June 2006 Vol. 26, No. 2
The Wyoming Historical Society Newsletter
THE BUILDING DOCTOR IS COMING IN JUNE...
We are delighted at the tremendous response to the Building Doctor program which will be our June meeting. The Wyoming Historical Society and the City of Wyoming are co-sponsoring this program to help residents of Wyoming and environs (five mile range) who own pre-1955 homes by bringing the “BUILDING DOCTOR” program to Wyoming on the 22nd and 23rd of this month. The Ohio Historical Society’s Building Doctors work in teams, teaching owners of old buildings how to recognize and solve some of the most common sources of problems in maintaining older buildings, and how to make informed decisions about repairs and improvements. Each clinic begins with a free seminar (Thursday evening) on topics like roof repair, window repair, peeling paint, masonry issues, energy conservation, additions, and bringing an older building (pre-1955) back to life without sacrificing the features which give it its historic character. Ten buildings have been chosen to receive a home visit. Those chosen for a home visit are required to attend the Thursday seminar. The Building Doctor program is a service of the Ohio Historic Preservation Office, a part of the Ohio Historical Society, and is presented at 8 different sites each year. We are lucky that Wyoming was chosen for one of the 2006 clinics. There is plenty of seating for the Thursday clinic which is being held at the Civic Center at 7 PM. If you want more information you can go to the web site www.buildingdoctor.org.
Wyoming Historical Society 800 Oak Avenue Wyoming OH 45215 513.842.1383 History@Wyoming.oh.us
Open Tuesday 10:30-3:30 or by appointment. OFFICERS: Ed Hand, President; Sherry Sheffield, Vice President/ Treasurer; Melissa Marty, Secretary. BOARD OF TRUSTEES: John Bennetto, Al Gentry, Dick Halberstadt, Rebecca Johnson, Glenn Lewis, Sue Moriarty, Leslie Mowry, Jo Sanders, Sue Wilson VOLUNTEERS: Pat Kinney SPECIALISTS: Ed Hand... Graphic Designer; Rebecca Johnson..... Archivist/ Consultant; Sherry Sheffield..... Accessionist/ Newsletter Editor
HISTORY IN THE MAKING...
These photographs, taken on May 6 and May 17, 2006 show the change over from asphalt to soil. These are just a few of the before and during photos of the closing and conversionto-park of the railroad crossing at Worthington Avenue. This is history in the making and one of our missions is to document these events. So for the past month we have been taking photos of the old crossing and the men and machinery who are helping make that conversion. We will continue to capture the change until the park is complete. Years from now, when someone asks, we can show them photographs of how it use to be!
Members of: American Association for State and Local History Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums American Association for State and Local History Ohio Historical Society
JOINING THE BOARD IS: Leslie Mowry
Born in Chicago, BS and MS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Wyoming resident since 1975, recently retired after 31 years in R&D at P&G. Married to Tom, a CPA. Three children, Charlie, Peter and Abby, who are WHS graduates. Longtime volunteer for Wyoming Schools and the Wyoming Presbyterian Church, currently serving as PCW volunteer Property Manager, Trustee and acting Head of Staff. Member of Trowel & Error Garden Club, the Cincinnati Woman’s Club, and Lads & Lassies Preschool Advisory Team. Enjoys cooking, gardening, and reading mysteries.
BOOKS FOR SALE...BUY YOUR BOOKS HERE...
We now stock Rebecca Johnson’s book Images of America: Wyoming at headquarters. We continue to stock Buzz Guckenberger’s book, Wyoming: A Retrospective, Wyoming note cards and some past Christmas ornaments in our small shop. You can drop in Tuesdays between 10:30 and 3:30 to make your selection. We’ll even put your purchases in a bag!
HISTORY IS NOT FREE!
President Ed Hand (right) and board members Dick Halberstadt (left) and Sue Wilson attended the Region 8 Meeting of the OHS/OAHSM in March in Harrison. The one day seminar included a short business meeting, roundtable discussion on the costs of doing history’s business, a workshop on making sense of photographs and a walking tour of the White Water Shaker Village. The society hopes to attend more such meetings to learn from others who have been in the “historical” business a lot longer than we have and share the knowledge we have accumulated in our 25 years!
Rebecca Johnson, surrounded by fellow authors, during a booksigning at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Rookwood commons in February.
AND THERE IS MORE...
