davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-03-24
SCHOOL AREAS
Get TAX FUNDS
Auditor Completes Distribu-
ton of $442,555 From
January Collection

County Auditor E. A. Guth re-
ports the completion of the dis
tribution of $442,555.13 which
represents proceeds from the re-
cent collection of the January col
lection of real estate taxes. The
townships received $54,887.2O di-
vided as follows: Allen, $5,714.14;
Benton, $8,00f.51; Bay, $2,503.43;
Carroll, $6,619.85; Clay, $5,467.62;
Catawba, $3,278.11; Danbury, $6,-
471.60; Erie, $1,442.89; Harris,
$6,001.70; Portage, $3,S23.76; Put
in-Bay, $4,468.66; Salem, $6,659.44.
Through the distribution of tax
funds, the schools of the county
received $273,685.O3, divided as
follows: Lake in Allen, $4O7 .33; AL
len Twp, $23, ,238.17; Benton Twp,
1,565.60; Carroll Twp, $16,-
884.57; Clay-Genoa, $26,082.15;
Catawba Twp, $10,247.57; Dan
bury Twp, $3O,9O226; Erie Twp,
$6,746.89; Harris -Elmore, $780,
8S0.07; Portage Twp, $16,925.70;
Put-in-Bay, S7,997.43; Salem Oak
Harbor, $25,785.45; Port Clinton
district, $63,275.12; Port Clinton
Library, $4,143.13; North Bass dis
trict, $729.48; Middle Bass, ST.
STALL.
Villages received total of $42,-
069.58, divided as follows: Clay
Center, S562.S4; Rocky Ridge, ST.
041.02; Genoa, S4,088.77; Marble
head, $927.68; Elmore, $3,215.66;
Port Clinton, $22,8S3.74; Putin
Bay, $530.84; Oak Harbor, $4,
05S.52; Oak Harbor Library,
$923.57; Harris -Elmore Union
Cemetry, $2,169.85; Salem-Oak
Harbor Union Cemetery, 81 ,667 .09.
The county's share of the distribu-
ton was $71,913.32 and the state
received $4,000.
Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-03-24
Mrs. Elmer Biro
Is Hurt In Wreck

Mrs. Elmer Biro, Erie Beach,
is in Berea Hospital recovering
from injuries suffered Friday in
an auto accident near the Cleve-
land airport.
Mrs. Biro is being treated for
a fracture of the left arm, ex-
tensive bruises, and severe lacer-
ations of the face and one knee.
Her husband suffered only bruis-
es and their little son escaped in
july,. probably because he was
shielded as much as possible by
his mother.
The accident happened while
Mr.. and Mrs. Biro and their son
We're enroute to the Cleveland air.
port where Mrs. Biro was to have
boarded a plane for st. Louis,
Missouri, having been called there
by the serious illness of her moth
a
Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-03-24
NEED WORKERS.
FOR RED CROSS.
Volunteers Needed To Com
plete Fund Canvass In
This City

Volunteer workers are needed
to complete the annual Red Cross
fund drive in this city, George
Schade and Dr.. Richard Semon,
Port Clinton fund co-chairmen,
report.
Blocks not canvassed as yet are
all north of the railroad embank-
ment with the exception of Sew
enth Street. Persons living in
these areas, who can devote a few
hours to the worthy volunteer
work, are asked 10 phone Mr..
Schade, 9752.
Response to the request for
funds has been excellent in the
city, Mr.. Schade stated. Quota
for Port Clinton is $4,000. Atty.
J. G. Hitchcock is county chair
man and George Ware, Port Clin-
ton, is county fund chairman.
Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-03-24
GUEST CONDUCTORS
TO Direct PROGRAM
Richard Dern Is
Local Elks Ruler

Richard, Dern was elected exal-
ted ruler of the Port Clinton.
Lodge No. 17lS, d. Z. o. Elks
Tuesday evening. He succeeds
Atty. George Slaughter.
Other new officers elected and
installed this week were DR.. r.
S. Laney, esteemed leading
knight; Robert Aurand, esteemed
loyal knight; Glen Dieringer, es-
teemed lecturing knight, and
Louis Van Worse, tiler.
Secretary James Mizener and
treasurer Norbert Stein were re-
elected. Atty. George Slaughter
was elected trustee for a three
year term and G.. j. Kolesar was
named trustee for the unexpired
one-year term.
Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-03-24
PLAN MEMORIAL
FOR ice VICTIM
AT PUT-M-BAY
Islands PIT. A. Sponsors
Scholarship Fund In Mem
Ory of Gus Heineman

