Events for 2010:

REPORT ON 2010 RTHS
HOLIDAY BAZAAR

This end-of-year fundraiser was held in the beautifully decorated history center from 10-4 on Saturday, December 11th. Many different members worked for several weeks getting things ready. SERRV items, antiques and collectibles, and RTHS history gifts were arranged on tables set up on the main floor. The lower level housed ten eight-foot tables, full of new and gently used white elephant items donated by members and individually marked for sale at bargain prices.

The kitchen counters were laden with all kinds of member-donated holiday foods, prepackaged by the kitchen crew in clamshell containers and beautiful gift baskets for personal enjoyment or gifting.

Although the weather threatened, roads were clear on the day of the big event. (A snow storm came in the next day!) Greeters counted about 100 visitors. RTHS member David Macy traveled the longest distance to attend – from Toledo, Ohio. The fundraiser proved to be a great success, in spite of relatively low attendance. More than $2,000 was raised for the RTHS Building Fund. Thanks to everyone who worked during this event and/or gave cash contributions, took the time to make homemade goodies, and donated white elephant items. The Society especially appreciates the excellent news coverage in the Englewood Independent.

“The National Road Through Ohio”
JOIN US ON OCTOBER 16 FROM 2-4 P.M. FOR WHAT SHOULD BE A VERY INTERESTING AND ENTERTAINING MUSICAL/LECTURE PRESENTATION

Cyndie Gerken, President of the Ohio National Road Association (ONRA), and Sylvia Miller, Trustee of ONRA, will join forces to transport us along the National Road from East to West across Ohio. Cyndie had hoped to be signing copies of her new book about the National Road in Ohio, but health issues caused its completion to be delayed. We expect Cyndie to share some of the discoveries she has made while working on her book. Her good friend Sylvia Miller also will be coming. Miller (who spoke to our group in 2006 to help us celebrate the 200TH anniversary of the National Road) undoubtedly will show her slides of the National Road, strum her guitar, and sing us across the State. Come and enjoy this rare combination of music and history!

REPORT: “The National Road Through Ohio” About thirty-five members and guests attended this program held at the RTHS History Center on October 16th, a beautiful and sunny fall afternoon.    

The first to speak was author-to-be Cyndie Gerken, whose book about the National Road in Ohio is still a work-in-progress. She shared a few photos and some previously unknown stories, discovered while doing research for her book. One of Gerken’s stories came from a family whose farm was situated along the highway in eastern Ohio, near a limestone mile-marker. When the road was being widened decades ago, workmen pulled up the mile-marker much to the angst of family members. The farm owner asked if he could have the marker, but the foreman of the work crew said “no, the marker is going to a museum” – a story the family really did not believe at the time. Generations later, another family member was visiting the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. and, lo and behold, there was that very same National Road mile-marker on display! The workmen had told the truth after all.

Entertainer and historian Sylvia Miller followed Cyndie’s presentation with a county-by-county trip from east to west along the National Road in Ohio. Miller had members and guests join in as the chorus, as she sang original songs about the building of the road. In addition to singing and playing her guitar as  accompaniment, Miller also showed slides and played audio-tapes relating facts about numerous roadside inns and important events that took place along the early highway.

Following the history program, attendees retired to the lower level and enjoyed cider and donuts, compliments of the Englewood Meijer Store. 

SECOND ANNIVERSARY GATHERING,
JULY 24TH FROM 2-5 P.M.

Help us celebrate two years since the grand-opening of the Center. Music will be provided by the "Community of Song" singers and there will be plenty of time to view the Sinks photography exhibit and pick up your copies of the Society's latest booklet and CD combo entitled, "The Life and Photographs of Edwin C. Sinks." A potluck supper will mark the end the day. Everyone wanting to attend the potluck should make an advance reservation with the historical society, and let the refreshments crew know what type of family style food item you will bring.

REPORT: Some seventy-five members and guests gathered at the RTHS History Center at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 24th to celebrate the second anniversary of the grand-opening of the Randolph Township Historical Society’s community museum and research center. Members welcomed visitors as they came in the door and handed them a program of the afternoon’s activities. Many people brought with them homemade goodies, which were quickly taken to the kitchen on the lower level to be kept refrigerated or warmed for the carry-in dinner at 5:00 p.m. Guests enjoyed viewing the many history displays while waiting for the performances.

