Country Living February 2017

F E B R UA R Y 2 0 1 7

Official publication of your electric cooperative www.ohioec.org

Back in time

Country Living’s coming evolution is a time to look back on our past Also Inside:

Co-ops on the cutting edge A celebration of cherries Honoring a Buffalo Soldier Ohio’s favorite groundhog

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EVERY MEMBER HAS A VOICE Electric Co-op members have a say in how their co-op is run and in the decisions that are made.

ISN’T THAT NICE TO HEAR?

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To learn more about the cooperative difference, visit ohioec.org

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inside COVER STORY

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4 BACK IN TIME In this, our last issue as Country Living magazine before our name changes in March, we take a look back on a remarkable past.

F E AT U R E S

10 CO-OP INNOVATION

New technology constantly helps Ohio electric cooperatives improve the service they provide for members.

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12 VINTAGE VISION

Some Butler REC members saw their antique-car collections spill out of their backyards, so they started their own museum.

15 A BOWL OF CHERRIES

For Presidents Day, we serve up some recipes that would have made George Washington proud.

30 BUFFALO SOLDIER

Ohio’s first, and so far only, national monument honors the life and legacy of Col. Charles Young.

40 BUCKEYE CHUCK

Ohio’s favorite groundhog leads a mostly mundane life — except for that one day every year.

D E PA R T M E N T S 2 COOPERATIVE CONNECTION

19 LOCAL CO-OP PAGES

10 POWER STATION

32 WOODS, WATERS, AND WILDLIFE

12 CO-OP PEOPLE

36 FEBRUARY CALENDAR

14 OHIO ICON

39 MEMBER INTERACTIVE

15 FOOD SCENE

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Cooperative Connection PAT O’LOUGHLIN, PRESIDENT & CEO • OHIO RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES & BUCKEYE POWER

On the leading

EDGE

Member-focused, locally controlled co-ops embrace innovative ideas and nimble decision-making for your benefit One of the things that makes our family of electric cooperatives so unique within the utility arena is our ability to stay on the leading edge of technical advancements that can make our service safer, more reliable, and more affordable for our members.

Electric cooperatives are leaders in the utility service industry in adopting new technologies, such as advanced metering, more convenient bill payment, and more responsive outagetracking systems. We aren’t the inventors of new technologies, but we’re able to quickly recognize the benefits for consumer- members and deploy newer, proven technologies to improve our service and reduce our costs.

The areas that we serve are more rural than those of larger investor-owned utilities, but our smaller size and locally based leadership help us to more quickly recognize the advantages to be gained, and that, in turn, enables us to put new ideas to work for you.

Innate agility, coupled with our willingness to embrace innovation, has allowed us to

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find ways to employ technology to keep rates as low as possible and to make our service increasingly reliable.

Electric cooperatives, for example, were among the first to use load-management systems and peak-demand alerts to hold down costs for members across the state. New smart meters and automated systems have further improved our efficiency and help us to restore service more quickly when power outages do occur.

In this, the final issue of Country Living (look for more about that beginning on Page 4), Magen Howard, our manager of communications and member services, examines some of the next-generation technology that’s already in use at your electric cooperative (page 10), and takes a look at some current industry-standard technology that came about because of cooperative innovation.

Look for your improved member magazine, coming in March. 

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February 2017 Volume 59, No. 5

Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives 6677 Busch Blvd.

Columbus, OH 43229 614-846-5757 memberinteract@ohioec.org www.ohioec.org

Patrick O’Loughlin President & CEO Patrick Higgins Dir. of Communications Jeff McCallister Managing Editor Samantha Rhodes Associate Editor

Contributors Cheryl Bach, Celeste Baumgartner, Colleen Romick Clark, W.H. “Chip” Gross, Magen Howard, Damaine Vonada, Jamie Rhein, Margie Wuebker, and Diane Yoakam

COUNTRY LIVING (ISSN 0747-0592) is the official public­ation of Ohio Rural Elec­tric Co­op­eratives, Inc. With a paid circulation of 294,359, it is the monthly com­mun­ication link be­tween the elec­­­­tric co­operatives in Ohio and West Virginia and their mem­bers. Nothing in this publication may be reproduced in any manner without specific written permission from Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. All rights reserved.

ohioec.org

FEBRUARY 2017

Official publication of your electric cooperative www.ohioec.org

Check out the mobile-friendly website and digital edition of Country Living, as well as other timely information from Ohio electric cooperatives.

FEBRUARY 2017

Official publication of your electric cooperative www.ohioec.org

Back in time

Country Living’s coming evolution is a time to look back on our past Also Inside:

Co-ops on the cutting edge A celebration of cherries Honoring a Buffalo Soldier Ohio’s favorite groundhog

Back in time

Country Living’s coming evolution is a time to look back on our past Also Inside:

Co-ops on the cutting edge A celebration of cherries Honoring a Buffalo Soldier Ohio’s favorite groundhog

New website feature All Country Living stories now published online

For those of you who prefer reading on your computers, tablets, or smartphones, fret not: All of our stories are now published online at www. ohioec.org so readers can enjoy them across multiple platforms. Feel free to share our content on social media, too, so those who don’t receive the print version in the mail can catch up on electric cooperative news and other Ohio information.

Follow Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives on social media Search for Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube to learn about careers with co-ops and how co-ops make a difference in communities across Ohio.

Alliance for Audited Media Member

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES GLM Communications 212-929-1300 sales@glmcommunications.com

The fact that a product is advertised in Coun­try Living should not be taken as an en­dorse­ment. If you find an advertisement mis­leading or a product unsatisfactory, please not­ify us or the Ohio Attorney General’s Of­fi ce, Consumer Protection Sec­tion, 30 E. Broad St., Col­um­bus, OH 43215, or call 1-800-282-0515.

Periodicals postage paid at Colum­bus, OH and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to editorial and advertising offices at: 6677 Busch Boulevard, Columbus, OH 43229-1101

Cooperative members: Please report changes of address to your electric cooperative. Country Living staff cannot process address changes.

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DID YOU KNOW? The name “Ohio” originates from the Iroquois Indian word for “good river.”

The Indian name was later translated by the French as La Belle Riviere (“the Beautiful River”).

In this issue:

Shandon (p. 12) Canton (p. 14) Columbus (p. 23) Hartville (p. 25) Wilberforce (p. 30) Upper Sandusky (p. 32) Marion (p. 40)

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TIME FOR A

CHANGE After serving as Country Living for 58 years, your magazine’s new name will better reflect who we all are.

A look back Country Living came into being at a time when the country was still getting used to the idea that farmers could get electricity from a centralized power plant, just like urban dwellers could.

A little more than 20 years had passed since In 1958, the Franklin D. Roosevelt magazine was had signed the Rural Electrification Act, which mailed to about allowed for the creation 20,000 members. of electric cooperatives This edition will go to illuminate the mostly to nearly 300,000. dark countryside. By October 1958, 28 electric cooperatives had formed and were successfully providing electricity to rural areas — mostly farms — in the Buckeye State.

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The cooperatives recognized early on the need to communicate with their memberowners, and most produced their own newsletters with important updates, announcements, and news of the day. It was not an efficient system.

Thanks to the visionary guidance of early leaders from the statewide trade association, Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives — General Manager Howard Cummins, Chairman of the Board Howard Clapper, and Managing Editor Paul Sterner — Country Living made its debut in 1958. It was mailed directly to about 20,000 members for, as it remains today, less than the cost of a postage stamp.

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Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, then (opposite page) and now: Just like the statewide association, the membership magazine has always changed with the times.

A look ahead As the electric co-ops grew, so did their magazine. The circulation has increased to about 300,000 homes, farms, and businesses in 77 of Ohio’s 88 counties.

You’ve told us that you look forward to receiving the magazine because it’s the best way to find out what’s happening at your cooperative. It’s also consistently entertaining, with features about some of the best places to visit in the state and region, bits of fascinating history, and mouth-watering recipes that you clip, save, and try, over and over.

The content is great, you’ve told us, but Country Living is ready for a makeover.

We agree.

Finally, you’ve told us that you consider yourselves to be a cooperative community,

regardless of whether you live in a suburban or rural environment. Again, we agree. In that spirit, starting next month, Country Living becomes Ohio Cooperative Living, with a fresh look to accompany the new name.

The focus of the revised magazine will remain on you — the member-owners.

Ohio Cooperative Living will be the same magazine that you’ve welcomed into your homes for the past 58 years — only better: better photos, better stories, better paper, and better organized to better serve you.

We invite you to celebrate the past 58 years of Country Living, while welcoming Ohio Cooperative Living into your homes and businesses. We’re confident that you’ll enjoy the new look, the new feel, and, yes, the new name. 

SEPTEMBER

2016

of Official publication tive your electric coopera www.o hioec. org

Climbing Kilimanjaro for a cause

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19-22 Local co-op pages 8 independence Greenhouse grows 24 Science Review Hands on at Farm 28 Appleseed Discover Johnny

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THROUGH THE

YEARS

A look at the evolution of Country Living magazine, from its first issue in 1958 through this, the final edition to be printed under that name. Next month, Country Living will become Ohio Cooperative Living.

1965

January 1958

Just a year earlier, Country Living had jumped from 20 pages to 24, and topics we covered began to expand as well.

Coverage of travel destinations in Ohio began, and a story titled “A Gardening We Will Go” marks CLM’s debut of gardening features, a longtime favorite of readers. Cardinal Generating Station’s first 825-foot stack was completed — almost as tall as the Eiffel Tower — while an April tornado devastated eight co-ops, killing 56 Ohioans and injuring hundreds more.

