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The Trustees of the Ashville Area Heritage Society have Ohio’s Small Town agreed to loan the flag recently found and donated by Ashville resident Brian Myers to the Ohio Historical Society Museum in Ashville during the rest of the Bicentennial Year through March of 2004. The flag will be on display at the new Adena AAHS Vol. 8 No. 1 Issue No. 8 Date 1-1-04 Interpretive Center in Chillicothe part of that time.

Pre-Civil War U.S. flags depicting any 17-star design are unusual. In fact, the Ashville flag is the only known hand- sewn 17-star flag with six-pointed stars that remains in existence. Renowned vexillologist, Dr. Whitney Smith of Massachusetts, conducted an appraisal of the flag and determined it is similar in design to one that was carried by the Ohio militia during the War of 1812. The British captured a flag featuring this design during that war.

The Textile Preservation Association (TPA) in Keedy, Maryland has also evaluated the flag and determined that it was probably constructed before or around 1850. The dating is based on an evaluation of the cloth material and thread. An 1837 drawing has a 17 star flag of this design in the New York Times, so it would not have been unusual Governor Bob Taft and the Ohio Statehood Flag to display such a flag even thirty years after Ohio achieved statehood. Historian Dr. John Purcell has called it a state treasure and a priceless work of art. Award-winning playwright, Brian Burgess Clark, wrote “The Scioto Company” using it as a symbol of Ohio’s pioneer spirit. Boy scouts in cities across the state have carried replicas in local parades. It has appeared as a centerpiece of the Sons of the American Revolution display at Ohio’s bicentennial celebration. It has been accepted by Ohio’s General Assembly as a symbol of Ohio’s early statehood. Now it has been loaned to the Ohio Historical Society.

This 1837 political cartoon appeared in the New York Times. Note the flag has seven white stripes and six red stripes.

The TPA believes that it was intended as ceremonial flag to be displayed only on special occasions. But even with this analysis there are unanswered questions. For example, the square canton (the blue field) appears to have been part of a garment that is considerably older than the flag stripes. No one knows the origin of the

canton. Another point of interest is that the threads appear to be from the 18th century. Sons of the American Revolution members, Paul M. Wilke (left) and Brian G. Schilling (right), both from the Cincinnati Chapter of the SAR stand guard as onlookers view the flag at Ohio’s Bicentennial While research has not determined conclusively who made in Chillicothe. the flag or why, there is circumstantial evidence relating it 1

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF OHIO’S SMALL TOWN MUSEUM Free Copy to Members Non-members: $6 to an early Ohioan, Lewis Fridley of Madison Township in Pickaway County. He was an early settler who cleared It is interesting that the only photograph we have of the and farmed land in northeast Pickaway County. He was elderly grandchildren of Lewis Fridley is a harvest time also a veteran of the Ohio militia during the War of 1812. photo of a bountiful harvest resting on patriotic bunting. Fridley died in 1849. The flag was found in the rafters of Joshua Fridley’s son Peter and his grandson Homer the attic in a home built by Lewis Fridley’s great-grandson- appear in the picture. -Homer.

Another possibility is that the flag was stored in the attic by someone in the McDowell family. This possibility has been discounted by Vi (McDowell) Messick.

We may never know exactly to whom the flag belonged to or how it came to be in Ashville, but we are certainly happy that it was found and we welcome any additional research and information that sheds more light on the history of this valuable object.

Lewis Fridley

Lewis Fridley came to Ohio from Virginia at the age of 31 with his wife Susannah and several children. The year was 1808. They settled in what was to become Northeast

Pickaway County in Madison Township. Lewis set about to build a home and carve a farm out of the virgin forest. The Fridleys at harvest time. He had just gotten a good start in his newly adopted state, when President James Madison signed the declaration that began the War of 1812. Lewis heeded the call of his Celebrating the Flag President and the Governor of Ohio, Jonathan Meigs, to serve his country as an infantryman. He joined Captain Of all the activities during the Bicentennial Year that Robert Reid’s company in Denny’s Regiment of the Ohio honored the flag, probably the most interesting was its use Militia. in a play about the founding of Worthington, Ohio. Replicas of the flag were accepted by the Ohio Legislature The seat of anti-British fever was in the Northwest and the and Governor Bob Taft as official copies of Ohio’s first lower Ohio Valley, where the land-hungry frontiersmen had statehood flag. If you have one, too, count yourself lucky. no doubt that the settlers troubles with the Indians were the result of British intrigue. Stories were circulated after every Indian raid of British Army muskets and equipment being found on the field. By 1812 the westerners were convinced that their problems could best be solved by forcing the British out of Canada. But early in the war, things were not going well for the Ohioans. A raid on Detroit resulted in many deaths to the Ohio militia.

Fridley served through the end of October, 1813. He returned home just in time to help finish up the harvest. We know from the History of Pickaway and Franklin Counties that Lewis Fridley was considered to be a prosperous farmer in his later years. Joshua Fridley, a son of Lewis Fridley, is also described as an avid The Statehood Flag display at Wendy’s in South Bloomfield depicts sharpshooter. Joshua was the eldest son of Lewis Fridley the various events that honored the 17 star flag found by Brian living in the area at the time of Lewis’ death and became Meyers in the attic of the Fridley/McDowell house on Long Street. an executor of his estate, together with his brother Issac. 2

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Diana Blaney and the Mars Rover, we were not aware of The Inventors of Ashville Dr. Albright’s involvement in the Army and later Air Force rocketry programs.

Most of us know about the many inventions of Teddy Boor, but there have been many more residents and former residents who have made innovations that they hoped would be successful. Few were economic successes, but no one could say their ideas were not interesting. The following information is excerpted from Bob Hines’ upcoming book.

