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Stryker Area Heritage Council

SAHC helps Stryker Summerfest with events

Our military heritage was promoted by the Stryker Area Heritage Council during the Stryker Summerfest on June 6.

SAHC members once again helped to organize the parade, and also put together a fine float saluting the members of the area who served in various military conflicts and wars.

SAHCMilitaryHistoryDiscussionJun0609 010b In the afternoon, a historic panel discussion with three area community members who served in World War II was held at the American Legion Hall. Don Julliard, Vernon Sloan and Bob Clark gave a moving presentation about their service during the war, the lasting impressions they have of their experiences, how it changed them, and how much they truly appreciate this country and the Stryker community.

The program was recorded and SAHC hopes to offer DVD copies of the discussion in the near future.


	Ohio Historical Society representatives meet with SAHC trustees about turning depot into a museum The subject of how best to turn the Stryker depot into a museum was discussed at length by two representatives from the Ohio Historical Society and SAHC trustees at a 5-hour session on Saturday, May 9. The two representatives said they were very impressed with the depot after touring the building. They then listened to the plans of the trustees and offered their expertise in several areas of developing a museum. Click here to read all about the meeting.

	Evansport to celebrate 175th birthday in 2010 Planning has begun to prepare a giant celebration in honor of the 175th birthday of the village of Evansport. Residents are meeting regularly on the first Thursday of each month to put together details of a parade and a host of commemorative events. There is a special page on this website set up to give the latest information about the event. Plus a detailed brochure about the history of the Evansport community has been prepared, and copies may be obtained on the Evansport 175th webpage as well. To go to the Evansport webpage, click here.

	Can you identify the people in the pictures? Do you have photos we need? We are trying to identify folks in a number of photos, particularly members of several Stryker school classes. Plus we are seeking to find and scan the composite photos of the Stryker classes from 1920, 1921, and 1922. A special thanks to those who contributed the 1923 and 1924 composites!! If you have any composite photos prior to 1919 and would be willing to have them scanned, please call Rose Clark Burkholder, Class of 1958 at 419.445.3242 or e-mail us here at the SAHC. Remember, scanning does not harm your picture and Rose will return it to you. Click here to look over the photos of people we need to identify.

Stryker library receives “Panthians, more needed

The Stryker Area Heritage Council continued its efforts to complete a set of Stryker High School “Panthian” yearbooks for local history and genealogy research purposes through the recent donation of several needed copies.

The extensive collection, housed at the Williams County Public Library’s Stryker branch, was supplemented by donation of 1941 and 1947 editions by Eldred and Rosella Buehrer; 1949, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1983 and 1987 annuals by Kenny Brown; a 1956 “Panthian” by Marion and Pat Allgire; and a 1953 yearbook by Pearl Elder. Shown presenting past editions of Stryker High School “Panthian” yearbooks for the Stryker Library’s collection are, front (left to right) Eldred Buehrer, Rosella Buehrer and Kenny Brown; back (left to right) SAHC President Terry Perkins, Stryker Library staff member Linda Esterline, and SAHC representative Rose Burkholder.

“We have been pleased by the wonderful response to our request for copies of “Panthians” needed to complete the set,” said SAHC President Terry Perkins. “These yearbooks provide invaluable information for researchers on the Stryker Local Schools history and former students.”

“Panthians” still needed to complete the set include 1940 and earlier editions, as well as 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 2003, 2006 and 2009 editions. Anyone willing to donate a copy of these “Panthians” to the Library’s collection may contact the SAHC at P.O. Box 180, Stryker, Ohio, 43557 or via email at info@strykerahc.org.

Public continues demand for new county history picture book

The pictorial history, “Images of America: Williams County,” received an enthusiastic response to its official unveiling at the Stryker Area Heritage Council’s Fourth Annual General Membership Meeting November 25. Author Kevin Maynard was the meeting’s featured speaker and presented images from the publication and the stories behind the historic photographs.

Pictured is SAHC member Catherine Emmons of Fayette getting her autographed copy of the 128-page softcover book that features more than 200 vintage black and white images, many of which have never appeared in local history books. A companion piece, “Postcards of America: Williams County,” is also available. It consists of 15 photographs selected from the book, accompanied by historic information.

For details on how to order copies of the book or postcards or for more on the SAHC general meeting, click here.

Historic Photo of the Month -- The first Stryker Fire Dept.

On April 5, 1875, Stryker Village Council adopted an ordinance creating the town's first fire department, a hook and ladder company. Later that year, Council approved the purchased of a "No. 1 Little Giant Chemical Fire Engine" and appointed Dr. Danforth P. Aldrich as Stryker's first fire chief.

Learn more about the beginnings of the fire department by clicking here.

Note: The Stryker Area Heritage Council is always looking for old photographs of the area. If you have one you would like to share, please send it to us at info@strykerahc.org. If it isn’t in a digital format, bring it to one of the scanning days held periodically, and it will be scanned for free.