1978

The first-ever, black-and-white issue of Country Living magazine (CLM) arrived in Ohio electric cooperative members’ mailboxes. Starting with a circulation of only around 20,000, the magazine now is read by nearly 300,000 members in Ohio and West Virginia.

1974 In the midst of an energy crunch, a reemphasis on the century-old slogan “Waste not, want not” emerged throughout the magazine. The February cover featured Fred Schmidt of Riga, Michigan, who by age 86 had collected a lifetime of historic scenes and events in glass bottles in his home. Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives broke ground for a new headquarters at the corner of Schrock Road and Busch Boulevard in Columbus, as we outgrew our tiny old space on Indianola Avenue.

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CLM, by now expanded to 32 pages, continued to cover energy issues of the day. This was the year generating Unit 3 was dedicated at Cardinal Station and CLM honored Future Farmers of America (now simply FFA) on its 50th birthday. Co-op member Ned McGill and his wife unearthed mastodon bones on their property in Champaign County. Energy efficiency took the lead in a story about an all-electric home built by engineer Bryce Gordon; with the extra insulation he added, his electric bills totaled a mere $108.54 the entire heating season.

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1982 1984

CLM started off the year with a tribute to former President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who created the Rural Electrification Administration in 1935, and who would have turned 100 years old that year. In another editorial, politicians were advised to “do some long-range soul searching and set their priorities straight” as signs of a dire economy emerged nationwide. Dogsled racer Chuck Cather from East Canton and his eager Siberians romped from the starting chute at Alum Creek State Park on the February cover. CLM’s circulation was around 189,000 per month.

Sewn-in inserts of annual meeting registration cards and ads proved popular in the magazine. Dual fuel systems were described in detail after Ohio electric co-ops adopted a dual fuel program the previous year.

April’s cover showcased Brownie Scout Daniell Meggyesy hurrying to finish a bluebird house before nesting season. A story about turtle noodling explained that the fingerfishing sport is not for the faint of heart, but snapping turtles are worth the risk for pounds upon pounds of delectable meat.

1991

1989 Letters to the editor spiked after a CLM cover was published of an Amish barnraising — many pointing out that Amish don’t use electricity.

Readers vigorously defended the Amish, and more coverage of them followed. Three rural families immersed in raising llamas shared that the creatures are sweet and docile, as well as highly intelligent.

April’s cover highlighted Ohio as a bicycle-friendly, beautiful state where thousands gather for a weeklong cycling event in Yellow Springs.

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An editorial made reference to global warming, and Ohio’s statewide association celebrated a half-century of assistance to member co-ops. Historic-themed merchandise speckled pages, including both Civil War stopwatches and World War II commemorative knives for $10 each: “available now…then never again!”

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1996 1998 Touchstone Energy® debuted, and CLM marked the occasion with a special April cover illustration of the new logo, created locally in Westerville.

After 38 years, Sylvia Henken retired from her monthly column — “It’s a Wonderful Life” — that began in 1960 with her describing herself as a “new bride in an old house, starting a new home” and ended with her as a mother of six and grandmother of 10 with more on the way.

CLM observed its 40th anniversary with a photo of the only three editors who had ever held the magazine’s reins posing together. Marion REC and United RE voted to unite, creating Mid-Ohio Electric Cooperative.

CLM swells to 40 pages. The year begins with a cover corner teaser that is quickly abandoned for the horizontal bar format.

Ohio’s eagle populations were discovered to be increasing thanks to the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s “Do Something Wild” program, and an entertaining story described various critters that had left co-op members in the dark, including “The Attack of the Killer Beaver” and “The Case of the Ravenous Raccoon.” Images of everything from roaring waterfalls, fireworks, and Revolutionary War re-enactments dazzled readers on the covers.

2002

2000 The new millennium began with a letter to the editor titled “Don’t mess up covers!” where the reader asked if CLM could put the address labels on the back of the magazine instead of the front (it was a good idea!), which spurred an entire cover controversy. We told our reader-members that Ohio electric cooperatives had been exempted from deregulation the previous year because the co-ops had already been adjusting their power costs for members. July’s stunning cover featured the Touchstone Energy® Balloon Races, an event sponsored by five Ohio electric co-ops.

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CLM ran its first writing contest on “The Joy of Country Living,” and squeamish readers squawked at a photo of a headless chicken.

“Ohio Icon” by freelancer Damaine Vonada made its debut. New CEO and president of Buckeye Power Tony Ahern estimated in his September editorial that generation costs would have to increase by about 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour to make environmental investments at the Cardinal Plant and to build additional plants and replace aging power lines.

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October 2008 2004 CLM unveiled a “new look,” sporting a simplified layout requested by readers to give it a “cozy, consistent feel.” The magazine jumped to 52 pages, then 56, and finally 60. The most popular cover ever (based on requests for extra copies) ran in February — a dainty Victorian tea set photographed in Marysville. Wildlife and gardening features began running every month while energy and home improvement stories appeared every other month. Health, safety, and personal finance alternated every third month.

The calendar popped with color-coded entries, the recipe contest kicked off, and mini reader essays (later to become Member Interactive) were published. Last but not least, those dreaded mailing labels were moved to the back cover.

CLM celebrated its 50th anniversary, summing up the highlights of each year.

The ongoing debate about America’s energy future raged on as electric cooperatives across the country encouraged Congress to invest $2 billion a year in research and development of new energy technologies, including clean coal technology.

2013

2016 M AY 2 0 1 6

Official publication of your electric cooperative www.ohioec.org

Project Ohio lights up

Guatemala

We celebrated the news that CLM had won the 2012 George W. Haggard Memorial Journalism Award from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. A wide variety of subjects were featured, ranging from how to cook with wild game to becoming a private investigator, as well as Buckeye-style Beatlemania. The bicentennial of the War of 1812’s Battle of Lake Erie prompted a July cover of a replica battleship at Put-in-Bay’s celebration.

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Local co-op pages Funny signs Spring and summer festivals Jack Nicklaus

4 19-22 24 26 30

CLM took a stand in January against the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan, which aims to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the electric utility sector, dramatically increasing electricity costs. In February, the Supreme Court granted a stay. Later that year, 17 Ohio electric cooperative employees brought electricity to a remote village in Guatemala through Project Ohio.

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POWER STATION

B Y M AG E N H O WA R D

Innovation LEADERS

Technological advances help co-ops continually improve service for their member-owners

SCADA systems help electric cooperatives monitor and control what is happening in their service territory.

When it comes to adopting new technology, electric cooperatives are David beating Goliath.

“The smaller size of co-ops allows us to be more nimble because we have fewer consumers,” says Pat O’Loughlin, president and CEO of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives, the wholesale power supplier and trade association for the 24 co-ops serving the state. “We can try new things and deploy them faster than 10

some big utilities.”

For example, electric co-ops have led the industry in advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), which provides frequent, more accurate readings and helps discover outages faster than with older analog meters. About 70 percent of electric cooperatives across the country have implemented AMI, according to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).

New computer software that communicates with equipment in the field also enables co-ops to know where outages are without having to send a crew into the field to visually inspect the power lines and poles, O’Loughlin says.

“That means co-ops can tell their consumers earlier what happened and when power will be back on,” he says. It also allows co-ops to offer outage maps, either on their own

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Terms to know Members might see these terms in their co-op’s local magazine pages or in other correspondence. All of these programs work together, along with your co-op’s employees, to improve customer service and electric reliability.

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AMI, or advanced metering infrastructure: A set of technologies and software applications that combine two-way communications with “smart” meters to provide electric utilities with near real-time oversight of system operations.

Advanced meters, also known as smart meters, benefit electric co-op members with greater accuracy in billing, faster outage restoration and operational savings versus manual meter reading, and detailed data that you and your co-op can use to manage electric use much more accurately.

website or on Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives’ website at ohioec.org/oec/ outages. These maps show where outages are occurring and how many members are affected. Software and computers in the office can also sometimes detect problems before they even cause outages.

“All of this leads to improved service — customer service and electric service,” O’Loughlin says.

Innovation with consumers in mind Electric cooperatives are not-forprofit and are owned by the consumers they serve. That’s why those consumers are called “members” or “owners,” and not simply “customers.” Co-ops wouldn’t exist without their consumers, so they have a responsibility to invest wisely in technologies that will improve service, assist members with managing their energy use, and help keep costs in check.

Here in Ohio, some electric co-ops have adopted programs like SmartHub, which allows members to keep track of energy use from month to month. Some programs even incorporate weather data to show how temperatures affect electricity use. These programs typically also allow consumers to pay bills and report outages, depending on the options the co-op chooses.

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National support One of the benefits of being a cooperative member is the sixth cooperative principle, “Cooperation Among Cooperatives.”

Even though they’re all independent entities, co-ops work together to share resources and knowledge.

Thanks to a nationwide network of co-ops and supporting trade associations, that means your co-op has the strength and resources of a large utility, but you still have local, democratic control and operation.

“Because cooperatives’ mission is to serve their member-owners and not to make a profit, they have a strong incentive to look for innovations that are going to allow them to provide better service at a lower cost and meet member expectations,” says Jim Spiers, NRECA’s vice president of business and technology strategies.

“Co-ops’ approach to innovation is collaborative: They routinely share their experience and analysis with the nationwide network.” Pooled resources through membership dues in associations like NRECA, he adds, mean additional funding to find solutions to cooperative issues.  MAGEN HOWARD is manager of communications and member services at Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives.

