The Mail-Journal, Volume 21, Number 45, Milford, Kosciusko County, 21 November 1984 — Page 20
THE MAIL-JOURNAL —Wed., November 21,1984
20
Milford'Sn/lain street
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WHO AMONG the older generation doesn’t remember the first airplanes to land in our communities to “barnstorm,” a term for taking passengers on their first rides in lighter-than-air machines, and to do acrobatics, dangerous and daring 0 It would seem most everyone has. Herman Weisser, a resident of 104 East Shore Drive, Syracuse Lake, and a-former resident of just north of Milford, and a pilot himself in his younger days, turned up this week with the above photo. Herman said it was a photo of the first airplane to land in Milford, on the farm of his late father, Matthew Weisser. a farm now owned by Herman and his wife. Gwendolyn. The 61-year-old photo was taken September 9, 1923, when it landed north of town to take up passengers. Herman said the photo came to light recently, the property of his "sister, Mrs. George (Bertha) Ehnle,.of Peoria, 111. It was among an oddlot of old family photos Bertha passed along to Herman as family keepsakes. ft , "Wasn’t that a dandy’’’’ Herman enthused as he took another look at the single engine bi-plane, commonly known as a “Jenny.” It was the type Herman himself learned to pilot when he was a young blade around the Milford community. His son, Steve, now married and living on the old Weisser homestead, is also a pilot — but with a much newer model plane Herman says the pilot would charge a 10 minute ride over Milford, the surrounding countryside and over Waubee and Dewart Lakes. "I’ll never forget my first ride,” says Weisser, adding that he was instantly hooked on flying his own plane after that experience. He recalls how the young barnstorm pilots would try all the - daring tricks in the book — and some not in the book! He said the above plane was owned by one Russell Hossler of Columbia City, a well known barnstormer in those early days of flying. Weisser contacted Mrs. Bill Lung of r 4 Syracuse, the former Marie Cox, who was a resident of Milford Junction (Shakespeare), after he received the old photo. She is the daughter of the late Ed and Laura Cox, well known Milford Junction residents. Marie said she remembers those first planes well and how they flew over Milford Junction. She said she was a girl of about
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six or seven years of age at the time, and watched the antics overhead with wide-eyed wonderment. Herman and Marie both remember when a light, singleengine plane barely cleared a south fence on the Weisser farm one Sunday afternoon, then crashed in a corn field. Passengers in that plane were the late John and Harlan Robinson, brothers and Milford residents. This writer was an early teen (if that age) when that accident occurred and remembers it well. Herman said that day he rode in the old plane just before the Robinson brothers went up. Herman said in his flight the pilot took off to the north, barely clearing a north fence, then turned left and flew low down the B and 0 railroad tracks. “I thought, ‘what a thrill that was,’ not realizing how dangerous it was. ” Weisser recalls. The next ride, with the Robinson brothers, the pilot headed southward, figuring he could garner more lift for the light . plane, no doubt. Dangerous or not. Weisser was “hooked” and began taking flying lessons, being one of the first young men in the Milford community to seriously pursue that new and wonderfully dangerous skill. Weisser took another look at the above photo and noted the two grain elevators in the background. The one on the left was owned and operated by the late John D. Baumgartner, while the one on the right, located just east across the Big Four railroad tracks, was built and operated by John D.’s brother, the late Emil Baumgartner. father, grandfather and great-grandfather of the remaining members of the Baumgartner family in Milford. « Weisser said he remembers hauling grain to the two elevators for his father as a young man. Both elevators are gone now. "But the memories linger on," Weisser commented, -r- AEB THE TURF Bar officially changed managerial hands in September when Verl Baker purchased the "local tavern. The Milford resident expressed a desire in purchasing the operation and felt no significant changes would be made. Business has remained steady during the transition period said Baker.
THE BUILDING of apartments in Milford by C & R Development at the site of the old Bedell Manufacturing Co., factory has jogged the memory of many who can recall when the factory was a very busy place. A special exception was granted to C & R Development by the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals at its November 12 meeting to allow for the multifamily dwellings to be built in the residential district. When completed the total number of buildings on the sight will be 10. MJ staff member Brenda Rigdon spent some time recently digging into the history of the building. She filed the following report: T. H. ("Harry") Bedell owned and operated a furniture manufacturing company in Milford for over 25 years. The company made furniture for Sears and Roebuck, and was one of the chief employers in Milford, even during the Great Depression. Bedell lived in an apartment in the factory during the week, going home to his wife and daughter in Marion every weekend. Pearl Haab of W'aubee Lake was the bookkeeper for Bedell’s. She said that Bedell had a very sharp mind and could quote lumber prices to salesmen off the top of his head. “Nobody was going to get the best of him,” she added. But, he also had a sense of humor, "One time he told me he had been to see his doctor. The doctor had told him he could have one drink a day. So he went to see seven other doctors, and now he could have eight drinks a day!” They employed over 100 people in the various departments, such as upholstering, machine shop, wood working, staining and varnishing, and several others. They started from scratch lumber, and built rocking chairs, easy chairs, end tables, occasional tables, and several other items. They bent their own rockers and did all of the scroll work on the wood. Lil (Kaiser) Crafton of Syracuse worked for Bedell’s for 13 years in the upholstering department. “I enjoyed it there,” she said. "I started out at 15 cents an hour, and worked 50 hours a week.” She cut out covers for chairs and did some sewing, mostly .upholstering footstools. Mrs. Haab said that 15 cents an hour may not sound like a lot today, but the end tables they made sold for $1.98! She made sls a week at Bedell’s and her husband brought home sl2 a week from the Ford Garage They were able to live well and put one paycheck in the bank every week, something most two income families today are not able to do! CALL IT pure coincidence or beginner's luck, but Shelly Harper, 24, of Milford, shot a nine-point buck the first time she went hunting. Shelly, her father Stan, and her boyfriend. Denny Corl, all went deer hunting on Saturday, the first day of deer season. The other two went home empty handed. Test your tree To make sure your fresh Christmas tree does not dry out too quickly, make Certain it is freshly cut when you purchase it. When you are picking your tree, tap the end of the trunk on the ground. If the needles fall off as you tap it, it is already drying out. After finding' the perfect tree, cut of about two inches at the bottom of the trunk, sawing at an angle to expose more area to absorb water. Check the water level in your tree stand daily since the house heat will evaporate the water faster than you might think.
