USA > Ohio > Medina County > Chatham > Chatham sesquicentennial, 1818-1968. > Part 2
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Dberlin School on 99 near Black River is a grainary on the old Schroeder place east of there. The Shaw School on the corner of County Road 99 and S. Rt. 76 was moved by Floyd Whitman to his parents home on 76 about a mile north of Lodi and the Lodi depot was moved onto that property and is now an attractive home. The Fusselman School on Co. Rd. 31 and C. Rd. 50 was moved further east to the Charles Herr farm. A school east of Chatham on St. Rt. 162 and 151 was moved to the Wideman farm and another also on that lo- cation is now on Co. Rd. 45 on the Erb farm. The sch- ool on 76 north of Chatham for many years has been at Chatham Elementary School. Some of the teachers who taught in those schools fifty to seventy-five years ago were Edith Allis Brinker, Bertha Kruggel Whitman, Clyde Clapp, Miss Emma Webber, Art. Betz, Art Sanford, Catherine Shaw, Grim, Gertrude and Mabel Morrell, Sam Orr, Lillian Beach Williams, Alice Mantz Hange, Lavina Kimball Grim and many others. The schools had belfreys, box stoves that burned long sticks of wood, benches were around the room, , later desks. A common water pail and dipper were used; the teacher was the janitor, sweeping snow, and firing the stove.
Fall and winter terms were usually taught by men and spring and summer by the ladies. Dis- cipline was a problem. The schools were ungraded with pupils of all ages from four to twenty. The law required the school to be open twenty-four we- eks a year. The teachers boarded around with families. They received a salary of $10.00 to $15.00 a month. Later $21.00 to 30.00. Men were always paid more than women. There was no compulsary attendance and the older pupils stayed home as soon as spring work started.
Each district had a Board of Directors of three men and a township Bd. somposed of one director from each district and a school clerk.
In 1858 select schools were organized in which pupils paid tuition, $2.00 to $4.00 per term of twelve weeks. Chatham's was said to have been a most excellent school and pupils came from surround- ing townships. It was noted for its good teachers and the business men it produced. After a few years
the need for a larger building was felt. In the spring of 1867 the question of a new academy build- ing was put to a vote and passed by a small majority. In May a contract was let to the lowest bidder for the sum of $4,846.00. Construction immediately began-and in the spring of 1868 was nearing comp- letion when a newly elected school board refused to honor the contract and declared it void.
The contractor brought suit and won and the matter was settled by arbitration. To finish the build- ing a special tax levy had to be voted for. A fierce contest resulted, but the vote again carried by a small majority. The building was soon completed and opened for a tern of school in the spring of 1870, taught by T.B. Randal1.
College men taught higher subjects and therefore, Latin, Philosophy and Ancient History were introduced into the course of study.
District schools improved because of better trained teachers-much stress being put on the three "R's". Spelling schools were held evenings, as were leterary societies, debate and oratory. Sleigh rides were annual affairs. One school visited another with bob-sleds and teams and had spell downs. Little tribute went to the old district school teachers. They were faithful and conscientious. They had no training but did attend Teachers Institute and read Teachers Magazines.
In the late 90's the need was felt for a more graded method of teaching. So, under the leadership of L. T. Garver, a system of eight grades and a two year High School was established. The first class graduated in 1899. Three or four years later the third year High School was added. The high school in the village drew the older pupils from district schools. The enrollment was consequently smaller in the district schools and some were dis- banded. The school north of Chatham on the Ernest Packard farm was moved to town about 1904 and loc- ated on the school grounds. It was fitted up for the primary grades, one to four. It was later used for a shop and now for a storage. The South and East districts closed about the same time. Mrs. Ellen
Welton drove the first kid-wagon and continued the work for forty-two years. Many years she drove the horse drawn kid wagons and later by modern school bus- es. Children in other areas were brought to the vill- age in the same manner. Romey Fleming drove a kid wagon for many years, as did Warner Rowe. Charles and Catherine Grim had a school bus for nineteen years.
County supervision was established in 1914. Mr. Pearce was the first Superintendent. He had five as- sistants who supervised, visiting the county schools in horse drawn wagons over mud roads.
Complete centralization of the township came about 1916. To accomodate increased enrollment the audit- orium of the academy was fitted into classrooms, to which grades 7-11 were assigned. The lower floors was used for three, four, five and six grades and one and two were in the old school building.