SCADA, or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition: Composed of software and hardware that communicate with one another to collect data in the field and communicate it back to the co-op, SCADA systems help to quickly spot and solve power outages.

GIS, or geographic information system: An electronic set of maps, using GPS coordinates, that catalogs every pole, wire, transformer, and piece of equipment in the field, which allows for better and faster system maintenance. Often integrates with a vegetation management system, which shows where trees and brush may interfere with power lines and cause outages.

Outage management system: Tells the co-op which meters are experiencing outages, and automatically records a reported outage based on the phone number calling in, as long as the phone used to report the outage is associated with that electric account. 

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STORY AND PHOTOS

BY C E L E S T E B AU M G A R T N E R

CO-OP PEOPLE

tSalty Dog MUSEUM

This showcase is the result of a passion for restoring and showing vintage cars The Salty Dog Museum, a top-notch assemblage of Model T and A Fords in Shandon, Ohio, came into being out of necessity for Ron Miller, his son B.J., and their friend Mark Radtke.

Before they opened the museum, the vehicles were spilling out of their backyards and garages.

“Everybody collects something, and we happen to collect antique vehicles and their stories,” Radtke says.

The Ford Motor Company made more than 15 million Model T’s from 1909 until 1927. Some sold for as little as $240; they were the first cars that working people could afford, B.J. Miller says. The Model A was introduced in 1928 and continued in production through 1931 — Ford made more than 4 million of them.

Many Model Ts started with a crank, and that could be a problem. Ron Miller restored cars with his dad, Herman Niehaus.

“My dad didn’t like Model Ts — he broke his arm as a kid cranking one — so we had Model As,” Ron Miller says. “I had a Model A when I was 12. Me and my dad would buy ’em and tear ’em apart and save the parts.”

B.J. Miller was involved with antique autos from early on. He and his parents drove to church for his baptism in a 1921 Model T touring car. He rode in the rumble seat of a 1929 roadster, restored by his dad, for family vacations.

The Salty Dog Museum got started when Ron and Mark needed space to build a salt flats car to race at the Bonneville Salt Flats — it was on their bucket list. They went on to take four world records with this Model A Ford-powered sprint car.

When B.J. Miller and his wife, Casey, got married in July 2006, the couple honeymooned in a 1931 Model A coupe that he had gotten from Niehaus, his grandfather.

“Grandpa restored it in 1960 and used all the original parts and whatever he had there,” B.J. Miller says.

“He didn’t buy anything new. He did everything, paint and all. I got it when I was about 16.”

Radtke inherited his interest in antique vehicles from his parents; they had five Model As in their backyard. He bought his first Model A when he was 14 — it was mostly in a basket. The collection outgrew the yard when Radtke became interested in old fire engines.

One, a 1919 Ford/Howe, he bought at a Buster Brown Shoe Store in 1982. It had been used as a display for kids to climb on, and he had to take it apart to get it out of the store.

B.J. and Casey Miller (left) took their honeymoon in this 1931 Model A coupe and teardrop camper. B.J.’s grandfather had restored it in 1960 and gave it to B.J. when he was about 16. At right, part of the collection that spilled out of the family’s backyards and into the museum.

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Ron Miller, B.J. Miller, and Mark Radtke in front of the Salty Dog Museum and Ron’s Machine Shop. Below: B.J. Miller rode all over in the rumble seat of this 1929 Model A Roadster — it was their family vacation car when he was growing up.

“This is the only vehicle I rebuilt with two engines for the same vehicle,” Radtke says. “There is an engine for the pump and an engine for forward motion. When I started stripping it, I came across this name, ‘Mowrystown,’ a village in Highland County.”

Radtke learned that the Mowrystown Fire Department had bought a Howe horse-drawn motorized pumper in 1914. Then in 1924, the department bought a used 1919 Ford/Howe Model TT commercial truck chassis. The front portion of the Howe was cut off to mount the motorized pump chassis on the Ford chassis. The department used it until 1949, before the Buster Brown store got it.

The museum came to be called the Salty Dog because Radtke and Ron Miller had acquired the

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space to build a salt flats car — racing at the Bonneville Salt Flats was on their bucket list. The men set world records in 2007, 2009, and 2012 with the vintage Model A Ford-powered sprint car they built.

The Salty Dog is adjacent to Ron’s Machine Shop in Shandon. Ron Miller (who along with his wife, Maureen, are members of Butler Rural Electric Cooperative) and B.J. Miller are known nationally in the field for their work restoring antique engines. Ron Miller opened Ron’s Auto Body Shop 40 years ago, and B.J. and Casey Miller bought the business in 2010.  All of these vehicles are on display at the not-for-profit Salty Dog Museum, 4995 Cincinnati Brookville Road, Shandon, OH. It is open for tours and visits by appointment. For information, visit www.saltydogmuseum.com or call 513-738-7353.

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ICON

S T O R Y A N D P H O T O S BY DA M A I N E V O N A DA

Ben Heggy Candy Company Canton Location: On the northwest side of downtown Canton near the Canton Museum of Art and Palace Theatre.

Provenance: After working for a candymaker as a teenager, Ben Heggy opened his own restaurant and confectionery on the corner of Cleveland Avenue NW and Eighth Street NW in his hometown of Canton in 1923.

Following a fire in 1950, Heggy closed the restaurant to concentrate on his candy business. His daughters and sons-in-law, including current president Richard “Wally” Wollenberg, eventually became the owners and operators of the eponymous company that Heggy started.

Significance: Known for handcrafted chocolates, Ben Heggy Candy is one of Ohio’s oldest candy manufacturers and a Canton institution patronized by generations of local families. The combination candy factory and retail store still is located at its original site on Cleveland Avenue NW, where Heggy’s grandson, Danny Wollenberg, is now a candymaker who continues to use many of his grandfather’s recipes. Heggy candies also are available at more than 20 regional ice cream, confectionery, and grocery stores.

Currently: Ben Heggy Candy produces more than 30 kinds of light and dark chocolates, several kinds of cara-

mels, and a variety of fresh-roasted nuts. “Our best-sellers are the chocolate-coated peanuts and pecans and the buttercream-filled chocolates,” says Wally Wollenberg, “but my personal favorites are the dark chocolate peanut clusters with cream centers.” For Valentine’s Day, the company makes molded chocolate hearts, and for Easter, it offers a variety of molded bunnies, chick, ducks, and baskets. “All the molded items that we make are solid chocolate,” Wollenberg says.

It’s a little-known fact that: The Heggy company’s special hard peanuts consist of Virginia redskins that first are blanched to remove their skins and then undergo a process that gives them an extra crispy texture — but that process is a trade secret.  The Ben Heggy Candy Company, 743 Cleveland Ave. NW, Canton, OH 44702. For additional information about Heggy products, retail store hours, and online ordering, call 330-455-7703 or visit www.heggys.com.

An employee carefully weighs out some roasted peanuts to add to one of the company’s gift bags that are especially popular around holidays. At right, a selection of walnut caramels — one of dozens of Heggy's homemade confections.

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F

FOOD SCENE

BY MARGIE WUEBKER; LIGHTER FARE BY DIANE YOAKAM PHOTOS BY CHERYL BACH

Life’s a bowl of

CHERRIES!

t

Yes, February is a time to celebrate love, but in culinary terms, it’s all about cherries. There’s no better way to mark both Presidents Day and National Cherry Month than by whipping up a tasty pie, baking a batch of muffins, or trying another recipe with the appetizing fruit that’s steeped in history — how many other foods are tied by legend to the first president and his trusty ax? We cannot tell a lie: These dishes are delightful!

OEC CL January-2017 pages 14-17.indd 3

FEBRUARY 2017

• COU NTRY L I V I N G

15

1/19/17 2:55 PM

SWEETHEART PIE 1 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk, divided 11/2 oz. unsweetened chocolate ½ tsp. almond extract 1 baked 9-inch pie shell 1 10-oz. jar maraschino cherries, drained 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 1 cup cold water 1 package (3 oz.) instant vanilla pudding mix 1 cup whipping cream, whipped ½ cup chopped toasted almonds Chocolate curls (optional)

Combine 1 cup of the condensed milk and the unsweetened chocolate in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Cook 4 to 5 minutes or until chocolate is melted and mixture is thickened, stirring constantly.

Stir in ¼ teaspoon almond extract.

Pour into pie shell. Reserve 8 whole cherries for garnish before chopping the rest. Beat cream cheese in a mixing bowl until light. Beat in remaining condensed milk and the water gradually. Add dry pudding mix and remaining ¼ teaspoon almond extract; mix well. Fold in whipped cream. Stir in chopped cherries and toasted almonds. Pour cherry mixture over pie. Cover and chill 4 hours before serving. Garnish with whole cherries and chocolate curls if desired. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

CHERRY CRUMB MUFFINS Muffins: 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp. salt 3/4 cup sugar ½ tsp. cinnamon ¼ tsp. nutmeg 2 eggs ½ cup butter, melted 2 cups buttermilk 11/3 cups fresh or frozen cherries, pitted

Crumb Topping: cup brown sugar cup all-purpose flour 1/8 cup oatmeal 11/2 Tbsp. butter 11/2 Tbsp. chopped nuts

For the muffins: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Sift all dry ingredients together in large mixing bowl. Add liquids to dry ingredients and mix with approximately 5 or 6 strokes using a wooden spoon. Chop pitted cherries and add to batter, mixing only until combined. Do not overmix.

Pour batter into lined muffin tins, filling 2/3 full. Sprinkle with crumb topping (recipe follows) before placing in oven. Makes 24 muffins.