Dr. John G. Albright, American Physicist

Sam Miller and Emanuel Brown’s Straw stacking Device

The Area’s First Patented Sure, Pitchers Throw Curves. Cleveland, Ohio: Dr. John G. Albright, associate professor of physics at Case School of Applied Science Inventors—Sam Miller and here, is a brave man. He stood behind a Cleveland catcher while rapid Robert Feller threw 30 pitches. After it was all over, Dr. Albright definitely refuted a theory advanced recently that curves Emanuel Brown were but an optical illusion; that there was no relation between a pitcher's intentions and the balls he threw. Dr. Albright watching one of Bob's corner-cutters break over the plate. (AP File Photo) Samuel M. Miller and Emanuel F. Brown received a patent on their Straw-Stacker on June 3rd, 1884. Both What does Hall of Famer, Bob Feller have in common were farmers living in Walnut Township near Nebraska with America’s early rocketry program? The answer is (between Hedges Chapel and Walnut grade school). physicist, Dr. John G. Albright. Albright was born at St. Patent number 299,933 shown above depicts the device Paul, Ohio, just outside Ashville. The talented scientist developed by the pair. taught at Case Western and later at Harvard. According to Ohio’s “Pathways to Progress,” he is credited with We have no indication that the pair ever manufactured inventing an electric clock and a circuit breaker. More their invention or that a working full-scale model existed. importantly, his work in rocketry aerodynamics is credited We do know that a working model was presented to the with influencing a whole cadre of post-World War II NASA U.S. Patent Office and is probably warehoused in Virginia. scientists (read Adolph Jursa--NASA scientist interview). We would like to learn more about this team of inventors. Last year when we wrote about America’s Quest for Outer If you are related, look to see if you have any information. Space we told you about Astronomer Samuel Sark, the Moon Dust from Apollo being evaluated using Charles Ward’s invention, Dr. Glenn Flierl and Jupiter, and Dr. 3

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This drawing shows how Deeds intended his device to be used by travelers in the event of a fire.

This cutaway view shows the inside drum with the escape rope.

Sam Deeds Inventive Fire

Escape Device Deeds’ Shop Samuel Preston Deeds was the treasurer at the Scioto

Valley Canning Factory in Ashville. He had a novel approach to help travelers escape a fire. Deeds T.A. Boor’s Patented Traffic successfully demonstrated his device from the third floor windows of the factory. He was certain that he would be Light able to market and sell his device. So certain that he built a small factory along the railroad. He was not successful, but his brick building still stands. His patent number was Much has been written about the famed electric motor 865,167. driven traffic light developed by Theodore Boor. It is not the first traffic signal nor even the first traffic light to have The device was essentially a rope that was attached to a been patented. It is the first motorized signal light and by collar that was attached to a brake drum. A person could all accounts it is the most unique traffic signal ever dial their weight and the drum would compensate by invented. The celebrated light has been described on applying the appropriate amount of friction to slow the Oprah and countless other television programs, it has person’s descent. appeared in Ripley’s Believe It or Not and the New

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Roadside America. It also adorns the outside of Neil Zurcher’s book “Ohio Oddities”.

This is the outer appearance of the original light.

Boor is also credited with patents for hose clamps and a cornering plow. We are also lucky to have a silent movie that features his cornshocking device. Both Boor and another prominent Ashville inventor, Audrey Graham appeared in this epic that pitted embattled farm hands against Boor’s interesting project.

This is an internal schematic of the electric system for the original signal that hung at the corner of Long and Main Streets.

Traffic light after its recent refurbishing By Max Marion—Looks almost as good as new.

Boor’s Original Light at Long and Main

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Audrey Graham, Problem Solver and Inventor

Dr. Loy Schiff’s Patented Atomizer

r. Loy Schiff developed an atomizer that was patented in D 1935. Dr. Schiff’s office was on Long Street next to the Audrey Graham was brought to Ashville to monitor the telephone office. success or failure of a new warning device that the N&W wanted to test on their line. Graham had already developed test strips and was quite accomplished as a metal former and as a practical electrical engineer. He was a first rate tinkered that contributed to many inventions, including Teddy Boor’s. Graham is credited with helping develop an electric scoring device, railroad warning signals, garden plows, toys, and much more.

Perry Stoltz’s Go-Ball

Commander Perry Stoltz was well known as a hotel magnet, having built the many Fleetwood Hotels, including the famous Fleetwood in Miami Beach. Stoltz is also credited with developing the golf course that would later become “Augusta National” after Bobby Jones completed it. None of this would have happened to Stoltz if he had not first invented a carnival game called “Go Ball.” It made a pile of money for the young Stoltz, which he later used to create a hotel empire.

We have tried in vain for years to locate information on “Go Ball.” If you have any detailed information, please contact us so we can include it.

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Ross Larue—The Youngest Local Patented Inventor

Charles Ward’s Patented

Particle Size Sifter Ross Larue had an idea that started from a high school Charlie Ward’s “Sonic Sifter” was one of those rare science project. He developed a type of battery that would paradigm-shifting devices that dramatically changed the generate electron flow from, well, garbage. way something was done. In this case, Ward’s moment of genius happened when he was in a lunchroom listening to music pulsating through some speakers. It got him to Guy Leatherwood—Innovator thinking about a new approach toward vibrating particles— different than the shaking vibrators in use. His idea was to use sound waves to move them up and down in a column of sound vibration.

Guy Leatherwood was always looking for a better way to do something. He developed an early toothpaste dispenser, but his real contribution was in public pool design. His reinforcement design allowed long straight walls to become a common feature.

Columbus Industries Patents

Both Harold and Jeff Pontius hold several patents related to filtering media. Here are just a few:

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Don and David Hatfield South Bloomfield’s Inventive Father and Son

Don Hatfield had a machine shop in South Bloomfield. He was a skilled machinist and an inventor. We have featured his Eye Cue device in previous issues, but we have not written about the creative inventions made and patented by his son David.

