April,
everyone is welcome to view the new exhibits.

Talk Given to Senior Citizens
In early December, Kay Dawson spoke to a group of senior citizens, part of the Catholic Community
of Northwest Dayton, at St. Paul’s Church in Clayton. She talked about Earl Heck and read several excerpts
from his History of Englewood and Randolph Township, such as his account of the 1942 accident at Routes
40 and 48 in which a truckload of pigs upset. The listeners found it amusing that he carefully noted that none
of the pigs was seriously injured but neglected to mention what happened to the driver.
She also read a lengthy excerpt of his account of the 1950 blizzard. He said he needed no photograph
to remind him of the look of the snow against his east window, and his vivid prose left the listeners with no
need of photographs, either.
Several of those present expressed interest in touring the Center, although they preferred to wait until
spring.
Ruth Moran, a former member of the Clayton Homemaker’s Association brought a briefcase filled
with memorabilia from that group. It is now being sorted, evaluated, and logged in the Archives Room.
One member of the senior’s group said she and her husband had discovered the Center while on a
walk a few years ago. Finding the Western Reserve at Englewood Dam closed by high water, they wandered
up Valleyview and passed the History Center. While we are glad to have people discover the Center almost
any way it happens, we need to increase its visibility in the community. If you know of any groups who want
to arrange a tour or a speaker, please recommend the RTHS to them. And if you would like to give a talk,
please contact the RTHS.

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Incoming President Angie Hoschouer (l.)
takes the gavel from outgoing President
Doris West.
CHANGE OF COMMAND
The old order passes, the old order returns
As required in the by-laws, the Randolph Township Historical Society elected new officers
in the November meeting. At the December meeting, outgoing president Doris West thanked the
officials who had served and were stepping down and those who had agreed to continue in office.
She especially thanked outgoing treasurer Robin Perkins, who, although not able to attend all the
meetings, had worked hard to set up a spreadsheet that will make the position much easier for her
successors.
She then turned the gavel over to the new president, Angie Hoschouer. Angie is an example
of the loyalty the RTHS inspires in its members, having been one of the charter members. She deliv-
ered a few remarks about that experience:

Thank you for trusting me with a key and a gavel. I hope not to have to pound that too
often! It’s been a pleasure to be a part of the Randolph Township Historical Society from
the very beginning. I remember 98? [Glynn Marsh: Don’t ask me!]—I think it was 1998–
when they made the announcement that the township was going to disband, the first thing
I thought of was, “Oh, no, we can’t let our history go away.”
Thankfully I had read in the Englewood Independent that there were other like-
minded people in the community that were going to hold a meeting about creating a his-
torical society, and I was thrilled. I went to that meeting and I don’t know—there were
half a dozen of us, maybe 10 people. Through the years we never had to cancel a meeting
because we always had a quorum, but sometimes it was just the five of us. It’s nice to see
that there’s 15, 16 people here now.
And I’ve been in and out of giving my time
for the Historical Society and I’m looking forward
to giving my time now. Thank you all for allowing
me to take this and thank you all everyone who’s
given over the past 20 years. This was our ultimate
goal and our ultimate dream and now that we have
it, let’s continue to move forward so that everyone
knows we’re here and let’s get rid of the “I never
knew that you were here” syndrome.

As she noted, she hasn’t always been able to par-
ticipate in activities. (In fact, a previous commitment will
keep her from presiding at the January meeting.) But she
has been active when time did permit and has offered suggestions from time to time. For example,
after reading about the RTHS’s interest in the Holt-Rinehart Cemetery, she suggested we invite
Misti Spillman to address our October meeting about ways to restore old cemeteries.
Many people are hesitant to get involved with an organization because they can’t devote
much time or attend meetings regularly. While the RTHS very much appreciates those who can do
so, we also have room for those who like Angie provide continuing membership and drop in and out
of activities as their time permits. All the members are looking forward to working with Angie in the
coming year.

