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: info@rosscountyhistorical.org
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