1/4 1/8

For the crumb topping: Combine all ingredients until crumbly; sprinkle over muffins. Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Let muffins cool slightly and turn out onto cooling rack. Let cool completely. Serve with Orange Honey Butter.

Orange Honey Butter:

For the honey butter: Combine softened butter and honey with wooden spoon until well blended and very soft. Add zest of oranges and stir until combined.

½ pound butter, softened ½ cup orange blossom clover honey Zest from 2 oranges

CHERRY OAT BREAKFAST SMOOTHIE 1/4 cup rolled oats 1 banana, sliced and frozen 1 cup pitted cherries, fresh or frozen 1/2 cup Greek vanilla yogurt (or coconut-milk yogurt for dairy-free version) 1/4 cup reduced-fat milk (or almond milk for dairy-free version) Pinch of salt

16

Lighter fare!

Combine all ingredients in a blender and purée until smooth, adding more liquid to reach your desired consistency. Makes 2 servings.

Per serving: 231 calories, 2.3 g total fat (1.2 g saturated fat), 3 g fiber and 6.7 g protein.

•

C O U N TRY LIVING F EB RUARY 2 01 7

OEC CL January-2017 pages 14-17.indd 4

1/18/17 4:33 PM

CHERRY CHICKEN LETTUCE WRAPS

2 Tbsp. olive oil, divide d 1 1/4 lb. skinless, boneles s chicken breast, cut into bite-size d pieces 1 Tbsp. minced fresh gin ger 2 Tbsp. rice vinegar 2 Tbsp. teriyaki sauce 1 Tbsp. honey 1 lb. dark sweet cherries , pitted and halved 1 1/2 cups shredded carro ts 1/2 cup chopped green onion 1/3 cup toasted sliced almonds 12 lettuce leaves (roma ine, butter, or Boston lettuce)

OEC CL January-2017 pages 14-17.indd 5

Lighte r fare!

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over me dium-high heat. Sauté chicken an d ginger until chicken is cooked through, 7 to 10 minutes . Set aside. Whisk togeth er vinegar, teriyaki sauce, honey, and remaining 1 tables poon oil.

Add chicken mixture, cherries, carrots, green onion, and almonds; toss to comb ine. Spoon chicken mi xture evenly into lettuce leaves and roll leaves around filling to serve.

Makes 4 servings.

Per serving: 315 ca lories, 9.7 g total fat (1.4 g saturated fat 3.3 g fiber, and 11. ), 2 g protein.

FEBRUARY 2017

• COU NTRY L I V I N G

17

1/18/17 4:33 PM

Ready for the first reader recipe contest of the year?

It’s time to show off those dishes you use to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in TASTY fashion. Send us your favorite Mexican recipe — no more than three

per person, please! — and the one

we select as best will win a

KitchenAid stand mixer!

Guidelines • Make sure to include all ingredients and complete directions.

• Include your name, address, telephone number, and the name of your electric cooperative on each recipe, and send them to: Margie Wuebker, 6677 Busch Blvd., Columbus, OH 43229, or e-mail them to memberinteract@ohioec.org.

• Mail entries must be postmarked by March 10 to be considered; e-mail entries must arrive

by March 10.

• Winners will be announced in our May edition.

Good luck!

18

•

C OU N TRY LIVING F EB RUARY 2 01 7

OEC CL February-2017 page 18.indd 2

1/18/17 4:41 PM

Country Living often encourages members of Ohio’s electric cooperatives to contact their state legislators to make sure those representatives know how certain issues affect them. As a service to our readers, here is a listing of the Ohio House members whose counties include electric cooperative territory.

OHIO HOUSE Representative Scott Wiggam 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Wayne

Representative Jim Hughes 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin

Representative Michael Henne 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Montgomery

Representative Mark J. Romanchuk 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Richland

Representative Bernadine Kennedy Kent 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin

Representative Jim Butler 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Montgomery

Representative Theresa Gavarone 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Wood Representative Robert R. Cupp 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Allen Representative Timothy E. Ginter 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Columbiana Representative Adam Miller 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin Representative Kristin Boggs 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin Representative Anne Gonzales 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin Representative Heather Bishoff 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin Representative Mike Duffey 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin Representative David Leland 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin Representative Laura Lanese 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin

OEC CL February-2017 pages 23-24.indd 1

Representative Hearcel F. Craig 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Franklin Representative Thomas E. Brinkman 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Hamilton Representative Jonathan Dever 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Hamilton Representative Louis W. Blessing III 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Hamilton Representative Bill Seitz 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Hamilton Representative Brigid Kelly 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Hamilton Representative Catherine Ingram 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Hamilton Representative Alicia Reece 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Hamilton Representative Marilyn Slaby 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Stark, Holmes Representative Fred Strahorn 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Montgomery

Representative Niraj J. Antani 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Montgomery Representative Jeffery S. Rezabek 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Preble, Montgomery Representative Mike Ashford 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Lucas Representative Teresa Fedor 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Lucas Representative Michael Sheehy 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Lucas Representative Derek Merrin 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Lucas, Fulton Representative Kirk Schuring 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Stark Representative Thomas West 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Stark Representative Christina Hagan 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Stark Representative Wes Retherford 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Butler

FEBRUARY 2017

• COU NTRY L I V I N G

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1/19/17 1:27 PM

OHIO HOUSE Representative Candice Keller 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Butler

Representative Larry Householder 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Coshocton, Licking, Perry

Representative Margaret Conditt 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Butler

Representative Bill Dean 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Clark, Madison

Representative Nathan Manning 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Lorain

Representative Tim Schaffer 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Fairfield

Representative Dan Ramos 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Lorain

Representative Ron Hood 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Fairfield, Athens, Hocking, Morgan, Muskingum, Pickaway

Representative Dick Stein 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Huron, Seneca, Lorain Representative John Becker 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Clermont Representative Doug Green 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Clermont Representative Andrew Brenner 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Delaware Representative Rick Carfagna 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Delaware, Knox Representative Stephen D. Hambley 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Medina Representative Darrell Kick 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Medina, Holmes, Ashland Representative Scott Ryan 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Licking

24

Representative Wesley Goodman 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Morrow, Crawford, Wyandot, Marion, Seneca Representative Bill Reineke 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Seneca, Sandusky, Erie Representative Steve Arndt 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Erie, Ottawa Representative Terry Johnson 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Butler

Representative Kyle Koehler 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Clark

Representative Cliff Rosenberger 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Highland, Ross, Clinton, Pike

Representative Stephen A. Huffman 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Darke, Miami

Representative Gary Scherer 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Ross, Fayette, Pickaway

Representative Robert McColley 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Putnam, Fulton, Williams, Henry

Representative Ryan Smith 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Gallia, Jackson, Lawrence, Vinton

Representative Craig Riedel 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Paulding, Defiance, Auglaize, Van Wert

Representative Jay Edwards 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Washington, Athens, Vinton, Meigs

Representative Robert Sprague 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Logan, Hancock, Hardin

Representative Andy Thompson 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Washington, Carroll, Noble, Belmont, Harrison

Representative Keith Faber 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Meigs, Auglaize, Shelby, Darke Representative Nino Vitale 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Logan, Champaign, Shelby Representative Dorothy Pelanda 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Union, Marion

Representative Jack Cera 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Monroe, Belmont, Jefferson Representative Brian Hill 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Muskingum, Guernsey Representative Al Landis 77 S. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 Tuscarawas, Holmes

•

C O U N TRY LIVING F EB RUARY 2 01 7

OEC CL February-2017 pages 23-24.indd 2

1/19/17 1:27 PM

S T O R Y A N D P H O T O S B Y DA M A I N E V O N A DA

AS FAR AS THE

EYE

CAN SEE

Hartville Hardware is a wondrous destination for those in search of the useful and unique

Large windows inside Howard Miller’s office give him a prime view of Hartville Hardware’s main floor; he often leaves his desk to watch folks navigating his store.

Down on the sales floor, shoppers might run across anything from a bright green John Deere Gator to a hot pink, Lil’ Pig Traeger grill. From time to time, someone looks up, spots Miller at the window, and waves. Miller always eagerly waves back. “I grew up with so many people that work and shop here,” he says.

With about 7 acres under its roof, Hartville Hardware is one of the largest independently owned hardware stores in the world. It has 305,000 square feet of space on two floors, 75,000 different items, six entrances, and four elevators.

“Somebody once calculated that this store is big

OEC CL February-2017 pages 25-28.indd 3

Owner Howard Miller watches customers roam the floor of his hardware store in Hartville. It’s one of the largest independently owned hardware stores in the world.

enough to hold an average-size Home Depot and an average-size Lowe’s, plus a football field,” Miller says.

Indeed, Hartville Hardware’s retail-focused main level easily accommodates an 1,850-square-foot “idea home” designed to showcase American-made building materials and fixtures, while its contractor-oriented basement level boasts a 38,000-square-foot drive-through lumberyard.

But this megastore isn’t in a typical metropolitan shopping complex. It sits just west of Hartville, a village of 3,000 people in the countryside between Akron and (Continued on Page 26) FEBRUARY 2017

• COU NTRY L I V I N G

25

1/19/17 12:49 PM

Left: Looking for a grill shaped like a giant pig? Hartville Hardware is the place. Right: The store’s main retail floor is large enough to easily hold an “idea home” — an 1,850-square-foot house that showcases decor, fixtures, and building materials available for sale.