Harold Pontius diaper pail device

Don Hatfield’s Eye Cue device

Jeff Pontius range hood filter

David Hatfield’s Patented Automatic Plate Design

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Earl Boyer and the Automated Great Ideas, Too Highway Just like Perry Stoltz’s Go Ball, not all great ideas are patented. Jim Cook was the manager of Firestone’s Indy Racing Team, when he came up with a rally good idea. Earl Boyer was well known in this area as an electronics He thought that he could interest a toy company like Mattel guru, but by avocation he was a technician at the Ohio in sponsoring his team if they would build and sell a toy State Engineering Department. Earl participated in the version of their car. Mattel was not interested. But Jim development of the “Driverless Car” experiments that were was not deterred. They went to another toy manufacturer conducted on Circleville Lockbourne Eastern. The OSU and they were interested. That was the beginning of team used a garage at Teays Valley High School to house “Johnny Lightning” cars. Incredibly, the Johnny Lightning the analog equipment used in the car. Indy car won the Indianapolis 500 two years in a row and the Johnny Lightning toy cars were flying off the shelves at department stores.

Marjorie Batchelder and Vivian Michaels brought another great idea to America in the 1940’s. They learned about a Russian puppeteer that had developed a puppet that did not use strings. It used a rod that was manipulated by the puppeteer to move the arms. Vivian and Marjorie wrote a book called “Hand and Rod Puppetry.” A young man by the name of Jim Henson, learned about this new technique and developed his own form of puppets called “Muppets.”

A Day Late, A Dollar Short

News about the successful tests appeared in newspapers John Oman was working diligently on his aero plane in and magazines around the world. The basic research Texas when word came that the Wright Brothers had conducted by these early pioneers led to many successfully developed a powered craft that flew and was improvements in accident avoidance systems that are maneuverable in flight. Oman was in San Antonio and had used today. convinced area business leaders that he had a better design. Newspaper articles indicate that they intended to build and test the Oman plane in St. Louis. Although Oman issued a challenge to the Wrights, he was apparently never able to generate the capital to complete his vision. Oman grew up on a farm near St. Paul, Ohio.

Who Are We Missing??

We only were aware of Teddy Boor when we started looking for local inventors 25 years ago. This community was and still is a hotbed of creativity and innovation. If you know of someone that lives here or used to live here that has made an invention, let us know. We think that it is extremely important to save these devices. We want to preserve their patents and, if possible, make or secure working copies of their devices.

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their patents and, if possible, make or secure working We are still slowing adding to our display collection. Here copies of their devices. are a few that we hope to finish, with your help.

Why…because they connect us to world events. We are forever tied to the first moon landing because NASA used Charlie Ward’s invention to evaluate the moon rocks brought back by Apollo 11. John Oman challenged the Wright Brothers with his airplane design.

When you think about it, two important transportation Jerry Rasor, TV Personality safety signaling devices were tested in Ashville--an early electric traffic light and the Wig Wag railroad signal. You also have to consider the importance of the technology demonstrated by Earl Boyer and his colleagues that has resulted in new approaches to automotive safety. Improved safety was behind the Deeds’ fire escape. The filtering devices by Harold and Jeff Pontius are largely to improve human safety. The same was true of Dr. John G. Albright’s circuit breakers. Maybe this area should be known for its safety conscious inventors. Toole Electric, Featuring Russell Toole

Eye-Cue and Go-Ball were games. One was a precursor to games like Trivial Pursuit. The inventors had fun making them and watching people test their intellect and skills.

There were practical ideas too, like Guy Leatherwood’s toothpaste dispenser, Sam Miller and Emanuel Brown’s straw stacker, David Hatfield’s plate design pattern-maker, Dr. Loy Schiff’s atomizer, or Dr. John G. Albright’s electric clock. Sure there were many impractical ideas, too, like In The Beginning, Story of the Museum’s Embryonic Start Teddy Boor’s corn shocker or his cornering plow. But in Morrison’s Market. even these devices worked.

We believe that you would have to say that this area has earned the right to crow about its many known inventors. We are betting that there are just as many unknown innovators that had inventions that were just as exciting as the ones we have described. We are betting that you may know someone in your family, in your class, or that lived down the street that loved to invent new ways to solve problems. If that is the case, please let us know. State Senator Thaddeus Cromely. He was President Pro- Tem of the Ohio Senate.

While We Have No Room…We Are Still Working On Displays You Might Be Interested In.

We are collecting photos and artifacts that will help us represent this beloved historic structure. 10

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The Museum Store

Ceramic Light $30.00

$30.00

Charlie Morrison makes copies of your favorite local buildings, family or other items of interest. $10.00

Children’s Coloring Book by Rebecca Givler $2.00

Teddy Boor’s Traffic Light Key Chain $3.50

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Collector’s Item Post Card Traffic Light, Museum, and Scioto Valley Train Station $1.00

Statehood Flag T-

Shirt Neil Zurcher’s Hilarious “Ohio Celebrating Ohio’s Oddities”, Featuring Chic-Chic and Bicentennial Teddy Boor’s Traffic Light $10.00 $13.00

Five Flag Desk Set Collector’s Item $10.00

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Museum Store Order Sheet

Item Quantity Price per Total Wood Cut-outs by Charlie $10.00 Morrison Children’s Coloring Books $2.00 Ohio Oddities $13.50 Full Size Official Ashville $30.00 Flag Traffic Light Key Chain $3.50 Statehood Flag $40.00 Statehood Flag/Bicentennial $10.00 T-Shirt Five Flag Desk Set $15.50 Ceramic Traffic Light $30.00 Post Card $1.00 3 for 1 Video $15.00 “See Yourself in the Movies” (1937) “T.A. Boor’s Cornshocker” (1928) “ODOT Ashville Traffic Light” (1997) Video “A Town Called $10.00 Ashville 1882-1997” by Shannon Bumgarner, et. al.

Please add $3 for handling and shipping for items that must be shipped to you ($7 for the statehood flag). THANKS A BUNCH!

