A Note from Our President
(submitted by Karen Kuziensky)
Summer is over, fall is here and winter can’t be far behind; but, let’s hope it is far behind. In the meantime we have lots happening. We again had a booth at the Mum Festival thanks to Susie and Wayne.
Plans for our Endowment Dinner on October 12 are moving nicely. Many people are being very generous and all the money raised will go towards establishing our endowment fund through the Tipp City Area Community Foundations. Establishing such an endowment fund is a simple and effective method for providing a permanent source of unrestricted income for the Tippecanoe Historical Society. Our church has an endowment fund that operates under the same ground rules – the principal or corpus of the fund can never be invaded. When donors make gifts to the endowment fund, their gift becomes part of the principal. Income is generated from where the principal is invested – income comes in the form of interest and dividends. We can use this income to meet our Historical Society’s future financial needs. We will be provided quarterly statements of our fund’s activity.
In October the Tipp City Library is holding three programs: “Toys made in Tipp” on October 7; “Civil War Clothing” on October 17; and “Mr. Mark Twain” on October 22 (editor’s note: see accompanying article below). The Friends of the Library will be holding its annual book sale on October 4 and 5. A renewal of the Library’s levy will be on the ballot in November, and it will not increase taxes. I hope you will think about supporting our library in these endeavors.
Then there is December —- our Christmas Party will be December 2. Christmas in the Village or the home tours takes place on December 7. I would like to thank the six wonderful volunteers who are doing the research on the six homes (Carol Graff, Joe Hammann, Cathie Zimmerman, Paula Jones, Jo Stull and Karen Olshawsky). Thank you very much!
After all this and having our streets open, we may be ready for winter.
Agricultural Grocery
(submitted by Sandra Spangler)
I guess most of us know it as the downtown Farmers’ Market., although I believe the name has actually been changed to Tipp City Marketplace. I don’t know. I can’t keep up. You all know what event I’m talking about. On Saturday, August 3, I had made arrangements for the Historical Society to use the “Hip in Tipp” booth at the new location for the Market on the corner of Broadway and Third Streets. It was an exciting day with quite a crowd as various organizations and local groups were providing the most interesting and creative craft activities, etc. for children at maybe 15 different stations. Of course, I always see the same faces coming to the Market each year, so a lot of them already own most of our Historical items that we sell. I was able, though, to unload $30.50 of our wares and also got $2.00 in donations. Susan Furlong sat with me for the 4-hour stint. She had come to sign her book and was able to sell 7 while there!! That brought another $140.00 to our treasury, so I guess it was well worth it.
A “FAIR” Appraisal
(submitted by Gordon Pittenger)
Once again the Miami County Fair asked our Society’s help in putting on the Antique Appraisal during this year’s fair. The event was held on Wednesday, August 14. Joanna and Gordon Pittenger along with Susie and Wayne Spitler assisted with the registration and presentation of the items being appraised. This was the second year for this event and for some reason it was not as well attended as the one last year. The auctioneers did another fantastic job of entertaining everyone with their knowledge of all the items brought in for appraisal.
While we are on the subject, our own Antique Appraisal Fair is tentatively scheduled for January 18, 2014. This will be here before you know it so be thinking of items that you would like to have appraised. More information will be in the next newsletter (in January).
They Come Bearing Gifts
(submitted by Susie Spitler)
We have had visitors! The Classes of 1962 and 1968 scheduled visits to the museum during class reunion activities. Several members of the Wilbur Snell family stopped in to view our display of his mother’s 1912 wedding dress. Mike Woody has stopped in a few times to gather information for news stories. We continue to have people stop in to browse, looking for information, and to donate items.
