=============================================================== “The past is a source of knowledge, and the future...

October 23, 2014 – Our Old Book Case =============================================================== “The past is a source of knowledge, and the future is a source of hope. Love of the past
implies a faith in the future.” Stephen Ambrose
OUR OLD BOOK CASE By Joyce L. Alig, President, Mercer County Historical Society
Many Mercer Countians value the fact that the Mercer County Historical Society works to preserve their
heritage. They recognize that a Nation which forgets its past, has no future. Today’s local history story is
an update of communication from our friends of the Mercer County Historical Society.
Gerald (Mort) Ward, Post Quartermaster, VFW Post 5713, Celina, asked permission to put the story of
Bill Brown being honored by receiving the World War II Honors in Florida from the Governor, on their
VFW Post 5713 Website since Bill was a former Post Commander. Those requesting Bill Brown’s
current address, it is 1651 Campos Dr., The Villages, FL 32162. That makes me proud that our Military
Veterans in Mercer County are interested in preserving Mercer County’s Military History.
Alvin Braun called me after he had read my article about the Bounty on Wolves, and about the Buck
Bader Story being on exhibit on Sunday, October 26 at the Military Exhibit by the Museum of the
Soldier, at the Mercer County Historical Museum. Braun told me about over 975 coyotes being killed in
the four County area, these past years. I invite Coyote Hunters to this Exhibit on Sunday, the 26th.
Karen from Rockford, called, that she has a gun with the name of P.P. King, Celina, on the stock. The
book, “Ohio Gunsmiths & Allied Tradesmen,” by Donald Hutslar, listed Philip P. King at Celina, 18451885. In 1885, Philip King was listed as a gunsmith at Shane’s Crossing (Rockford). I asked Karen to
bring the gun to display at the Antique Gun Show at the Museum, Sunday, the 26th. Two Van Trees were
gunsmiths at Fort Recovery in the 1800’s; one of the Van Trees’ guns will be on exhibit on the 26th.
Mercer County Auditor Randy Grapner asked me to review the rough draft of the new brochure for the
Mercer County Courthouse. In the past, people often repeated the error that the Courthouse columns
support Corinthian Capitals; In fact, the columns support Ionic Capitals. (See the photograph above.)
Another error passed down is that the front doors are solid bronze. . . what do you think?
Kelly Newcomb, Celina Middle School Teacher, requested information on the history of Celina. I
emailed her a list of 28 books which the Mercer County Historical Society has published, and made
suggestions related to the many research topics her students could seek, in reference to local history.
Robert Tong, Findlay, Ohio, does research on the Gas Boom and related Glass Factories in Western Ohio.
He sent me a copy of his manuscript about The Celina Colored Plate and Window Glass Company and
The Celina Star Glass Works, in the early 1890’s. Do any of you have information about this topic?
Thanks to Sharon (Moeder) Spears for enlightening the Basketball Fans about Mercer County Basketball
History, by sharing information, in the Daily Standard, from former Basketball Coach and Historian Fran
Guilbault, as to why St. Henry adopted the name “Redskins,” when her Grandfather Julius Moeder was
the first St. Henry Basketball Coach. (The name “Redskins” was not about Native Americans!)
Thank you to everyone who contacted me about the article in the local news media, about the Mercer
County Historical Society being one of the organizations on the Celine Combined Services Appeal and
local Combined Drives. I have been with the Mercer County Historical Society for over forty years, and I
cannot tell you how much the Combined Drives have helped this Historical Society reach its Mission
Statement: To Preserve Mercer County History and To Educate the Public about that History. I am
proud to live in Mercer County where people value their past and want to preserve their heritage with the
Mercer County Historical Society, and the Mercer County Historical Museum, the Riley Home.
[The Mercer County Historical Society President Joyce Alig, may be contacted at 3054 Burk-St. Henry
Road, Saint Henry, OH 45883, or histalig@bright.net or 419-678-2614.]