Make your checks payable to:

The Ashville Area Heritage Society

To order, send this form and your return address to:

Museum Store Ohio’s Small Town Museum 34 Long Street Ashville, Oh 43103

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There’s Something Funny The game started with us kicking off. Madison South advanced the ball to about to their 30-yard line and went About…… into their huddle. At that moment since the field sat below the barn area, this white Billy goat came running down the hill, split the goal posts, ran and jumped into the middle of he following stories are excerpted from Barbara Carter’s T Madison South's huddle. He was rearing and kicking like new book about Ashville—“Strolling Down Memory Lane.” he had that afternoon. Their players panicked and ran in Several community residents and former residents wrote all directions to avoid being kicked. Following the goat about their experiences. The first set of remembrances is was the old man who kept yelling, "he won't hurt you, he from coach Russ Gregg. Russ tells us about many funny won't hurt you"!! We finally got the goat under control and things that happened while he was the coach of the the old man took him back up the barn. It must have Ashville Broncos and the Teays Valley Vikings. The shaken their team up because they fumbled and we second recollection is by Joe Hoover. Joe tells us about recovered on the next play. We scored on a pass and took Dogtown School. the lead. We kicked off again and they marched the ball down the field to score back on us. We had missed our extra point and they ran for 2 points to take the lead. The Longest Quarter The game continued and we kept playing and playing and By Russ Gregg finally their coach, Bill Pickett, yelled, "when is this quarter going to end"! The referee in charge of the old alarm clock Probably, one of funniest episodes that happened during had forgot to set the time and we must have played a half my coaching career was at the Circleville Fairgrounds an hour before he caught the problem. Needless to say, when I was the coach of the Ashville Broncos. We were Coach Pickett was fit to be tied. There wasn't much we using the Fairgrounds as a home football field. We had could do but keep playing. They scored again when finally just started eleven-man football and had no home facilities the half ended. During the second half we kept playing in Ashville. The field was a makeshift one at best, but it them even and started a drive in the fourth quarter. We did have lights and bleachers. We had to line the field and advanced the ball to about their 40-yard line and they had put up the bleachers. us 4th and 5 for the first down. We decided to kick since we had been defending them pretty well. Our kicker was I took a group of Ashville students to Circleville to put up Jim Brown. He received the snap and punted. There the bleachers for our game that night. We had a flat bed were some electric lines across the top of field in about truck that we were loading the bleachers on to take down this area. His punt hit one of them and it flipped the ball to field. We had just started when from out of a barn came back to him. He caught the ball and ran for a first down. a big white Billy goat. He ran right at us and jumped on Now, all hell broke loose. Pickett, ran onto field the flat bed truck rearing and kicking his front feet. Our screaming, "Illegal, Illegal"!! The referees conferred and kids ran from the truck. Following the goat was an old since there was no ground rule allowed the play to stand. man who must have been his keeper. He kept yelling,” He won't hurt you"! However, we waited until he got him back Pickett called his players together and was about to take into the barn before we started to load again. them off the field. However, Renick and some other seniors said to keep playing. We didn't score and they did That night we played Madison South, a consolidated again and beat us. Coach Pickett said he would never school from Madison County. They had an undefeated bring another team to play at the Fairgrounds. He didn’t team and featured many star players. One was Rick but a new coach did two years later we had them beat in Renick, who played professional baseball with the the fourth quarter when one of the players snatched a ball Minnesota Twins for years. Before the game started the from our runner and made a touchdown. referees met with us to discuss ground rules. There wasn't any scoreboard with a timer on it so the referees were to When at Ashville, we were playing in the Darby Valley keep the time on the field with watches. The problem was League and traveled to Triad, about a 60-mile trip for a none of them brought their watches. We decided to use football game. When we were warming up our starting an old alarm clock that Bill Cook, supervisor of the center, Jim Cooper, stepped into a hole and sprained his Fairgrounds, had found. We agreed to play 15 minute ankle. I turned to Gary Fortner--a big, but green kid to running clock quarters. The regulation time was 12 start in his place. Right before the kick-off I told Gary he minutes. was to block the player kicking the ball. All was set and the referee was about to blow his whistle to start the 14

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF OHIO’S SMALL TOWN MUSEUM Free Copy to Members Non-members: $6 game. Gary starts waving his arms and yells "time out"! rabbits’ feet were bone and had a metal clip and chain on He runs over to me and says "hey, coach do you want me them. Also, we found out later, he had sewed some on his to get him before or after he kicks the ball"! jersey. He recovered but didn’t play the rest of the season. It was quite a night and a lot of people thought we should have stayed with six-man football.

It seems like West Jeff was a bad place for us to play football. We had a halfback by the name of Jimmy McNeal playing for us. He severely hurt his ankle and had to be taken to the same hospital Bill previously had been. Again, we finished the game and I got to the hospital. When I got there the doctor was waiting with Jimmy’s dad. It seems a though when he got there a nurse took care of him. She said she applied ice and ended by taping it firmly. She said she asked Jimmy how it felt and he said, Ashville’s First Year of 11-Man Football. Coach Gregg is on the far right. Assistant Benis Lutz is on the far left. "Fine, but it was the other ankle"!

Another amusing incident that occurred when I was Earlier in this game, Jim Brown (who I have mentioned coaching football at Ashville happened at West Jefferson. previously) got knocked down. Now, Jim liked attention We had just started eleven-man football. We played six- and was doing a little acting. Our team doctor was, Dr. man and had dominated the county and had so many Warren Hoffman. He ran to Jim with a big cigar in his players we felt it was necessary to go to eleven-man. We mouth. As he bent over Jim he said "Son, open your won our first two games and felt pretty good about the eyes". Jim squinted up at him and said, "I can't for that move. West Jefferson was always a power in football, so damn cigar smoke"!! we knew this game was a tough one. We lost our best back, Dick Hoover, on the kickoff with a broken foot. We lost our fullback, Fred Acord, with a badly sprained ankle Basketball in the Dark Ages the next quarter. In the third quarter we lost our halfback, Bill Hollenback, with a broken collarbone. Well, we were By Russ Gregg pretty low but kept trying. The following is a basketball story that happened at Mt. In the fourth quarter they punted and we had Bill Boyer, Sterling when I was at Ashville. We needed to win this our quarterback, back to return. He caught the ball and game to win the league championship. We were started up field. He reached a point where their big tackle undefeated and Mt. Sterling was an average team. As we cut him off and was set to tackle him. Bill lowered his were warming up half the lights in gym went out. We kept head and slammed into his right thigh, which was padded. warming up as they tried to fix the situation. After about 45 You could hear the impact on the sideline. Bill went down minutes they concluded they couldn’t solve the problem. and out. The doctor got to him and saw he was Our star was Tom Rathburn who had good vision but unconscious. played without his glasses, so we didn't know how it would