Canton. Opened in 2012, Hartville Hardware is part of a 200-acre campus of Miller family enterprises that have put Hartville on the map by attracting about 2 million visitors every year. Its adjacent sister businesses include Hartville Kitchen, specializing in Amish-style comfort foods; the Hartville MarketPlace and Flea Market, which hosts about 100 indoor shops and 500 outdoor vendor spaces; and Hartville Collectibles, a gift shop and clothing boutique. “One of our favorite slogans is ‘Come here and

make a day of it,’ because we offer so much to do in one place,” Miller says.

Raised in a Beachy Amish household, Miller traces his family’s entrepreneurial bent to 1939, when his grandfather started the Hartville Livestock Auction and his grandmother ran the auction barn’s lunch counter. His father, Howard Miller Sr., subsequently owned a restaurant and several other businesses in Hartville. In 1972, when Miller was 19, his father learned that a local hardware store was (Continued on Page 28)

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•

C O U N TRY LIVING F EB RUARY 2 01 7

OEC CL February-2017 pages 25-28.indd 4

1/19/17 12:49 PM

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FEBRUARY 2017

• COU NTRY L I V I N G

27

1/19/17 8:30 AM

One of Hartville Hardware’s six entrances is a drive-through lumberyard (left), where contractors can pull right in and load up what they need. Howard Miller prides himself on the wide variety of hardware that’s available at his store.

for sale and asked him if he would like to run it.

“Dad told me that he needed my answer the next day because somebody else wanted to buy the store,” Miller recalls. He indeed was interested, and with help from his brother Wayne, who was still in high school at the time, Miller took charge of a 5,000-square-foot hardware store with three employees. Today, he is Hartville Hardware’s president, Wayne Miller is vice president, and they have more than 250 employees.

According to Miller, having knowledgeable employees sets Hartville Hardware apart from big-box competitors. “One of the reasons customers come here is that our people know what they’re talking about,” he says. Many of the workers there have 20 or more years of experience and will go the extra mile to help. When an elderly woman recently came into the store and mentioned her dog had died, an employee buried the dog during his lunch hour.

Hartville Hardware also carries things that customers cannot find elsewhere. “Tools and hardware are two of the store’s marquee departments,” says Miller. “We have woodworking products from England and a huge selection of nuts, bolts, and specialty fasteners.” Every February and November, the store holds giant tool sales and presents workshops conducted by industry experts.

28

day. “We’re experience driven,” Miller In addition, Hartville Hardware says. “We want to make Hartville hosts a home and garden expo in Hardware a fun place to be.”  March, summertime grill fests with celebrity chefs, and an October Hartville Hardware, 315 Edison St. NW, Hartfashion show featuring Miller family ville, OH 44632. For additional information, members and employees modeling call 800-877-3631 or visit www.hartvilleCarhartt apparel. The store even1 11/22/16hardware.com.

Morton_OHCountryLiv_1.17_Layout 8:44 AM Page 1 treats customers to free coffee every

join us for building value days, our

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January 1st–February 28th

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RESIDENTIAL | FARM | EQUESTRIAN | COMMERCIAL | COMMUNITY | REPAIRS

•

C OU N TRY LIVING F EB RUARY 2 01 7

OEC CL February-2017 pages 25-28.indd 6

1/19/17 8:48 AM

How Does Harbor Freight Sell GREAT QUALITY Tools at the LOWEST Prices?

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Batteries included.

At Harbor Freight Tools, the “comp at” price means that the same item or a similar functioning item was advertised for sale at or above the "comp at" price by another retailer in the U.S. within the past 180 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of "comp at" should be implied.

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OEC CL February-2017 page 29.indd 3 hft_countryliving_0117_M-REG80860.indd 1

29

• COU NTRY L I V I N G

FEBRUARY 2017

BUFFALO ~SOLDIER~ Ohio’s first national monument chronicles Charles Young’s life, from slavery to military greatness

B Y JA M I E R H E I N

Charles Young was born into slavery in Mays Lick, Kentucky, in the time just after Abraham Lincoln delivered the Emancipation Proclamation and just before the ratification of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery.

His parents, technically still considered runaway slaves, carried him as an infant across the Ohio River to the freedom granted them when his father enlisted in the Union Army.

Thus began what was to become a remarkable life — and that life is chronicled and memorialized at “Youngsholm,” Young’s adulthood home in Wilberforce, just outside Xenia in southwest Ohio.

First established as a National Historic Landmark in 1974, the house and land surrounding it is now Ohio’s first national monument: the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, established by proclamation of then-President Barack Obama on March 25, 2013.

Harold Warren Jr., a Wilberforce resident who also served in the Buffalo Soldiers, talked about what the monument means for a documentary by the StoryCorps 30

historic preservation project last year: “To have that monument placed in the national park system was unbelievable,” Warren tells his son in the video. “It will be a boon to this area — a tourist attraction and a historical event that could never be matched by any other means.”

The monument, still in the early stages of development, is a worthy stop on America’s history trail — especially during Black History Month in February.

A brick house with polished wood floors and stainedglass windows, the monument gives an indication of the stature of Young’s accomplishments as the highest-ranking black officer in the Regular Army until his death in 1922.

National Park Service staff take visitors on a trip through Young’s life. Each interpretive panel of photos and text testifies to Young’s fortitude. Among the highlights: Young’s acceptance and appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where in 1889 — despite rampant racism and social isolation — he became the third African-American to graduate. It would be 47 years before another succeeded.

~

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Historic photos courtesy of the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center; modern-day photos by Jamie Rhein.

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.

7

Opposite: “Youngsholm,” shown as it appeared in Charles Young’s day, was a social hub for students and faculty of Wilberforce University.

Top: Young is shown with some of the cavalry troops under his command. At right are the house and historical marker in present day.

~

He was assigned to command the famed Buffalo Soldiers — black cavalry troops who served in the Indian Wars after the Civil War and so nicknamed by the native American warriors they fought against.

He spent the majority of his military career serving in those regiments.

In 1903, Young became the first African American national park superintendent when he was assigned to protect Sequoia and General Grant (now Kings Canyon) National Parks. Several of the roads and park trails still in use can be credited to Young and the Buffalo Soldiers he commanded.

Starting in 1894, Young taught military science and tactics at Wilberforce University, between military stints that included serving as a captain in the Philippine American War; as military attaché in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Liberia; and as a major

~ ~

OEC CL Febuary-2017 pages 30-31.indd 3

leading the U.S. 10th Calvary against Pancho Villa in Mexico. His home became his refuge where he recharged with his wife, two children, and friends such as W.E.B. Dubois and poet Paul Laurence Dunbar.

The house was a center of social life for students and faculty as well.

In 1917, Young was promoted to colonel, but racism still dogged him. He was denied the rank of general at the start of World War I and forced to retire, a decision he fought and eventually got overturned.

After the war, on assignment to Nigeria, Young died of a kidney infection. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, where his was one of only a handful of funerals to be held in the cemetery’s amphitheater. 

~

The museum is located at 1120 U.S. Rte. 42 E., Wilberforce, OH. Tours are available Sat.-Sun., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. by appointment only.

Call 937-352-6757.

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WOODS, WATERS, and WILDLIFE

S T O R Y A N D P H O T O S B Y W. H . " C H I P " G R O S S

S

Wyandot

“ I n k la

“ Y s fa

The story of the last tribe of American Indians to leave Ohio — and the building they left behind

In the middle of Mission Cemetery in Upper Sandusky stands a stone church — nearly 200 years old — built from slabs of blue limestone gathered from the nearby Sandusky River.

The age of the church, however, is not the only thing that makes it special; it’s extraordinary because it is the last tangible evidence of the last Indian tribe to leave Ohio: the Wyandot.

During the 1700s, half a dozen major tribes of Native Americans occupied what would become the Buckeye State in 1803. But through continual wars and broken treaties with the fledgling United States, those tribes were pushed farther and farther off their lands, until eventually all the Wyandots had left was a mere 12-mile-square parcel, centered on Upper Sandusky, known as the Grand Reserve.

“As part of the treaty that put them on a reservation, the Wyandots were entitled to request funds 32

from the government to build a meeting house,” says Betsy Bowen, a Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative member who serves on the committee that oversees the historic building. “The Wyandot Mission Church was built in 1824, ironically with funds from the U.S. War Department.”

Jean Moon, another member of the committee, added that the church’s first pastor was John Stewart, who came in 1816. Stewart, Moon says, was “a young black man from Virginia who came to preach to the Indians. And he preached through another black man, interpreter Jonathan Pointer, who had been adopted by the Wyandots as a child.”

A series of missionary pastors followed Stewart through the years, and all seemed to be going well — until February 1830, when the Indian Removal Act was introduced in Congress. The bill, which required all American

“ I is is a

Indians then living on reservations to be relocated to land west of the Mississippi, narrowly passed, and was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson on May 28 of that year. Vice President Martin Van Buren called it the highlight of Jackson’s presidency.

The 664 Wyandots reluctantly began their journey west on July 12, 1843 — some on horseback, some in wagons, and others simply

“ F h w

“ a T d

(Continued on Page 34)

IM o is se w a an

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1/19/17 12:30 PM

WOODS, WATERS, and WILDLIFE

The church fell into disrepair after the Wyandot departed, and both the interior (above) and exterior (above right) were restored in 1889.

(—continued from Page 32)

walking. Their path took them through Kenton, Bellefontaine, Springfield, Xenia, and eventually to Cincinnati.

Newspapers in the towns along the way all carried stories of the Wyandot passing. A reporter for the Springfield Republic wrote: “It was indeed a melancholy sight to witness the departure of the last Redman from our borders.

Only a few years have elapsed since they were the sole owners of every acre of soil in Ohio. Judging from the past, we suppose that in a few years the Wyandot tribe will become extinct. It has not been long since they numbered thousands; now only a few hundred remain.

