The Mail-Journal, Volume 13, Number 23, Milford, Kosciusko County, 30 June 1976 — Page 8

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6th of a series — 800 residents live on banks of Big Darby Creek in Milford Center, Ohio

Milford Center, Ohio, is a little town with a little better than 800 residents. It is situated on the banks of the Big Darby Creek The town was founded by a gentleman from the state of Pennsylvania by the name of George Reed He settled there in 1799 and was probably the first settler in Union county to establish a home. The Name Big Darby Creek was named for an Indian chief whose name was Darby The territory around Big Darby according to information from Rachel Robinson. was Indian country Around 1810 to 1812 George Reed erected a grist mill along the creek and later erected a saw mill All who lived on the north side of the creek had to ford the stream to reach the mills. For awhile the town was known to strangers as Darby Ford, later, because of the mill, the town was known as MillFord, then one 1 was dropped and it was known as Milford Later it was discovered there was a Milforu near Cincinnati <our feature story for May 26' so in 1820 Center was added to Milford In 1966 the celebrated its sesquicentenmal and through the town's post office, it was found that it is the wily Milford Center in the United States having a post office There is a cross roads m New York, but no postal system Incorporated in 1853 The town was first incorporated in 1853 and at that

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COMMERCIAL BLOCK — Shown above is the commercial block in Milford Center. Ohio. The town has a population of around 800.

time the village government was moved forward, but with the onset of the Civil War. the government stood still. Then in 1866 the village had its second incorporation So in 1966 they not only celebrated a sesquicentenmal. but a centennial as well. The first courthouse of Union county was located in Milford Center. it was later moved to Marysville. The first term of court was held there The first marriage was recorded in 1820 — Thomas Reed and Jane Snodgrass In 1893 a fire started in the hotel block and completely burned out the center of town A fire engine was placed on a flat car in Columbus. Ohio, and sent to Milford Center to help fight the fire The hotel was soon rebuilt as

were several stores The fire was about the biggest happening in the town Until recent years two railroads served the town. Milford center was a famous shipping point for live stock These railroads were responsible for tfiegrixwth of the town. They also caused the decline of a little town near-by by the name of Homer It was a thriving town until the railroads located in Milford Center. See Lincoln Train The train bearing Abraham Lincoln's body passed through the town on the way to Illinois for burial. Two local residents rose to fame: Francis Powers became sports writer for the Chicago Tribune. Raymond Dean was an advance man for the circus Milford Center Today Today the town has a good school system with a junior high school in town and the senior high school — Fairbanks, named after vice President Fairbanks — is located in the country about three miles from town. The elementary grades are located in Watkins and Unionville Center. Unionville Center is the birthplace of the former vice president — Charles Warren Fairbanks. The school district, as well as the high school, has been named for his honor There are several churches of different denominations. There are many clubs in the town, such as school clubs. 4-H clubs, many church organizations, several Kings Daughters Circles, ball clubs. Lions, Jaycees. business men. OCCL, a very active fire department and auxiliary are but a few The town held a Bicentennial celebration the first week end of June. The Lions club always had a horse show the first Saturday, so there was a celebration from Friday through Sunday night, A parade was also a feature of the celebration Milford Center is a quiet

There are 30 business trades in the business area, 10 business trades in the commercial area and five business trades in the township.

modest little town with very little industry One of the largest industries is the Ohio Grain Company with another being the Ohio Orchard Company which

■U&kJL' >’ tthLoJhlU/ - - -’AoaiHIVHHMRQHHLa. i BIG DARBY — This photo shows a view of Big Darby Creek and the Milford Center water works along with the Big Four Railroad water tower. Legion officers are installed

Wawasee American Legion Post 223 installed newly elected officers Sunday, June 27. Dave Hockert, past third district commander, was the commander of the installation team from Nappanee post. Newly installed officers for the 1976-77 year are: Commander — Gary Ringler First vice commander — Max Ganshorn

•f iLJ-JRe J < 1h LOCAL CITIZENS PARTICIPATE IN PLAYHOUSE PRODUCTION — The second show of the 1»76 summer season at the Enchanted Hills Playhouse will feature in its cast of 30, seven local favorites, four of whom have been previously seen on the playhouse stage. Playing roles of supreme court judges and senators in George Gershwins' "Os Thee 1 Sing” pictured above are Paul Pritchard. Al Shively. Bob Jones, Ross Cook and Paul Knauer. Paul Pritchard and Bob Jones have appeared at the playhouse in past productions such as "Fiddler on the Roof” and "The Musk Man”. "Os Thee I Sing." which opens tonight (Wednesday).also features Judy Schmahl and Roslyn Jones in a story with an unusual mixture of politics and love.

