That was the way it was…in Garrettsville, that is. The James A.Garfield Historical Society’s Oral History Day presentation was a hit. The panel of “seasoned” (senior citizens) local residents kept the audience’s interest throughout, and then some, as individuals asked questions of their neighbors in extended conversations after the program concluded. Even the cookie-laden table at the back of Village Hall could not deter the extended story-telling stirred up by all of the tales, from the panel and the audience. Tim Smith served as M.C., aided by Denise Ellerhorst, his partner, too, in arranging for their upcoming class reunion (James A. Garfield H.S.,‘72) . Seated at the front tables were the panel members–Sug Gough, Judy Toth, Jim Vincent and Jack Schultz; seated in the audience were family members, friends, historical society members and a collection of the curious who got to hear about the village “way back when.” There were questions, admissions and opinions about whole lotta stuff concerning Garrettsville, Nelson, Freedom.
Questions included inquiries about: school, the Opera House & Buckeye Hall, favorite hang-outs, historical events witnessed, sports & entertainments, first jobs(in town), favorite and/or most influential teachers. Various kinds of hi-jinks in nearly all of these categories were aired–the statute of limitations had run out on most of them, including trips to “the office’ in school, trips to Warren for extra-curricular lunch treats, movies at the Opera House (now, sadly, defunct), five-cent Cokes at the vanished Pelsue Drug, the custard stand located on a curve which, apparently, suffered from being hit by automobiles that zigged when they should have zagged, downtown traffic on Friday night when everybody came in to do the weekly shopping at the grocery stores, the jewelry shop, the department store, the hardwares, the furniture/appliance store, the hat shoppe, the paint & glass store, the bank. It was a happening place.
The local jail had a regular boarder, the Buckeye Hall had a dance floor, Mr. Lansinger went up on a regular basis to wind the clock in the clock tower of the Opera House (The Opera House is gone but the clock is still there–same clock, in the current Clock Tower, which was a community/ historical society project for the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976.), There were several swimming holes around (Pools? You must be kidding.), the best-known of which was at Lambeau’s out on Brosius Road. Nelson Ledges was an attraction, as were the movies at the Opera House–where the fire house was also located…and the jail. Roller skating was popular, but so were made-up games in the neighborhood and high school contests (Few of those trophies are still in evidence), mostly waged against county schools–cheerleaders were part of that action.
Major events witnessed included the celebration at the end of WWII, the visit/non-visit of President Nixon in the ‘70’s, the burning of the basket factory, the collapse of the bridge over the creek down on Forest St. when a truck went through the deck and into a perilous hang over the water; the bridge has never been replaced.
Teachers in the schools got a definite approval rating and figured in many of the scholastic adventures which were described. Mrs. McCullly was frequently mentioned, as were Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. McBane, Mr. Orson Ott, Mr Bush, Mr. Rudy Kelker. There was praise for their dedication, professionalism, caring about their students, kindness, disciplinary practices, good humor…or bad–stuff that might never fly today, but took their students as they found them and sent them out into the world to be productive, engaged citizens. Mrs. Alford, a classic school librarian, might be an exemplar; she is the individual for whom the Alford Scholarships are named, annually awarded to top Garfield students, as chosen by the board of education for continuing education in many fields and levels. The panel members had lived in various locations all over town, had been employed at all sorts of jobs, had driven automobiles of various vintages and states of repair. Of them, it might be said, “Knows all, sees all, tells all.” The audience got to ask questions, to chip in their “two-cents-worth” and have good cookies. To coin a phrase : “A good time was had by all.”