affect him. He said he felt O.K. so we decided to play. They got a stretcher and took him into a nearby hospital. The game started with Mt. Sterling being hot as Well, we finished the game and I got there as quick as I firecrackers. One of their fans said, "They ought to play could. His parents and some friends were there. After a with half the lights all the time"! wait the doctor came down the stairs and told his parents he had a concussion but was in no danger. He asked me what kind of helmet Bill wore. I said it was a Riddell and Tom couldn't hit so we got behind. Eventually we rallied we had just purchased them this year. He said, "You better and started to come back. It was at this point they stole to check it, because he has bruise marks on his head." Well, ball and the player drove toward the basket. Just then all his helmet and pads were on the bus that was in Ashville. the lights went out and a guy in the crowd turned on a I told Earl, Bill's dad, to get them when he got home. large flashlight and shined it on their basket and the played laid the ball in. Since the gym now was in total darkness About three o'clock that morning Earl called me laughing. the referees stopped the game. Also, they agreed the "You won't believe what Bill did." He had pasted rabbit feet basket was no good. After another delay half the lights inside his helmet between the suspensions. These came back on again and we resumed the game. Well, Tom found the range as well as our other players and we 15

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF OHIO’S SMALL TOWN MUSEUM Free Copy to Members Non-members: $6 easily won. Their second baseman was on first screaming for the ball. They had John in run-down between first and home. When I was coaching basketball at Whitehall High School When they finally got John out, Elmer Houdashelt, their we played Circleville for the District championship. The coach, yelled at me, "Russ, we have just set baseball back game was at the Fairgrounds Coliseum in Columbus. 50 years"!! They had a fine team and we had lost only one game. Our star was Scott Tedder who later played for Division 3 John met a tragic end a few years later. He and his wife National Champion at Ohio Wesleyan. He was selected were at the Beverly Hills Supper Club outside of Cincinnati as the National Divison 3 Player of the Year. The game when it caught fire. People panicked as they raced for the was a close contest throughout with the lead changing exits. John made it out but couldn’t find his wife. Thinking hands several times. We were tied 53-53 with 3 seconds she was still in the club, he went back in to find her. He remaining and we had the ball out of bounds under our did not know she had gotten out on the other side of the basket. We set a play for Tedder and he came across the club. He died in his effort. lane and flipped a shot toward the basket. It hit the front of the rim and momentarily lay there. When at Teays Valley we were playing at London in a baseball game. In the third inning they had a runner on Now, the Coliseum floor was a portable one and it was first with one out. The batter hit a long fly to left center. kind of rickety. As the ball was lying on the rim I jumped The runner on first had run with the pitch. He was coming into the air and came down hard on the floor. The ball fell to third when our center fielder got under the ball and their into the basket. When I was a player I was fortunate to be coach yelled for the runner to go back. He did, but instead pretty good and known as a high scorer. I scored a lot of of going to second he cut across the pitchers mound. Our baskets during my career with a few winning games. No center fielder dropped the ball, and the runner came back doubt, there would be skeptics say this ball was going in across the pitchers mound to third base. I objected but the anyway, but I really believe I am one of the first coaches rule says if the ball wasn't caught he could go out of the ever to score a basket in a game!!! baselines.

Another baseball story occurred when I was coaching Setting Baseball Back Fifty Ashville and we played Jonathan Alder Alder at their place. We had an outfielder by the name of Years Bob Featheringham. He was about as broad as he was tall and very slow. He could hit pretty well and could catch By Russ Gregg a fly if it was hit right at him. We had him pinch hit and play some if the score dictated it. Well everybody liked him and wanted him to do well when he got the chance. he following baseball story happened when I was T He always wanted to hit a home run but usually with no coaching at Teays Valley. We were playing Grove City in fences this was pretty hard for him to do. However, at this the district tournament. Grove City was always good and bat he hit a long fly between the outfielders. Their field we had just beaten Columbus North to advance. It was in was adjacent to a cornfield and the ball was rolling into it. the bottom of the fifth with the score tied. John Beavers, Feather, as we called him, took off chugging around the who was our pitcher, came to bat. We had a runner on bases. It was evident he might make it. second with no one out. When he got between second and third he began to gasp John was a very serious and dedicated player. He had a for air. I was coaching third base and told him to keep good arm and a fair hitter. I felt the way he was pitching going. He rounded third and headed for home. Halfway one run might be good enough upset Grove City. I gave home he went down on his knees. The outfielders had just him the bunt sign. On the next pitch he made a beautiful reached the ball, so we told him he could make it. He bunt down the first baseline. Their first basemen came in started to crawl toward home with all our players yelling and fielded the ball. John was running right at him. When encouragement. He neared home when the ball reached he got about 10 feet from the first baseman he made a the infield. Their shortstop cut off the throw and threw to sudden stop. The first baseman sort of froze. John turned the catcher. Feather with a last gasp effort fell on home and ran back toward the catcher. The first baseman plate and the umpire called him safe. quickly threw the ball to the catcher. John turned and ran back toward first base. Our players were jubilant and old Feather got up with a huge smile on his face. He said, "I did it"!! Their first baseman yelled at the catcher for the ball. The catcher 16

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF OHIO’S SMALL TOWN MUSEUM Free Copy to Members Non-members: $6 baseman yelled at the catcher for the ball. The catcher My dad was a workaholic, as were many men of his era, threw the ball to the first baseman and he stepped on the working three jobs most of my adolescent years. There bag. The umpire yelled, "He's out"!! Feather had missed was not a lot of time for idle "chit-chat" but, on occasion, first base. dad would talk about going to school in "dogtown". It was a one-room school with grades one through eight. Dad said some of the eighth grade boys were 6'5" tall and weighed over 300 pounds, and were, at least, 20 years old. I didn't buy into that, but as a first grader, it probably looked that way to dad.

