125 Years Ago
Sept. 14, 1899
Benjamin Slusser, of Sidney, dropped dead this morning (Sept. 12). He was born in Franklin township in 1828. Among his inventions is the Slusser steel scraper, a self-loading excavator which will plow, load and unload while in motion, a reversible water wheel and the sulky plow.
The annual convention of the Shelby County Woman’s Christian Temperance Union will be held Saturday at Lockington.
The Commissioners this week advertised the letting of a curb and gutter around the courthouse square. The gutter has for a long time been in a bad condition. In fact, on the south side there never has been either grade or stone gutter. With the rough stone gutter around the hitching rack there has always been an accumulation of filth that has been very objectionable.
100 Years Ago
Sept. 14, 1924
The Dorothy Love Presbyterian Home farm northwest of the city is to be a state game preserve and no hunting whatsoever will be allowed on the grounds that cover two hundred and ninety-four acres.
Miss Mary J. Christman of near Oran received the half ton of coal given away by Fogt and Fleckenstein at the county fair this week.
75 Years Ago
Sept. 14, 1949
While only eight polio cases have been reported in Shelby County, 35 patients are being assisted financially by the local March of Dimes chapter, according to Dr. Charles E. McCorkle, chairman of the local chapter of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. “Polio,” he said, “is a long- term disease. Long after outbreaks have subsided a certain number of patients require medical treatment. The local chapter has provided $12,500 in the last year to underwrite continuing care for those who need it.”
Probably the happiest youth on the Shelby County fairgrounds last night was Omer Riddle, R.R. 5, who won the first of four Whizzer motorbikes to be given away. Fair Secretary Donald Brandt and Johnnie Amos presented the bike to Riddle
50 Years Ago
Sept. 14, 1974
Local consumers have been subjected to shortages of several items recently – paper products, meat and gasoline to name a few. What’s next? Try antifreeze. Shortage or not, prices have skyrocketed from last year. “As far as we know this is all we’ll get, stated Al Barhorst, owner of Al’s American service station, 2100 Michigan St. He said he had obtained 38 cases of antifreeze. “The 38 cases won’t last if we have a run; they’d be gone in a day,” he said.
A thief, who apparently had patriotic leanings, was allegedly responsible for the theft of American flags from the flagpoles at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and the American Legion Post.
Mrs. William (Emma) O’Leary, wife of the former Sidney Police Chief, is looking forward to her 100th birthday Sept. 25.
25 Years Ago
Sept. 14, 1999
The Sidney Sunset Kiwanis Club has announced the date for its annual spaghetti dinner. “It’s the same day that Piqua plays Sidney on the 100th anniversary of that traditional gridiron match up,” Sunset President Merrill Asher told members at a recent meeting. “On Sept. 24, we hope everyone will stop first at First United Methodist Church, starting at 4 p.m., to have dinner before attending the game just a block away at Julia Lamb Stadium,” Asher added.
Tilda Phlipot, an official with the Shelby County Historical Society, updated members on renovation at the William A. Ross Jr. Historical Center. Improvements being made to the 1902 home, which formerly served as the residence of the Haslup family, include a handicap-accessible ramp and restroom, a new heating system and refinishing of the floors. The work is well underway.
Lt. Rodney D. Austin of the Sidney Police Department has earned a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Austin was awarded the degree during graduation cere- monies at the university Aug 14. Austin, who will have been with the department 22 years in December, attended college by saving his compensatory time and taking class- es two weeks at a time. He took accelerated classes for four straight semesters. A native of Allen County, Austin is day shift supervisor and a member of the bike patrol. He is married and has two children.
These news items from past issues of the Sidney Daily News are compiled by the Shelby County Historical Society (937-498-1653) as a public service to the community. Local history on the Internet! www.shelbycountyhistory.org. Visit the Sidney Daily News website, www.sidneydailynews.com to read the rest of the week’s columns.