I received an e-mail from Jane Hayward Shaw. She is the great granddaughter of the Garver’s who started the Garver Furniture Company and built the house on the northeast corner of Third and Dow Streets. (The Kiser and McKee home). She and a friend flew from Anchorage (yep, Alaska!) to Dayton for a golf tournament and she wondered if they could stop by the museum to view the furniture the family had donated. She also asked if we could give her directions so they could drive by the house. I called Cheryl McKee and she agreed to allow them to tour the home. Jim gave us a very interesting and fun tour from top to bottom. It is such a beautifully maintained and furnished home. Jane had never been there and she was just thrilled to see the home her great grandparents had built, and to find people live there who thoroughly treasure and enjoy it. She was pleased with the museum arrangement and all the family history we have. She also added some information to what her brother gave us when he donated the furniture, which was a big help to Karen as she gathered information to share at the endowment dinner parties. What a fun day!
Bill and JoAnn Hepfer’s daughter, Beth, donated a card table she found in the basement of the home they had lived in for over fifty years. The cover on the table is all sections of advertising from Tipp and Troy businesses. By some of the names we figure it must have been from some time in the ‘40s. A one of a kind interesting addition!
Peggy Brenner Caddell visited the museum with her sister’s Class of 1962. She and her three siblings grew up in the Nunlist home on Canal Road. Since their mother’s death last year, every time they can all get to Tipp they sort things at the house. While exploring the attic, and sending her son in an even deeper area, they came across a number of receipts. They are dated 1876 and signed by John Nunlist for bar supplies for the City Hotel. The family donated them to us and they are on display with our several other Hotel items.
Sharyn Finley Grubb gave us several pictures of D & T Railroad reunions as well as Evans Family information written by her great grandmother. Her family tree is heavy with TippCity history!
Chuck Kessler brought in his dad’s #77 football jersey, letter and team picture of the 1945 SWBL League Champs. His dad was Bill Kessler. The items have been framed and are on display in the school room. Norman Barnhart was also a member of that team.
Gordon Pittenger obtained a section of the white board that George Bush signed while visiting TippHigh School on April 19, 2007. It, along with four certificates about the occasion, has been framed and is at the museum.
Jayne Trost Powell has brought us a number of great family and TippCity pictures. Through a few of these we have been able to make the connection of a beautiful Percheron horse taken by Thomas Crook, the barn on Second Street that housed them (Macy’s Garage), and where her ancestors lived on Walnut Street. They owned the barn and the horses.
Joyce Jackson Kister donated pictures of a trip the Tipp Band took to Niagara Falls in 1947. Also included were a number of programs from band shows and contests – fun reading!
Thanks to the persistence of Karen Kuziensky we now have two original water fountains from downtown. They are under a picture of the downtown with the street lights reflecting on the brick streets. One of the fountains can be seen by the CityBuilding, now the Community Services Office.
(editor’s note: And then there’s always work to be done………………….)
The Building Manager (Wayne Spitler) has been working on the window trim and a couple of the outside doors at the museum. Some rotten wood has been replaced along with scraping, priming and painting. As weather and time permit, the storm windows will be removed so the windows can be scraped, reglazed, repairs made and they can be repainted.
Other than Sept. 28, we will continue to be open Wednesdays 2-4 and Saturdays 10-12 through October. We need to do some housekeeping, we will be doing some rearranging for the special days coming up, and we will be helping our researchers put the story boards together. Our volunteers are so much appreciated for the time they donate and all the many ways in which they help. Whether signed up or not, you are all welcome to stop by any time to help out or just visit. You can see we have been very busy and have some very busy times coming up.
Interesting Library Programs
(submitted by Beth Freeman – Tipp Librarian)
This October, it is time to “Fall Back in Time” with the Tipp City Public Library! There are three events planned, all aiming to reconnect Tipp City residents to their history. All events are being held in the Meeting Room at the Tipp City
Public Library at 11 East Main St.
First, on October 7, at 6:30 PM, the library will host “Antique Toys and Tipp City”, an event that will focus on Tipp City’s and Dayton’s local historical connection with the toy industry. Our presenter, William Gallagher, will discuss the importance of this industry to the local economy of the time, as well as show examples relating to Dolly and the Tipp Novelty Co. Mr. Gallagher has been involved with antique toys for over 30 years as a collector, author and business owner. He has recently published his fifth book about antique toys.