Dad was a small boy and could run like the dickens. On one occasion, the older boys told him to do something mischievous. Dad knew it would get him into trouble, but out of fear of the boys he agreed to give it a shot. They told him if the teacher chased him, he should make a beeline for the boys' outside "privy". They convinced him that the teacher (female) was not allowed to enter the

Dogtown School House—School #4 (circa 1957) boys' restroom. He did; she did; and a good "ole" spanking ensued.

Memories of Dogtown School Another time, the boys (my dad included) tied garter snakes around the young teacher's automobile door By Joe Hoover handles and steering wheel. Being deathly afraid of the critters, she had to spend the night in the spooky old schoolhouse (no cell phone). My name is Joseph Hoover and I grew up in the Ashville area. I lived there for twenty-seven years before moving to My dad's older sister, Valora (affectionately known as Bremen, OH, my current home for the past 35 years. My Dolly), rode her pony to school one day. The older boys wife and I are members of the AAHS and I will always put the pony up in the belfry. Either the boys were as big have fond memories of growing up around Ashville. as dad said, or they used a rope and pulley. After my grandfather paid a visit to the school, I'm sure the boys felt When I was nine, my family moved from the Ed Runkle smaller. farm south of Lockbourne Air Force Base (LAFB). I was not happy to be moving from this area because of all the There are many more stories locked away in the walls of exciting things going on there during my early years, "Dogtown School" and in the minds of several people in before, during and after WW II. LAFB was one of the the area who attended the school. I would sure like to larger Strategic Air Command (SAC) bases in the country. hear them. Now you can see why my dad was excited I enjoyed watching the large troop transport planes as they about his first home purchase. flew close to our house, dropping parachutists during training exercises. The sky would be covered with large My father passed on in 1997, but the memories of his billows of pure white nylon as the men drifted lazily to the Ashville childhood will live on in me and my family. My earth. I would lie in the yard and watch the miracle of men mother still lives in the schoolhouse, today. My wife, P.J., flying through the air and think how brave and and I purchased the home from my mother three years strong they were. I hated to leave. ago. We have since traced this property back to 1870, but since there was no tax increase for schools being built on My dad had purchased a home for the family, our first, and a lot, we are at a standstill. We hope, some day, to restore he was excited. I'm not sure I was, as this place was very this property backwards to its "school days". old and run down. My dad, Joseph Hoover, was a handy man of sorts and he could fix anything so the renovations Maybe in the near future we can move back to the Ashville began. After he made the place livable, we moved in. It area and once again I can live inside the hallowed walls of was then I discovered his reason for liking the place. He "Dogtown Schoolhouse #4". had spent many of his younger days in this very building. He had started school in this house in 1921. It was listed as School House #4 but for some reason, it was referred to as "Dogtown" School. 17

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A 3' X 5' replica of the USA Transitional flag was ASHVILLE AREA presented to the Ohio General Assembly at the March 1 meeting. The flag was displayed throughout the entire HERITAGE SOCIETY session.

--2003 YEAR IN REVIEW Barbara Carder spoke to Cub Scout Pack #542, Washington Township Elementary School, and gave the JANUARY - Plans were underway for the construction of a history of the “Statehood” flag. flag case in which to exhibit the USA Transitional (mystery) flag. A milled, ready-to-use, Buckeye tree was donated to Ohio's Bi-centennial the AAHS by Dale W. Riddle Forest Products, Inc./ Timberwolf Specialty Hardwoods, Inc. in Laurelville. Mr. Herb Seymour spoke to the Teays Valley Middle School about Ashville's heritage in connection with the FEBRUARY/MARCH - 2003 AAHS officers elected were: Ohio Bi-centennial. President, Tom Zwayer. Vice-President, Charles D. Morrison, Jr. Secretary, Rose Jamison. Treasurer, Andy Hite. Board of Directors (new ) Mike Cummins and Charles Morrison.

The Ohio Statehood/USA Transitional Flag. Mr. Kevin Foster has constructed the flag case. Plaques honoring donors, etc. and a written history of the flag are to be included with the flag display.

Volunteers get the museum ready for an inspection by an insurer. The goal is to get paper material off the floor, prepare the back room for displaying the flag, and clean up the trash piled in the old furnace room and the sports area. Volunteers also cleaned up the sales area.

The flag was the centerpiece of the Hubb Scott Collection, March 1 and 2, at the Trinity Lutheran Church during the Chillicothe Statehood Days. Joyce Walker (seated), a bus driver in the Teays Valley Local School District, becomes a featured guest on "Oprah". Barb Cotner (standing) submitted Walker’s story to the talk show’s staff. (Photo Courtesy of the Circleville Herald)

MAY – AAHS Trustees have their photographs taken with Governor Taft and the “Statehood” flag.

JUNE - Fifty 2' X 3' Ashville Flags were purchased and the Society is selling them for $35.00 each. This amount was later reduced to $30.00.

Mini USA Transitional, USA, Ashville and Ohio flags were sold at the 4th of July both at the village park and at the Museum.

Eleanore Chandler displays her patriotic zeal for the Ohio Statehood Due to demolition of the old Ashville Elementary School Flag at the Hubb Scott Collection in Chillicothe. Building, the museum accepted the donation of the wall clock which had been installed in the school on April 6, Art Deal arranged for the manufacture of one-hundred 3' X 1928 and kept in running condition to the present, a picture 5' replica flags. These will be available for sale at the plaque of George Washington. Ashville Fourth of July and at the museum.

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money making projects and obtain ideas for the 2004 4th of July AAHS booth.

