The Grindstone
September/October 2014
Upcoming
Fall & Winter
Events
HALLOWEEN IN THE VILLAGE
Third Annual
“ BY MY LANTERN’S LIGHT”
The Amherst Historical Society will be hosting its third annual “By My
Lantern’s Light” fall event on October 18 & October 19 from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M.
in the Amherst Sandstone Village.
By My Lantern’s Light
October 18 & October 19
Sandstone Village
4:00 -8:00 P.M.
The first tour begins at 4 P.M. at which time lantern carrying guides will lead groups
of ten through the village to listen to storytellers relate early surrounding area tales,
all based on fact, but, many slightly embellished. The final tour begins at 8 P.M.
with no tours after the 8:00 P.M. hour.
Following the tours, refreshments will be served in the Grange Hall where
pictures can be taken in front of a fall décor. Each tour lasts approximately an hour.
Admission is 10.00 per family or 3.00 per person and children must be
accompanied by an adult.
Christmas in the Village
December 7, 2014
Santa in the Grange
2:00 - 4:00
Caroling in the Chapel
4:00 - 5:00
Sandstone Village
Pictured is Diana Yale-Peabody, at the 2013 Lantern
Light event, standing on the steps of the caboose,
welcoming a tour group, as she spins her tale of the
“Body in the Basement”, a story based on the 1916
Amherst Train Wreck.
Volunteer Appreciation Event
The Amherst Historical Society Board of Directors have rescheduled the Volunteer
Appreciation event, originally planned for September 13. 2014, to be held on
December 14, 2014 in the Grange Hall in the village
2013 Volunteer
Appreciation Brunch in
the Sandstone Village
Grange Hall
December 14, 2014
12:00 Noon
Due to the decline in attendance at the historical society’s annual Christmas Dinner, the
Board determined it would be a cost effective measure to eliminate the annual dinner
totally and instead host a Volunteer Appreciation Brunch on December 14, at 12 noon
in the Grange Hall.
Anyone who volunteered in 2013 at the Quigley Museum, in the village, or at the
Office, please call Donna at 988-7255 by November 1, 2014 for reservations. Guests of
volunteers are welcome. Guest fee is $15.00
President’s letter
By John Dunn
My first thoughts, as I write this, is to thank everyone of our volunteers, staff and board members
who contributed to the success of the German Fest.
The weather was great as was the day. We had a good crowd that stayed longer than in past years.
It certainly seem like people enjoyed the festival.
I would be remiss if I did not thank our German Fest sponsors for their help in bringing more
entertainment for all age groups. Every year we try to set the bar a little higher and I think we did it
this year.
John Dunn
The biggest problem we had was lack of parking, but I think we can fix that for the 2015 German Fest.
Last, but not least, I would like to thank Kathy Dean-Dielman for all her efforts in putting together our first ever
children’s history program held in July.
Our fall and winter events are just around the corner. We hope to see everyone attend our “By My Lantern’s
Light” in October and “Christmas in the Village” in December.
Hello all, we hope your summer has been great, so far. As we approach the end of our field season, we are excited
to look back to this summer’s events, forward to work in the lab, and to our upcoming events.
We were so pleased to meet and talk to so many area history/prehistory buffs at the German Fest at the Sandstone
Village on August 9. As we talked to so many folks during the event, we were washing artifacts from our
fieldwork at the historical Burrell House in Sheffield Village. This summer we looked deeper into the story of the
1820 constructed home and it's occupants. Our work recovered more debris from eighteenth and nineteenth
century life such as buttons and broken plates. Additionally we recovered many bricks from the front yard. In the
coming weeks we will clean and investigate these artifacts, and we hope that you will join us.
Looking forward, October in Ohio is archaeology month, and FARC has an exciting fall in store. We will hold our
fifth annual Ohio Archaeology Dinner on Thursday, October 9, at the AHS Sandstone Village Grange. Also in
October will be our artifact ID day on Saturday October 25. Check our website wwww.firelandsarchaeology.org
for specific times as these events approach. We hope to see you at our Sandstone Village lab for one of our lab
sessions and our upcoming events.
Brian Scanlan, President
2
What Price Beauty?
By Vivienne Bickley
DO YOU REMEMBER?......
“You have to suffer to be beautiful”.
My mom quoted this saying to me as she untangled my hair with a WIRE brush. I still believe the
brush was meant for currying horses’ manes. ( The promised beauty-- she lied!)
Vivienne Bickley
Woman have always been willing to pay the price for beauty. Think back to the corsets so uncomfortable
in the 1800’s and even the Playtex rubber girdle of the 50’s. Many of us know what it is to starve to lose weight
and with that method the weight always comes back. We know that many women suffered breast cancer when
implants not of surgical quality were used. Skin cancer is still caused by the desire to be tan and even tanning beds
have been proven not to be safe after all. Facial cosmetic surgery is said to be very painful, but is endured by many
- -- almost a necessity for movie actors and actresses. ( Mom your adage holds true in these cases.)
