Randolph County Trivia
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| A Four-Way Generation |
1949.
A four-way generation is indeed something unusual, and it involves a certain amount of complications when one attempts to explain the various persons to the reading public.
The Stephen and Wolfe families of Winchester and vicinity comprise the four-way four generations pictured above. Their ages range from three and one-half months to 75 years.
This unusual family circle centers around Kellie Gene, three and one-half year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Stephen. Those in the group and their relation to the little tot are as follows:
Front row, from left to right, Mrs. Leroy Stephen, paternal grandmother; Gerald Stephen, father; Mrs Patsy Wolfe Stephen, mother; Mrs. Kenneth Wolfe, maternal grandmother. Back row, from left to right, Leroy Stephen, paternal grandfather; Mrs. Elizabeth McCamey, paternal great-grandmother; Mrs. William A Keister, paternal great-grandmother; William A. Keister, paternal great-grandfather; Robert Shandy, maternal great-grandfather; Mrs. Robert Shandy, maternal great-grandmother; John Wolfe, maternal great-grandfather; Kenneth Wolfe, Maternal grandfather.
1934.
Little hope is held by physicians for the life of Norman Wilson, 21, who was critically injured in an automobile accident north of Lynn Wed. night. It is thought that young Wilson is suffering from a broken back. The accident occurred when a car in which he was riding together with R.J. Tucker, a local resident and a man by the name of Hess, of Lancaster, Ohio, struck a large tire which had been lost by a truck, causing the car to swerve into the ditch and crash into a tree. Mr. Wilson is the son of Mrs. Myrtle Wilson of this city and was employed as a trucker at the General Glass Co. here. He was assistant manager of the local J.C. Penny store for 3 years and a graduate of McKinley High School in the class of 1931.
1948; Journal Herald.
"FREE ROOT BEER" With Every Order-Friday At 'NORMAN WILSON'S DRIVE-IN' Located At 'Pop' Lang's Certified Gas Station North Main Street-Winchester Featuring Hamburgers-Hot Dogs-Cheeseburgers- Coca Cola-Coffee- Pop Corn Open Sundays 2 PM To 12PM Monday Thru Saturday 4 PM To 12 PM.
1939.
Rally day Sunday at the Bartonia church was marked with special significance when the church was presented with a large 55-year-old American flag, holding interesting community history within it's folds. The large blue field of the flag contains but 38 stars.
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| The flag. The view is the flag folded in 4 layers draped over the ends of a quilting frame. Photo taken January 2020. |
The flag was presented following the Sunday school services by Mrs. C.F. Oliver at the request of Mrs. John Harter, John W. Morton, George W. Harter and Rev. S.F. Harter.
In the presidential campaign of Blaine and Cleveland, 1884, a Republican rally was held in Winchester with the $35 flag being offered to the community sending in the largest delegation on horseback. The delegation from Bartonia, with John W. Morton as captain, was the largest, so, therefore, it received the flag. Since that time the flag has been in the care of the Harter family. Mary Jane Harter-Stidham, deceased, had charge of it until about 1903; then it was given into the care of Mrs. John (Ida) Harter who has carefully guarded it since that time. It was at her suggestion that the flag be given into the care of the church for the Bartonia community.
According to the most reliable information, the above three named men, Messers Morton, Harter and Harter, are the only ones living who took part in the delegation from Bartonia.
Rev. S.F. Harter in reminiscence recalled that he rode a mule in the delegation and following their arrival in Winchester they continued south of town to lead in the delegation from the Huntsville community.
The Sunday worship was led by Rev. Ora Bogue, the present pastor of the church. At the noon hour a basket dinner was spread on tables in the church yard. The afternoon speaker was Rev. W.O. Powers, of Ridgeville, a former minister of the church 16 years ago. Short talks also were given by Rev. S.F. Harter and J.B. Hart, former residents of the community and members of the church.
A short history of the church is as follows: In 1848 the first class meeting was held at the home of James Bailey, who at that time lived about one-fourth mile west of the present local site of the church. Bailey had a store and inn in connection with his home. In October of 1849, Edward Barton, who lived where Robert DeBolt now lives, had the land surveyed and laid out the village of Bartonia donating the ground for the first church, which was built around 1850. This first church was replaced by the present building in the late 1880's, the first building being moved across the road where it was made into a dwelling house. Robert Bracken, Bartonia's local garageman now resides there. Edward Barton, adding "ia" to his name named the village Bartonia. While the Bartonia church has never had a large membership, it has been fortunate in being located where there is much neighborly kindness and love.