We have recently received a new supply of the Cat’s Meow wooden village collectables. Available at headquarters for $12 each, they are a great gift for any occasion. We also have the Wyoming Avenue School building sponsored by the Wyoming High School Alumni Association for sale, maps of Wyoming’s original farms and the Doors of Wyoming poster.
LITTLE KNOWN FACTS...
The house at 65 Jewett Drive was built by Harold & Gladys Greider when they moved to Wyoming from Pennsylvania in 1931. According to daughter Nancy Greider Gluck. The area of Pennsylvania they moved from was heavily Amish. Her parents loved the Amish stone buiidings so they built a house with stone and, she thinks, had the stone brought in from Pennsylvania. What Little-known-facts do you know that we don’t? We’d love to put your stories in our newsletter and in the house file so please share with us.
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Sunday Breakfast CARRY OUT AVAILABLE 513-821-6040
PHOTOS TELL US MANY THINGS...
We are on a mission. We are looking for old pictures of Wyoming. Or, perhaps better stated, pictures of old Wyoming! We are always looking for pictures of people and places but we ask you to do this when you next get out the old photos…look at the background. Often times we can learn more from what is in the background or what isn’t in the background. For example an empty lot where there is now a house. A new house where there Tom Bond tries to identify his parents from their was an old house. A garage or elementary class pictures from the 1910’s. barn or outbuilding that has been removed. Clothing style can help identify both place and period. Additionally, if you attended Wyoming schools, do you have any of your class photos? Our collection of class photos, while meager, does span the years 1892-1968. Sadly, we have no photos from students of St. James. If people in the photo are identified so much the better. So many of the photos we have don’t have names or dates on them. We are doing our best to find people of the same era to help in picking out faces they might remember. And finally, you don’t have to part with the picture. We can easily scan the photo and return it to you immediately. That way you have the picture and we have the image we need. Remember when you go through old pictures and memorabilia – there might be more to what that picture represents than meets the eye!
2006 AWARD WINNER LAUREN HENDERSON
A PLACE TO STOW OUR STUFF...
When you collect “stuff” you need a place to store it. We use metal shelving and file cabinets and archival quality boxes, paper, and the like. However, different or unusual shaped papers, art, magazines, newspaper etc always present special challenges. We have recently purchased 2 5-drawer flat files for storing some of those special items (i.e. maps, drawings, newspaper). It makes a great addition to our offices. Stop by. We will gladly show it off!
On May 24th Education Committee Cochair Sue Wilson presented Wyoming High School Junior Lauren Henderson with the society’s 4th Annual Scholarship Award. Shown above is Luaren with WHS Social Studies Chair Todd Siler. The award is in recognition of academic achievement, citizenship and scholarship in Advanced Placement American History.
FALL FESTIVAL...
This year’s Wyoming Fall Festival is be Saturday, October 7th. Mark your calendar and plan to attend. We are working on some interesting displays at our booth and entertainment on the lawn of the Fine Arts Center!
MEMBERSHIP DUES Wyoming Historical Society
Membership through September 30, 2006 Annual Family Membership $15 ___ Annual Contributing Membership $50 ___ Business/Professional Membership $25 ______ Donation $______
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Send remittance to: Wyoming Historical Society, 800 Oak Avenue, Wyoming, OH 45215 We are an approved 501-c-3 organization. Contributions are tax deductible.
For the Preservation, Education and Appreciation of Wyoming History
PRESIDENT’S LETTER Ed Hand
In any association, but particularly in volunteer ones, people “give” in their own special way. The Wyoming Historical Society is no different. We have people who participate by donating items, paying dues or serving on the board. Others volunteer for special events like the house tour or the Colonel Reily dinner. We are always looking for volunteers to join us on Tuesdays at headquarters - cataloging items and indexing donations. One unique volunteer is Mary Ann McIlwain Dodson. In addition to supporting us by being a member, Mary Ann allows hundreds of Wyoming 3rd graders to tour through her childhood home on Wyoming Avenue each Spring as part of the Wyoming history tour. What makes this so special is that since college Mary Ann has not lived in Wyoming. Since the death of her mother many years ago she has maintained this wonderful Victorian house which she graciously allows us to share with others. Mary Ann and her husband Chuck have lived in many places, most recently El Paso, TX. It is from there that she does her volunteering for us. Note: It saddened us to learn of the passing of her husband, Chuck, on June 9th in El Paso. To Mary Ann and her family we extend our deep condolences.
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The Wyoming Historical Society 800 Oak Street, Lower Level Wyoming OH 45215