May the power of the Almighty guard and protect them so long as one drop of aboriginal blood continues to flow.”

In Cincinnati, tribal members boarded two steamboats that took them to Missouri, a trip requiring nearly three weeks.

But upon arrival, there was no land awaiting them as the government had promised. Forced to camp along the Missouri River in cold and damp conditions, some 100 tribal members died that winter — men, women, and children.

34

Plaques (above and below) erected at the grounds of the old Mission Church give a bit of the history of the site. At left, another plaque marks the grave of the church’s original pastor.

The remaining members of the tribe eventually moved overland into Kansas and Oklahoma.

Today, a combined total of about 6,000 Wyandots live in Kansas, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Canada.

The stone Wyandot Mission Church in Upper Sandusky was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 by the U.S. Department of the Interior.  W.H. “CHIP” GROSS, a member of

Consolidated Electric Cooperative, is Country Living’s outdoors editor.

He encourages readers to share outdoors story ideas at whchipgross@ gmail.com. 

If You Go...

If you’d like to visit the Wyandot Mission Church at Upper Sandusky, it’s open June, July, and August, Friday through Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Ecumenical services are held on Sunday mornings. Special tours can be arranged at other times of the year by calling the John Stewart United Methodist Church at 419-294-2867.

•

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FEBRUARY 2017 CALENDAR

NORTHWEST FEB. 4 – Ice-A-Fair, 685 Main St., Vermilion. A free daylong winter event for the entire family. More than 40 glittering ice sculptures on display and ice carving demos throughout the day. Easily walkable or tour by Lolly the Trolley 11 a.m.–4 p.m. ($2). More than 20 shops and restaurants will be open to welcome visitors. Sample chocolate confections at Ritter Public Library’s Chocolate Festival, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., 50 cents a taste. The event caps at 6 p.m. with a towering display of Fire & Ice. End the day at the Meltdown party at the Vermilion Boat Club at 7 p.m. ($25). 440963-0772 or www.mainstreetvermilion.org.

FEB. 4 – The Time Jumpers, featuring Vince Gill, Niswonger Performing Arts Ctr., 10700 St. Rte. 118 S., Van Wert, 7:30 p.m. $25–$45. The 10-member band is a “Who’s Who” of country music. 419-2386722 or www.npacvw.org.

FEB. 4–5 – Tri-State Gun Show, Allen Co. Fgds., 2750 Harding Hwy., Lima (2 miles east of Lima on St. Rte. 309), Sat. 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m. $5, free for members, under 18 free. Over 400 tables of modern and antique guns, knives, hunting equipment, and associated collectibles for purchase. 419-647-0067 or www.tristategunshow.org.

FEB. 10–12 – 2017 Camp and Travel RV Show, SeaGate Convention Ctr., 401 Jefferson Ave., Toledo (times TBA). $6, Srs. $5, under 16 free. Northwest Ohio’s oldest and largest RV show. See over 100 RVs plus RV accessories and more. 419-2553300 or www.toledo-seagate.com/events.

FEB. 10–12 – Winterfest/BG Chillabration, Bowling Green. Free. Ice carving demos, Skate with the Bobcats, 1-mile Frostbite run, chili and soup cookoff, 50th Celebration BGSU Ice Arena Party, BGHS Art Show, and much more!

Go to Facebook for full list of events and times. 419-353-9445 or https://www.gobgohio.com.

FEB. 12 – Bedazzle Bridal Expo, Wyandot Co. Fdgs., Masters Bldg., 10171 St. Hwy. 53 N., Upper Sandusky, 12–2:30 p.m. $7. Over 40 exhibitors showcase their products and services that enhance and create that special day for the bride.

Includes photography, event planning, tuxedo rental, dresses, catering, and more.

Resources for other special events as well.

419-294-3349 or http://uppersanduskychamber.com.

FEB. 12 – Broadway’s 42nd Street, Niswonger Performing Arts Ctr., 10700 St. Rte. 118 S., Van Wert, 2 and 7:30 p.m. $35–$60. The quintessential backstage musical comedy classic. 419-238-6722 or www.npacvw.org.

PLEASE NOTE: Country Living strives for ac­curacy but strongly urges readers to confirm dates and times before traveling long distances to events. Submit listings AT LEAST 90 DAYS prior to the event by writing to Country Living, 6677 Busch Blvd., Columbus, OH 43229 or events@ ohioec.org. Country Living will not publish listings that don’t include a complete address of where the event takes place or a number/website for more information.

FEB. 17–19 – HBA House and Home Show, SeaGate Convention Ctr., 401 Jefferson Ave., Toledo, Fri. 3–8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Builders, remodelers, windows, doors, outdoor design, and so much more! 419-2553300, www.toledo-seagate.com/events, or www.toledohba.com.

FEB. 17–19 – Perrysburg Winterfest, downtown Perrysburg. Over 100 ice carvings on display, plus music, great food, and your favorite craft beers and wines. Featured event is the U.S. National Ice Carving Championship: 20 first-class master and professional ice carvers will compete for $15,000 of prize money and the national title. www.downtownperrysburg.org.

FEB. 18 – Frozen in Time, Sauder Village, 22611 St. Rte. 2, Archbold, 1–5 p.m. $13, Stds. $7. New event at Sauder Village! Enjoy a day filled with frozen-themed activities like sleigh rides, sledding, bird watching, a nature walk, and an opportunity to learn about ice-harvesting. Also indoor activities like parlor games, popcorn popping, a snowman craft, and more. All activities are weather permitting. 800-590-9755 or http://saudervillage.org.

FEB. 18–19 – Honoring Our Native Heritage Pow Wow, UAW Hall, 1440 Bellefontaine Ave., Lima, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Grand Entry ceremony, Sat. 1 and 6 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m. $5, Srs./C. $3, under 5 free.

Native American crafts, dancing, singing, and food. 419-587-4249.

FEB. 18–20 – Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides, Spiegel Grove, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums, Fremont, 1–4 p.m. Ride through the Hayes estate on a horse-drawn sleigh as the president did when he lived here. A horse-drawn trolley may be used instead, depending on demand and staffing levels. $3, under 3 free. 419-332-2081 or www. rbhayes.org.

FEB. 25 – Annual Arrowhead Day, Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 St. Rte. 598, Crestline, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Free. Local artifact collections, flint knapping demonstrations, and more. Bring your own artifacts for identification. 419-683-9000 or www. crawfordparkdistrict.org.

FEB. 25 – Burning Snowman Fest, 252 W. Lakeshore Dr., Port Clinton. Live music, hot tubs, craft beers, food, and a giant burning snowman! www.facebook.com/ BurningSnowman.

36

J FEB. 16 – State Dinner with President McKinley, Keller Gallery, McKinley Presidential Library and Museum, 800 McKinley Monument Dr. N., Canton, 6 p.m. $45, reservations required. Features a meet-and-greet, a catered dinner, and remarks from the president based on authentic historical speeches. 330-455-7043 or http://mckinleymuseum.org.

NORTHEAST THROUGH FEB. 28 – After Christmas Sale at Tis the Season, 4363 St. Rte. 39, Berlin. Save 50% storewide (collectibles not included) at Ohio’s largest year-round Christmas shop. 330-893-3604 or www. tistheseasonchristmas.com.

THROUGH MAR. 18 – Geauga Fresh Farmers’ Market – Winter Market, Lowe’s Greenhouse and Gift, 16540 Chillicothe Rd., Bainbridge, every Sat. 9 a.m.–noon. Pastured meats, free-range eggs, winter vegetables, honey, maple syrup, and bakery items are just a sample of what is offered. 440-474-9885 and 216219-6840.

FEB. 3 – Stephen Wright, Ohio Theatre, 1511 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. $45– $65. Enjoy the offbeat humor of this Academy Award winner and comedy legend. 216-241-6000, 866-546-1353, or www.playhousesquare.org.

FEB. 3–12 – The Great Big Home and Garden Show, IX Center, 1 I-X Center Dr., Cleveland, Mon.–Fri. 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Sat./ Sun. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Appearances by Kathy Ireland, HGTV stars, and others. 440-2485729 or www.greatbighomeandgarden. com.

FEB. 4 – Winter Hike, Findley State Park, 25381 St. Rte. 58, Wellington, 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. Experience the beauty of winter through the woodlands and around the lake. 10K, 5K, and interpretive led hikes.

Donations accepted for cornbread and bean soup after hikes. Meet at the Nature Ctr. and dress for the winter. 440-6475749 or http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/findley.

FEB. 11 – Tree Tapping Ceremony, Burton Log Cabin and Sugar Camp, 14590 E. Park St., Burton, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Free. The official start to the maple syrup season with demos, hot chocolate, and doughnuts. Tap your own tree in the park and put your name on it for the length of the season. 440-834-4204 or www.burtonchamberofcommerce.org.

FEB. 12 – Donut Fest, Red Space, 2400 Superior Ave. E., Cleveland. Two sessions: 10 a.m.–12 p.m., 12–2 p.m. $30. Limited VIP session, 8–10 a.m. $45. The city’s finest restaurants and bakeries submit their best cruller, ring, or long john and compete against each other for the title of “Best Donut.” Taste the delicious entries and enjoy samples of fine coffee. 216-2414040 or http://donutfest.com.

FEB. 18 – Brite Winter, West Bank of the Flats, Cleveland, 3 p.m.–1 a.m. The best of local, regional, and national musicians and local artisans. www.britewinter. com.