Throughout my childhood, most of it during the Great Depression, I watched in awe as my mother and her
sister tried home beauty treatments. They made cloth packets filled with oatmeal, water soaked them and applied
the “goo” to their faces. Dried, then rinsed, they seemed quite satisfied with their inexpensive facials. Shampooing
hair with bar soap, they sometimes rinsed with vinegar, or beer or whatever else they had heard was beautifying.
They set their hair with bobby pins and what they called “gooey”. It was cheap, sometimes blue and other times
green. I later learned it was gelatin. A “natural blonde” I worked with in the 50’s did admit to using lemon juice as
a rinse. When I asked how many for each rinse, her answer was “Six.” Natural? MEOW!
Cleopatra did it when she was very young, why couldn’t I? Mom said “No” to my eye makeup in my
teens. Cleo wore kohl to accentuate her eyes and it was as black as “coal.” No wonder Mark and Julius were so
smitten. I had to content myself with Vaseline on my eyelashes, which sometimes blurred the vision.
Turning 14, I was finally allowed to wear only TANGEL lipstick. Pale peach in the cardboard tube, it
turned pink on the lips. Do I remember correctly- - - was it priced at only ten cents? I know that HEATHER rouge
was only a dime at my counter in Scotts Dime Store in Lorain where I started my working days at age 14. I had an
assignment in high school to research products and found that this rouge in its cardboard compact was rated the
highest of all rouges priced much higher.
Mom and her friends and sisters all swore by cold cream. Sold in huge jars, only lightly scented and at a
very low price, they used it to remove makeup and to “moisturize.” I never heard that word until I became an adult
and hundreds of products used it in ads. My grandmother, who had come from Europe in the late 1800’s, thought
makeup was sinful, but she did apply Vaseline to her face. After 12 children and farming in the sun, she had few
wrinkles in her later years. Cosmetic firms sell expensive moisturizers, but I know a secret: Keep your face damp
after washing with soap (of all things) and apply any kind of oil or cream to lock in the moisture. Vaseline, hand
crème, even salad oil would work. I use a very good, but inexpensive body moisturizer on my face.
Now what should I do with all the money I save? I know - - -false eyelashes! Saving money doesn’t always work.
I knew a man who loved to soak in his wife’s supply of bubble bath. When she was gone on day, he found she
was out of it. It wasn’t economy he had in mind, only the need for a replacement. He filled the tub with luxuriant
suds of clothes washing detergent! He soaked and soaked, then peeled and peeled for a whole week.
Can one still buy bath salts? Women found them to be drying to their skin and bath oils and after bathing body
moisturizers replaced them.
I once wrote a poem that could have been called “Ode to Moisturizers.” The last two lines were, “ You know that
old lady in the red brick house? She dried up and blew away!”
Obviously didn’t use them.
3
Recent Arrival to the Village
Early Twentieth Century Milk House
In 1948 Bud and Marilyn Jenne purchased 12 acres of land on North Ridge Road, then
known as the Driss property. The acreage consisted of a
house with no utilities, a cistern, a barn, three wells, an outhouse, and milk house. Bud and Marilyn quickly got to work
tearing down the barn and outhouse, but since the milk house
was still sturdy; they left it intact. It remained a few feet from
the homestead by the one well, which was 15 feet deep, and
in the early days used to keep milk cold until it was either
used or sold.
Original Homestead
By 1950 they had electricity and running water in the house and
Original Barns
had built a new barn. Over the years many changes occurred to the property but the original
milk house continued to survive even after a confrontation with an out-of-control lawn mower, which according to Marilyn
occurred about 6 or 7 years ago.
Milk House at the Village
Recently during a visit to Marilyn’s house, John Mallaney, Nord Family Foundation Executive
Director, observed the milk house. When Marilyn told him she was going to have it torn down he
remarked that since it’s such a historical piece the foundation would have it repaired and moved to
the Amherst Society grounds; where it is currently residing behind the Harris/Dute House.
Regarding her lifetime milk house, Marilyn commented, “So it was moved to begin a new life at the
village to serve as an example of how folks lived years ago... and I believe it to be probably 150
years old.”
My Three Dollar Bill by Kent Sutton
Some ten to twenty years ago in one of the many books that has passed through my possession in my
lifetime, I was reading one that was the life and times of Herbert Hoover outside of his Presidency.
While he is most remembered as the President responsible for the Great Depression and not much else,
this individual lead a most interesting life both before and after he served in the Oval Office.
