The Mail-Journal, Volume 23, Number 23, Milford, Kosciusko County, 4 June 1986 — Page 16

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., June 4,1986

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Skydivers jump prior to sesquicentennial parade

Prior to -the Milford Sesquicentennial Parade on Saturday, four skydivers will jump from an airplane and land on Big Boulder Golf Course. The skydivers performing in the June 7 celebration are David Wichmann. who has made more than 800 jumps; Donald Sprandel, 1400 jumps; John Thiesen, 400 jumps; and Teri Beier, 300 jumps.

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PARACHUTISTS FOR SESQUICENTENNIAL — Skydivers from Mentone will be performing in Milford Saturday before the start of the Sesquicentennial parade. Four jumpers who have made nearly 3,000 jumps combined will land at a predetermined spot on Big Boulder Golf Course north of town.

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The four skydivers jump for fun every weekend at the Mentone Airport, but they are also dedicated to seeing that their sport is not thought of as dangerous. They want to teach anyone who is interested that skydiving is very safe and most of all fun. Presently there are two ways to learn skydiving. The conventional way is static line training.

This is taught at Mentone by Charlie Andrews and Teri Beier. The course is offered every Saturday starting at 10 a.m. and usually ending by 4 p.m. In a static line jump you initiate the jump yourself with an instructor guiding you on proper exit from the aircraft, as you fall away from the airplane your parachute is opened by the static line which your jumpmaster attaches to the airplane. Your 9 jump is done on modern equipment, including a square parachute you are helped in your descent by radio communication. The other method of making a skydive is relatively new, called the tandem method. A tandem training jump involves less time than the other method because you are not doing your skydive totally alone. During a tandem jump you are securely harnessed to a tandem-master for your jump. Tandem gear is specifically designed to carry two people and is a very good way to experience a skydive. By doing a tandem skydive you are able to experience a freefall descent. After your freefall delay, your tandem-master deploys the parachute built for two and shows you how to properly steer the extra-large chute. Together you glide through the air as your tandem-master explains the workings of s the parachute and points out scenic sights below. When it is time to land you both come to a feather-soft landing. To make a tandem skydive training jump, you must be at least 18 years of age and weigh no more than 180 pounds. Tandem skydiving has been tried by many people young and old, male and female. Many celebrities have made a tandem skydive. David is one of only two people in the state of Indiana who is certified to perform a tandem training skydive. On food claims The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to give the food industry a chance to make previously forbidden health claims for food on supermarket shelves, with the warning that, if claims become outlandish, “we will come down hard. ” Uncollectable The amount of uncollected federal taxes soared to $45 billion last year —a 31 percent increase — and the budget proposed for the Internal Revenue Service offers little hope of correcting the problem, government auditors said recently.

'I Remember' Contest

(EDITOR’S NOTE: As part of the sesquicentennial at Milford, this newspaper held an “I Remember” contest to promote interest and jog memories of events which happened ii the Milford Community in the past. Entries were judged by a number of people from outside the 1 tilford area. The first place winner is Cleo Jean (Estep) Wolf of Milford. Second place went to Hd ene Lentz of Milford and Katherine (McKibbin) Myers of Syracuse is the third place winner. Their ar ides appear below.)

I remember growing up in Milford

By Cleo Jean Wolf First Place Winner When I was a youngster growing up in this fair town, there were many interesting things for children to do if they tended to be a little mischievous. The interurban ran right in front of our house and it was great fun to run out, put a penny on the tracks, and see how big the train could squash that penny. We would stand, innocently watching the train go by, waving to the man in the caboose, then run out to retrieve our penny, which was now the size of a quarter or half-dollar!