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has been in business since 1906. Officers for the Bicentennial committee of the town are Walter Scott, John Jordan, Rachel Robinson and Norman Heron.

Second vice commander — Gary Price Adjutant — Marion L. Darr Finance officer — Harry VanHemert Service officer — Maurice Snyder Chaplain - Paul D Brewer Historian — Rolland Wogoman Sergeant-at-arms — Robert Smith

‘SEVEN ALONE* STIRS FAMILY EMOTIONS — When it started to snow on a 8,000 foot mountain in western Wyoming during the week end of November 10. Hollywood movie director Earl Bellamy was elated. “It’s just the kind of winter conditions we need to finish filming the movie." he happily summed up. The movie to which he was referring is the heartwarming Grated. family movie. “Seven Alone.” which tells the gripping story of seven young children left alone to face the hardships and dangers of crossing frontier America in the 1840’s after the death of their parents. The movie, filmed on location near Cokesville Wyo.. is based on a true story of the Henry Sager family, who left their Missouri home in 1843 for the "black soil" of Oregon. Enroute, however, tragedy hits the family as the father is killed by Indians and the mother dies shortly after giving birth to her seventh child. The children, led by the oldest boy. played by 14-year-old Stewart Petersen of Cokesville. who make his acting debut in “Where the Red Fern Grows.” decided to complete the hazardous 3,000-mile trek on their own and fulfill their father’s dream of making a new home in Oregon. The show opens Friday at the Pickwick in Syracuse for a seven* day run.

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The library has a new display which is quite extraordinary and very’ appropriate for the July 4th holiday. It is made up largely of items loaned by Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Kramer which includes a collection of leaded glass made by Mr. Kramer. These are two variations of the American Eagle, the American shield and the Liberty Bell. A parchment reproduction of our Declaration of Independence highlights the case. Smaller items of our heritage are early cataract eyeglasses, a clay pipe, and money which is a reproduction of the Revolutionary War period currency. The linen mats in the case are made of homegrown flax which was spun by Mrs.

Kramer’s great grandmother, Mrs. Ira Butt, and made into bolts of linen. A unique item, which was given Mrs. Kramer by Mrs. Dorothy Smith, is a sander. This was used in Revolutionary times as an ink blotter. White sand was sprinkled

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over the wet ink to dry it and then poured back into the sander. Just a reminder: This Saturday, July 3, we begin our new hours for Saturdays. We will be open from 10 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday we will be open 12 to 5 p.m. and Tuesday evening the upstairs department is open from 7 to 9 p.m. Also remember we will close July 5. KING RECOGNIZED Ferdinand was recognized King of Hungary by the Diet at Buda on Nov. 3, 1527. INVASION TRIED Christian II of Denmark on Nov. 5. 1531, attempted to invade Norway.

Thasc symbols have been approved tor us* on advertising for films reviewed by the rating code board of the Motion Picture Association Os America. Q GiWIU AWHNCfS vr*-* 0 2— v-w >» v No One Under A 18 Admitted - MOVIE TIMES - — LAKETHEATRE — "Hawmps" — *:M A♦: 00 Starts Friday — "Mother” Evenings —7: IS < 0:0S Sunday —S:3O, 7:20 A 0:0$ Discount Till 0:15 — PICKWICK THEATRE — "Deposit" —7:00*0:00 Starts Friday — "7 Alone" Evenings— 7: IS* 0:0S Sat. Bargain Mat. —2:00 Sunday — Discount Till 2:30 2:00, 3:os, 5:30. 7:1$*0:05 — WAWA DRIVE-IN — Open At 0:00 — Show At Dusk Adults Only — You Must Be 181 — GOSHEN THEATRE — "Taxi"—7:oo*o:os Starts Friday — "Hawmps" Evenings — 4:30 & 0:00 Sat. Bargain Mat. — 2:00 Sunday —1:30, 8:00, 4:30* 0:00 Discount Till 2:00