Family, townspeople made Century House a real home

o/o(. 3, 1\[p. 4

m n off re Family, townspeople made Century House a real home

Lois Firestone

ACOMMON THREAD IS woven through the ·story

of the 105-year-old Century House along East State Street in Salem - it's the loyalty of both the family members liv­ing out their days there and the stick-with-it-iveness of the townspeople who kept it going for decades.

The histories of the home - the handwritten minutes of the monthly board meet­ings dating back to the late 1800s, some inscribed in eleg­ant Spencerian script and others nearly unreadable scribblings - tell the story of people who care. Some are well-known to local research­ers; others are not.

Joshua Twing Brooks is one of the familiar names. The son of Salem's first lawyer, Joseph J. Brooks, J. Twing's ambitious ideas provided the impetus for the area's mushrooming growth in the late 1800s; he was the youngest member of the Ohio Senate when he was elected in 1866 and for years was general counsel for the Pen­nsylvania Railroad Co.

Brooks extended his busi­ness acumen to the Home as an informal financial adviser, purchasing railroad bonds at a high rate of interest. He followed the day to day war.kings of the home, too, paymg for the sewer line ~nstalla.ti.on and street paving m a~d1tion to finding likely candidates to live in the home.

Dozens of others, men and women alike, guided and advfsed over the years. In 1_906, th~ home's stoi::k portfo­lio was impressive, with $568 interest. The bonds included Farmers Bank, Deming Co., Ohio Brass, the gas company, Buckeye Engine Co., city bonds Northern Ohio Traction Co., Cleveland Stone Co., National Carbon Co., and Cleveland Electric.

The Kolls, Silvers, Cassel­berrys, Demings, Sharps and

Fa:wcetts are all mentioned

frequently in the ledgers. One of the most loyal benefactors in the early years were mem­bers of the Salem Comman­dery 42 Knights Templar, although every local lodge at one time or another donated money or goods to the club.

The idea of opening a com­fortable home for potentially homeless women had been talked about for months among a group of the town's matrons. Sibyl Street, the 76-year-old widow of Zadok Street Jr., a successful indus­trialist who had left his wife "well off," was one of them. Sibyl was concerned about other older women in town who weren's as lucky.

Hannah Koll, too, worried about them, the mothers whose husbands and children were gone and the spinsters who couldn't work any lon­ger as seamstresses or teach­ers - where could they find a safe refuge where they'd be treated with dignity?

The solution, a home for the aged, caught on with others as well, including Dr. Elizabeth Grissell, Angeline Sharp, Elma Hayes, Mary Silver, Maggie Horner and Phoebe Gruell. And they had a coveting eye on a desirable property, the Philip Evans house along Main Street.

Evans was a nurseryman and tree grower who worked 69 acres; he was trying to sell the brick farmhouse which had a spacious one­acre frontage. The Home for the Aged was incorporated and the Evans homestead purchased in February 1887 with a $1,000 down payment.

Twelve women were the first residents when the doors opened on Oct. 4, 1888. Mar­garet Stevens was the first to pay the $200 admission fee, and she would stay on for ten years until she passed away ..

The corporation treasury had dwindled to $433 within a few months, but private donations and board invest­ments kept the home in the black then, and in the

'Tuesday, Ju(y 27, 1993 Section of tlie Salem 9\&ws

• a saf h n Ill 1 Os

This phot~ shows the Philip Evans brick farmhouse along East State Street in Salem which was the first and only base for the Home for the Aged, founded in 1887. The home's name has been changed to Century House.

decades to follow. of the 1930s when the home Donations from the com- didn't seek donations, people

munity were common. Typi- gave $56 in cash and brought cal was the "interested party in apples, potatoes and on Goshen Avenue" who, canned goods. preparing to leave the city Handymen were indispens-for the winter in 1898, sent able. One of them, D. A. in a quarter of beef and two Smith did a little of every-large baskets of canned fruit. thing in the 1930s. Several The town's school youngsters times a day he came by the brought in 21 bushels of home to check on the coal pumpkins, cabbages, squash, furnace - he was paid $3 a onions, potatoes, sweet pota- month extra in winter. D. A. toes, turnips"in 1894. Tfie raked and seeded lawns, school donations continued repaired ripped-out screens for years. and planted gardens.