Ashville Harrison School Clock A Replica of the Ohio Statehood Flag Leads the Upper Arlington The deteriorating condition of the antique Ashville traffic Fourth of July Parade. light is of grave concern. After much discussion, it was suggested that a replica of the light be made to put on AUGUST display at the park during future Ashville 4th of July celebrations and the original light be retained at the USA Transitional Flag insurance purchased by the Ohio museum. To date, a replica has not been made. Historical Society for the time it is in their possession.

JULY - Emmy Award-winning playwright, Brian Clark, wrote a play about early Ohio settlers, which featured a mother sewing Max Marion has restored the antique traffic light to an a 17-star flag, patterned after Ashville's USA Transitional acceptable working and aesthetic condition. 'mystery flag'. The play was presented as part of Worthington, Ohio's bi-centennial celebration. A 1/12th page ad was purchased in the fall edition of the "Over the Back Yard Fence". SEPTEMBER

The fall picnic was well attended by members, families and friends at the Village Park. Following the picnic, several enjoyed a tour of the new Ashville Elementary School led by Principal, Randy Cotner.

The “Statehood” flag was loaned to the Ohio Historical Society for display at the Adena Visitor's Center October 16 through part of November. Press releases were sent to

each of Ohio's 88 counties. Charles Cordle appears in the July 1st Online Edition of Southeast Ohio Magazine. The feature on Ohio’s Small Town Museum was STAGECOACH AND TONY ELLIS TO RECEIVE called, “The Accidential Tourist Attraction.” NATIONAL TELEVISION EXPOSURE

It was suggested the AAHS Trustees meet prior to the Pickaway County received national television exposure in monthly meeting to resolve problems and obtain answers a prime time program aired on September 11 called to questions posed at previous meetings. “America's Voices: Celebrating Life.” The Travel Channel offered a week of special programming celebrating A committee consisting of Mike Cummins, Michael Moore, Rose Jamison and Andy Hite was appointed to investigate 19

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Musicians of Braeburn were filmed by an ABC news crew performing music at Braeburn Farm Bed and Breakfast, located six miles southeast of Circleville. They were also filmed at the recent concert held at the Stagecoach on August 19. The underlying theme of the television program is to show how American life and spirit have continued to thrive two years after the tragedy of 9/11. Segments from New York City, California, Louisiana, and Ohio (Pickaway County) were included. The hour-long show aired on September 11.

Michael Moore is working on setting up a separate website Ashville author, Wes Henson (1978 Ashville graduate) for the Ashville museum. October Visitor Activity at the gave a short personal biography of himself and reviewed Museum. 245 TVMS eighth graders were given tours by the (first) book he has just published, entitled, "Invasion". Jack Lemon, Charles Cordle and Charles Morrison. He donated a copy to the AAHS for the area author display that is being developed. Charles Morrison, Rose Jamison and Charles Cordle were named to act as the nominating committee for 2004 AAHS officers.

NOVEMBER -

November is Author’s Month at the AAHS and this year was especially interesting with new books being released by Mary Hinkle, Donna Jarrell and Wes Henson.

Wes Henson (Photo courtesy of Circleville Herald)

Bonnie (Brown) Myers expressed her thanks for being warmly welcomed as a new museum volunteer. She is working closely with Charles Morrison, Charles Cordle and Jack Lemon on inventorying everything in the museum; i.e. Mary Hinkle displays her book called, “Signs of Belonging” item description, donor and value. Also, a floor plan is being set up. Reverend Mary Hinkle is a graduate of Teays Valley and recently became the author of a book titled, “Signs of A new-acquisitions notebook has been started and a Belonging.” volunteer sign-up program, initiated. The outside of the building has received a fresh coat of paint thanks to “Rapid Donna Jarrell, lecturer in English at Ohio State and a Red” Smith. graduate of Teays Valley, was interviewed as part of NPR's "Talk of the Nation" Sept. 9, about what it is like At the high school, near the gymnasiums, are three wall- being overweight in America. Jarrell is co-editor of the new mounted glass display cases (one for Ashville, Scioto and book “What Are You Looking At?: The First Fat Fiction Walnut). Museum volunteers are to keep the Ashville Anthology.” Donna is donating a copy of her book for the case up to date. collection that will encompass the works of local authors.

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Mike Cummins is entering all Ashville High School alumni names into the museum's computer. He plans to enter Walnut and Scioto alumni as time permits.

Bob Hines is preparing a Guide to Ohio Small Town Museum (2004 Collection Documentation). He is photographing museum panels and artifacts for inclusion in this document.

DECEMBER - A wonderful and well-attended Christmas party was held at the new Ashville Elementary. A delicious meal was catered by the Ironhorse Restaurant. Everyone enjoyed an evening of good food, fellowship and Bingo.

Jack Lemon, Charlie Morrison, and Annabell

Annabell Retires

Annabell Hines faithfully provided visitors with first-hand knowledge of many historical artifacts that were housed at the Ohio’s Small Town. She represented the society well and we appreciate her dedication through the years. We wish her the best of luck on her well-deserved rest.

Thanks, Sarah! AAHS Christmas Dinner

AAHS Official e-mail Site:

[email protected]

AAHS Official Web Site www.ohiosmalltownmuseum.org

2004 AAHS Officers

President: Mike Cummins Vice-President: Michael Moore Treasurer: Andy Hite Secretary: Rose Jamison Sarah Fisher was in Europe to receive special honors Trustees (Existing) Charles Morrison recently. She is pictured above with legendary Formula 1 Dennis Blaney drivers Michael Schumacher and Alain Prost. Many of you Trustees (New): Jack Lemon know that Sarah set up a onetime scholarship for Teays Bonnie Myers Valley High School graduates and Bethany Larue was the Bob Hines first recipient.

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percentage). He was the 6th most winning coach in the Steve Cummins history of Ohio High School boy’s soccer and was steadily climbing the Ohio career win ladder. Only 50 years old at (11/ 30/ 1952 --9/13/2003) the time of his passing, he was on a pace that could have

led to his becoming the most winning Ohio coach of all time.