Soon after centralization an oil boom struck the town. A number of new families moved in. The addit- ion of these children made a crowded condition. In 1921, state officials inspected the premises and found the old building inadequate and recommended a new building. The proposition was presented to the cit- izens and voted on in the fall election. The vote carried and immediately the school board submitted plans and contracts. The township was bonded for the amount of $80,000. The building was started that fall and completed in time for the fall term of 1922. The fourth year was added to the course at that time mak- ing it a first-class High School. Mr. Homer Kohli was employed as new principal. He retired in 1952, after 30 years as principal.
The county plan of traveling music teachers orig- inated in Chatham when George Packard visited the old district schools regularly giving instructions in vocal music. This he did several years during the 90's and after the turn of the century. When E.T. Clapp was on the school board he told the county school official of this method of teaching and through his efforts a county wide program was established. The music in our schools has been of the best, both vocal and instrum- ental with visiting teachers from the county Organiz- ation. Art supervision was also added to our culture.
The new gymasium made athletics almost a major interest. Chatham's basketball teams always stood high in the county tournament placings.
Our first radio system was presented to the school by Miss Ada Bowman, a member of the class of 1901. Ada was a trained nurse who lost her eyesight. The advent of radio meant much to her in her blindness, and when she learned what it was doing for schools she wished to make it her memorial. This was installed in the late 20's by Homer J. Kohli. In those days it was a great thing for the students to hear the broadcast of Charles Lindburgh crossing the Atlantic (May 1927) and the coronation of King Edward V. It was not until in the late 40'a that public address systems were in- stalled in many schools. Mr. Kohli added to his gen- eral studio knowledge of radio through his "ham" radio he communicated with friends all over the world. He also had a great interest in astrology, grinding his own lenses for his observatory. Many of his students took advantage of this wide range inform- ation.
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The problem of expanding population, creating over crowding, inadequate curriculum, etc. again became apparent. In 1957 a five township consolidation took place, inviting Harrisville, Lafayette, Seville, LeRoy, and Chatham. During the three years before a high school could be constructed, Chatham students attended Medina High School and Lodi High School. The new Cloverleaf High School was occupied in September, 1960. Because of overcrowded conditions and inadequate courses a Jr. High School building was also indic- ated. After being on the ballot four times a bond issue passed in the spring of 1968 to build a millon and a half dollar school, to be completed in 1970. During the years following the consolitation many new things have been added to the school curriculum. Teaching through classroom television, remedial reader, Diversified Cooperative Training, speach therapy and others. For many years a school health program has been conducted through the Medina Co. Health Dept.
In the late 1860's and 70's F.R. Shaw, working with his friend A. I.Root, developed a large apiary. Here he bred green bees and sold them to apiaries all over the country. He also sent to other countries for different varieties of trees to see which type of blo- ssoms produced the best honey. Some of these strange species of trees may still be found on the old home- stead two miles south of Chatham. There he had a "bee house" where he extracted honey. This was sent in barrels to Chicago.
For over 75 years Chatham has been noted as an oil town. In 1890 a man by the name of Getchie from Woost. er, drilled the first oil well, using a water well drilling machine. This well was drilled on the F.R. Shaw place. He pumped the well using horse power and a mowing machine gear. People came from all over the country to see the well and bought oil in barrels and cans. This oil was to be used to start fires for cooking, etc. About three years later, H.B. Odenkirk from Olean, New York, drilled several more wells. About 32 wells were drill in the vicinity of the Shaw farm, in 1890's. Mr. Shaw, took these over, he laid a pipe line from his place to Lodi (212 miles)to transport the oil. From there it went by railroad to refineries in Cleveland. A few wells were also drilled about this time in the village. Dr. E.L. Moodie had enough to use for cooking and lighting his home. About 1912 more wells were drilled by Mr. Freshwater. The wage paid at that time for drillers were 35¢ an hour and 172 for tool dressers. The big Chatham Oil Boom start- ed about the end of World War I. E.R. Edson and son from Cleveland opened up the field starting the second Boom. 0i1 men flocked here from New York and Pennsyl- vania. Everyone who owned a plot of ground hoped they would be lucky enough to get a good well. Almost eve- ry lot in town had its oil well and pumps working away. Farms were cut up and farming was abandoned in many cases for the black gold. The roads were almost im- passable. Knee deep in mud in the spring and fall, with deep ruts in bad weather, and ankle deep with dust in the summer. The oil brought many improvements to homes of the fortunate and work to those who had no oil. Many of these wells of fifty years ago are still pumping. The third oil boom started about twenty-five years later in the 1930's. New process of obtaining oil by water flooding was used. This brought forth a great deal more oil but many water wells were spoiled for drinking and streams were polluted. It will be many years before Chatham again has fresh, clean water, but this was a price paid by a community for prosperity brought by the presence of oil in the earth beneath. It was an interesting way of life and the memories and "Paul Bunyan" stories associated with it are not to be forgotten.