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CLEO JEAN WOLF

Climbing the old water tower proved to be quite an adventure. My friend and I made it all the way to the top, marveling at the view from such a lofty position, when we heard “What are you girls doing? Come down here this instant!” The voice was coming from the ground and belonged to the local policeman Bill Bushong. I never forgot his name! We went scrambling down that ladder a lot faster than we went up! He gave us a good talking to and asked if we wanted him to tell my dad, so I told him I would never do it again if he wouldn’t tell my dad. He didn’t. Paper Route Remembered My brother, sister and I had a morning paper route and divided toe town in thirds so we could each earn money. The route required getting up at the crack of dawn and getting the papers delivered before school. In the winter we had to walk, which wasn’t so bad if I could catch Harry Haab. Harry delivered milk to people’s houses in the mornings and drove a big “airy” truck around with no heater and no doors. If the truck had doors they were open because it sure was cold in there, but it beat walking! The truck only had a seat for the driver, so I had to stand. * People had to get the milk in early or it would freeze. The milk came in glass bottles with narrow necks and cardboard lids, that when allowed to freeze looked very funny. The lids would pop off and the milk would be frozen about three inches out of the bof- 5 tie, with their little caps sitting on top. When Saturday came, if I hurried, I could make it to Grandpa Cleo Estep’s for silver dollar pancakes with maple syrup that he bought from the Amish. Grandpa had an egg and poultry business which took him all over the country, buying eggs and chickens. Champ Remembered Sundays brought adventure too, as my sister, brother and I finished our papers in a hurry so we could go to Mack Little’s and ride Champ. Champ was a horse that had formerly been owned by our step-grandfather, Joe Kaiser, who brought it with him when he moved here from Illinois. Mack would have Champ all saddled and ready for us. We would take turns riding the rest of the morning. One time a pig nipped at Champ’s heels and the horse reared up and I almost fell off ; I kept yelling, “Mr. Little, Mr. Little!” The horse ran under a tree trying to knock me off, then rtm as fast as he could for the barn and came to a quick halt! Mr. Little came out of the bam, grabbed the horse and helped me down. I was never so scared in my life! Movie Theater Remembered In the summer, if my sister, brother and I mowed our section of the lawn, we were given 30 cents for the show. The 30 cents would get us admission to the local theater, with 10 cents for popcorn, candy, or gum. While we were at the movies, the local band was performing on the bttdwagon aeraoh the sheet.

After the band played a drawing was held, with names being pulled out of a mesh cylinder for various goods and cash prizes. The drawing was a big attraction and brought many people to town. After the movie ended we would go outside, hoping to find our grandma, Hazel Lentz, so she could treat us to a “tin roof’ at the local drugstore. Businesses Remembered There was a local business called Cecil Foods that was a tomato canning factory. The factory employed many migrant workers who lived in small houses behind the factory. It was located where Sellers Manufacturing now stands. The wagon loads of tomatoes would go right down our street so we would go out, grab some tomatoes, and have tomato fights. We also tried to see who could skip them down the sidewalk the farthest. Fuller’s General Store was a booming business, which boasted both a grocery business and dry goods business. Dry goods meant shoes, boots, clothing, school supplies, and sewing supplies with a large selection of material. All kinds of merchandise could be found. Each night, when the store closed, all of the merchandise had to be covered with old sheets and large pieces of brown paper in case the furnace blew soot all over everything. In the morning everything was uncovered for the next business day. I worked with Vera Schell and Marie Kaiser. When we covered everything at night we called it “Covering up the babies’’ or “Putting the babies to bed.” The grocery department was interesting, in that brown sugar came in large bags that were dumped into a wooden bin and covered with a damp cloth to keep it soft. When a customer wanted brown sugar we would weigh out the amount they wanted and bag it ourselves. Meat was weighed and wrapped in brown paper with the amount of the purchase handwritten on the outside of the package. The meat packages were tied with string. Later, gummed tape was used for this purpose. Growing up in Milford was fun, never boring!