People have given me books throughout my lifetime as everyone who has ever known me knows how I
enjoy a good book. My eldest sister was a real garage sale chaser as was my good friend Ken Breckenridge.
Between these two good people I could live to be 120 years old and never get all the books they gave me to read.
Now, why I gave that information I have no idea, but I do tend to get carried away when I start to write, and the only thing
that has anything to do with the above writings is the book on President Hoover. While reading this book, I found a three
dollar bill that was being used as a page marker. Now you are gonna tell me there is no such thing as a three dollar bill and
until I came across this note I believed this to be true. I have often been told, as perhaps you have, that we are stranger than
a three dollar bill. Well it is good to know that we are not so odd and the three dollar bill actually did exist.
On April 1, 1771 the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation under a bill approved in July of 1780 issued notes in
denomination of $1-$2-$3-$4-$5-$7-$8 and $20 signed by Adam Comstock and Caleb Harris.
Where this note came from or even who gave me the book I do not know. It was probably given by either my sister Phyllis
or Ken (both deceased). I have long since discarded the book along with hundreds of others, otherwise I would have had to
move from both my house and office. I did discuss the note with both Phyllis and Ken before their deaths and neither had
any recollection of this book. Of course this is very understandable as they gave me books in such large numbers.
While this note I have is in poor condition and is not worth much money wise, it has been worth far more than its
actual value as a conversation piece.
4
History Through Young Eyes - Kathy Dean-Dielman
The Amherst Historical Society ran its first summer history program, History Through
Young Eyes, July 14 - 18 in the Sandstone Village. The first year’s group was small, eight
children total, but that was ideal for a first-time endeavor. My goal was to help children
understand that history is not only in the books, but in everyday activities.
Ohio history was the theme for this week. One day’s activities focused on Ohio-born
presidents Another day saw the children playing old-fashioned games, learning about Ohio
made candies and making homemade ice cream.
The children seemed to get the most from day four, during which
they learned how Ohio has built its economy. After learning
about the various shipping channels in Ohio, participants
decorated their own cork boats and floated them in the village
stream. To demonstrate what an assembly line entails, we made
edible cars! Each child added a part to the graham cracker “car,”
with the cars-in-progress moving on a conveyor made from a
table runner. They also hit rocks with a rubber mallet to get a
taste of what work in the quarries might have entailed I learned so much about what to do
(and what not to do), and I look forward to next year Anyone who would like to help with History Through Young
Eyes next summer is surely welcome.
Fundraising Garage Sale in the Village Long Barn
It was at our 2013 sale and I vividly remember Donna Rumpler and I standing in the long barn announcing that it
was definitely going to be our last sale ..and unfortunately so many of our members also recall us saying those
lasting words...but, thank goodness, the fundraising committee decided to go ahead with our June sale which
earned a profit of $1, 805.39.
Since in August there was still “stuff” left over, the committee agreed to have the long barn open from 2 to 5
during the German Fest, but due to the interest of the crowd the half price sale was extended to closing. This sale
netted $111.35. Because of the positive outcome, future sales in the long barn are anticipated.
It is due to the generous donations of society members and friends that we can hold village sales, but we ask that
donations be suitable for selling. Unfortunately many of the donated items have to be disposed of prior to the sale
which is costly to the society because we have to rent a dumpster.
Thanks to Terry Traser, Charlie Wearsch, Jim Wilhelm, Bill Provident, Ralph Zilch, John Dunn, Bob Pallante.
Donna Breckenridge, Donna Rumpler, Zella Williams, Kathy Dean-Dielman, Elaine Breen and John and Barb
Dietrich for all their help in making the two fundraisers a success.
Martha Pallante
5
Fourth Annual Historical Society German Fest
A Great Day For All Ages to Celebrate Amherst’s German Heritage
Kids, as well as many adults, in awe as
Jungle Bob Tuma introduces “Pugsley the
Lizard”. His menagerie included a variety of
reptiles, insects, mammals and birds which
thrilled the kids as they were able to get close
up and personal to see and pet them.
Horse and pony rides.
So many of the youngsters were sporting painting designs on
their faces, arms, hands and even a few ankles. During the course
of the day three face painters displayed their talent to both amuse
and delight the imagination of the kids with hearts, butterflies,
bumblebees, unicorns and lots of glitter!
Little ones at the Duck Pond choosing a duck
and receiving a prize.
Youngsters at the “Ye Olde Candy
Shoppe” selecting their choice of old
time penny candies.
The crowd under the tent enjoying ethnic cuisine while watching the S.T.V. Bavaria Dancers with members of the crowd.
The Society Board of Directors express appreciation to the following 2014 German Fest Sponsors:
Nordson Corporation Foundation, sponsors of the children’s shows, games and activities.