Here are a few examples of It was the matron, though, the dozens of gifts offered in who had the formidable 1919: Mary Gledhill donated 24-hour-a-day job of rule oysters, crackers, flour, bread, enforcer, nurse and confidan-sweet potatoes, tea and vari- te. Her wages were $16 a ous kinds of canned goods. month with the added bonus W. L. Fultz gave a turkey of a $10 cash gift at Christ-and Dr. H. K. Yaggi a goose, mastime - and a nickel a and the Red Cross donated week for washing clothes. It chickens, vegetables, bread was her duty to enforce the and pies. W. H. Mullins gave rules: Lights and fireplaces $1,000 worth of thrift stamps, out by 10 o'clock, no stimul-and Arthur Mullins at the ants or spiritous liquor Callahan Coal Co. donated (except prescribed by a physi-

. the home's winter supply of cian), and no improper lan-coal. guage or loud talking. A

When telephones came n_i.ust was the ceremony of along, the company installed silent or vocal worship before the phone for nothing and bed. If they were able, Dr. W. H. Booth paid the inmates made their own beds phone service rent for a year. and swept the floor in their Even during the tough times rooms.

Phebe Gruell had been in on the planning of the Home and very much wanted the venture to succeed. She accepted a position as third vice president in the board of directors and also offered to be the first matron. Phebe set the tone for the future, encouraging the managers and board members to drop in for visits during the after­noon or evening and at meal­times. This close supervision by the managers continues today, always with an ami­able relationship between matron and manager.

Managers have met formal­ly once a month since the beginning - only once was a meeting cancelled. That was on Dec. 12, 1918 when health authorities banned gatherings of any kind because of the influenza epidemic.

The next matron, Jane Davidson, wouldn't take a reduced salary and she and her daughter, the "girl" hel­per at the home, quit in a huff in 1894. Jane was an exception, though, because succeeding matrons were understanding when hard times demanded sacrifices

See Century on page 6

..

Milhoan is A&P veteran

This photo of Paul Milhoan appeared in the Teaco Topics, t 11 e A & P m on th l y newsletter.

FOR TEN YEARS IN THE late 1950s, Paul Milhoan's

smiling visage behind the meat block was familiar to customers of the A & P market along State Street in Salem. For 10 years, from 1957 to 1967, the Canton native managed the meat department, in the State Street store and later at the Lundy A venue market.

Paul was 17 in 1937 when he started working for the com­pany in his native Canton under Paul Irwin. In 1939 he was transferred to the meat department at the Sebring A & P.

Later he worked at the Cop­perweld Steel mill in Warren and during the in-between years served in the Army.

In 1957 he re-joined A & Pin Salem. All told, he was an A & P employee for 26 years - he was terminated with other employees when the company closed some Ohio stores.

om n

Yest: erg ears 'Iuestfoy July 27, 1993

f o ht 400 marched onto the bloodied battlefields

By Dale E. Shaffer

A CURRENT NEWS TOPIC . of hot discussion is wom­en's role in military combat. For a long time many women in the services have been cam­paigning for more direct com­bat roles. The Defense Department has now ordered that changes be made to upgrade the status of women in the military.

charge. On the third day of battle

after General Hancock was wounded, command of the Sec­ond Corps was given to Brig. General William Hays. He reported on July 17, 1863 that the number of dead buried at Gettysburg by his command, during the period from July 2 through July 5, was 387 from the North, and 1,242 from the South. Included in his report was the burial of one female private in Confederate uniform.

A Captain A. R. Fitzhugh remembered first noticing the

• In ii ar

young girl about dusk of the second day of the battle at Gettysburg. The soldiers, worn out from the day's fighting, lay on the ground sleeping. Among them was hte pale face of what appeared to be a boy, light­haired and innocent, pillowed on one arm. A man sat beside him, apparently guard­ing his companion. The two had been noticed before, but it was thought that they were father and son. When dawn came in the east they awakened.

Later in the day (July 3) the cannons boomed between Seminary Hill and the Highwa­ter Mark. Pickett's famous charge was on, with the troops

advancing until they were near General Meade's Army on the hilltop. Those remaining then climbed over the Union's breastworks.

At that point, a confederate flag bearer was show down. Instantly, up went the flag again, raised by the youth with the childish face. It waved for a moment and then came down with its bearer. Husband and wife lay dead on the blood­soaked ground.