Through the efforts of the neighbors, friends and the Ladies Aid Society, the present building has just received a new coat of paint which adds greatly to it's appearance, and for which appreciation is extended to all who helped in any way by giving money, time and labor.
1948.
Announcement was made of the sale of the Winchester Bowling Center, formerly Falls Recreation, by Goldie and Buzz Falls to Walter Gilliom.
Mr. Gilliom, former owner of Sunshine Cleaners and more recently affiliated with the real estate department of the Emmet Smith agency, 203 South Main, has taken possession and announces that the alleys will be reopened next August 15 for the 1948-49 bowling season.
He plans, during the summer months, to sand and refinish the alleys, remodel and repair the interior of the building located at 120 North Main street.
The Bowling Center was operated the past season by Duane Wickersham.
1968.
The Frank Miller Lumber Company at Union City purchased the former James Moorman Orphans Home farm at auction, paying $502.50 per acre or a total of $84,922.50.
The farm had been abandoned some time ago as an orphan's home. It was founded for that purpose by James Moorman, a Winchester banker, in the late 1800's and operated under a board of trustees for many years. However modern welfare department foster-home policies had caused the operation to become obsolete. After efforts to find a use for it for some similar purpose had failed, the Moorman heirs sued for their share of the property and the money it would bring if sold at auction.
There were four bidders for the farm, Faye Fisher, the auctioneer, reported. A neighbor, Johnnie Owens, continued bidding up to $450. an acre, but Miller out-bid him.
The farm, located west of Winchester on Ind. 32, totals 169 acres of which around 80 are tillable, and 60 are timber, including 71 large walnut trees.
An office employee at the Miller Lumber Company said that the company hopes to make the acreage into a tree farm, and up to now had developed no further plans.
The employee said that it was the company's understanding that the woods at the home was virgin timber, but plan to cut it only as required and with maintenance and best development of the entire woods in mind.
1952.
Do you remember the old one-room school houses, the places where you got the Three R's-in one room from one teacher.
It hasn't been too long ago, as time goes, as witness the pictured "student body" of the old Swamp Valley school located 4 1/2 miles west of Lynn on state road 36-on the south side of the highway on the Paul Rogers farm. The building was moved away and all that's left now is the well casing where the school pump was. It was abandoned in the spring of 1917, the last teacher being Mrs. Leota Coleman.
But this accompanying photo was taken in 1911, or thereabouts, the picture being "retaken" by County Recorder Bob Cox from the original owned by Mrs. Belle (Oren) Byrum of Bartonia.
If you look at the top right, peeking toward the camera you'll see the teacher-Miss Alice Funk, now Winchester city health nurse.
Reading from left to right identification is made something like this;
BOTTOM- Ida (Cox) Phillips, Unionport; Hazel (Miller) Noy, Cincinnati; Belle (Oren) Byrum, Bartonia; Clyde Gordon, Parker; William Leach, Muncie; Charles Oren, Richmond.
SECOND ROW- Rose (Miller) Willis, Unionport; William Mills, west of Lynn; Walter Harvey, Lynn, deceased; Robert ?.
THIRD ROW- Mary Cox, Muncie; Ruth (Gordon) Pegg, north of Carlos; Elizabeth Mills, Lynn, deceased; Ethyel (Miller) Brown, Winchester.
TOP ROW- Elsie (Cox) Puckett, Palestine, Ohio; Paul Coggeshall, Winchester.
1970.
By tomorrow the restaurants of Winchester will be able to feed over 800 persons all at the same time and without an instant's notice, should such a situation ever arise-and handle, in addition, an uncounted number of drive-in customers.
A quick check this week revealed that there are six full fledged restaurants operating in the city (as of Saturday when the Winchester House opens), plus three taverns with emphasis on dining facilities, and two additional taverns which offer food as a state required sideline.
Among the longer established restaurants:
The Courtesy Café in the Hotel Randolph can seat around 100 in the two dining rooms and at a small breakfast bar.
The Rainbow Restaurant, located on East Washington street just east of the public square can seat around 65 in a dining room and at a large counter.