	The Stryker Area Heritage Council The Stryker Area Heritage Council was formed to record and preserve the rich history of the Stryker area. Located in the very northwestern corner of Ohio, Stryker, Evansport and Lockport have all had interesting histories surrounding their development. Some of the early growth was due to their location along the Tiffin River. Stryker has had a significant part in the development and operation of several railroad lines. From 1905 to 1939, Stryker was the home to the car storage, maintenance facility, and electric generating station for the Toledo & Indiana (T & I) interurban electric train line. For more than 50 years, long pans of water were placed in the track for some of the steam locomotives going through the town. It saved trains a stop if they could pickup water to replenish their boilers along the way. During the winter, men were hired to break up the ice in the pans so the trains could continue to scoop up the precious liquid as they made their way along the route. Several people of significance have come from the area. William J. Knight was among the first group of men honored with the Congressional Medal of Honor for his part in the great train robbery during the Civil War. Harry Wickey was a famous illustrator, sculptor and author. Ralph Goll was a writer on the famous Lone Ranger radio series and had several of his episodes turned into TV shows. Sam Hornish, the winner of the 2006 Indianapolis 500, lived in Stryker when he was a young boy. We hope you find this website of interest and if you have questions or would like to join the group in collecting and preserving this rich history of the Stryker area, please contact us at the Stryker Area Heritage Council.

	Heritage Council signs lease for Stryker depot An historic step was taken August 14 when representatives of the Stryker Area Heritage Council and the Village of Stryker executed a lease agreement. The action will allow the SAHC to develop and operate a museum in Stryker's historic railroad passenger depot. The council has some work to do to prepare for the request of items for the museum. Click here for more on the story.

SAHC program featured the plight of Native Americans

Sorrowful Journey Cover 08 Noted area educator and historian Randy Buchman, recently wrote the book “A Sorrowful Journey,” and shared the painful story of the forced removal of northwest Ohio’s Native Americans during a special October 23 presentation sponsored by the Stryker Area Heritage Council. For more information about his presentation or to see a TV interview with Professor Buchman about the book and his research into it, click here.

Replicas of 1922
H. S. dwindling

stryker HS replica 08

There are only about 50 replicas of the 1922 Stryker High School left. The 50 are what remain of a second order by the Stryker Area Heritage Council after the first order of all 100 of the numbered limited edition wooden replicas were sold out.

The approximately 3.5- by 6-inch wooden replicas feature the artist’s color rendering of the structure shown above, with information about the historic school building on the replica’s reverse.

The replicas are priced at $15 each for SAHC members and $17 for non-members. Interested individuals may contact Sue Buehrer if they would like to buy one. They are also on sale at the Stryker branch of the Huntington Bank. Plans are to have them on sale at the up-coming Stryker School Alumni Banquet, too.

Proceeds from the replica sale support the SAHC’s continuing historic preservation and education efforts. For more on this story, click here.

Agricultural brochure tells history of farming in area

Fred Norris Hay Wagons Cropped_edited

A brochure featuring the heritage of farming has been produced. SAHC Trustee Kevin Maynard has written a new brochure about the heritage of farming and the agricultural practices used through the early years of the area. To see it, click here.


	Want to know more? How Stryker got it’s name... SAHC prods local cemetery for clues... Researching an historic home... Ask a question about local history... Find links to very informative websites When is the next SAHC meeting? How can I become a SAHC member? Who are the SAHC trustees

The Lockport Mennonite Church celebrates 100th anniversary

LockportChurch190800102 Members of the Lockport Mennonite Church are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year. They held special events on September 20 and 21.

The events included commemorative services featuring several former pastors. The Sunday School hour featured life stories from several members, past and present, along with a cookout, a potluck dinner and a musical program.

There are also a couple of publications being made available for the commemoration of the anniversary.

Congratulations to the members of the congregation of the Lockport Mennonite Church!! For more information on the publications now available and the history of the church, please click here.

Visit the “Virtual Museum”

We invite you to “walk” through our virtual museum and learn all kinds of interesting things about the area with a simple click of your mouse!

Here are some of the people and things you will find in the museum: EvansportMillingCoWagon145

   William Knight,
   First run of the T & I Railroad
   The Miles House a Stryker fixture
   Grocer Coy’s life leaves questions
   Ohio Art toys made in Stryker,
   Philp Werum,
   The local railroad heritage,
   1894 high school commencement,
   The Blizzard of ‘78
   Farm tools through the years
   Stryker’s Underground Railroad stop
   Agricultural Heritage

JOIN the Stryker Area Heritage Council

As a member of SAHC, you’ll receive the Bean Creek Chronicle historic newsletter packed with great stories and the latest news of the council. Members also get the SAHC Enews through the Internet. You’ll know about the latest events so you can be ready to enjoy the activities! And you’ll be helping to preserve the rich history of the area!!

Remember, a membership to the Stryker Area Heritage Council makes a GREAT holiday gift!!!!

Click here for information on how you can join!


	©2009 Stryker Area Heritage Council All rights reserved


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