A few sentimental Union sol­diers later found the bodies and discovered the relation­ship. The bodies, draped with a Confederate flag embroidered with the hair of Virginia women, were buried on the hillside where the couple had fought and died together.

This means that female pilots will soon be flying Navy and Air Force warplanes, as well as Army combat helicopters. And, more positions will be created for women on combat support ships. However, the question still remains as to whether or not America really wants its women to be in the infantry and armored combat units; that is, killers on the battlefield.

Archaeologists find cloth fragment

Reflecting on history we find that a small number of women fought in combat during the Civil War - perhaps 400 of them. Allow me to share with you the story of an unknown female Confederate soldier who was killed with her husband at Gettysburg and buried there. She paid the supreme sacrifice while participating in Pickett's

Arbaugh-Pearce

G reerii~eri 1 Funeral Home

RAY J. GREENISEN 332 .. 4401 OWNER

NALRECORDS ING BOOK

Because your last wishes are so important

... ~) ' l"r .. ·l'l.sn youf

T1~:'.~ 1 ~~:::·i:i/~;7·~11 r ~ ,~·)• . Fuu •nl

~;::::~:::::P:'.·::::::::;:'. ..... ::.~:£~:~:::·.·L[~;::t,:·::·:··:.::.~:.'.; ·" uf v11.1l p.)p••rs, wdb. b.1nh

i::;$0,1:i'1;,~,:.;::~ ·:~~::~ ·; .!t.:1/i:::: · ~.:·~:~·: .,' ~'1:,. '~:::,~;~1 v~·,~a:~ •" wolh phon<' mun!>,·r~ '""I n .. 11 .. ., .. \'<>or f.omll~· .1dtlu.•-.-.,•$. p!us Y"'" [,,,1 .,J ..., .. ,,.,. .... d '"'i. ·'' Jw,u•·

DO !hi~ (or 1he onl>-; you love

-pj;~ ;;,r1d u-;: - - - - - - - - - - - - - -0 The Family Personal Record Book 0 Information on !nllation,Proof Funeral Pre-Plan D Information about funeral costs, procedures 0 Book on Social Security & Medicare

Name. __________ _

Address _________ _

City, __________ _

State ______ _,,p. ___ _

~~n!'.:::-;;::=::-:::=-c:=-:::::-:::::=-:::;:-:::=-:::::.:::::-:=-:::=-=::::-~--=-c=:::-::

CHICAGO (AP) Archaeologists say they have discovered the oldest cloth ever found, a fragment dating to 7000 B.C.

The semifossilized cloth -about 3 inches by lYi inches and possibly linen - was found in southeastern Turkey, clinging to what was probably the handle of a tool made from an antler, the University of Chi­cago said in a statement today.

It is at least 500 years older

Firestone Recreational Park Saturday Columbiana, Ohio August 7, Entertainment

1993 Moss Print! 10a.m.to Harvey S QuiltRaffle

6p.m. • Food

Firestone Park Festival of the Arts Phoneo

Free Area (216) Admission 482-2856

Rain or Shine 482-2656

What a Pharmacy

Was Meant To Be! Store Hours:

9-6 Mon.-Fri., 9-i Sat. Offering Free Delivery and

Fast Friendly Service

than any cloth ever found before.

"This is a fascinating discov­ery because it pushes back the date at which we know textiles were produced," said Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood, director of the Stitching Textile Research Center at the National Museum of Ethnology at Leiden in the Netherlands, and one of the scholars studying the cloth.

The cloth was recovered

MERLE NOR AN

COSMETICS Assorted New

Colognes, Great for Gift Giving Stop in for a ma/(g,over

witli a({ tlie new spring cofors.

35 N. Market, E. Palestine

426-3504

Orthotic & Prosthetic Clinic, Inc .. Providing Complete Local

Orthotic & Prosthetic Patient Services

Medicare Approved 617 St. Clair Ave.,

E. Liverpool

1-800-321-0407

from Cayonu, an archaeological site near the Tigris River about 30 miles from the city of Diyar­bakir. The site has been the scene of joint explorations by the University of Chicago and Istanbul University.

No cloth made earlier than about 6500 B.C. to 6000 B.C. previously had been discov­ered, the university said, although some minute clay impressions of textiles about the same age .as the Cayonu cloth have been found.