The D & J Drive-In on West Washington street at the edge of Winchester can seat 65, not counting drive-in customers.
The Bird Inn, on West Franklin opposite the hotel, although under new management is also a long established eating place, and can seat, at tables and the counter, around 35 customers.
Among the newer restaurants:
The Cove, on Union street opposite the swimming pool, seats 62 diners upstairs, and has recently opened a basement dining room which although largely for banquets, can be used for diners in case of emergency, and will seat 80.
The Winchester House, to open Saturday, located on North Main street at the former site of Jax Wearhouse, will be able to seat 212 eventually, when a basement dining room is opened. At present, the seating capacity is 56 in the coffee shop and 56 in the first floor dining room.
Among taverns which specialize in food:
The A & B, in the 100 block of North Main street, has been enlarged to include a dining room in addition to booths and a bar, and can seat an estimated 70 guests.
Perry's Pub, formerly Reeve's Café and now moved to a new location at the north end of North Main street, and greatly expanded, can seat 66 in the dining room and bar.
The Gaslight Inn, located on West Franklin street, has somewhat reduced it's food service but has a large dining room and can seat around 70 at tables and bar.
Other taverns with food as a sideline, but available;
The City Cigar Store, a men only establishment in the 100 block of North Main street can seat 36 in booths and at the bar.
The Anchor Inn, located opposite the Anchor Hocking Glass plant, offers the required sideline of food and can seat 45.
In addition to all of these facilities for sit-down diners, there is food available at numerous carry-out establishments:
Two pizza specialty shops, one The Pizza House on East Washington street, and one the Pizza King now relocating at the east edge of Winchester, have a limited number of chairs and tables but specialize in carry-out Italian type orders.
The D & J Drive-In, in addition to it's restaurant facilities, has a large number of park-and-serve stalls for motorists.
The Quick Chick Inn, a new carry-out on North Main street at the north edge of town, provides carry-out broasted chicken and trimmings.
The Dairy Queen, at the east end of East Washington street, offers carry-out fountain service and also provides sandwiches.
The A & W Root Beer Stand at the east edge of the city on Ind. 32 , sells not only root beer, but sandwiches and other carry-out food.
And for the tardy diner who finds all these restaurants, taverns and carry-outs bursting at the seams with standing room only, two of Winchester's drugstores offer food. Haines drugs, on Washington street provides soup and sandwiches in addition to fountain service; Leonards' on Main, offers sandwiches and fountain service.
1950.
In 1840 John and Catherine Diggs gave an acre of ground five miles south and one mile west of Farmland for a church.
A little group of Friends (Quakers) built the first church of the Poplar Run from logs cut there and in the immediate vicinity. It was covered with clapboards and had a stick and clay fireplace and chimney.
The meeting was recognized by The New Garden Quarterly Meeting in 1847 and it was called Poplar Run.
Mark Diggs gave land for a burying ground one-half mile east of the church John Diggs was buried in the Poplar Run cemetery in 1863.
The Friends usually had a school house near a church and the children were taken in a body to the church for mid-week meetings.
The Poplar Run log church was replaced by a frame building in 1856. This building was moved to Pinch and is now known as the Randolph County Seed Dryer. The first school house ended up as the first Nazarene church in Farmland. The last school house still stands across the road south of the church on the farm of B.C. Mendenhall and is used as a tool shed.
The present church was built in 1883 and seats had a partition between the sides for the men and women. An organ was placed in the church in 1901, but not with the unanimous approval of the older members. This church was remodeled in 1911, a basement and three class rooms being added.
In 1947 the church lot was landscaped and together with the grassy parking space it makes an attractive setting for the little white church.
The need for a residence for a full time pastor cams when the old Josiah Parker homestead could be bought. As it was forty acres laying on the east side of the road just across from the church, complete with farm buildings, it was purchased in 1943. The house was remodeled and partly modernized with plans to finish the modernizing later. There the pastor, Rev. Robert Morris, and his bride Marian established their first home.
Lester McNees, a capable young farmer, was selected to act as farm manager. All labor and machinery is donated for the planting, cultivating and harvesting of the crops and the proceeds are put into the treasury to be used as deemed best.
It is now thought that the good barn on the premises will make a desirable rustic parish house to be used for class meetings and other social gatherings.
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(Updated January 2020)
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