Village Of Fayette 150th Tribute

Village Of Fayette, Ohio 150th Celebration Tribute

The Village Reporter (Northwest Ohio Publishing LLC)

1 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Fayette 150th Tribute Table Of Contents Historic Content Table Of Contents Description Page(s) Cover Page........................................................................1 Table Of Contents.............................................................2 Fayette 150th Celebration Event Preview.................... ......3 Fayette 150th Celebration Preview Article..........................4 Welcome - Forrest R. Church, Publisher The Village Reporter (Northwest Ohio Publishing)................5 House Of Representatives Congratulations........................6 Welcome - David Borer, Fayette Mayor..............................7 Welcome - Colleen Rufenacht, President Bean Creek Valley History Center......................................9 Welcome - Dr. Karen King, President Fayette Community Development Corporation......................11 Thoughts - Dr. Angie Belcher, Superintendent Fayette Local School District..............................................13 Thoughts - Jon Rupp, Commissioner Fulton County Commissioner................................................14 Fayette, The First 100 Years.............................................15-25 Original Village Council Minutes.......................................27-28 Fayette, The Last 50 Years................................................30-31 Glimpse Of Fayette Today (In Photos)................................33 ConnectGen Solar Coming Soon (Silver Advertiser)............34 Fayette Disk Golf Course Now Open..................................35 Famous Citizen Gaylord Yost............................................36 Famous Citizen Rev. Samuel Binns & Son Bill..................38 Reflection - Fayette School Dedication........................... ...39-41 Fayette Students Share Thoughts................................. ....42-48 History Of The Fayette School District...............................49-53 History Of Fayette Area Schools (In Photos).......................54-57 Reflection - 1964 Marching Band Trip To D.C....................58-59 Basketball - Tradition Of Purple & Gold.............................61-64 Fayette Cross Country Success.................................... .....65 History Of Fayette Athletics (In Photos)..............................66-69 History Of Fayette Normal Library.....................................70-71 Fayette Fire Department History (In Photos)......................72 History Of Fayette Houses Of Worship........................ ......74-82 Fayette Opera House (Silver Sponsor)................................83-85 Community Members Share Thoughts...............................86-87 Back Page Cover................................................................88 *Community Member Thoughts Also Throughout Tribute

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Sponsorship Table Of Contents Description Page Aftershock Carts.....................25 Andres O’Neil & Lowe..............26 Aschilman & CO CPA..............28 Bean Creek Valley History Center ........................20 Black Swamp Equipment .......79 Brick & Thistle Farms ............29 ConnectGen Solar Field (Silver Sponsor).......................12 Eagle-Marry Funeral Home.....41 Fayette Beautification Club.....48 Fayette CDC...........................60 Fayette Lions Club..................48 Fayette Normal Library...........19 Fayette Opera House (Silver Sponsor).......................8 Fountain Valley Trucking........70 Freddy’s Bar & Grill................24 Gorham Fayette

Description

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Fire Department......................73 Gorham Township Trustees.....21 InnovaTek................................4 Kamco Industries....................22 May-Day Welding....................32 Molitierno & Thiel Attorneys At Law....................................53 New Beginnings Ministries......16 Northwest State Community College.....................................5 Ohio Gas Company.................75 Ohio Rep Jim Hoops................6 Stephen T. Priestap Attorney At Law.......................23 Snow’s Fire Protection.............10 The Bake Shop........................82 The Village Reporter................37 Tri County Repair...................18 Worthington Industries............81

Fayette 150th Tribute Community Donations: “Thank You” to those who responded to mailed flyers and contributed financially to help make this tribute possible (non-advertisers).

• Fayette Bull Thistle Festival ($50) • Amy Mitchell ($50) • Richard & Kathy Miller ($100) • Ashley Miller ($50) • Anonymous ($100) • Jason & Tarra Phillips ($100)

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Saturday, August 12th, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Fayette High School Welcome - Fayette CDC President - Dr. Karen King 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

• Fayette High School Band • Newly formed Fayette Kitchen Band • Guest Speakers • Special Fayette Birthday cake cutting • Free Meal (first come, first serve), compliments of CDC - live music 10 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Live local musicians, old-fashioned games for children, lots of Fayette History, photos, posters, kid drawn pictures.