PEOPLE WHO KNOW YOU. . : ; ._: ... ', .~ . -

PEOPLE YOU CAN RELY ON .•• TODAY AND TOMORROW.

Stark %emoria( Inc.

1014 E. State St. Salem, Ohio

332-5139 RusseiC.Loudon

Yes! /would like Name·----·------·------ --

more information Addres> ________ _

on funeral options and your services.

City _____ Codo _

Telephone ~

~--------------------

Patio Close-Out Entire Stock Save up 50% Off

Sofa-Loveseats-Chair Save up 50% Off

Entire Stock of End Tables & Curios Save50%

42131 State Route 14 Columbiana, Ohio

Dining Room & Dinette Set 50% Off

Bedding -Stock Only 50o/o to 60% Off

* All Priced Cash & Carry Delivery Can Be Arrangedl

'~

42131 State Ro te 14 I m ia a,

from everyone, including them.

Lucy J. Pettis, Jane's succes­sor, stayed on for nine years. Her son, Charles lived in the home with her, receiving room and board in exchange for working around the house. Lucy staved on the

even when she suffered severe attack of blood poi­

soning brought on by nursing the sick." She left in 1903 to ta~~e a similar position at the A;:jtman Hospital's Aged Ladies Home; loval to the

she came back when she was needed in 1914 and stay­ed until she passed away three years later.

Mary Hough has been the home's matron for 20 vears and doesn't look at it like a job; rather, she says, it's an integral part of her life. "It's very peaceful and quiet here. H's fulfilling and it's satisfy­ing. H's a unique operation," Mary says, adding that "it's been the best 20 years of my life." Mary often does double duty. Unable to leave the Home last winter during a blizzard she stayed over, ~njoyed a bedtime treat of popcorn and cocoa with others dad in their robes.

In 1898, the cost of running the home was $754.30 or $94.28 per guest or member of the family of eight. Frugal­ity was the key to the opera­tion, and that year the mana­gers decided to think about renovations. "Years of parsi­mony and economy have enabled the board to accumu­late a small hoard of money for building purposes," the minutes read, "Our good friend and benefactor comes forward with an offer of one dollar to add to every ten dollars that we may have and may raise by other means for the building fund: improved kitchen, laundry, bathrooms, more inmate rooms ... the homeis as yet bar­ren of baths, water closets and interior drainage. Methods of ventilation are of the crudest sort and only by the greatest care on the part of our matron are our people kept in fair health."

The Home was forced to build a 150-foot retaining wall behind the property along Evans Street in 1899 when the city graded the street, creating a "precipice of 13 feet in the rear of the kitchen." Managers weren't happy because they foresaw removing back buildings and possibly having to build a new front. The next vear the repairs got under way. A dining room with fireplace

. was added with eastern and southern exposure; the former dining room was refitted for a kitchen; a '/tras added and two ne-vv !OOms and bath vvere C'.Ji~l-: ::"n the

second floor above the dining room and kitchen. Doorways were changed and the main stairway improved. A large porch on the front was enclosed with glass windows. When finished in 1901 the work cost $3,472.

In 1929, $2,400 worth of improvements included an addition to the southwest cor­ner of the home, an outside entry to the kitchen, a stor­age room, new family­member room. matron's clothes closet,. and bathroom and lavatorv on each floor. In 1950 other ~dditions followed.

An electric washer was installed the spring of 1912, "materially lessening the need of extra help. The acquisition of a gas range to replace the wood stove was a big event in 1928.

For several years, the Home's big money maker was the annual public dinner held at a local lodge or pri­vate home. The 1900 dinner was hosted by Henry Hawley in his home at 90 Lincoln A venue. The 50-cent ticket bought a sumptuous meal: oyster bouillon, stewed chick­en, cold slaw, mashed pota­toes, hot biscuit, white and brown bread, orange marma­lade, jelly, pickles, olives, tea, coffee, ice cream and cake. These dinners usually netted about $300, and all of it was profit.