F.R. Shaw developed a telephone in the 1870's. This was a "vibrator" phone, made with wooden cylinders and connected with wire. Parsons, Shaw and Daniels form- ed a corporation and had these patented in 1876. They made quite a number of them and sent some to Russia. An article in the Medina County Gazette in 1879 in- vited the people to come and see this phone. Quote from the Gazette, "If anybody wishes to see the "Boss Telephone?", they can call at Mason's new ground floor portrait gallery, and the wonderful workings of the instrument will be shown them. Messrs. Parsons, Shaw, and Daniels of Chatham make them." Frank Ripley, of Lodi, has one of these early telephones. Alex- ander Graham Bell invented the electric "telephone", about this time and had it patented about 1880. This was a much more practical phone and is the type used extensively today. However, the vibrator phone was used between farms and a. line was placed be- tween the drug store and the Francis Packard's home. These were used many years before Chatham Farmer's Mutual Telephone Company was organized in June of 1904. Rev. A.B. Hoert was president and William Ripley secretary of the company. The switchboard was installed in the living room of the house of Emma Webber. She was hired as the first operator and continued in service four years. As work increased, Ruby Myers was hired in 1905 and later Marion Hoff- man. Lines were built to all parts of the township and nearly every home in the area had a telephone.
In the fall of 1905 the telephone office was moved to the old Drug Store building, where it re- mained until the service was taken over by the Med- ina office, when dial phones were installed. Other long time operators were 01a Brant, Clara Allis and Carolyn Light. Now, with only a few large telephone companies in the country, Chatham's is one of the very few Mutual Companies still operating.
Besides all our pioneer citizens whom we regard with deep respect, some of our people have become famous elsewhere. Edith Matilda Thomas, born Aug- ust 12, 1854, was acclaimed "an American Keat"
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for her many poems of quality. Some were published in "The Atlantic Monthly" and the "01d Century Magazine". She was the daughter of a Chatham teacher. Her home was South east of Chatham near the corner of Road 67 (Coon Club Road) and County Road 31.
Joseph H. Brighan lived here for some time. He was a member of the board of trustees of the Ohio State University and on the board of controls of the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station. For ten years he was Master of the National Grange. President Mckinley app- ointed Colonel Brighan Assistant Secretary of Agricul - ture, which office he held at the time of his death.
Charles S. Whitman, whose father was pastor of the Congregational Church from 1077 to 1883 became a lawyer. He was District Attorney of New York City and later be- came Govornor of New York State.
Several Doctors have been native sons of Chatham. Dr. Milo Moody born here in 184:3 was a practicing physician in Chatham for forty years. Dr. Edward Whitney, 1870, practiced in Walla Walla, Washington. Dr. Robert Shank, grandson of Homer Shank located in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Clyde Alvin Clapp (1880) be- came a Doctor of Ophthalmology and wrote several art- icles and a book on the subject. He lived in Baltimore, Maryland.
All of us have contributed to the growth and de- velopement of our country. Who would have dreamed 150 years ago, when it took months by oxen and boat, to arrive in Chatham.Township from the New England States, that in this short space of time we would fling our voices around the world in a twinkling and send our ships to the other planets. This is evidence of the brilliance of man's mind. But, man is not only mind, He is heart and will. Our hope now lies in the heart of man catching up with the mind of man.
By: Phyllis Grim Siman (Mrs. Kenneth J.)
"CHANGE"
by: Mildred N. Hoyer
How we rebel against it! Give us what we know; Familiar surroundings Familiar faces Familiar tunes Accepted routine. Let us be comfortable.
But life Is Change Change is the new Change is the catalyst Change is growth Change is more It is letting go of the past It is grasping the future With firm hands of faith.
CHATHAM VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Since July 1, 1967, Chatham township residents have been able to call a local number at any time of the day or night and be in contact with the fire department.