On October 17, at 6:30 PM, local residents are bringing their Civil War-era relics, including letters and clothing. Join us for short presentations followed by a chance to closely examine the materials. The library will then provide a snack and give everyone a chance to discuss the items.
Finally, we are happy to announce the return of Mr. Mark Twain! On October 22, at 12 PM, Mark Twain impersonator Stephen Hollen will perform for our enjoyment. He was unable to attend his first scheduled performance at the library due to emergency transportation issues, but he is eager to return and dazzle us with his knowledge. Ask Mr. Twain questions about his era, stories, and more. Because lunch will be provided, registration is required. Please call 937-667-3826 to register, or if you have any questions about the events!
HOT DOG!! It Must be October Again!
(submitted by Peg Hadden)
Mark your calendars Monday, October 28, for this fall social at the Tipp City Park Roundhouse. Dinner buffet will be at 6:30 P.M., but arrive anytime after 6:00 to enjoy the warmth of the fireplace. Please bring a dish to share —
vegetable, salad, or dessert — that would compliment the hot dogs. We provide the drinks, hot dogs, buns and condiments, but do bring your own table service. The program is a short reader’s theater skit written several years ago by John Kuhns and Scott Summitt. The skit, “Tipp-A-Kayak and Tylenol II”, is a spoof on William Henry Harrison’s campaign slogan of, “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too”. Our founding father, John Clark, is also in the skit.
This special evening would be a good time to invite others who would be interested in keeping our history alive.
“Sprecher” Sie Deutsch?
(submitted by Susie Spitler with title fun by the editor. Sorry I just couldn’t help myself! Don’t worry, the talk will be in English, not German.)
On Thursday, November 7, Michael Krieger Ellis will present a program open to the community. It will be at the TippGovernmentCenter at 7:00 P.M. He portrayed his grandfather, Ned Sprecher, during the 2013 cemetery walk. He will share additional information about Ned and also discuss his present position of working with detainees along the southern California border. Mark your calendars and bring others with you. There will be time for questions and answers.
Hope the Sidewalks are Ready to Hold the Crowds!
(submitted by Susie Spitler)
November 9 and 10 is downtown Tipp’s Winter’s Gathering. As usual, our Museum will be open both days as the downtown should be very busy. We do not have a particular theme this year. We will emphasize what we already have and encourage people to drop by. We will need extra volunteers for those days.
December 7 (Pearl Harbor Day) will be Christmas in the Village/Home Tour. The home tour will take place on Broadway and Sixth St. We have six people working on the six house histories and story boards. They will be on display in the Tippecanoe Room of the Hotel Gallery. That will be where people wait on the shuttle to take them to Broadway and bring them back downtown. The committee felt they would get a lot more exposure there and people will be more likely to take time to read them while waiting. We will also need extra volunteers on that Saturday.
Christmas Luncheon
(submitted by Joyce Kister)
The date for the Society’s holiday get-together has been set for Monday, December 2 at the White House at SpringMeade. It will again be a carry-in and we will eat at 12 noon. Joyce Kister will play Christmas music on the piano as we arrive and mingle before sitting down to eat. If anyone has ideas they would like to have for a program, please contact Joyce Kister (916-5012) or Freda Ferguson (667-0089). As the date approaches, we will send out an informational email and make phone calls as are needed.
Calendar Summary of Upcoming Event Dates
(submitted by Sandra Spangler)
October –
7 “Toys Made in Tipp” at Library
12 Endowment Dinner
17 Civil War-era Relics at Library
22 Mr. Mark Twain at Library
28 Society Wiener Roast at Roundhouse
November –
7 “Sprecher” Speaker
9 & 10 Tipp Winter’s Gathering
December –
2 Society Christmas Luncheon
7 Christmas in the Village/Home Tour
January –
18 Appraisal Fair
New Ornament Arrives!
Just look at our new ornament (Monroe Township Building), the 6th in our series, and it is available right now!!
