“Geauga in Print: Part Seven”

c. 2012 Rod Ice
All rights reserved
(3-12)


Looking through the vast reserve of newspaper archives available online is an exciting experience. One might correctly surmise that much has been written about notable localities like Boston, New York, Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles. Yet a considerable amount of newsprint has also been devoted to our own corner of the world – Geauga County, USA.

What follows here are selections from that archival pool of typesetter’s ink:

ALTERNATIVE SWEETENER HELPS WAR EFFORT
Youngstown Vindicator, March 7, 1942

Chardon – This Maple Sugar Capital expects to keep Ohio’s wartime diet sweet. To supplement the sugar supply soon to be rationed, more maple sap will be converted into sugar than in previous years, farmers indicated today. Housewives have started to experiment with new recipes using maple sugar for sweetening. Thus Geauga County is getting ready to cash in on Ohio Agriculture Director John T. Brown’s suggestion that maple tree owners make as much sugar as possible this year. Brown reported today that a labor shortage threatened to keep many sugar camps closed, but Geauga County farmers will make an effort to keep producing. Of an estimated 2,000,000 maple trees in the state, only 814,000 are tapped for sap and 285,000 of these are in Geauga, it is said. Portage County is the state’s second largest producer of maple syrup with 26,000 gallons a year. Ashtabula and Medina each produce about 18,500 gallons and Trumbull County about 15,000.

BUDGET SURPLUS
The Miami News, September 8, 1933

CHARDON, Ohio – Consider the plight of Chesterland township – it has so much money it doesn’t know what to do. This month the township’s treasury will receive $171,000 as the second payment of its share of inheritance tax from the estate of the late Walter White, who was killed in an automobile accident nearly two years ago. His Circle-W farm lies within the township. The first payment of $202,000 has been spent for new roads, a fine new school building, the payment of village debts and relief for the poor. Chesterland township faces the winter with $7,000 available for road work, township debts of $20,000, an indebtedness of $60,000 on the school, and only 10 or 12 families on the relief list – but there will be $171,000 in the treasury. What to do? “We’ll put the money in the bank until we find out,” says Mark La Moreaux, township trustee. “Most of our roads are paved. If possible we will use some of the money to pay off the school debt, if we can legally divert it from the road fund, where tax money must go first. Also, we may be able to help some of the other townships in the county.”

GAMBLING
The Miami News, August 15, 1929

CLEVELAND – Giving way to the Geauga County Law Enforcement league’s campaign against contribution betting, officials of the Bainbridge Park track today canceled the remainder of a 25-day meeting scheduled to close Saturday and opened a drive to obtain a court ruling upholding the legality of their wagering system. Thomas McGinty, chief owner, made the announcement after conferences with the Rev. Warren Bechtold, president of the league, and his attorneys. McGinty and three track employees are at liberty on bond for appearance in justice court Sep. 3rd on gambling charges. He said efforts would be made to hasten the trial and push it into a higher court for a ruling on the legality of contribution betting. Wagers under the system are accepted as “contributions” toward financing the races.

AD COPY DISGUISED AS A NEWS STORY
The Telegraph-Republican, May 22, 1911

Makes rapid headway – Add this fact to your store of knowledge. Kidney disease advances so rapidly that many a person is firmly in its grasp before aware of its progress. Prompt attention should be given the slightest symptom of kidney disorder. If there is a dull pain, in the back, headaches, dizzy spells or a tired, worn-out feeling, or if the urine is offensive, irregular and attended with pain, procure a good kidney remedy at once. Thousands recommend Doan’s Kidney Pills. Read the statement below. George W. Throup of Chardon, Ohio, says: “Long drives over country roads affected my kidneys and for several years they troubled me greatly. About three years ago I was advised to use Doan’s Kidney Pills and I accordingly procured a box. They gave me great relief from pains in my back and after taking them, the kidney secretions became natural and free from sediment. My wife told of my experience in a public statement given in June 1906, and at this time I gladly confirm all that was then said regarding Doan’s Kidney Pills. I know that this remedy is a reliable one for kidney complaint.” For sale by all dealers. Price, 50 cents. Foster-Millburn Co., Buffalo, New York, sole agents for the United States. Remember the name - Doan’s – and take no other.

FREE TRANSPORTATION
The New York Times, September 21, 1910

CLEVELAND, Ohio – John D. Rockefeller has established a free auto service in Chardon, a pretty little village in Geauga County, which he visits at least once a week when he is at his Summer home, Forest Hill. But his passengers are limited to children. Several times during the Summer he has gathered the little folks in Chardon streets and taken them across the country in his big touring car. To-day the Rockefeller auto was waiting near the schoolhouse when the pupils came out, and Mr. Rockefeller stopped a bevy of girls to ask the whereabouts of some little folks he had taken home a few days ago. Unable to find those he wanted, he said to his chauffeur: “Suppose we take all of them.” In a moment the car was packed to the running guards and the order given to take the children to their various homes. For a half hour Mr. Rockefeller enjoyed himself by driving around the neighborhood delivering the youngsters to their parents.

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