FEB. 24–MAR. 5 – Cleveland Auto Show, IX Center, One I-X Dr., Cleveland, Fri. 5–10 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–8 p.m. $13, Srs./C. (7–12) $11, under 7 free. Indoor test drives, drawings, and the Classic Car Competition are among the special features. www.clevelandautoshow. com.

FEB. 25 – Lake Erie Folk Fest, Shore Cultural Centre, 291 E. 222nd St., Euclid, 1-6 p.m., concert at 7:30 p.m. Free afternoon of music workshops, dances, community jams, and children’s programs. Cap off your day with an inspiring evening concert ($10, under 12 free). lakeeriefolkfest@ gmail.com or www.lakeeriefolkfest.com.

CENTRAL THROUGH MAR. 5 – Orchids, Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad St., Columbus, daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $14, Srs./ Stds. $11, C. (3-17) $7, under 3 free. Stroll through an indoor garden inspired by the opulence of the Art Deco movement.

Thousands of orchid blooms and tropical plants are displayed in artful designs. 614715-8000 or http://fpconservatory.org.

FEB. 1–12 – Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, Studio One, Riffe Ctr., 77 S. High St., Columbus. $20–$40.

Sherlock Holmes and Watson meet up with The 39 Steps in this madcap mystery farce.

614-469-0939 or www.catco.org.

FEB. 2–5 – Ella Fitzgerald and the Great Ladies of Jazz, Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St., Columbus, Thur. 7:30 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m. $25.

Celebrating the centenary of America’s “First Lady of Song” and the legacy of her contemporaries. 614-469-0939 or www. jazzartsgroup.org.

FEB. 2 – Groundhog Day with Buckeye Chuck, iHeart Marion, 1330 N. Main St., Marion. Ohio’s official weatherpredicting groundhog will check for his shadow. Come early before the sun comes up to see Chuck. Always hot drinks and, of course, the traditional Spam burgers! 740383-1131 or www.wmrn.com.

•

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OEC CL February-2017 pages 36-37.indd 2

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FEB. 3–4 – Lancaster Antique Show, Fairfield Co. Fgds., Ed Sands Bldg., 157 E. Fair Ave., Lancaster, Fri. preview 6–8:30 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $10 for two-day pass; $6 for Sat. only. 18th-century to mid20th-century antiques, country furniture, textiles, stoneware, original art, and more.

614-325-8873 or 614-989-5811.

FEB. 3–4 – AAA Great Vacations Travel Expo, Greater Columbus Convention Ctr., 400 High St., Columbus, Fri. 12–7 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. $8. Talk one-on-one with travel experts and find vacation packages to fit every budget and interest. Fun activities for the whole family. www.aaagreatvacations.com.

FEB. 3–26 – Columbus Blue Jackets Winter Park, McFerson Commons, 218 West St., Columbus. $5. This outdoor community skate rink is open throughout February for public and private skating sessions. Equipped with bleacher seating, a skate rental tent, and four heated locker rooms. The park also features a tall tubing hill. www.experiencecolumbus.com.

FEB. 4–5 – The Wizard of Oz, COSI, 333 W. Broad St., Columbus, 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Part of COSI’s Winter Movie Series.

See the beloved classic on the giant screen! 614-228-2674 or http://cosi.org.

FEB. 10 – Firefall and Pure Prairie League, Palace Theatre, 276 W. Center St., Marion, 7:30 p.m. $22–$36.

Experience countless memorable hits of the ’60s and ’70s. 740-383-2101 or www. marionpalace.org.

FEB. 10–12 – Columbus Fishing Expo, Ohio Expo Ctr., Bricker Bldg., 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, 12–8 p.m. Three days of sport fishing education and fun. 614-3615548 or www.columbusfishingexpo.com.

FEB. 11 – Valentine’s Hike, Marion Tallgrass Trail, 2093 Holland Rd. W., Marion, 1–4 p.m. Come as you please and hike at your own pace for as far as you like. Join Naturalist James Anderson for a guided nature tour starting at 1:30 p.m. at the nature center. This is a great way to meet new people and enjoy the outdoors.

Please dress for the weather and bring water. Make sure to stop in the nature center for refreshments! 740-223-4160 or www.marioncountyparks.info.

FEB. 11–12 – Wille Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, COSI, 333 W. Broad St., Columbus, 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Part of COSI’s Winter Movie Series. See the beloved classic on the giant screen! 614228-2674 or http://cosi.org.

FEB. 17–19 – James and the Giant Peach, Main Stage, Jr. Palace Production, 276 W. Center St., Marion, 7:30 p.m., matinee Sun. 2 p.m. $12–$18. 740-383-2101 or www.marionpalace.org.

OEC CL February-2017 pages 36-37.indd 3

FEB. 18–26 – Columbus Dispatch Home and Garden Show, Ohio Expo Ctr., Bricker Bldg. and Celeste Ctr., 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, Sat. and Mon. 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., closed Tues., Wed.–Fri. 12–8 p.m.

Expertise from local gurus and craftsmen, how-to sessions and demos, fun for the kids, giveaways, celebrity appearances, and much more. www.dispatchhomeandgardenshow.com.

FEB. 18–19 – Heritage Arms Gun Show, Pritchard Laughlin Civic Ctr., 7033 Glenn Highway, Cambridge, Fri. 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. 740-439-7009 or www.pritchardlaughlin.com.

FEB. 11–19 – The Wizard of Oz, Taft Theater, 317 E. 5th St., Cincinnati. $10–$30. The classic tale comes to life on the stage. 800-745-3000 or www.thechildrenstheatre.com.

FEB. 24 – Route 66, Pritchard Laughlin Civic Ctr., 7033 Glenn Highway, Cambridge, 7:30 p.m. The ’50s music in this show is energizing and fun for all ages. 740-439-7009 or www.pritchardlaughlin.com.

FEB. 17, 18 – Great Backyard Bird Count, Cedar Bog Nature Preserve, 980 Woodburn Rd., Urbana. 937-484-3744 or e-mail cedarbog@ctcn.net.

FEB. 19 – Fairfield Co. Antique Tractor Club Toy Show, Fairfield Co. Fgds., AAA Bldg., Lancaster, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. 740-4072347 or www.fairfieldcountytractorclub. com.

FEB. 24–25 – A Night of One Acts, Cambridge Performing Arts Ctr., Cambridge. Fri. is adult night; Sat. is family night. $5. 740-261-4304 or www.cambridgeperformingartscentre.org.

FEB. 24 – Lisa Biales, Palace Theatre, May Pavilion, 276 W. Center St., Marion, 7:30 p.m. $15. Dubbed the “Belle of the Blues,” Lisa Biales sings from the heart.

740-383-2101 or www.marionpalace.org.

SOUTHEAST

FEB. 25 – Jammin’ for Johnson, Cambridge Eagles Club, 1930 E. Wheeling Ave., Cambridge. $10/person, $15/couple.

Jazz jam in memory of the late Bunk Johnson. Annual fundraiser features some of the best musicians in Ohio. 740-4354847.

FEB. 3 – First Fridays, downtown Marietta, 5–9 p.m. A celebration of small business, community, art, music, and all that makes downtown Marietta special.

Special shopping hours so the community can “shop local” and support small businesses. http://mariettaohio.org.

FEB. 27 – National Symphony Orchestra of the Ukraine, Secrest Auditorium, 334 Shinnick St., Zanesville, 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. This famous orchestra makes its first concert tour to the U.S. 740-454-6851 or www.zanesvilleconcertassociation.com.

FEB. 11 – Sweethearts Hike, Hocking Hills, 19852 St. Rte. 664 S., Logan. Free.

Take your sweetheart for a romantic stroll to Ash Cave in the soft light of dusk.

Afterward, enjoy a cozy fire and refreshments. 740-385-6842 or http://parks. ohiodnr.gov/hockinghills.

SOUTHWEST

FEB. 11 – The McCartney Project, Majestic Theater, 45 E. 2nd St., Chillicothe, 7:30 p.m. $18–$20. The ultimate live concert tribute to Paul McCartney & Wings and The Beatles. 614-257-8107 or http:// themccartneyproject.com.

FEB. 5 – Medina Railroad and Toy Show, Medina Co. Community Ctr./ Medina Fgds., 735 Lafayette Rd. (St. Rte. 42), Medina, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $6. 330-9484400 or www.conraddowdell.com

FEB. 11 – Contemporary Gun Makers and Allied Artists, Campus Martius Museum, Marietta, 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m. $7, Stds. $4. Features some of the finest artisans who specialize in re-creating the tools and weapons of frontier settlers.

Special demonstrations in the art of barrel rifling using 18th- and early 19th-century techniques. Original rifling machines will be on display. Merchants include gunsmiths and makers of powder horn and hunting bags. 740-373-3750 or www. campusmartiusmuseum.org.

FEB. 16 – Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Vern Riffe Ctr., 940 Second St., Portsmouth, 7:30 p.m. $25–$60. This lush production features an incredible orchestra, jaw-dropping transformations, and all the moments you love — the pumpkin, the glass slipper, the masked ball, and more — plus some surprising new twists! 740-351-3600 or https://vrcfa.com.

FEB. 3–4 – Mahler’s Fifth, Schuster Ctr., 1 W. Center St., Dayton. $15–$65.

Performed by the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. 937-224-3521 or http://daytonperformingarts.org.

FEB. 10–12 – King Arthur’s Camelot, 650 Walnut St., Cincinnati, Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 and 8 p.m., Sun. 1 and 6:30 p.m. From $32. One of the few ballets created based on the legendary tale. Complete with puppets, projections, and jousting. 513621-5282 or www.cballet.org.