Marilyn Jenne and The Nord Family Foundation, sponsors of Hank Haller Ensemble
Northcoast Eye Care
Main Street Amherst
Metro Computer Resources
Giuseppe’s Wine Cellar
The Mermaid Tale
6
O’Toole, McLaughlin, Dooley & Pecora Co
Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation
Sliman’s Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep & Ram
Mercy Foundation of Lorain County
Kaleidoscope Hair Design
U.S. Bank
Just Joey
Cleveland Zoo
Columbus Zoo
Amherst Cinema
J.C. Penny Salon
Vaughnteriors
Debbie Czapp
Marie Robinson
Lilly Krebs
The Genealogy Corner: # 53 - Orville Manes
In the last issue of the Grindstone there was a photo of some
old shoes that were located in a home in Amherst. The article,
titled “The Forgotten Shoes” was in the Curious Curators
column with a teaser regarding information that would follow.
Genealogists were put to work here to find out more about the
home on Beaver Court now owned by Ed and Betty
Fridenstine. Here is what we found:
Orville Manes
Ed and Betty Fridenstine
Henry J. Uthe, born in 1816 in Germany, married Eva Josephine Kreps. They came to the USA in 1844 with
their 2 children. According to the ship’s manifest he was a shoemaker by trade. Henry was one of 4 brothers
that came to the USA from Germany. Two of them came to Ohio. The 5th brother stayed in Hanover,
Germany where he owned a Shoe Factory.
According to a business database put together by Fay Van Nuys Ott, Henry Uthe had a shoe and boot store in
Amherst on Beaver Court back in 1857 but he was also a Dry Goods merchant and a farmer. The Uthe farm
took up a good part of downtown North Amherst, from Park Avenue north to beyond Cleveland Street.
Several housing sub divisions and Neiding Park now take up this area. In the 1870 census he had a net worth
of about $10,000 which was a lot of money in those days.
Henry died of paralysis on 1889 in Amherst and is buried in the Cleveland Street Cemetery. So, it seems that
the discovery of the shoes in the Fridenstine’s attic not only proved that Amherst had a cobbler and a shoe
shop, there was much more to the shoemaker’s life than that.
7
Non-Profit Org
U.S. Postage
Paid
Amherst, OH
Permit No. 4
T H E A M H E R ST H I ST O R IC AL S O C I E T Y
1 1 3 SO U T H L A K E ST R E ET
AMHERST , OH 44001
P H O N E : 4 4 0 -9 8 8 -7 2 5 5
F A X : 4 4 0 - 9 8 8 -2 9 5 1
E M A I L : A M H E R S T H IS T O R Y @ C EN T U R YT E L . N ET
W E B : W W W . A M H E R S T H I ST O R I C AL S O C I ET Y . O R G
T H E A M H E R ST H I ST O R IC AL S O C I E T Y
BOARD
O F D I R EC T O R S
Jami Anderson
Charlie Marty
Paul Bires
Col. Matthew Nahorn
John Diedrich
Kelly Post
Kathy Dean-Dielman
Joan Rosenbusch
John Dunn
Jim Wilhelm
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
ADDRESS LABEL
Frank Janik, Esq.
The Amherst Historical Society wishes to acknowledge
a charitable remainder trust created by Mr. Evan Nord
and administrated by
The Community Foundation of Lorain County.
Grindstone edited by Bob & Martha Pallante
and Donna Rumpler, Printed by SQP Print Center
The Curious Curators
Charlie Marty, Matt Nahorn, Joan Rosenbusch, Ralph Zilch
FAY VAN NUYS OTT - AMHERST HISTORIAN
A recent acquisition of the Amherst Historical Research Group is the complete library
of Amherst's well-known historian, Fay Van Nuys Ott. Fay has been documenting the
history of our town in books and databases for over 25 years. She was a volunteer at
the Amherst Historical Society along with Valerie Jenkins-Gerstenberger, Vivienne
Bickley, Shirley Young, Orville Manes and many other hard-workers.
Through her research Fay discovered that Amherst had a policeman, Rupert Becker,
who was killed in the line of duty. She began working with Det. Dan Jasinski and Dave
Spieker to get the complete story and in turn a book was compiled and Rupert's
name was placed on four different memorials in the United States. A gift (the "street
sign" shown in the picture) was presented to Fay by Mr. Spieker for her diligence.
Some of Fay's works can now be accessed online through the Amherst Public Library's
website but the public is welcome to visit the Amherst Historical Society to see the
originals and all of the other pictures and information we have on file.
Fay has been an inspiration to the Research Group and, along with her friend Mary
Powers-Miller and other special guests, is a welcome visitor to our research gatherings at the Amherst Historical Society. The public is invited every Monday from 6-9
PM where we research business, homes, and families of our great city of Amherst.
Come on up and see if we can answer your questions