A tribute to Herbie

By HELENE LENTZ Second Place Winner This is a story about Herbert Baumgartner, former owner and operator of the Standard Station on SR 15, now owned by Robert Ruch. One day, after I had purchased my first car, I drove into the Standard Oil Station and there I first met “Herbie.” He began to wash my windshield and then said, “Who are you?” I said, “Helene Lentz.” He then told me that he had gone to school with my father, Arthur Lentz, * and then proceeded to tell me the following story. “Some mornings before school Art and I would go trapping along Turkey Creek to get hides for extra money. One day there was a skunk in the trap and we had to get it out before going to school. After arriving at school the teacher made us go home and change clothes.” I said “Herbie, that sounds like a smelly story to me!” That was the beginning of a great friendship and many more stories. Skippj We lived a few “miles west of Milford, op a farm, and we had a Fox Terrier dog named Skippy. Skippy loved to go in the car with dad and Always went along to town. One day dad came home without Skippy. He had jumped out of the car and dad couldn’t find him.

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HELENE LENTZ

We were all fee ing sad for our lost dog when the elephone rang, it was Herbie. le said, “Art, come get your dot;, he’s sitting on the corner watching all the girl dogs go by and v on’t let anyone near him.” We were overjoyed and went to retrieve our Skippy. Herb’s Chicken One day, a truck full of chickens passed jy the Standard Station and a chicken fell off of the truck. Heibie went out, retrieved the chicken, and made a pet of it. He even had it “potty trained” to go in a box in the corner of the station The chicken so lowed Herbie all over the shop a ad watched him work from atop Herbie’s work benches. The chicken met his demise when a car on the hoist was accidently lowered on the chicken.

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Herbie wasn t in a hurry to get married until iie had a home for his bride. He and my father tore down the hote at Milford Junction and used the lumber to build a home for his aride, Edith. Edith is also my friei id and neighbor. Herbie was of great service to the community and a friend to many people It was a great privilege to be his friend. Herbie left us in September, 1970. Now I look at the Heavens and say, “What’s next, Herbie?” It is no wonder we have such a great town, people such as Herbie made it happen.

Up and down Main Street in 19110

By MRS. NOBLE D. MYERS Third Place Winner I remember riding down Main Street in 1910. Dr. I. J. Becknell, a native of Mi ford who helped plat the town, lived in the home which is now the 3oy Apartments and then moved to Goshen, where he had an offic e with hospital rooms above, on S with Fifth Street. His parents lived in the home now occupied by the John Gardners. A narrow house adjacent to the old opera hous j was the home of the Methods, parents of Melba and John. My big t irill was to come into town and push Melba around in her perambulator. Messerschmidts had a variety store and t ailor shop on the main floor of the opera house, then a two-story Jrick building. Across Emeline Street was a similar brick bui Iding, and then the drugstore and jewelry store, owned by Del Hastings. He also carried beautiful dishes and glassware. Hot Bread Theo K eefer and wife were in the one-s-ory bakery building. I

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RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY — Te uuMNmce the grand opening of their new store, Jerry Brs y, far left, and Georgia Bray, far right, held a ribboa cutting ceremony for the opening of Jerry *s Cai pet and Furniture, Inc., SR 15 South in Milford. Cutting the ribbon to officially open the new store were Milford Town Board President Jean Treesh, second from left, and Milford Mayor Elsie Free, set ond from ritfit). (Photo by Dale Tobias)

