As most of you probably know, a number of years ago the Pittsfield Township Trustees appointed me as the official township Historian. Since that time I've been involved in a number of projects in preserving the historical heritage of Pittsfield Township.
One of those projects was helping establish the Pittsfield Township Historical Society, along with the restoration and preservation of our 1840s one-room schoolhouse. Periodically I have written articles for the Township Talk, a township newsletter published by the trustees every quarter, and I hope to continue that effort.
Recently the Pittsfield Township Historical Society Board of Directors asked me to write some history articles to be posted on their web-site, which is hopefully the beginning of what you see here.
Many of these articles are from the newspaper files and records we currently have in our archives, supplemented by additional information of my knowledge. During the course of printing these articles, I welcome any input or corrections from you readers. In recording local history I think it's extremely important to be as accurate as possible and as I get older I'm finding that my memory is not as sharp as it once was. I won't be offended if any of you correct the information I have presented.
When most of us think of history, we have a tendency to immediately think of the early settlers and residents of the township. I'm starting these articles with some news items that appeared in the Wellington Enterprise from the not to distant past.
I hope some of you enjoy your trip down memory lane.
BOYS 4-H EXPANDS MEMBERSHIP TO INCLUDE GIRLS
For many years Pittsfield had a boy's and a girl's 4-H club, the Pittsfield Progressive Workers (boys) and the Pittsfield Minute Maids (girls), but in 1946 the Pittsfield Progressive Workers added four girls to its membership. They were Harriet and Jane Forney, with calf and lamb projects, Alice Betts, a calf, and Marion Johnson with chickens.
At that time those who exhibited livestock at the fair were required to feed and water their animals and keep their quarters clean. (that hasn't changed through the years). So, in order to have everything shipshape bright and early the next day, the exhibitors stayed on the fairgrounds overnight.
This has always been easy for the boys, but now it seemed to be a problem for the girls (or at least the club leaders thought it might be). Soon this was arranged, however by the leaders of the two 4-H clubs, Norman McConnell and Mary Green. Norman's truck provided the sleeping quarters and was occupied by Harriet and Jane Forney, Marian and Wilma Johnson, Alice Betts, Betty Arndt and Mrs. Mary Green. Warren Green supervised the boys. They were all up and ready for breakfast soon after 4:30. (Wellington Enterprise 8-29-1946)
JOE McCONNELL WANTS TO PLAY “POST OFFICE”
In browsing through the old newspaper colmns, we constantly find reference to the many local social activities that were available to our residents. The list of these organizations is endless. People didn't wander far from home for their socializing.
One of those local organizations was the Hi-Neighbor Club. They met regularly in the members homes. In the Fall of 1946, on a Thursday evening the club met at the home of Roscoe Campbell. Mrs Howard McConnell (Jean) had charge of the entertainment and did a fine job. After two guessing contests, Joe McConnell suggested that they play “post office”.
All right Jean told Joe, “post office it will be”, but quite different from the time you played it when a small boy thirty years ago. So they were all given the names of post offices in Lorain County and when two were called out, the towns changed and the postmaster tried to get a seat. When “parcel post” was called, everybody changed. (I'm not sure what they were doing, anybody help me?) The news article went on to state that the Hi-Neighbors had a hilarious time and did so until the sandwiches and grape juice were served. There were even five children under two and a half years present, and they were the life of the party. (Wellington Enterprise 10-3-1946)
I hope you folks enjoyed these articles, continue checking our website for more trips down memory lane.
Ralph A. Hayes
One of those projects was helping establish the Pittsfield Township Historical Society, along with the restoration and preservation of our 1840s one-room schoolhouse. Periodically I have written articles for the Township Talk, a township newsletter published by the trustees every quarter, and I hope to continue that effort.
Recently the Pittsfield Township Historical Society Board of Directors asked me to write some history articles to be posted on their web-site, which is hopefully the beginning of what you see here.
Many of these articles are from the newspaper files and records we currently have in our archives, supplemented by additional information of my knowledge. During the course of printing these articles, I welcome any input or corrections from you readers. In recording local history I think it's extremely important to be as accurate as possible and as I get older I'm finding that my memory is not as sharp as it once was. I won't be offended if any of you correct the information I have presented.
When most of us think of history, we have a tendency to immediately think of the early settlers and residents of the township. I'm starting these articles with some news items that appeared in the Wellington Enterprise from the not to distant past.
I hope some of you enjoy your trip down memory lane.
BOYS 4-H EXPANDS MEMBERSHIP TO INCLUDE GIRLS
For many years Pittsfield had a boy's and a girl's 4-H club, the Pittsfield Progressive Workers (boys) and the Pittsfield Minute Maids (girls), but in 1946 the Pittsfield Progressive Workers added four girls to its membership. They were Harriet and Jane Forney, with calf and lamb projects, Alice Betts, a calf, and Marion Johnson with chickens.
At that time those who exhibited livestock at the fair were required to feed and water their animals and keep their quarters clean. (that hasn't changed through the years). So, in order to have everything shipshape bright and early the next day, the exhibitors stayed on the fairgrounds overnight.
This has always been easy for the boys, but now it seemed to be a problem for the girls (or at least the club leaders thought it might be). Soon this was arranged, however by the leaders of the two 4-H clubs, Norman McConnell and Mary Green. Norman's truck provided the sleeping quarters and was occupied by Harriet and Jane Forney, Marian and Wilma Johnson, Alice Betts, Betty Arndt and Mrs. Mary Green. Warren Green supervised the boys. They were all up and ready for breakfast soon after 4:30. (Wellington Enterprise 8-29-1946)
JOE McCONNELL WANTS TO PLAY “POST OFFICE”
In browsing through the old newspaper colmns, we constantly find reference to the many local social activities that were available to our residents. The list of these organizations is endless. People didn't wander far from home for their socializing.
One of those local organizations was the Hi-Neighbor Club. They met regularly in the members homes. In the Fall of 1946, on a Thursday evening the club met at the home of Roscoe Campbell. Mrs Howard McConnell (Jean) had charge of the entertainment and did a fine job. After two guessing contests, Joe McConnell suggested that they play “post office”.
All right Jean told Joe, “post office it will be”, but quite different from the time you played it when a small boy thirty years ago. So they were all given the names of post offices in Lorain County and when two were called out, the towns changed and the postmaster tried to get a seat. When “parcel post” was called, everybody changed. (I'm not sure what they were doing, anybody help me?) The news article went on to state that the Hi-Neighbors had a hilarious time and did so until the sandwiches and grape juice were served. There were even five children under two and a half years present, and they were the life of the party. (Wellington Enterprise 10-3-1946)
I hope you folks enjoyed these articles, continue checking our website for more trips down memory lane.
Ralph A. Hayes