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.
Marcus Tullius Cicero

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COMMUNITY REWARDS
PROGRAM
One way to donate to the
Historical Society without
hurting your budget is to link
your KrogerPlus card to the
Kroger Community Rewards
program.
Each quarter, Kroger allots
a certain amount of money for
the Rewards budget and divides it among partici-
pating organizations according to each organization’s
percentage of the total spending by members of all
the organizations. Reports sent to RTHS only show
the customer’s KrogerPlus Card Number, name, and
the donation amount.
To register your KrogerPlus Card, go to
www.krogercommunityrewards.com and follow the
instructions. Link the card to RTHS (NPO #81403).
Those without computers or email can set up
accounts at the public library or through another
member. You can also register at 1‐800‐837‐4483,
with your KrogerPlus card and the RTHS number
shown above. The bottom of each receipt should
show your donation. Last year the Society earned
about $500 through this program.

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SOME NEW YEAR’S DAYS IN THE PAST
Here is a look back at bringing in the New Year.

From the David E. Cassel Diary, 1887. Saturday, January 1. Attended Uncle John Cassel’s funeral. Bro.
J.S. Hoke done the preaching. Uncle was aged 40 y’s. 11 mo. 29 da’s. He was buried in the Pleasant Hill
Cemetery.

From the diary of Clarence Furnas who was courting Ethel Baldwin. January 1, 1915. Took my darling
to spend the evening with Mr. and Mrs. D.H. Knife. Had very nice time. Lovely ride home. H.H.I.M.A’s &
K.H. After returning we spent a very happy evening in her home. H.H.I.M.A’s & K.H. Oh, what a dear happy
evening that was.

Note: Not quite sure what the H.H.I.M.A’s & K.H. stand for but one could surmise that H.H.I.M.A’s could
translate as “held hands in my auto” or “held her in my arms.” as for K.H. it could only be one thing:
“Kissed Her!”

From the diary of Mrs. J.W. Guehring. Thursday, January 1, 1920. Clear part of the day and cold, getting
colder this P.M. We were home for dinner. Went over to the auditorium to see the play, it was good. 10
degrees above zero this P.M.

Happy New Year, one and all!

Contributed by Angie Hoschouer

Membership Information
Yes! I want to become a Member of the Randolph
Township Historical Society.
Date _________________________________________
Name(s) ________________________________________
Address_________________________________________
City/State/Zip ____________________________________
Phone__________________________________________
Email___________________________________________
New ________ Renewal ___________Gift______________
Membership Level (Check One)
_____Individual @$15.00/year
_____Family @ $25.00/year
_____Sustaining @ $35.00/year
_____Sponsoring @$75.00/year
_____Individual Lifetime @ $250.00 (one-time)
_____Corporate @ $150/year
Extra Cash Donation: $________________
Enclosed is my check for ___________________
Total______________
Please send completed form with check to:

Randolph Township Historical Society
RTHS History Center
114 Valleyview Drive
Englewood, OH 45322-1324

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SOME DATES TO REMEMBER REMAINING IN 2020
All events are held at the RTHS History Center, 114 Valleyview Dr., Englewood, Ohio, unless otherwise noted.

Monthly Meetings:
2nd Wednesdays
Jan. 8, 1:00 p.m./miniprogram:
Buddy Bergman
Feb. 12, 1:00 p.m.
March 11, 1:00 p.m.
April 8, 7:00 p.m.
(note time change) /miniprogram:
David C. Greer
May 13, 7:00 p.m.
June 10, 7:00 p.m.
July 8, 7:00 p.m.
Aug. 12, 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 9, 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 14, 7:00 p.m. (receive
slate for 2021)
Nov. 11, 1:00 p.m.
(note time change)/vote for officers
for 2021
Dec. 9, 1:00 p.m./installations
of officers/annual noon carry-
in
Work Sessions:
Wed. and Sat. afternoons
1–4 p.m.
Visitors’ Hours at the
History Center
2–4 p.m.
Apr 5 & 19
May 3 & 17
June 7 & 14
July 12 & 19
Aug. 2 & 16
Sept. 13 & 27
Oct. 4 & 18
Open other times by
appointment
Call (937) 832-8538 and leave
message
Special Events:
May 28, 29, (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.),
May 30 (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.):
RTHS Garage/used-book sale
Exhibit:
The RTHS is expanding its
exhibits of military artifacts,
thanks to the donation of two
corner cabinets. The Society
would like more military
mementos from Korea and
Desert Storm or from World
War I. Items must have some
connection with Randolph
township residents.