can smell that bread yet. They baked six loaves in a pan. One loaf for a nickel and all six a quarter. Hot treaded veal sandwiches for a dime and yummy sodas. Young people flocked there. Next, Miles and Higbee Bank, and in the rear, the library, with Rilla Arnold in attendance. Myers’ Saloon and then Sparklin’s General Store. Everything one could imagine, and if one asked for something they didn’t have you could figure it would be in stock soon. Charley and Rose lived in a big home on Emeline Street, later owned by the Lawburgs. She was the daughter of Scott Shafers, who owned and operated the Milford Tannery. A small building was the barber shop and then Milford Hotel. The interurban ticket office and waiting room was on the north side. John Snobarger ran a taxi service to Syracuse and met the cars. There was next an space where Clem’s Livery Service had access to Main Street. Then the big Miles and Horton Store — many a sack of candy I got there for two cents. A small building to the north became the office of Dr. Young, who came to town and swept Jessie McDonald, the well known piano teacher, off her feet. They married, remodeled the old Quilty property and made it their home. It is now the first house north of the Catholic Church. Dr. Peterson, a fine dentist, came to town and built the building now owned by Dr. Floyd Rheinheimer. He and wife “Happy” had a beautiful apartment upstairs. A vacant lot, then a frame building sitting high, with a number of steps to enter. John Helminger had a jewelry store there. A short distance west on Catherine Street was Ortie Lehman’s Blacksmith Shop. Crossing Catherine to the north several vacant lots, then the fine home built by Mose Lentz (he and his brother owned the lumber yard). Lentz had moved into town from his farm on Beer Road. The farm is now owned by Carlton Beer. A Mr. and Mrs. Beckner, then the Henry Heitsmith family. They were one of two Jewish families in town. Pret Miles lived in ornate fashion in the huge house on the corner. Crossing to the east corner, a little house belonging to Grandma Sparklin. South, the Schrencost home, shared with Israel Flory and wife. A vacant lot, then the Ogden home — now owned by Mr. Young. Burris Was Postmaster Jack Felkner and daughter Ethel lived in the large brick house, and a vacant lot was on the corner. Across Catherine was the William McDonald home, vacant lot, and next to the post office with William Burris, postmaster, assisted by daughters Bessie, a second-grade teacher, and Edith, who became Mrs. Harley Sharp. Now we are in Henry Erick’s Meat Market, where every Friday he made bologna and half the town had it hot for supper. Big ring for 25 cents. Crackers in a barrel and cheese on the counter. Knife beside the huge round and one could have a taste. A picture show where we walked up an incline to enter cost a nickel. Dr. Stockberger had his office upstairs in the next building and then the Method Saloon. The

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KATHERINE MYERS

Milford Mail was printed for years in the next building by Bill Groves. Then, Martha Becknell living upstairs and her jewelry store down. Charles Hammond Butcher Shop, Charles Nees dry goods store, and Ed Cammack had drugs and a soda shop, with Dr. Potters offices upstairs. The next building escapes my memory, but on the corner, Ike Oppenheim and son Bill had a swank men’s store. They were the second Jewish family in town. Crossing south to what is now the Masonic Temple was the office of Omar Neff, the realtor who was instrumental in bringing the Apostolic people from Illinois. Then a hat shop and Ziler Groves’ music store. Next, a little house, then the big brick building, owned by Sampson Jackson North, an attorney where Dr. Benson had an office. His daughter Mary was known for her paintings and knowledge of mushrooms. She could be seen any time with a bucket, gathering the fungi, which she knew were okay to eat. Another daughter, Clara Ruley, lived in a big brick house, the last on the block. Off To The Junction Jumped on my pony, headed across the “sink hole,” where the water squirted through the flooring, scaring the pony, and we were off to Milford Junction. One house on the east side, Mel Hamilton’s, and one on the west side, home of Matthew Weisser, wife, and 12 children. Stopped at post office and store run by Molly Harer to get our mail. The U.S. Post Office was in Shakespeare.

Band equipment, hood ornament reported stolen

Two reports of theft were investigated by Syracuse Folice last week, with one incident resulting in a substantial loss. Connie Losee, r 3 box 624, reported the theft of band equipment from her Wawasee Heights garage at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 31. According to police, the theft took place sometime between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., Friday, May 30, with the culprit breaking a screen door to gain entrance. The equipment stolen was valued at $839. In a separate incident Thursday, May 29, Stacy Meade, 200 S. Harrison St.,/reported that someone had forced a hood ornament off of her 1977 Ford Thunderbird, sometime before 6:15 p.m. that day. No estimate of damage was given.