*Donation box will be available for future 150th Memorial.

EVERYONE WELCOME - DOORS OPEN @ 9:30 A.M. Come enjoy a fun-packed, interesting, informative day!

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The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Fayette To Celebrate 150 Years Of History & Community By: Amy Wendt THE VILLAGE REPORTER

Mark your calendars! The Village of Fayette is gearing up for an exciting milestone as the town prepares to commemorate its 150th birthday.

The village’s big day will be marked on Saturday, August 12 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Fayette High School. All are welcome to join the celebration of this occasion, reflecting on the past, embracing the present, and looking forward to a promising future.

Kicking off the festivities at 10:00 am, guests will be welcomed at the High School by Dr. Karen King, Director of the Fayette Community Development Corporation. Special guest speakers will be on hand to share stories and insights into Fayette’s journey over the past 150 years.

Adding to the celebratory mood, the Fayette High School Band and the newly formed Fayette Kitchen Band showcasing local talent will provide lively entertainment throughout the morning.

Of course, no Birthday celebration is complete without delicious food! A meal will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and a special birthday cake will be cut.

From 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm the fun will continue with more live music and old-fashioned games and crafts for kids and adults alike!

Bringing history to life, costumed individuals will be on hand at the celebration representing Fayette residents from the 1873 era and beyond and will share captivating stories about days gone by.

To commemorate Fayette’s

Owners Keith Roth and Matt Towers

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150th Celebration, the Fayette Community Development Corporation (CDC) and The Village Reporter partnered to publish a keepsake tabloid, highlighting Fayette’s history.

Volunteers devoted significant time and effort to preserve Fayette’s local history, particularly at the Been Creek Valley History Center downtown. When in the area, don’t miss the opportunity to explore this valuable community resource, which is a rare gem that Fayette residents should cherish.

Fayette has a rich history and vibrant community that has flourished over the years. Be sure to join the village’s 150th Celebration on August 12.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME. Amy can be reached at amy@thevillagereporter.com

201 Ditto Street Archbold, OH 43502

DAYS GONE BY … Mrs. Samuel Binns (Dr. Karen King) will make an appearance at the 150th party to share her family’s Fayette story.

Other docents will be Bill Senecol as Fayette’s first mayor along with Daniel VanBuskirk and Heidi Paxton as Norma Ginnivan owner of the Ginnivan Dramatic Company.

419-445-8088 matt@innovateksolutions.net

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Welcome To The Fayette 150th Tribute - Forrest R. Church, Publisher (The Village Reporter) -

Welcome to the Fayette 150th Celebration Tribute! A large amount of time was dedicated by volunteers in an effort to secure local Fayette History within, especially at the Bean Creek Valley History Center in downtown. Make sure to check out this wonderful resource that Fayette has to offer.

This History Center is a rare organization/gathering that Fayette residents should feel blessed to have. Most of our local towns do not have similar options. Having published historic reflection keepsakes for other towns, libraries and schools the last few decades (Mont-

pelier, Stryker, West Unity, Williams County, etc.) - those at the Bean Creek Valley History Center made the composition of this tribute fairly smooth.

Information within was largely provided by the above mentioned History Center along with newspaper archives. We did our best to ensure historical information published was as factual as possible.

However it is important to note a simple web search on Fayette, Ohio History contradicts itself from one website to the next. Thus goes the comical saying, “If it is on the internet, it must be true?” - debatable.

When reviewing past historical published documentation, we noted last names spelled differently among other conflicting data.

Long story short we did our best to ensure information is as factual as

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possible but please note everything is not likely perfect. Frankly in order to “know that we know 100%” we would have had to lived during the time period being reflected upon.

I cannot stress enough that I appreciate the time volunteers placed partnering with us on this effort.

