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Shelby County Historical Society
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Rock My World Exhibit
On May 20th, The Rock my
World Exhibit opened at the Ross Historical Society. A nice size
crowd atteded to listen to four local collectors Herb Van Tilburgh,
Tom Dunnavant, Dale Wilges and Tom Wehner. Herb Van Tilburgh
started the program by giving the history of pocket watches. He
went on to tell tricks of the trade like a rail road watch have
always had their faces exposed. This made it easier for workers
to tell time guickly.
Tom Dunnavant continued
the program by sharing, his wife had been taking him to all kinds of
flea markets, so he decided he wanted to find something small to
collect. Dunnavant decided on post cards and now has over 300 in his
collection. It took him about a year to collect the first 100 but
now it is very hard to find something new. Even though Sidney post
cards can be very expensive to purchase on e-bay some of his best
cards have been free. People just wanted to
give the cards to someone who was truly interested in Shelby County
History.
Dale Wilges and Tom
Wehner traveled from Auglaize County to talk about their token
collections. Wilges lead off by talking about why local stores and
other entities made tokens. He personally is on the search for Holy
Angels School tokens. He asked those in attendance if anyone could
help him in his search. There were at least 11 different tokens
made by Holy Angels School. Wilges told that mirrors were also used
as coupons and advertising tools. Mirrors are sometimes more
valuable then tokens made in the same time period. Tom Wehner gave
an overview of many of the different types of tokens that have been
made from Civil War times to the present. Tokens have been used to
make change for food stamps and other government programs during
war, to getting a discount in a store, ride a merry-go-round, wash a
car, ride the train, gambling, and school milk and lunch
tokens. Wooden Nickles have been used over the years to celebrate
numerous special occasions.
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Using post cards and a map of Sidney, Tom Dunnavant explains
where and the extent of the damage the cyclone of 1909 caused
both in Sidney and Lacyburg. |
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Herb
Van Tilburgh shows a pocket watch. |
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After the program, Dale Wilges and Tom Wehner help Scott
Voisard learn more information about tokens that Voisard has
in own collection |
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Coming to
America
The week of Valentines Day
at the Ross Historical Center was filled with hundreds of children
learning about why people from Europe emigrated to the United States.
The week had its challenges as schools had to close their doors
because of bad weather and tours had to be rescheduled for the next
week. Several schools requested contingency plans in case of bad
weather. Educators feel this program is important and they were
willing to reschedule their lessons plans so their students didnt
miss coming to the Coming to America exhibit.
Teachers have told us trips
to the Ross Historical Center are relevant to what they are teaching
in the classroom. One teacher told director Tilda Phlipot, We dont
look at coming to the Ross Center as a field trip. It is really just
an extension of our classroom. By moving the Coming to America
exhibit from September to February you are offering almost the exact
information that we are learning in the classroom. It would be nearly
impossible for a single teacher to create this type of learning
environment in the classroom.
Coming to America would
not be able to serve over 750 students without the help of the
following volunteers Jane Jones, Cheryl Michael, Joyce Wells, Terry
Householder, Nancy Junkin, Sharon Mohrbacher, Linda Marvin, Patti
Speelman, Sherrie Casad-Lodge, Laura Kaufman, Carol Wentz, Perry
Long, Kent Smith, Mary Lou Holly, Karen Stockstill, Deb Hall, Bruce
Ludwig, Rosemary Dorsey, Paul Workman, Vera Hall, Mary Ann Hemlinger,
Charles Clayton, Cathy Clayton, Silvia Dorsey, Brenda Mason and Tilda
Phlipot.
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Many
Thanks To Our Volunteers
Congratulations to Sharon
Mohrbacher and Cheryl Michael for being our January winners of the
$10.00 Chamber of Commerce gift certificates. Their names were drawn
from the list of our volunteers.
15 people volunteered a
total of 84 hours in the month of January. We thank you for your
time!
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SCHS
Acquires Properties for Expansion
The Shelby County
Historical Society recently announced the acquisition of two
properties to the west of the Ross Historical Center for the future
expansion of it's building. The Couchman and Yeager properties will
eventually be torn down in order to provide space for the addition.
Long range planning
underway since 2004 by the Society's board has identified several
needs that must be addressed. Three themes have emerged from the
planning activities that will drive the design of the new addition.
The first, Traveling through Time, will bring to life an industrial
display area, giving due recognition to Shelby County's significant
contributions to manufacturing history. A multi-purpose
youth/program/theater area defines the second theme, Where the Past
Connects to the Futures. Here, the creators of exhibits and
displays can use broad band technology to stream programming into
classrooms. The third them, We Are the Community's Smithsonian,
covers the artifact exhibit and preservation work area.
One-third of the
building (about 3,00 square feet) will be devoted exclusively to a
Traveling Through Time display of the industrial history of Shelby
County. Lack of space in the Ross Historical Center has prohibited
the Society from telling the real story of tremendous business and
industrial legacy that is Shelby County. This area will allow
the visitor to tour our fascinating history from the beginning of
commerce (Maxwell's Mill and the R. Given & Son Tannery of the
1830's) To the industry leaders of the 21st century, such as
Emerson Climate Technologies, Honda, Plastipak and many more.
Supporting companies will be able to help design their display and
help preserve their heritage for the next generation of employees.
Retired employees from
Monarch Machine tool Company, Wagner Manufacturing, Amos Press,
Stolle/Alcoa and other businesses will be able to relive memories of
their working world and show their grandchildren what the workplace
was like a half century ago. Business leaders from these companies
stoked a civic pride tin Sidney that resulted in national acclaim
for our town during the Great Depression and World War II, then
eventually led to the city attaining All-American City status in
1964.
As a result of this
heritage and the business leaders of this county, community, land
marks we take for granted such as the Monumental Building, the
historic downtown Court Square and Tawawa Park were created. The
IUTIS Club, the YMCA, the Chamber of Commerce and many other
organizations began with the farsighted leadership of Sidney
business leaders, Lessons for our future leaders care contained in
these stories from the past.
Ross Legacy
Partners
Started in 2003, Ross Legacy Partners was created to encourage
additional community participation in The Shelby County Historical
Society. To recognize the generosity of these individuals and
businesses we highlight members name in every newsletter and provide
additional benefits, including complimentary tickets to our fall
Victorian Celebration at The Greatstone Castle. Ross Legacy Partners
allow us to continue the important business of preserving our local
history. Call or email for additional information.
Current Ross Legacy Partners
Lisa Alvetro DDS, MSD, Inc.
Walt & Carol Bennett Frank Chaney Chase Bank Comer Trucking, Inc.
Continental Express, Inc. Mr & Mrs Raphael Echeman Elsass,
Wallace, Evans, Schnelle & Co, L.P.A. William & Karen Feth Mr &
Mrs Tom Given Jack & Kathleen Haslup Heritage Gems Lochard
Inc. Miami River
Stone Co.
Minster Bank Partners in Recognition, Inc The Peerless Group Joel &
Inez Phillips Primary Eyecare Associates Ron and Nita's Inc.
Ross Aluminum Foundries Dave Ross Mr & Mrs Bob Sargeant Nettie
Schlater Mr & Mrs Tom Shoemaker
Sidney Body Carstar Sidney Tool & Die
Slagle Mechanical
Contractors
Mr & Mrs Eric
Smith The UPS Store US Bank Rich & Susan Wallace Wilson
Memorial Hospital
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For
a complete list of upcoming events, programs and exhibits,
please visit our
Events
Page! |
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