BUCKEYE RAMBLINGS
The Official Newsletter of the Ohio Lincoln Highway League
Number 52
June, 2007
“GOOD ROADS” RECALLED AT ANNUAL MEETING IN ADA
Despite an unseasonably cold April which had stunted the annual springtime colors of flowering tree blossoms, the final Saturday of the month was still a wonderfully beautiful day on the campus of Ohio Northern University in Ada, where thirty-one members and guests attended the thirteenth annual business meeting of the Ohio Lincoln Highway League. The highlight of the day was an excerpted reading of a June 1915 "Good Roads" speech by Governor Frank B. Willis, originally given at the arrival of the Lincoln Highway Movie Caravan that was on its way west to the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco. Speaking from the steps of Lehr Memorial Hall, just below the balcony where Willis had waxed poetic many decades ago, Ruth Roider of the Ada Community Improvement Corporation gave a flawless rendering of the inspired speech.
After the afternoon reading of the speech, many of the attendees visited the Willis Room in the nearby library of the college of law before traveling downtown to tour the restored depot and caboose along the former Pennsylvania Railroad tracks. Norman Rex of the Ada Community Improvement Corporation deserves significant credit for making the day in Ada a worthwhile event, greatly assisting the state president in setting up the venue while also helping to involve the local community. For example, the group was warmly welcomed by both the university president, Dr. Kendall Baker, and the village mayor, David A. Retterer—who presented the group with a framed proclamation declaring April 28, 2007, to be Ohio Lincoln Highway League Day in the village of Ada. The text from that proclamation is transcribed on sheet two of this newsletter.
During the course of the annual business meeting, State Director Marie Malernee reported on national activities over the course of the past year. Marie also announced that she will not seek a second term as State Director, which led to discussion regarding possible nominees for that important office. Chapter Presidents Mike McNaull (Mid-Ohio) and Jeff Lotze (Eastern Ohio) each gave reports, and both highlighted a good full year of interesting activites. In the absence of LHA National President Bob Lichty, Rosemary Rubin revisited some current events at the national level. This year's LHA Annual Conference in Fort Morgan, Colorado will be Bob's final activity before his productive term expires. Mike Hocker outlined some upcoming activities of the Ohio Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor, especially the always popular Lincoln Highway BuyWay Yard Sale event (see enclosed sheet for more details).
It was reported that membership in the Lincoln Highway Association has dropped by about ten percent on the national level. Similarly, and for the second straight year, LHA memberships with Ohio addresses showed an even greater decline. Memberships have dropped from 166 in 2004 to 126 in 2006, according to the rosters published annually in September. Thus, with a resulting decrease of incoming state dues, it was reported that the balance in the OLHL treasury dropped from $2469 to $2101 during the calendar year of 2006. As a result of the shrinking funds in the state treasury, the state newsletter will either be published less frequently, or be condensed to fewer pages, or a combination of both.
To no one's surprise, all four incumbent officers of the Ohio Lincoln Highway League were elected to another term. Thus, Michael Buettner will continue as president; Michael McNaull will continue as vice-president; Michael Lester will continue as treasurer; and Tammy Buettner will continue as secretary. The web site will continue to be maintained by Jim Ross.
"My fellow countrymen, do you know that highways are the granite hieroglyphics in which it is written the story of the progress of the world?"
—Governor Frank B. Willis; June 19, 1915
Proclamation
By the Mayor of the Village of Ada, Ohio
#2007-04
Whereas, the Lincoln Highway has contributed to the economy, well-being and history of the Village of Ada for many years, and
Whereas, the Ohio Lincoln Highway League has for thirteen years worked to collect and preserve thehistory of the Lincoln Highway in Ohio, and
Whereas, the Ohio Lincoln Highway League continues to encourage and help communities use the Lincoln Highway corridor as an economic development tool,
Therefore, I, David A. Retterer, Mayor of the Village of Ada, Ohio, in appreciation of those efforts, do hereby proclaim April 28, 2007 to be Ohio Lincoln Highway League Day
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the official seal of the Mayor of Ada, Ohio this 28th day of April, 2007.