Members of the Putin Bay
Parent-Teacher Association have
approved plans for the Gustave
Heineman Memorial Scholarship
Fund, to honor the memory of the
late GuStave Heineman, Putin
Bay High School freshman who
drowned when he fell through the
ice while playing with friends
during January.
Mrs. Robert Parker, Anthony
Badola and Kenny Chapman of
the PIT AS scholarship commit
tee presented tentative plans at
the meeting last week. The $15G
fund is to be raised by contribu-
tions from individuals or asso-
Citations and from entertainment.
benefits.
This scholarship is being es-
tablished to aid Putin Bay High
School graduates to further their
education in college subjects for
which they are best fitted.
To be eligible, the student must
have had a B average for four
years of high school work, along
with high leadership in communi-
ty projects and must have been
a resident of Putin Bay and a
student in the islands high school
for the Junior and senior years.
Judges to select the scholar
ship students will include the
principal of the high school, a
member of the Board of Educa
tion and member of the Par
ent-Teacher Association. Next
regular meeting of the PIT A will
be held April IL.
Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-03-24
POLICE ARREST
DETR OFT TRIO
Negroes Are Apprehended In
Local Business District
Saturday Evening

Local citizens were eyewitness
ses to the thrilling climax of a
police chase Saturday evening
when state highway patrol appre-
hended three Detroit Negroes in
connection with the alleged steal
ing of $40 from a Sandusky fill
ing station.
Arrested when their car was
stopped in Perry Street, near
Petersen's Garage, were Juanita
j. FELTON,, %; George FELTON,, Jr.,
81, and Roscoe C. Fisher, "a, all
OF Detroit.
State Highway patrolmen, who
made the arrest, said the trio was
found to have three mink fur
pieces and American Express Co.
money order books in their possess
sion.
Sandusky police said $40 was
taken from Keating's Service Sta
ton, Sandusky, while three per-
sons distracted the station attend
ants attention. Notice was
broadcast on the state patrols
network and the arrest followed.
A check with Detroit police dis
closed that a sub-station of the
express company had been robbed
recently by three persons. The
three persons were returned to
the Sandusky Jail, where they
were held pending arrival of De-
troit and express company auth
critics.
Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-03-24
Volunteers Pass
Out Area Maps

Members of the Lake Erie
Islands and Peninsula Vacation
land have served as volunteers in
the organizations booth at the
Toledo Sports Shows in the Coli
scum during the past two weeks.
Helping to answer questions
and distribute literature and maps
were Robert Kyle, Andrew Par
ker, Erwin Mutach, Kenneth Mil
ler, Olan Gardner, Mayor Carl
Becker, Eric Staaf, Carl Heckler,
Ralph Snyder, Chalmer Riggs,
Richard Beaver, George Schade
and "Chick" Linker. The show
closes Sunday.
Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-03-24
DEDICATION OF
UAW-CI0 BLDG.
TO Be SATURDAY
Local Union Is Moving Into
New Headquarters This
Weekend