Earlier this year when we asked for interested parties in Fayette if they would like to help us build the tribute, we did not initially have much of a response. Thank you to Dr. Karen King and Colleen Rufenacht for stepping up. The staff at the newspaper along with Dr. King and Mrs. Rufenacht worked long hours and even during summer vacation time to make this tribute keepsake happen.

Due to a late start on this project we also found ourselves in a time crunch. I’m sure we will be approached after all this effort with “why didn’t you use this photo instead” or “where is the (fill in the blank)” type questions.

Frankly, sometimes you have to go full steam ahead or a deadline will never be met. If we had years to work on this project I’m sure some of what prints would be much different. We also ran into numerous road blocks where messages were not returned by a few local organizations and/or submitted material came well after our print deadline.

Long story short, please realize that this is just a glimpse of the rich history that makes up Fayette, Ohio, this certainly is not the full story.

Having officiated too many funerals over the years, I always remind mourners that no justice can be done in a short service to adequately honor the life of the departed, that honor comes in hours, days, weeks, month, years and decades afterward when loved ones share precious memories with one another. This thought, though very different in the case of the Village

of Fayette celebration, came to the front of my mind when working on this tribute. This is not a funeral, rather a celebration of Fayette, Ohio but using the comparison, this tribute cannot adequately cover the full life of the village thus far. That will come at the 150th celebration at the school, over coffee at the History Center in the future, via social media posts of past interesting photos shared by community members near and far, etc.

Honor the Village of Fayette by honoring and celebrating her with one another in days, weeks, months, years and decades to come!

While not a political statement, we have seen efforts to erase history around the country. At The Village Reporter we hope to do our best to preserve it. Again, our staff was honored to work with local Fayette historic research volunteers to publish this tribute and do our part in the preservation effort.

Advertisement / sponsorship support was key to this entire project. Please support local businesses that supported this tribute, even go out of your way to thank them personally when visiting them. The size of the tribute depended on being able to cover our costs, all of which came from sponsorship support. When starting this project we did not know if it would be a few dozen pages or a few hundred; the final size was determined by dollars raised via businesses marketing with us and donations received.

Printing costs have become extremely expensive in recent years, nearly doubling in price in some cases. With this historic piece also being stitched at the seam and in full color, this was a costly effort in which expenses were covered by these sponsors and those donating after a flyer was sent to all village residents giving the donation option.

We hope you enjoy the pages within!

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

UNDER THE SPONSORSHIP OF REPRESENTATIVE JAMES M. HOOPS HOUSE DISTRICT 81 On behalf of the members of the House of Representatives of the 135th General Assembly of Ohio, we are pleased to congratulate the VILLAGE OF FAYETTE on the auspicious occasion of its One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary.

Over the past century and a half, the Village of Fayette has enjoyed the benefits of a generous and civic-minded population, and those who currently make the community their home take great pride in its rich heritage and its many local landmarks, including the historic Fayette Opera House and Harrison Lake State Park, and its annual community events, such as the Royal Bull Thistle Arts Festival. They have exhibited cooperation, integrity, and a willingness to work hard, and their efforts have certainly made the area a pleasant and friendly place in which to live.

The One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary of the Village of Fayette offers its citizens the opportunity to share their memories and experiences and to reflect on the benefits of life in their close-knit community. A vigorous commitment to public service and an earnest devotion to lofty ideals have long been second nature to many of the village’s residents, and vigilance, industriousness, and generosity have come to typify their collective character.

Thus, we commend the Village of Fayette on its One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary and extend best wishes for peace and prosperity in the years to come.

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The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Village Of Fayette Mayor’s Office - Mayor David Borer -

My family and I have been residents of the Fayette area all our lives.

We moved into the village limits back in 2000. My wife Mary and I have five adult children, all of whom graduated from the Fayette School District. We are blessed to have each of them still residing in Fayette and the surrounding area, along with nine grandchildren. Together, we own and operate our own welding business called May-Day Welding LLC. My previous community contributions include treasurer for the Fayette Athletic Boosters and serving as a church council representative for Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church.

