125 Years Ago
Sept. 18, 1899
The fire department was called out early Sunday morning on account of the roof of the Fitch-saw mill at the forks of the road being on fire.
Dyspepsia seldom causes death, but it allows its victims to linger in constant torture. It is due to weakness of the stomach, the result of impoverished blood. Alexander’s Old Claret Wine gently creates an appetite and restores the digestive organs to their natural condition. Large bottles, 35 cents. At Shine’s. adv’t.
100 Years Ago
Sept. 18, 1924
The Jimtown Parent-Teachers Association will meet at the school house Friday evening.
Big Four engine No. 6819 has the honor of being the first to pass over the new Big Four railroad bridge at Sidney, which has been under construction for approximately three years and will not be ready to be put into service before Oct. 15. No. 6819 took a load of material for further roadway construction across the bridge. The engine is of the G-6 freight type. The Sidney bridge is known in railroad circles as bridge No. 199 and when completed will save the railroad several miles in its route from Union City to Bellefontaine.
Owing to circumstances and the present price of live stock, I have decided to charge $1.50 per hundred straight on farm sales. No sale for less than $5. C.L. Clevenger, auctioneer. Farmers phone W136. adv’t.
75 Years Ago
Sept. 18, 1949
The 1949 Shelby county fair went down gloriously in history as the best exposition in its 89 years of existence. Fair Secretary Donald Brandt said today all previous entry records were smashed. For example, a total of 1,510 head of livestock were shown – 422 cattle, 239 hogs, 613 poultry, 76 horses, and 160 sheep.
The family of Mrs. Sam Hetzler, South Main avenue, was the first in Sidney to learn of the Great Lakes tragedy when Mrs. Hetzler called from Toronto, Canada, to assure her family that she had been rescued from the vessel. At least 226 pleasure-bound American vacationists lost their lives early today when the Great Lakes luxury steamer Noronic exploded, burned and sank at her Toronto pier.
50 Years Ago
Sept. 18, 1974
Vocational agriculture students from four county high schools participated in a countywide dairy cow grading practice session yesterday on the Frank Cummings and Ken Knoop farms in Shelby County. About 100 vo-ag students from Anna, Botkins, Fairlawn, and Hardin-Houston judged the animals to gain experience for a state- wide contest in the spring in Columbus.
Construction is underway for a new Sidney restaurant. It is the Bonanza Sirloin Pit, to be located at 1605 Wapakoneta Ave. The $200,000 facility will be adjacent to the former Miami Chick Hatchery building.
25 Years Ago
Sept. 18, 1999
Debby Wentz, Pat Barlage, and Christi Thomas. Members of Sock & Buskin Community Theatre and Jesters Roving Players attended the Annual Conference of the Ohio Community Theatre Association (OCTA) held in Cincinnati recently. Thomas, business manager and editor of the Sock & Buskin newsletter “The Marquee” also garnered several awards for the publication including outstanding overall quality, excellent historical content for the 25th anniversary, excellent achievement in publishing, and outstanding fun features. Sock & Buskin was invited to present a 30-minute portion of their production of “The Taffetas,” which debuted to local audiences last October. Dee Hartsock received an award for outstanding musical direction, Jerry Zimmerman received a merit in choreography, and Shari Hartsock received out standing musical performance for her portrayal of “Kaye.” The responders also gave verbal kudos to sound technician Bob Schroerlucke. Cast members also included Nancy Williams, Kara Sampson, Kristin Fisher, Dale Given and Tanya Best.
Sidney and Lehman will do battle in the annual “Pizza Preview” basketball scrimmage on Nov. 26, it was announced recently by head Sidney coach Tom Clark. The two local rivals used to meet in the preview, but this will be the first time in several years that Lehman has provided the opposition for the event held at Sidney High. Playing in the tournament might be a good omen for the Cavaliers, who will be led by second-year head coach Jerry Fries. The last three years have seen Anna, Jackson Center and Botkins play the Yellow Jackets in the preview, and each one of those teams advanced to the regional tournament.
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.