At about 3:00 p.m., President Glynn Marsh commented briefly about the importance of the History Center in the community and thanked all members for participating in and supporting the Society’s programs and projects. Marsh then introduced the “Community of Song” singers who performed twice at 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. This group of nine Brethren men (including our own Vice-President Karl Schroeder) from the Southwestern Brethren Church District, along with their female accompanist, presented a program of sacred and secular music, which was enjoyed by everyone. RTHS member Steve Lodge made a DVD of the program. As the 5 o’-clock hour approached, all members and guests headed for the lower level for a scrumptious meal of Kroger fried chicken and homemade side dishes and desserts. There was much socializing afterwards.

PROGRAM FOR MAY 22 FROM 2-4 P.M.
“TAKES EVERYTHING IN SIGHT”
Preview and Dedication of the Edwin C. Sinks Photography Exhibit

Much of what we know about Englewood and the surrounding communities in the early 1900s revolves around the images created by local photographer and Randolph High School music teacher, Edwin C. Sinks. This exhibit, a restrospective of Sinks life and work, will focus on his short but productive forty years in Englewood, Ohio. Copies of Sinks’ most famous photos such as the “Old Wooden Bridge over the Stillwater River," along with many previously unseen images, will be on display. Come enjoy the breadth of Sinks’ photographic achievements, learn about 1900s imaging techniques, and see vintage cameras and picture processing equipment.

This special 2010 exhibit will continue at the RTHS History Center throughout the summer. See SINKS on the Family Tree page for a more complete genealogy of this family.



DID YOU KNOW? The newly painted mural at the corner of Routes 40/48 in Englewood is based on this Edwin C. Sinks photo.

REPORT: While waiting for Sinks relatives to arrive, speaker Sue Cummings gave a brief overview of the history of photography. At about 2:20 p.m. she began her presentation, entitled "Takes Everything in Sight" (based on the printed message on Edwin C. Sinks’ business card). Cummings covered all aspects of Sinks life during his brief forty years in Randolph Township. More than fifty slides (with maps, genealogical information, family photos, professional advertisements, and Sinks own early 1900s professional photographs of local people, sites, roads, streetscapes, school events, floods and fires) kept members, Sinks relatives, and guests entertained for about seventy-five minutes. Visitors took time to view the Sinks exhibits and enjoy refreshments afterwards. Everyone was amazed at the breadth of subject matter, and quality of Sinks photographs. At the close of the program, attendees < enjoyed refreshments on the lower level.

NOTE: Kay Dawson has transcribed Cummings’ tape-recorded talk on local photographer Edwin Sinks, and the resulting hard-copy booklet, along with a CD containing slides used in the talk, will be available for purchase in late July. We hope those who attended the talk will want to hear and see the slides again, and, for those who could not come to the original program, here is your chance to learn what you missed!

PROGRAM FOR APRIL 17 FROM 2-4 P.M.
“DAYTON’S RICH GYPSY HERITAGE”
Speaker – Leon Bey

Come join us for this interesting Saturday afternoon program presented by well-known Dayton historian, Leon Bey. Learn about the gypsy way of life in this part of Ohio, through colorful slides and music. Gypsies were known to have lived and camped in this part of Randolph Township. Members of the Stanley and Mumma families were part of the local tribe. A gypsy wedding was reported in an article in the Dayton Journal Herald, dated April 1896:

“The village of Harrisburg and all of that territory in Stillwater Woods [today's Englewood MetroPark] are now watching the weird matrimonial ceremonies of tribes of Turkish and French gypsies that have assembled in the Woods on the hill near Patty’s Falls, east of the river. One of the princes of the Stanley tribe is to be married . . . . Three pigs were butchered, a hundred fat hens dressed, 200 loaves of bread cut and spread, a keg of old rye and five kegs of lager tapped. All the farmers and their families were invited to join in the feast and the festivities.”

Delicious refreshments will be served following the RTHS program, but no kegs will be tapped!

REPORT: This illustrated talk, by popular Dayton historian Leon Bey, was well-attended. About thirty RTHS members plus other followers of Bey’s local lecture circuit. learned about the Stanley gypsies: where they originated, where they lived in Dayton, and where they are buried (Woodland Cemetery). Bey took questions during and after the talk and many people commented afterwards that it was very enjoyable. Refreshments followed the program.