Before 1983 Lakota’s seven-year cumulative record in the state tournament was 1-7. Cummins’s Lakota teams won 48 of 68 tournament games for a winning percentage of 71%. He coached six teams that reached the state final 8, and his 2000 and 2003 teams went on to the state final four where they lost to the eventual state champions in both years.

His achievements have been recognized by his peers with a Southwest Ohio, a Butler County, two Cincinnati, and six GMC Coach of the Year awards. Lakota and Lakota West Boys Head Soccer Coach Lakota Science and Physical Education Teacher 1983-2003 Cummins was a student of the game and a fixture on the national coaching scene. He achieved his “A” national (Lakota West Boys Soccer web site) From the time of his coaching license in 1988, one of the first coaches in Ohio arrival at Lakota preceding the start of the 1983 season to do so. He served on the senior coaching staff of the until his untimely death during the 2003 season Steve Club Ohio Dynamo select program for 12 summers, taking Cummins was the guiding light of Lakota Soccer. six Dynamo teams to the national final four, including 1994 when his U-17 team won the national championship. He In 1983 Cummins took over a Lakota program that had also coached 11 select teams to Ohio State Cup produced just one winning season in the first seven years championships, more than any other boy’s coach in Ohio. of its existence. That was all soon to change. Lakota In Cummins’ youth, soccer was not a high school posted a winning season in 1984 and in every one of the interscholastic sport in Ohio. Two Englishmen employed 12 seasons to follow. When Lakota split into Lakota East by his father introduced him to soccer. They played on and Lakota West in 1997 Cummins cast his fortune with local club teams and by the age of 15 Cummins had joined West and kept the Firebirds on the winning side of the them playing in the adult club leagues around Columbus. ledger for an additional seven seasons. He went on to become the goalkeeper for Miami University in 1971 and 1972. After serving a stint in the military, he Although Cummins upgraded the schedules his Lakota returned to Miami and played for the University’s 1975 and teams played to include all of the top teams in Cincinnati 1976 teams. and many from Columbus and Dayton, he guided his teams to 20 consecutive winning seasons. His influence Cummins has stated that when he left his hometown of on Lakota soccer reached beyond the boundaries of his Columbus back in 1983, he did so under the impression own team. His wise consul and advice to the fledgling girls that his stop in West Chester would be a temporary one, soccer program in the early years at Lakota helped to the first of many different coaching jobs. He later stated, propel them to a stature equaling that of his boy’s teams. “Now I can’t imagine leaving. You never think you’re going In addition, when Lakota split in 1997 it was his former to stay anywhere this long, but we really like this assistant coach and star player, Dan Landrum that took community and you couldn’t ask for a better environment over the Lakota East program bringing them to state wide to coach in.” We now know he will never leave the prominence and the district’s first Division 1 final four community. He leaves behind his wife Jill, and his two appearance in 1999. Indeed, Cummins’ influence on children, Evan and Caitlin. He also leaves a standard of Cincinnati soccer has been immense. At the time of his coaching excellence that will serve as a beacon for all death the head coaches of three successful Cincinnati Lakota coaches to follow. high school programs besides his own were his former assistants.

Cummins’ final record as a head coach, all in the Lakota School District, was 255-80-65 (71.9% winning

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the high-profile Vietnam MIA list. Wheeler was honored Thanks VFW Post 3331 along with world peace activist Gale Warner with a display and an international peace pole. Double Purple Heart designee from World War II, Master Sergeant Elmer Neff is also featured. Neff was killed in action at Iwo Jima.

VFW Post 3331 presents members of the Ashville Area Heritage Society with an $18,000 pledge. Pictured (L to R): Terry Brown, VFW Trustee; Bill Culp, Post Commander; Mike Cummins, President AAHS; Andrew Hite, AAHS Treasurer; and Charles Cordle, a founding member of the AAHS.

VFW Post 3331 in Circleville has made an $18,000 pledge to the Ohio Small Town Museum in Ashville. The pledge is in support of the museum’s goal to expand its programs and improve its collections—especially displays that honor the contributions of local men and women who There is an extensive display on the life of Vice Admiral served this country in war and in peace. One of the major Harlan H. Christy, from Pickaway County. Christy was pieces in the collection is the extremely rare 17-star U.S. identified as a naval hero during WWI for his actions on flag (also known as the Ohio Statehood flag). Ohio the ill-fated U.S.S. San Diego. Others include: Rick militiamen carried flags bearing this design into battle Brown who was killed in action in Vietnam and World War I during the War of 1812. Supreme Commander-General “Black Jack” Pershing.

Another important artifact is a crushed metal buoy from the U.S.S. Maine. The destruction of the Maine was the incident that sparked the Spanish-American War. The buoy in the collection still is encrusted with coral from the harbor in Havana, Cuba.

The Circleville VFW Post’s pledge is the first in a campaign to raise at least $250,000 for the future development of the nationally recognized museum. The donation is part of the pre-campaign seed funding challenge. The museum also features a display on Pickaway Countian--Eugene Lacey Wheeler. Wheeler remains on 23

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As your president, I hope we can all work together in the President’s Message spirit of our forefathers and make many improvements to the society and the Ashville Area. I suggest we might adopt the 4H motto for this year. “To Make the BEST would like to take this opportunity to show my I Small Town Museum, BETTER”. appreciation to all of the members, officers, past officers and especially the founding fathers of the Ashville Area Michael L. Cummins Heritage Society. The accomplishments of these groups President AAHS have been no less than spectacular. The devotion of our curators and volunteers at the museum has been truly outstanding.

The 21st century brings many challenges to our group. The museum is busting at the seams with many artifacts of local, state and national interest. Where we will be in the next fifty years is only up to us.

Last year our beloved traffic light was totally restored and we acquired the revered U.S. Transitional Flag (Ohio Statehood Flag) along with over $18,000 in pledges and donations. This year we are in the process of acquiring the original school bell from the old Ashville School (on Long street) and railroad crossing signals. There are many other items that have been brought in and January is not yet even over!

Ashville Area Heritage Society Ohio’s Small Town Museum 34 Long Street Ashville, OH 43103

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