Perhaps most of all, though, it was the family members themselves who were concerned about the home's future. Arbella Dales quietly saved up money for the Home during the 27 years she lived tnere. She wrote a poignant letter to Judith Brooks several months before she died. "In view of the certainty of death and the uncertainty of life, I write you these few lines. I have worked in one way and another all these years for the benefit of the Home and have gathered up a little money which I wish them to have. Someone of you look through my things as you might find loose cash most anywhere. You will possibly find money in old corsets.I also have notified a bank in Pittsburgh where I have a deposit to pay over to you what is there."

After explaining where she wanted her personal belong­ings to go after her death, she continued: "I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness to me, as I don't know what otherwise would have become of me. I love the Home and hate to leave it.

"I have tried to be as little trouble as p~ssible and by the help of the Lord have been able to look after myself most of the time. The I-Iorr~e

The gracious Century House as it looks today. The monthly living fee is only $450 for the 14 residents who receive 24-hour care. Home health aid is always available and the Visiting Nurses Association make frequent calls to the home.

This antique mirror is only one of numerous antiques left to Century House by former family members.

is a monument to you ladies, and no small job I know. Gratefully years, Miss Bell Dales."

When she passed away on Nov. 18, 1932, Arbella left the Horne more than $2,400. The Horne's ledgers are filled with similar bequests from the women who treasured their days in their second homes.

The entry hallway to Century House is filled with a collection of rare antiques - the shelf at right, given in memory of Ruth Bogar, holds various items in memory of former members, including Sara and Nancy Wilson, Mickey Rance and Hazel Segesman.

More Century House photos

At 941 Ethel Morris is the oldest resident at Century House, and when we snapped her photo had just returned from a shopping outing downtown. As others do, Ethel brought her own furnishings with her - they're always returned to their families when they pass away. Furnishings are stored, many of them antique, which can be used by residents if they wish.

Jean Pridon, president of the Century House board of managers, and Dottie Zimmerman relax in the sunroom, one of the numerous areas in the home where family members spend leisure time. Trustees and managers are all involved closely with the home's workings and participate in activities. Both the Ray Pearce Foundation and the Salem Community Foundation have made numerous improvements at the home possible.

Zin es meets Russian at war's end

Ervin contes back to face his prob ent

Staff Sgt. John Zines of the Fighting 69th Infantry Divi­sion (top photo, right) greets a Russian soldier in Leipzig, Germany at the end of the fighting in Europe in World War II. The city limits sign (above) is the town where the 69th and the Russians got together.

Life becomes increasingly difficult for the young Porters By Lois Firestone Second in a series

G UILT BROUGHT ERVIN Porter back from Illinois

six months after he'd left his family in a vain attempt to get away from problems which were increasingly difficult to handle.

He was well aware that leav­ing had been the wrong thing to do. Shortly after his return he told a friend, Jacob Lower that "I knew it wouldn't do" to stay away. I came back to take care of my little ones."

Disillusioned by his brother Joseph's underhanded dealings and the subsequent failure of their building contracting busi­ness, Ervin had deposited his wife Minda and their two children with Minda's parents in Columbiana and left soon afterward for Cairo and St. Louis, Illinois to visit his brother and sister.

Why Joseph vindictively forced Ervin out of their part­nership and, worse yet, evicted him from the South Main Street home he'd built himself with his own money was never explained. Whatever the rea­son, it crushed Ervin's spirit and he never recovered.

Henry and Rebecca Flickin­ger had graciously made room for Ervin and Minda the first year they were married - it was understood it was tempor­ary while their home was being built. After Ervin came back, though, Henry wasn't shy about expressing his displea­sure at having still another mouth to feed, and an adult

one at that. His house was overflowing with people. Three of his children were still living at home: 16-year-old Lydia, 19-year-old Jacob, and Joshua, not to mention Minda, 3-year­old Minda Jr. and 1-year-old Adelaide.

"I talked to Porter several times about leaving my house since I had a large family of my own to keep," Henry said. "I told him three or four times after he came from the west that he should go to a house of his own and he said he knew it...He didn't support his family after he came from the west and started drinking. We had some trouble and he hit me on the head twice and kicked me in the ribs and on the leg."

Ervin argued violently with others in the Flickinger family, too, including one of his wife's brothers. Minda's uncle, Solo­mon Leaf filed assault and bat­tery charges against Ervin after one of their scuffles. Fairfield Township Justice of the Peace Josiah Rohrbaugh said that at first Ervin claimed he wasn't guilty, insisting that Leaf had insulted him and he was only defending himself. Later he pleaded guilty and was fined. Ervin would say only that he was angry at his wife's family because "I think they have not used my wife right."