The history of the Yule Log
The Yule Log merrily crackling on the hearth is a traditional Christmas image, ah apt symbol for the warmth and brightness of the holiday season. And, like so many of the most beloved Christmas customs, the lighting of the Yule Log seems to have its roots firmly embedded in the pre-Christian past. While the light generated by the Yule Log is believed to symbolize the light which illuminated the heavens at the time of the Nativity, it is also a descendant of the sacred hearth fires which were first kindled by the ancient Romans. These fires, which were kept burning at all times, were the \ very heart of the household, metaphorically as well as literally, since they constituted the dwelling place of the ancestral spirits whom the family worshipped. At the same time, the origin of the Yule Log is intertwined with the Druidic worship of vegetation spirits, who lived in trees — particularly oaks. At the appropriate season, the Druids would choose a log and bless it. praying that, once lit, it would continue to burn perpetually Around this log hovered various superstitions. For instance, the Druids believed that all who took part in the ritual of cutting down and lighting the sacred log would be protected from witchcraft during the year to come.
Serving our country
MICHAEL COY Navy Seaman Recruit Michael D. Coy. Son of Janet M. Coy of r North has completed recrujt training at Navy Recruit Training Command. Navy Training Center Great Lakes, 111. During Coy’s eight-week training cycle, he studied general military subjects designed - to prepare him for further academic and on-the-job training in one of the Navy's 85 basic fields Coy’s studies included seamanship. close order drill. Naval history and first aid. Personnel who complete this course of instruction are eligible for three hours of college credit in physical education and hygiene. A 1980 graduate of Wawasee High School. Syracuse, and a 1981 graduate of International Business College, Fort Wayne, with an associate degree, he joined the Navy in Jupe of 1984. THOMAS HORTON Master Sgt. Thomas R. Horton, son of Thomas H. Horton of r 4 Kershaw. S.C., has been decorated with the L'S Air Force Commendation Meddal at Taegu Air Base, South Korea. The Air Force Commendation Medal is awarded to those individuals who demonstrate
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It is possible that, in burning the sacred log, the Druidic worshippers were seeking to propitiate their gods, to ensure the continuance of life-giving sunshine for another year. Also, it was generally believed by the Druids that the log's ashes possessed magical fertilizing powers, making them of great importance to a people whose sustenance was so directly related to vegetation. The Yule Log, incorporated into the Christmas celebration, retained many of these Druidic traditions, in one form or another, in the various countries where it was an intrinsic part of festivities. In Yugoslavia, for example, people frequently burned one smaller log for each male member of the family, in addition to the large log, whose kindling was a central ritual in the Christmas solemnities. The English believed that it was essential to light the Yule Log using the previous year’s brand — this, most probably, was a greatly watered-down version of the Druids’ eternally burning log. , . In Provence, in Southern France, the entire family would go out together on Christmas Eve, in search of a suitable log, which would be carried home with all due ceremony. Solemn caroling would accompany this activity, as well as prayers that the house, and all of its inhabitants and their
outstanding achievement or meritorious service in the performance of their duties on behalf of the Air Force. Horton is a communications electronics superviosr with the Ist Space Wing. He is a 1976 graduate of Troy State University, Ala. His wife, Sandra, is the daughter of Paul A. Yeager of r 3 Syracuse. " MARY-ELLEN PRICKETT Pvt. Mary-Ellen Prickett, daughter of Thomas E. Prickett and Nancy E. Dalton, both of r 3 Syracuse, has completed basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. During the training, students received instruction in drill and ceremonies, weapons, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, first aid and Army history and traditions. She is a 1984 graduate of Wawasee High School. Plant of peace Ancient Scandanavians considered misletoe to be the plant of peace. If enemies met under the misletoe. they declared a truce for that day. This is the root of the custom ’of kissing anyone we meet under the misletoe today.
endeavors, be blessed in the year to come. Before the log was thrown onto the waiting fire, the youngest member of the family would douse it with wine, in the name of the Holy Trinity. Finally, the log’s ashes would be retained, as they considered to have powerful properties. \ Sadly, the tradition of lighting a Yule Log though not unknown in America, has never really caught on here and, at the same time, is becoming less and less a part of Christmas festivities in those countries which once observed it.Ironically, it seems that the embers of what began ages ago as an eternal fire are slowly dying out.
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YULETIDE CELEBRATION — Bringing in the yule log was a traditional part of the Christmas Eve merriment. Illustration courtesy: The New York Public Library Picture Collection.