David A. Retterer, Mayor
(left) Ruth Roider of the Ada Community Improvement Corporation gives an excerpted reading of a 1915 “Good Roads” speech by Governor Frank B. Willis, who was previously an alumnus, then a faculty member at Ohio Northern University. The Willis speech was given from the balcony of Lehr Memorial Hall, just above the steps where Ruth gave her flawless reading. As alluded to in the earliest road guides published by the Lincoln Highway Association, the Willis home on Gilbert Street was within view of the Lincoln Highway. That site is now indicated with a historical marker directly behind Lehr Hall.
(right) With the photogenic clock tower of the oldest building on campus in the background, OLHL members and guests listen to the reading of the Willis speech.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Thus far during 2007, seven new members of the Lincoln Highway Association have been added to the mailing list of Buckeye Ramblings and the Ohio Highway League:
Roger Bentley (Minerva); John and Darcy Corbin (Burbank); Frederick Liptak (Livonia, MI); Barry Menuez (Poughkeepsie, NY); Marcheta Munoz (Findlay); William Rickett (Wooster); and Michael Spray (Van Wert)
UPCOMING EVENTS
MID-OHIO CHAPTER:
Thursday July 19, 2007—Chapter meeting at Al Smith’s in Bucyrus at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday August 11, 2007—Car show in Ashland. Registration is at 9:00 a.m. in parking lot on East Main Street
Thursday August 16, 2007—Chapter meeting at Shorty’s Restaurant (two miles west of Wooster on Route 250 between Wooster and New Pittsburg) at 6:30 p.m.
For more information regarding chapter activities, contact Chapter President Mike McNaull at mmcnaull@hotmail.com
EASTERN OHIO CHAPTER:
Thursday July 12, 2007—Chapter meeting and picnic at Robertsville Park
Thursday September 20, 2007—Joint meeting with Mid-Ohio Chapter; details to be announced
Saturday October 20, 2007—Fall foliage tour through Western Pennsylvania
Thursday November 8, 2007—Chapter meeting at home of Bob Lichty and Rosemary Rubin
Thursday December 13, 2007—Annual holiday dinner; details to be announced
For more information regarding chapter activities, contact Chapter President Jeff Lotze at fordtractor@att.net or 330-875-2989
OHIO LINCOLN HIGHWAY LEAGUE
April 26, 2008—14th Annual Meeting, hosted by Mid-Ohio Chapter. Mike Hocker will be chairman for the event. Details and location will be announced in an upcoming newsletter.
OHIO LINCOLN HIGHWAY HERITAGE CORRIDOR
August 9-11, 2007CLincoln Highway BuyWay Yard Sale
Thank you to LHA/OLHL member Jim Cassler and The Klingstedt Brothers Company, who have donated the return envelopes that were used to mail this newsletter. In 2007, Jim and his associates will begin their sixth year as the official supplier of Lincoln Highway Merchandise. Members are encouraged to visit the web site at www.LHTP.com for a look at the impressive inventory of items.
Buckeye Ramblings is the newsletter of the Ohio Lincoln Highway
League, our state affiliate of the Lincoln Highway Association, and is published
four times per year. Editor of this newsletter and president of the OLHL is Mike
Buettner (1618 Chandler Drive/ Lima, Ohio/ 45805). Any changes of address should
be forwarded to Mike, either by mail or by calling his office at 419-227-1135.
Other officers re-elected along with the president through April 2007 are Mike
McNaull (Ashland), Vice-President; Tammy Buettner (Lima), Secretary; and Michael
Lester (Bucyrus), Treasurer. State Director for the Lincoln Highway Association
is Marie Malernee (Canton). President of the Lincoln Highway Association is Bob
Lichty (Canton)—the second Ohioan to hold that office. Esther Queneau (formerly
of Ashland) was the first Ohioan to serve as national president. For texts of
back issues, plus photography and other Ohio information, visit the web site
created by Jim Ross (North Canton) at
www.lincolnhighwayoh.com.
Costs for printing and mailing this newsletter are covered entirely by LHA
membership dues. Please renew your membership in the national association so
that we can continue to publish news from Ohio on a regular basis.