Prior to this time Lodi was the nearest fire dept. available to the community. For many years Stanley Long had the only fire fighting apparatus in the community. This was a foam type generator that was originally designed for hand pulling, but was later mounted on a trailer. This equipment did much to contain fire until Lodi could arrive. It was particularly effective in a fire at the school and on oil fires which are quite common in Chatham. This apparatus is still operable and is part of the fire dept. equipment.
In 1965 some local men thought it was time Cha- tham had its own fire dept. Among these men were the township trustees; Robert Aungst, Roy Garver and Mack Whitman. Others who did much to get the ball rolling were Francis Grim, Jesse Rose and Lester Akins. A public meeting was called and guests from other departments pointed out the desireability of every town having its own fire department and pro- tection. In the summer of 1966 the trustees decided to put a 2 mill fire levy on the ballot for the Nov- ember election. Lest Akins was appointed the first fire Chief. Bill Brown appointed a committee to set up rules to govern the department with Al Taylor to be Chairman; Jack Rose, Shelter, and Charles Grim, Equipment. Chief Akins obtained Carl Whitman, Fire Chief of Doylestown, for instruction and in Septem- ber 1966 training was started on the basic course in firemanship.
In the November election the 2 mill fire levy was defeated by 14 votes. This left the township without adequate funds to purchase equipment and to house a fire department. The firemen then voted unanimously to go ahead with the training and to try and raise enough money themselves to equip a department.
The Chatham Volunteer Fire Association was incorpor- ated for the purpose of raising funds and providing candidates for the fire dept. The first elected officers were: President-Bill Brown; Vice President- Al Schroeder; Secretary-Donna Peacock; Treasurer- Kenneth Siman.
A Womens' Auxiliary was also formed and have con- tributed much to help get the dept. going. To date June 20, 1968 the Womens' Auxiliary has given the department $750.00.
The Firemans Association has held many fund ra- ising activities and with the help of many fire departments donating and selling at reasonable costs, three pieces of major fire apparatus were purchased, and equiped.
On March 29, 1967 the basic course in Fire fight- ing was complete with the following graduates: Lest Akins, Richard Arters, Leonard Barnhart, Francis Barn- hart, William Brown, Charles Kline, Donna Peacock, Jack Rose Ur., Jesse E. Rose, Albert Schroeder, Ger- aldine Ensign, Robert Fite, Charles Grim, Willard Hoovler, Charles Jarrett, Ray Scott, Kenneth Siman, Alfred Taylor, Josephine Walters, and Woodie J. Wells.
On July 1, 1967 the Fire dept. went into operation along with Lodi for a period of three months. It was at this time that a new Fire Chief, Jack Rose, Jr. took command of the dept. as Lest Akins resigned his position as temporary chief. Chief Akins was chief at a very trying time in the life of the new dept. andmuch credit is due him for the fine progress made during his command.
After much discussing, it was agreed on between township officials and fire department members as to a site for the new fire house.
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In November 1967 the trucks were moved into the new 353 by 40' four bay fire house located on Kohli drive.
On Jan. 28, 1968 the building was dedica- ted to the twp. The following statement was read by Ass. Chief Al Taylor.
"Therefore, let it be known that Chatham Volunteer Firemens Association, Inc. , an Ohio non-profit corp., deems it necessary that the corporation's interest in the Fire Station, built on Kohli Drive in Chatham Township. Ohio shall be dedicated.
Whereas, a resolution by the Chatham Vol. Firemen's Ass., Inc.
Let it be known by all residents and the township officials of Chatham, Ohio, that the C.V.F.Ass., Inc.of Chatham, Ohio hereby dedicates the entirety of their equity in the building, known as the Fire Station, to the people of Chatham for the preservation of lives and property.
And hereafter let the C.V.F.D. use the ded- ication and determination example, set by the persons responsible for the construction of the fire building, as a guide in thier efforts put forth in the preservation of the lives and property of the residents of Chatham Town- ship."
Other groups of organizations contributed tomthe fire dept. other than the township, fire depts, firemen and Aux. -Chatham Grange, $100.00 --- Chatham VFWaand Aux .- $762.00 and concrete floor in fire house --- Medina County Coon Hunters-$100.00 --- Wilbur Housand --- George Kreiger and Dymo Oil-Siren tower and Steel Reenforcing for the floor --- Wooster Brass -Forest Nagel, Armstrong and Charley Rowland -Stanley Long --- Gordon Mathews and many others.