Through October and November Ervin hired out to Amos Hively, boarding with the family and doing general farm work on the Hively lands southeast of Columbiana. "He was low spirited and took

some whife powder to make him sleep," Hively said. That was a different Ervin that the man Hively had known.

Others, too, noted a change in Ervin. John Dildine, the Lee­tonia man who had been Ervin's bunkmate during the Civil war, found his old friend "quieter, more melancholy" than he'd ever seen him. James Howell, who had worked with Ervin, felt that "he didn't look so fleshy after he came back from the west."

After Hively let him go, Ervin found piecemeal work. He reroofed the Hum house nearby and husked com and built a wooden fence for George Lower for a few days in early December 1872. He talked to John Caldwell about work­ing at the sawmill, but he wasn't hiring.

Ervin.had run up a bill with grocer Reuben Strickler but he stopped by in early December to assure Reuben that he'd catch up on his debt as soon as he got a job.

As morning dawned on Dec. 11, George Beck was up and about in his Columbiana home.

Glancing out a window he saw Ervin pass by deep in thought. That same day, a neighbor, George Hart, bumped into Ervin in Holtz' s grocery in Lee­tonia. "He said he'd walked from Columbiana," Hart said. "He talked about the soldiers bounty land (ed. note: the gov­ernment granted land to veter­ans of the Civil War)."

In the afternoon he dropped by his brother's house and

talked with Joseph's wife, Susan. "He said he had taken a job cutting wood at Waterford and wanted his brother Eli and my cousin to help him and for them to come next morning," she recalled.

That evening Ervin dropped in at a spelling school in Hum­town, and lingered to chat with the people there. Among them was Lewis King, the teacher at the New Waterford School who had known Ervin for six years.

Nothing in Ervin's actions that day or evening hinted at what was to come the next morning in the Flickinger house, a tragic happening which people would talk about for years.

To be continued

Today in history In 1940, the cartoon character

Bugs Bunny made his official debut as Warner Brothers released the animated short "A Wild Hare."

In 1942, Benny Goodman and his Orchestra and vocalist Peg­gy Lee recorded "Why Don't You Do Right" in New York for Columbia Records.

In 1960, Vice President Richard M. Nixon was nomi­nated for president at the Republican national convention in Chicago.

Jn 1976, Air Force veteran Rav Brennan became the first person to die of Legionnaire's Disease following an outbreak at a Philadelphia hotel where an American Legion conven­tion had taken place.

'

Buy an AGCO Allis lawn tractor today at our regular low price, and you won't just cut your grass. You can make fallen leaves disappear as well. Because we'll throw in a Mulcher/ Shredder System - Absolutely Free! Up to a S210 V?lue on selected models.

Instead of bagging leaves this fall, shred them into food for your lawn. An AGCO Allis mulching mower with patented Shredder Blades is an effort­less way to recycle grass clippings and fallen leaves.

So see your AGCO Allis dealer now. Ger a great deal on the best lawn care equipment in the world. And a FREE mulcher/leaf shredder system,"' so you can shred 'em, not bag 'em this fall.

Ask about our 0% interest and no AGCO ALLIS monthly payments until January 1994.*

01992 r\GCO r\llis Liwn & Garden Equipment ''Limited Offer. :\sk ll5 for derails.

i I ' I

1111 n1n n erican cl ssic is si pl .

The 512G Classic lawn tractor. Only $1699 ... and only at your

AGCO Allis dealer ..

AGCO ALLIS

300o/o The SIMPLICITY 5C Yard Waste Management Systemrn ... recycles yard waste into valuable mulch and composting material. Powered by a depend­able and powerful 5-HP engine that fits into a well-balanced package for easy maneuvering over soft yards and gardens.

Ill Patented triangular hammers provide 300% more shredding power than conventional hammers.

Ill Chips up to 2-112" dia. limbs.

II Two chipping knives where others have only one.

II Low profile for easy loading.

II Shreds twigs and leaves.

Ill Optional Vacuum Kit lets you vacuum, shred and bag in one easy step.

Ask your SIMPLICITY dealer for a demonstration today.

©1992 Simplicity /\lanufocturing, Inc.

11111