FEB. 11–12 – Jungle Jim’s Big Cheese Festival, Oscar Event Ctr., Jungle Jim’s International Market, 5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield, 12–5 p.m. $12, C. $2, under 5 free. Sample amazing cheeses plus a variety of meats, olives, and other appetizers, as well as fabulous beers and wines.

513-674-6055 or www.junglejims.com/ bigcheesefest.

FEB. 11–12 – Chazziz 8th Annual Valentine’s Car Show, Roberts Centre, 123 Gano Rd., Wilmington, Sat. 1–10 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Open to all makes and models. Door prizes, vendors, games, and music. 937-218-2290 or www.facebook.com/chazziz.

FEB. 17–18 – 10th Annual Cincy Beerfest, Duke Energy Ctr., regular admission Fri. and Sun. 7:30–11 p.m., Sat. 1–4:30 p.m. $45–$55, Early Admission ticket $55–$65, Special Connoisseur ticket $95. Choose 25 samples from over 500 fresh craft beers. 150-plus breweries represented. Beard and Mustache Competition, Sat. 8 p.m. www.cincybeerfest.com.

FEB. 25 – Winter Hike, Caesar Creek State Park, 8570 E St. Rte.73, Waynesville, 10 a.m.–noon. Self-guided hike to Horseshoe Falls and our 103foot swinging bridge. Warm up with a nice soup lunch at the Nature Center before going on to Crawdad Falls.

513-897-2437 or www.facebook.com/ CaesarCreekStatePark.

FEB. 25–26 – "20th Century Cincinnati," Sharonville Convention Ctr., 11355 Chester Rd., Cincinnati, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Preview starts at 9 a.m. $8 admission covers both days. Annual retrospective of vintage modern design: the avant-garde art, architecture, furnishings, décor, and fashions that emerged between World War I and the Information Age. 513-7387256 or http://20thcenturycincinnati.com.

FEB. 26 – Skunk Cabbage Walk, Cedar Bog Nature Preserve, 980 Woodburn Rd., Urbana. $5, C. and CBA members $4. 937484-3744 or www.cedarbognp.org.

FEB. 26 – Cincinnati Bridal Expo, Centre Park, 5800 Mulhauser Rd., West Chester, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. $5 advance, $8 at door. Cincinnati’s premier bridal show.

Fashion shows 12:30 and 2:30. 937-5504138 or http://ohiobridalexpos.com.

WEST VIRGINIA THROUGH MAR. 31 – Honeymoon and Anniversary Packages, North Bend State Park, 202 North Bend Park Rd., Cairo. $80–$120. 800-CALL-WVA or www. northbendsp.com.

FEB. 11–12 – Sweethearts Getaway, North Bend State Park, 202 North Bend Park Rd., Cairo. $50–$199. Celebrate romance in style, with dinner, live entertainment, and dancing. 800-CALL-WVA or www.northbendsp.com.

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M

Both of these devices create hot air but which uses less power?

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WaterFurnace is a registered trademark of WaterFurnace International, Inc. ©2017 WaterFurnace International Inc. 1. 7 Series unit uses approximately 900 watts while running in speeds 1-2.

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MEMBER INTERACTIVE Tamela Morton South Central Power Company member Photo of her, her hubby, and their dog

Send us your photos!

If we use your photo, you’ll get a Country Living tumbler.

For August, send us photos of “It’s so hot!” by May 15. For September, send us your best barns and bridges photos by June 15.

Guidelines: 1. One entry per household per month.

2. Upload your photos at www.ohioec.org/ memberinteractive or by U.S. mail: Editor, 6677 Busch Blvd., Columbus, OH 43229.

3. Include your name, mailing address, phone number or e-mail, the name of your electric co-op, the month you’re submitting for, and who the person(s) in the photo is, as well as an explanation of the photo. If you do not provide this info, we cannot print your submission.

4. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want anything returned.

Festivals, fairs, carnivals: sitting on the Ferris wheel, walking the midway hand in hand, sharing a favorite food (or two), winning a prize for the other.

Jodi Bird South Central Power Company member

Your local WaterFurnace dealers Ashland Ashland Comfort Control (419) 281-0144

Dresden Federal Htg & Clg (740) 754-4328

Mansfield Eberts Htg & Clg (419) 589-2000

East Liberty Reliant Mechanical (937) 666-5800

Marion Wenig’s Inc. (740) 383-5012

Findlay Knueve & Sons Inc. (419) 420-7638

Medina Sisler Heating (330) 722-7101

www.accurategeothermal.com

Holgate Holgate Hardware (419) 264-3012

Mt. Vernon Cosby Htg & Clg (740) 393-4328

Cincinnati Bill Spade Htg & Clg (513) 941-0075

Kalida Knueve & Sons Inc. (419) 420-7638

New Knoxville New Knoxville Supply (419) 753-2444

Bowling Green United Home Comfort (419) 352-7092

www.unitedhomecomfort.com Canal Winchester Patriot Air (614) 577-1577

www.patriotair.com

Chillicothe Accurate Htg & Clg (740) 775-5005

www.billspadegeothermal.com

www.federalheating.com

www.reliantgeo.com

www.knueve.com

www.knueve.com

Columbus Geo Source One (614) 873-1140

Lancaster Fairfield Heating (740) 653-6421

Defiance Schlatters Plbg & Htg (419) 393-4690

McCullough Htg & Clg (740) 653-4740

www.geosourceone.com

www.schlattersgeothermal.com

OEC CL February-2017 pages 38-39.indd 3

www.fairfieldgeothermal.com

www.ebertsheatingandcooling.com

Sidney Lochard Inc. (937) 492-8811 Springfield Danco Enterprises (937) 969-8440

www.dancoenterprises.com

www.wenigsinc.com

Tipp City Ed’s HVAC Plumbing Electric (937) 667-6713

www.sislerhvac.com

www.newknoxvillesupply.com Portsmouth Accurate Htg & Clg (740) 353-4328

Toledo Overcashier & Horst (419) 841-3333 Waverly Combs Htg & A/C (740) 947-4061 Wellington Wellington Indoor Comfort (440) 647-3421

www.accurategeothermal.com

www.mcculloughgeo.com

FEBRUARY 2017

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S T O R Y A N D P H O T O BY W. H . " C H I P " G R O S S

BUCKEYE Buckeye Chuck, Ohio’s official weather-prognosticating groundhog, does not live what anyone would consider a tough life; after all, he’s called upon to work only one day a year.

But oh, that one day: Groundhog Day, February 2 — the day the entire world watches with bated breath to see what he sees when he comes out of his den.

The legend goes that groundhogs emerge from their winter nap each year on that date to gauge the weather. If it’s a cloudy day and they don’t see their shadow, winter is essentially over. But if it’s a sunny day and they do see their shadow, supposedly it scares them back into their burrow for six more weeks of winter.

There is a little fact behind the myth. Groundhogs hibernate, but they are light sleepers, and during breaks in winter weather when temperatures rise a bit, they are known to come out looking for something to eat.

Buckeye Chuck makes his annual grand appearance and weather forecast from WMRN radio station in Marion. He became the state’s official weather-prognosticating groundhog in 1979 by proclamation of the Ohio legislature — and new generations of Buckeye Chucks have kept it going for 37 years.

And though Scott Shawver, the WMRN station manager, claims that “everyone knows Buckeye Chuck really lives in the woods behind the radio station,” Chuck’s keeper is Craig Kokas, who lives near the village of Green Camp in Marion County and is a member of Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative.

Kokas runs Kokas Exotics, a state-licensed animal breeder and dealer that also has lemurs, foxes, 40

CHUCK

Ohio’s favorite groundhog

Buckeye Chuck has been predicting the beginning of Ohio springtimes since he was named Ohio’s official weather-prognosticating groundhog by the state legislature in 1979. His keeper claims he’s about 75 percent accurate in predicting the early arrival of spring.

each Groundhog Day from atop Gobbler’s Knob. But Phil is not always pleased to be dragged from his warm winter den for such human foolishness. As a result, he has a tendency to bite. Buckeye Chuck, being a much more refined and well-behaved groundhog, would certainly never do such a thing.

Besides being a bit cheeky, Punxsutawney Phil is also not very accurate with his weather forecasting, being correct only about 39 percent of the time.

Buckeye Chuck, on the other hand, claims about 75 percent accuracy — though what constitutes an early spring can be a matter of personal judgment.

Will his weather prediction this year prove true? We’ll know soon enough. 

When asked what Buckeye Chuck does to prepare for his one big day each February, Kokas said, “Eat and sleep. And then when winter comes, he goes into hibernation and sleeps even more.” and lots of other animals. When asked what Buckeye Chuck does to prepare for his one big day each February, Kokas said, “Eat and sleep. And then when winter comes, he goes into hibernation and sleeps even more.”

Kokas said he nearly lost Buckeye Chuck once when he got loose.

But disaster was averted when he found him wandering around the yard, eating. “He’s really pretty tame,” said Kokas, “almost like a pet, so he didn’t go far.”

America’s most famous groundhog is Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil, who has been making his prognostications since 1887. He greets the national press at sunrise

W.H. “CHIP” GROSS is Country Liv-

ing’s outdoors editor.

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www.ohioec.org

MEMBERS’ ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION A cooperative’s consumer-members provide the working capital for operation through payment for goods or services. Because electric co-ops are not-for-profit, they provide service at cost, and any unused capital is returned to consumer-members in the form of capital credits, also called patronage capital. By returning capital credits to members, co-ops put dollars back into the local community.

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