A long planned dream of own
ing their own meeting hall will
be realized by the over 900 men,
bers of Local ACT, UAW-CIO, this
Saturday when the modern struc-
ture at the corner of Maple and
East Second Streets will be dedi-
Gated.
A special dedication program
has been planned by the build
ing committee. The program will
start at l o'clock Saturday after
noon when the keys will be pre-
sented to the union officers
At 2 o'clock, guests of honor
representing various churches,
industrial, labor and local gov
ernment will be called upon. Re-
freshments will be served after
3 o'clock, and the building viii,
be open for public inspection un-
til 6.
In keeping with the dedication,
spirit of Community Progress,
it has been announced that the
meeting hall and kitchen will be
available to worthy groups Mon
day through Thursdays at rent
al to cover maintenance. The
building will be used as a club
room for members Friday, Satur-
day and Sundays.
1t was emphasized that the de-
dication will be open to the pub
lie as there has been many inquir-
les.
Members of the Unions build
ing committee include Edward
Ludwig, Edward Smidutz. Roy
Neff, Cecil King, Jr., Francis
Brough, Clifford Franck and John
Zibert.
The brick structure is fifty by
thirty feet and includes two Of
fees, wash rooms, a modern kitch-
en- and a meeting hall which will
seat comfortably 100 people. All
floor areas are tiled and the par
titions are of steel and brick.
Total cost of construction and
fixtures was $4,000. A parking
lot is planned to occupy the re-
naming space on the three lots
For many years, the UAW-CIC
Local has rented headquarters
space at 112 West Second Street
which it will release in the nea,
future. Conner Films will move
from its present quarters to the
space now occupied by the UAW
| CIO Local.
Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-03-24
Freeh Heads
UAW-CIO Local

Newly elected officers of Io-
cal 497, UAW-CIO, Standard Pro-
ducts Local, were installed at a
membership meeting Sunday af-
ternoon when the retiring officers
were given a vote of appreciation
Installed were George Freeh,
president; Clifford F'ranck, vice
president; Milton Finken, second
vice president; Lawrence Lucas,
financial secretary; Jerry Ames,
recording secretary; John Donich,
trustee; Steve Adams, assistant
sergeant-at-arms; Roy Neff, guide
and Lawrence Ludwig, parliamen-
tartan.
Continuing in office are Ed Will
liams and Emmett Hyde, trustees.
Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-03-24
Warns Against
COulnterfeiters

Local merchants and all resi-
dents are being warned to be
on the lookout for counterfeit
bills, especially $40 and $50,
which are being circulated in
the community.
National Bank staff workers
discovered a counterfeit $50 bill
Monday, while two bills We're
discovered Tuesday by Amer
lean Bank workers.
Bank officials report that the
counterfeit bills are excellent
reproductions and difficult to
detect. Most glaring error is
that the Federal Reserve check
letter Tin the circle) does not
agree with the first letter of
the serial number.
The counterfeit bills are for
warded to the U. S. Secret Serv-
ice in Toledo for further in
vestigation.
Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-03-24
FETTERM N AN TO
DIRECT CENSUS
IN THIS AREA
Genoa Lady and Toledoan
Also Named AS Crew Lead
ers For Ottawa County

Reigel f. Fetterman, Catawba
Island, has been named as one of
the three crew leaders in Ottawa
county for the 1850 census enum-
GRAFTON, which is to get underway
April l.
Working under Fetterman will
be crew of Id census takers, who
will attend a school of instruction
starting Monday in the council
chambers Of the Port Clinton City
Hall. Sessions will be for half
days through Thursday.
Fetterman's area will include
Lakeside, Gypsum, part of Port
Clinton, Elmore, and into Oregon
Townshipin Lucas county.
Mrs. Edna f. Shessler, Genoa,
has also been named as a crew
leader in this county, under
Charles j. Gillespie, supervisor of
the census for Lucas and Ottawa
counties.
Third crew leader for this coun-
ty will be Fred Rudes, Toledo. The
Ottawa county census takers will
also work in Oregon and Jerusa-
salem Townships in Lucas county.
Mr.. Gillespie stated that census
enumerators have not been Sc
lected as yet, but that they will
be notified this weekend in time
to make preparations to attend the
school sessions next week. About
80 enumerators will be used in
this county.
Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-03-24
Schade Heads
p. C.. Vacationland

George Schade was elected
president Of the Port Clinton Di-
vision of Vacationland Thursday
evening, when f. M. Zeis was
reelected treasurer and Lawrence
Ludwigsen, secretary.
Allen Clemons is the retiring
president. The Port Clinton Ro-
tary and Kiwanis Clubs, Chamber
of Commerce and Merchants Assn
have representatives in the group.
Plans were discussed for the
years activities and for the fl
nancial drive to meet Port Gin
TOMS Nacationland quota.
Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-03-24
OPEN HOUSE is
PLANNED AT cod
MAY 20 Is Set For Observance
OF Armed Forces Day At
Local Post