In Feb. Jack Rose Jr. resigned as Fire Chief, due to an increased work load in his job.
job. Charles L. Grim is now the chief with=assistants: AlTaylor, Al Schroeder and Norman Arters. Officers of the Ass. are Pres .-- Bob Fite, Sec .-- Leonard Barnhart -- Treas .-- Kenneth Siman.
Contributed by Charles Grim
Chatham Blazers-C.V.F.D. Aux.
In Sept. 1966 it was decided an Aux to the Fire Dept was needed. Pat Ferrier, Pat Jarrett, Donna Peacock and Jo Walters organized a meeting at the V.F.W. hall. Guest speakers were Earl Beck and wife, fire chief from Seville. They explained the purpose of an aux.
Phyllis Grim was made temp. chair. and along with a committee of Eva Akins, Marie Fite and others wrote a constitution and by-laws to be presented at a meeting and voted on.
The first meeting was held at the home of Carol Rose. The constitution and by-laws were voted on and approved.
The election of officers was held in Nov. 1966. Pres .--- Phyllis Grim- Vice. Pres .--- Carol Rose --- Sec .--- Isabelle Rose-Treas .--- V. Aungst.
The purpose of the Aux is to aid and assist the C.V.F.D. in any way and do charitable work pertaining thereto.
Contributed by Phyllis Grim
"SUGAR BUSH"
Ernest Packard as a little boy was very in- trigued by the making of maple syrup. He loved to be in the woods and "help" and it was very hard for him to stay in school when his father was working in the woods. In 1910 he married Sadie Wolfe from Pen- field and rented the farm on shares from his father. They had an arch and open pan to boil the sap from 225 trees on the farm. In 1912 we bought an evap- orator 3 × 8 feet and built a sugar house. This boiled the sap so much faster. In 1918 we bought the farm from Frank Rickard. This enlarged his farming operation as well as his syrup making. There was a sugar house and evaporator in the woods and he soon bought another one. Much later he had 3 evaporators side by side in the Sugar House. Ernest put in a Delco Plant to have brighter lights at the Sugar House. Then he put the telephone to the woods. He also built a cement cistern to store the sap in till it could be boiled.
Mr. Packard run a pipe line from C.R. 177 to the Sugar House to carry the sap from a stroage tank at the road also from Smith road to the woods, he had much trouble with freezing and leaking. Many people came to see and learn about syrup making and we had many picnic meals there.
In 1938 Ernest bought the woods on the Duane Hubbard farm to be cleared off that year. Ernest used some of that lumber to build the Sugar House up near the road and put in a kitchen and dining room and syrup storage room, Here we served pancakes, country sausage and maple syrup and coffee. This soon brought many visitors to the syrup making. At this time Mr. Clem Rice came to ask us if we would try his pancake flour mix made from whole wheat ground with a stone burr mill and water power. He had been experimenting with this mix for some time and thought he had it about right. Mr. Rice also made buckwheat and corn meal flour mix. This was some thing new and soon became a favorite with every body who tried it. It did not take much advertizing as one group told their friends and soon they were coming in groups and parties from Cleveland, Akron,
Wooster, Oberlin, Elyria, Canton, Wadsworth and everywhere. We had many parties where they came for supper then stayed for their party or dance.
In this new and larger Sugar House Ernest bought a new exaporator from Hudon, Ohio, the largest ever made by the Champion Evaporator Company, 6 ft. wide by 20 ft. long, and for a time he had 3 evaporators side by side. Then he bought the steam boiler out- fit from Wadsworth Coal Mine, from Mr. Williams, who was later Sheriff of Medina County. He then boiled all the sap with steam and also made sorg- hum syrup in the fall of the year.
This worked wonderful while we made lots of syrup but when he quit renting so many trees and had less help and had to hire a licensed engineer to run the boiler it did not pay anymore. In 1945 he tapped 8,700 trees and made 1900 gallons of syrup. We made a lot of this syrup into sugar cakes and creams; also, used a lot for the tables.
1915 syrup sold for $ .60 per gal.
1962 syrup sold for 6.50 per gal.
1962 meals sold for 1.50 each
1940 meals sold for ·35 each
Mother Packard told me they used to stir sugar dry so you could put in flour sacks and trade it pound for pound for white sugar.
After the death of Ernest Packard in 1959, the sugar bush contined for three or four years. Later, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post erected a bush at Chatham and have carried on the pancakes and sau- sage tradition, for which Chatham has became famous.
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