FOHBC News From & For Our Members
Letter to my Wheeling Friends I’m always writing about digging privies and finding stuff (bottles) in Wheeling, Virginia, but only a few local people get mentioned. OK, just one, Thaddeus Podratsky, Thad, who gets to walk to most of our digs, LOL. I’ve never focused on a story on what I have found in Wheeling, which are the resident city dwellers who, for whatever reason, currently live along Wheeling’s main roads and make positive contributions to local life. OK, so Thad is a long-time resident of Main Street, whose home (which he since has sold) is a masterpiece of early Wheeling architecture, albeit in need of mucho dinero to bring it back to its “Golden Times.” Thad has restored other homes along Main Street, and his master’s skills are a local legend. I believe the first time I met Thad was when he came to a dig site in Wheeling (when I was digging with people previous to Thad), and he offered to buy a yellowware chamber pot we had just dug. Twenty bucks, he offered, though it had a small chip, and he loved it. I think that was the first time that another digger came to a dig I’ve been on and bought something. Little did I know or understand then how much he was into chamber pots (see Bottles and Extras, May–June 2018, page 27). Since we first met, Thad and I have become great friends, digging buddies, and he has been a mentor in many ways. One of the best things is that he knows almost all the locals and has family and many friends in town. Over time, this has led to many introductions and other in-road interactions with “downtowners.” Yes, we dug all the privies we could with permission from the local friends and neighbors. But guess what? Getting to know many of these eccentric but always wonderful people has more than made up for the lack of bottles in most of the pits we have dug, LOL. It is a great feeling to head downtown, but instead of probing or seeking permissions, you hang out with everyone and learn the local “goings on.” Good to know that there is always a cold one over at Lisa and Johns, who are gracious Main Street stalwarts. Roger is always working on like 20 restorations (mainly historical in nature) within the town at any one time. Roger is so cool that he recently saw a likely privy spot, got permission from the owner, and let us know we were good to dig! At the end of the day, you know that these friendships will grow and last as long as any glass we may dig. I’m just hoping to return the favor at some future time. I attempted to do this with Vera and Chuck (neighbors along the block), who are avid historians, working on many home restoration/reconstruction projects, and have plans to open a bookstore coffee shop along Main Street. They have provided us with many dig permissions and mentioned recently that they could envision a bottle showcase in their store. No problem, a box of early (1830-60’s) bottles, tableware, and 6
shards of pottery were presented to them, with more to come! So thankful to have health and be able to get out to dig, meet folks, and enjoy life. I pray that others find their paths to joy (enjoyment), spread the good news, and maybe brighten up someone’s day. As I moved my home another 1.5 hours away from Wheeling to chase work, I want to thank all the wonderful Wheeling residents, local characters, and others I have yet to meet. Wheeling is resilient, diverse, and will pass through the current crises and economic downturn in good shape. There is always the next privy to dig, and hopefully, deeper friendships to make. Thanks to all you Wheelingites! Jeff Mihalik, Poland, Ohio
FOHBC News—Magazine Merger Ferdinand, thank you for your thoughtfulness and kindness in sending out the merger information (FOHBC newsletter blast). It is clear that both the FOHBC board, and John Pastor have worked tirelessly to make sure that our wonderful hobby is strengthened during this time of seemingly less interest in our hobby. Like you, the board and John, I believe this decision is monumental to ensuring the viability of, and instilling new life, into antique bottle collecting. I am a current member of both magazines (subscriber/ member) and I look forward with eager anticipation to the investment all parties have made to health and well-being of our fabulous hobby! Kudos to all who have worked so diligently to ensure our survival. You will have my continued support as a new “subscribing member” to this rebirth of antique bottle collecting. Stay well and be safe. All the best, Charlie Martin Jr., West Newbury, MA
FOHBC Virtual Museum News Ferdinand, thanks for all the work that you do (along with that of a precious few others) to keep our hobby in good shape, not least of all in regard to the forthcoming combined magazine along with this wonderful virtual museum. I hope there will one day be a subsection within medicines for cures. A visit to John Wolf or Bob Jochums or even to me (my cure collection now exceeds 500) would allow your photographer to get a visual jumpstart on this substantial sliver of antique medical glass. I look forward to hearing more about all the FOHBC developments in the last official edition of Bottles and Extras. Warm regards, Bruce Shephard, Tampa, Florida [FOHBC] Thanks for the nice note Bruce. Michael Seeliger is moving Cures up in the schedule. Michael and Mike and Kathy Craig with their Warners is planned. The Agee books have been scanned and are two of the first books in our Research Library Antique Bottle & Glass Collector