Erie Ordnance Depot will spon-
sor an open house Saturday, May
20, in observance of the first
Armed Forces Day.
The public, as well as all EOD
members, families and friends, will
be most welcome to attend this
celebration, and to see and learn
at first hand what goes on at
EOD."
AS a symbol of the unification
of the Army, Navy and Marines
and Air Force into the Depart
ment Of Defense, single Armed
Forces Day was planned this year
to replace days previously set
aside for each of the services.
Cities all over the nation, and
National Defense establishments
from coast to coast will partici-
pate in the observance.
Teamed foi Defense" is the
unified slogan Tor Armed Forces
Day for 1901.
The theme for the national OBJ
servance will be REPORT TO
THE PUBLIC on the state of ma
tional defense. with underlying
emphasis thai only through sup
port and understanding by the
public can the services carry out
their duties.
This will be the fourth open
house staged by EOD. The post
was thrown open to the public in
1916, 1947 and last year, with
thousands of visitors thronging
the grounds for the special tours
and features.
Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-03-24
Junior Play
Opens Thursday

Final rehearsals are being held
for "The Old Home Town" which
the Junior Class of Port Clinton
High School will present next
Thursday and Friday evenings.
March 30-21, in the school audi
torium.
Boyd Martin, school drama
speech teacher, will direct the
comedy.
Cast in important roles are Jan
Fadely, Oma Armstrong, Geor-
giana Zetzer, Ronald Johnson,
Robert Martin, Betty Ann Kar-
shuk, Sally Kramb and Donovan
Petersen.
Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-03-24
Chorus and Instrumental Stu
dents To Participate In
County Event

DR.. James Paul Kennedy, Bow
ling Green State University, and
Prof. Arthur Williams, Oberlin
College, will be guest conductors
for the annual Ottawa County
Music Festival to be presented
beginning at 7:45 this Friday eve
ming in the Port Clinton School
Auditorium.
Clay Genoa, Harris Elmore,
Lakeside, Port Clinton and Sal
em-Oak Harbor schools will be
represented with chorus and band
student musicians.
DR.. Kennedy will direct the fol-
lowing chorus program: Adora-
mus Tie, Palestrina; Morning,
Speaks; Cherubim Song, Bortnian-
sky; Comm Through the Rye, ar
rangement by Simeone; The Ska
ters, Waldteufel; Sleep, Baby,
Sleep, Bell and Shaw; st. Cath
crime, choral recitation, and Rus
sian Picnic, Enders.
DR.. Williams will direct the
massed band in playing this pro-
gram: March, lnvercargill, Lith-
gov; Two Chorales, Beside the
Cradle Here | Stand and SLEEP
ers, Wake by j. S. Bach; Shrine
Candelabra, Overture, Frangkis-
er; Two Moods, Grundman; The
Bells of st. fMarys, Adams Yoder;
Dry Bones Novelty, arrangement
by Yoder, and National Emblem
March, E. +. Bagley
Directors in the county schools
include Miss Miriam Clark, Oak
Harbor; Jack Kocher, Clay-Ge-
noa; John E. Huffman, Harris
Elmore; Roy Estep, Lakeside; Da-
vid Stanton, band, and Luke
Knapke, vocal, Port Clinton.
Band members here include Gail
Boss, John Braun, Kathleen Arm
bruster, Sally Peterson, Dolores
Duffy, Dewey Kinsey, Warren
Antrim, Mary 10 Knepper, Betty
Probel, Carolyn Aurand, Martha
Finefrock.
Norma Cover, Hope McCandlish,
Mario Snyder, Helen Loehden.
Carol Quisno, Lillian Azbell, Jose
phine Beam, Ruth Rofkar, Gloria
Probel, Noel Meyers, Bruce Mey-
er, Joan Quintell, Alice Fachman.
Clarence Eliyas, 10 Ann SWIM
mer, Joan Stucky, Marti McDan-
iel, Mary Bloom, Albert Wood
man, Jordon Petersen, Shirley
/ Quintell, Joyce Kirk, Shirley
Kline, James Ruddock, Max
Knepper, Catherine Roose, Caro-
lyn Brindley.
Philip Dusini, Robert Linde-
mann, Carl Disher, Frank Brough,
Shirley Fachman, Beverly Mack
ey, Pamela Sibrel, Corrine Flor
ian, Jan Fadely, Shirley Riddle,
Richard Dietrich, Dennis Behrman.
Marjorie Guth, Alice Kirk, De-
lores Fletcher, Tom Lindemann,
! William Seegard, James Waruke,
Jean McCandlish, Pat Eliyas,
Franklin Dubbert, Richard Stull.
Philip Conner, William Riddle,
Santo Cipiti, Edwin Campbell,
Henry Loehden, Richard Branum,
David Petersen and Sharon Street
er.
Chorus Members
Chorus members, directed by
Mr.. Knapke, include Janice Scott,
Evelyn Dubbert, Carolyn Kirk,
Shirley Grogg, Georgiana Zetzer,
Rosalyn Kuzma, Carol Norder,
Virginia Sherwood, Carol Deu-.
chile, Mary Ann Polini.
Janice Boss, Hazel Neff, JOY
Ann Wuertz, James Jacobs, Edgar
Trick, Ray Odenweller, Bob Rider,
Ronald Powell, Ruth Ewersen,
Barbara Debien, Shirley Truck,
Lois Everett, Norma Baldnf, Mil
dred Coyle.
Eleanor Lindemann, Irene Pc
trovich, Penny Pixley, Karis
Stahl, jerry Pehrson, Bill Jones,
Bob James, Ronald Jensen, Bob
Gilleland, Norman LaCumsky,
Tom Laney, Jack EaSton and Glen
Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-03-24

Operetta Cast
Is Announced

Principals for the high school
operetta, Creatures of I'M
pulse have been selected by Vo-
cal Music Director Luke Knapl,e
for the musical show to be pre-
sented Thursday and Friday eve
nings. April 1928.
Cast in the operetta are Bar
bara Debien, James Jacobs. Eve
lyn Dubbert, Janice Scott, Bill
Jones, Tom Laney, Georgiana
Zetzer, Ruth Ewersen and Caro-
lyn Kirk. The mixed chorus OF
40 voices will assist.
Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-03-24
Fishing Hearing
Set For Tuesday

Another hearing of the San
dusky Bay fishing commission
will be held Tuesday evening at
7 O'Clock in the Fremont American
Legion Home.
Kenneth Wahl, Danbury, is the.
local member of the group ap-
pointed by Governor Frank Lau-
sche to study commercial and
hook and line fishing conditions
in the bay.
Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-03-24
Overweight Load
Costs Driver 81

Because his truck load was ad-
judged 100 pounds overweight,
Robert E. Lindie, New York truck
driver, was fined $50 plus one
dollar for. each hundred pounds
overweight and costs of $500
when he was taken before Mayor
Carl Becker Monday.
Lindie was arrested by State
Highway Patrolman Reichert Of
the Bay Bridge station. His fine
and costs totaled $10l.20.
Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-03-24
VISITS COUNTY

Mayor Mike Disable, Toledo,
visited county officials and friends
here Thursday at the court house,
in interest of his candidacy for
the U. S. Senate.
Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-03-24
POPULAR Gus CARPENTER RECALLS
EXCITING LIFE ON 18th BIRTHDAY

Its been long. long road
but it's been a damn good
one" was the way Gus Car
perter summarized the situa-
tiOn.
To most of Port Clinton folks,
Tuesday, was just dreary, foggy
day-the first official day Of
Spring, but to one of its dis
tinguished citizens, Gus Carpen-
ter, of 615 Madison street, it was
his S5th birthday. And there was
more spring Tuesday in the mind
eyes, and limbs of that 85-year-
old gentleman than there was in
the hearts of most freshman gals
at high school who hoped that
Spring might turn young mans
fancy to thoughts of love.
Aside from many others,
Carpenter had TWO very good
reasons to be proud on his
85th birthday. Not all old
sters are known and loved by
the little tots of the neigh
borhood. Gus must have
swallowed a little hard 1--WE
couldn't detect it) when the
three little Norman Kohloff
kids (Carl, s; Flo Ann, s;
and Mary K, 4) marched in
Tuesday afternoon bearing a
beautifully decorated 85th
birthday cake. "It has 85
little silver candies for your
birthdays, explained Carl -.
Next in the march of great
tributes was this one from
Charles Bygden, retired y. 5.
G. veteran who has known
Gus since 1911: 81 don't know
how good a church man he's
been, but you can mark hlm
down as The No. / Golden
Rule Mani"
Yes, 210-pound Gus was 80 on
Tuesday, and dodging between his
sharp wit and amazing memory,
we picked up a few strands of his
life story, some of them rather
amazing and some of them vast
ly apart from the routine story.
His wit crossed us up first.
Pointing to cheeses, smoked fish,
caviar, ETC., which early callers
had already brought in, Gus jest
ed to his daughter with whom
he makes his home, "Frieda, |
won't have to pay any board for
awhile"
Life started for Gus Carpenter
in Monroe, Wis, on March 2i,
1865. At the age of II, he was
sent to California to live with his
uncle and arnt, but even at that
tender age Gus had some fixed
opinions of his own After COM
ing into conflict with his aunt's
religious faith, he struck out fol
himself, only to be brought back
twice. Finally he got far enclgl.
away into Nevada (via side-door
Pullmans) to be safe from re-
call, and spent several years there
where he "mucKed" III the mines
and worked on farms. He re-
calls that as a lad Of 16, he had
trouble with the poll tax collec-
tor because his whiskers bel;ed
his age.
He was in Virginia City
from 1880 to '84, in its balm
lest days, he recalls, when
it was all gold and silver and
no greenbacks." Becoming Il
Continued Page 3, Col. u
Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1950-03-24

THE NEWS is prepared to
do your JOB PRINTING on
a basis of Good Workman
ship and Good Service at
Fair Prices. Phone 5271.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-16

Watch for mastitis in your dairy
herd during late winter and early
spring.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-16
I3 NeU Students
Register At College

Thirteen new students registered
for the second semester at Bluffton
College. Four of them are former
students; there are Arlene Rickle,
from Carey, Ohio; Shirley Dunham,
Lockport, N. Y; Barbara Hitz, from
Chicago, and Bill Gleason, from
Elyria, Ohio.
New students making their initial
appearance at B. c. include Mrs
Richard Alderfer, from Doylestown,
Pa, Thomas Lewis Creamean, Lima,
Ohio, Drexell Simpson, Dayton, Ohio
and Herbert Rose, Oakwood, Ohio
Others are Arlene Reiff, Collegeville
Pa; Diane Hammond, Avon Lake
Ohio, Mrs. Marvalene Ricard, Ken,
ton, Ohio, Robert Corl, Pandora, Ohio
and Mrs. Carrie Stratton, Bluffton
Ohio.
While gaining thirteen new stu,
dents, Bluffton also lost several
Mary Ann Smucker transferred te
Goshen College; Lloyd Graft ane
Charlene Harbor have completed
their college requirements; ano
Lucille Graber, Kenneth Springer
and Sam Buhler have also withdrawn
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-16
Twas This Way
BY LYLE SPENCER
e Western Newspaper Union.



IT HE auction sale seems to be as
L old as mankind We know that
it was used at least 1000 years ago
by the Babylonians as means of
securing wives for eligible young
men.
According to an account handed
down to us by Herodotus, the girls
of a marriageable age were directed
to 60 each year to the auction mart,
where the young men also congre-
gated. There they were sold by the
public crier. The pretty girls were
put up first and sold to the highest
bidder.
This system was really not quite
as bad as it sounds. Many a young
man who could not afford to pur-
chase pretty girl was bribed to
marry an ugly one, and the pur-
chase money obtained for the beau
ties was distributed among the
homely ones, according to their de-
gree of homeliness. So many an
ambitious young man picked up a
small fortune with which he could
establish his own business as well
as a home.
Another feature of these primitive
auctions was that the father could
not choose the man who was to buy
his daughter. 1t was strictly an open
market. The girls in their turn were
also safeguarded by requiring the
purchasers to marry them on the
spot. But after the sale, if the young
lady did not turn out to his liking,
the law provided that the customer
could return her and get his money
back.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-16

What's new in farming? Listen to
the Ohio Farm and Home Hour ar
II noon, Monday through Friday, on
WOSU.