I was appointed to Village Council in 20102016, of which three of those years serving as Village Council President. I am also active in Governmental Affairs, Public Works, Public Safety, and Finance Committees. In 2015 I ran

for Mayor and was elected to my first term starting in 2016. I was then re-elected to my second term in 2019 to the present. I feel honored to be serving as The Mayor of Fayette as we celebrate 150 years as a community, striving to continue to build and improve our village.

Back in 1873, our forefathers were building a great place to live, by incorporating the village and bringing citizens together to work for the common good. One of the reasons for incorporating Fayette, which was quite interesting, was the fact of large animals such as cattle, horses and swine roamed about freely throughout the village. Coincidentally, barbed wire was invented in 1873 by Joseph Glidden, a farmer and businessman. He took two strands of wire and twisted them together which resulted in sharp barbs. Maybe that would have helped to keep the livestock contained to their owner’s property. As for contributing to the common good, able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 55, were asked to donate two days of their labor or $3.00 a year toward bettering the village by building brick streets and sandstone sidewalks. Transportation was by horse and railroad during that time.

Alexander Graham Bell was experimenting and close to inventing the telephone. After many attempts, he was successful, and his patent was granted in 1876. A phone costs $3.00 per month to have, which was a pretty hefty sum, considering the average annual income was only about $600.00. The typewriter was invented in 1873 by Wisconsin Senator and printer Christopher Latham Sholes. Look how far we’ve come in 2023, a phone in our hand that we can type and send messages to anywhere in the world in seconds. Wouldn’t Alex and Chris be amazed at where their inventions have taken us today?

We’ve definitely made a lot of progress in the last 150 years. Presently, Fayette is in the midst of a rebuilding process. We have a separated storm and sanitary sewer system and a rebuilt Industrial Parkway for commercial usage and expansion. This fall we will begin a total replacement of all the water lines in the village. It will be a huge undertaking but will be a great advancement for us as a community. Just as our predecessor’s back in 1873, we need to continue to look forward to a better and brighter future towards the next 150 years.

“What Do You Enjoy About Living In Fayette?

CHRIS BECKER

MATT SCHAFFNER

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JEANETTE MCCORD

SHELLEY MYERS

JUDY LEADY

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

FAYETTE OPERA HOUSE Bringing You 125 Years Of Arts & Entertainment

1898-2023 Fayette Opera House 105 E. Main St. P.O. Box 355 Fayette, Ohio 43521 419-237-3111 Box Office 419-237-2721 www.operahouse-fayette.org Fayette Opera House@Fayette.OH

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The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Welcome From Colleen Rufenacht - Bean Creek Valley History Center, Inc. President -

I am certain that many people in Fayette and surrounding communities have wondered how Colleen Rufenacht, President of the Bean Creek Valley History Center, Inc. in Fayette, became so involved in Fayette’s history. Here is my story.

I grew up outside of Waldron, Michigan, on the Holland centennial farm located on Lickley Road and graduated from Waldron High School. In 1974, I married Bob Grisier from Archbold and we had Grisier’s Music store for many years. I made a career of giving private guitar lessons. Several years after Bob suddenly passed away in 1999, I married Jon Rufenacht from Archbold.

My late husband Bob was an avid local historian and told many stories of his family including his 4gr- grandmother Elizabeth McLaughlin who married Adna Reynolds in the 1830’s.

Fulton County history books tell how Elizabeth McLaughlin of Franklin Twp, Fulton County, carried a bushel of corn several miles to Bird’s Mill at Zone. Had the corn ground, carried it home and baked her wedding cake all in the same day. Adna Reynolds lived in Franklin Twp., approximately where the Archbold Turnpike exit currently is.

After meeting Bob’s family for the first time he took me on a history tour to the former Adna Reynolds farm outside of Stryker, Williams County, Ohio. He told about his mother, who was a Perkins, growing up on their family farm.

Bob’s 4-gr grandfather was Judge John Perkins who surveyed what is now Pulaski, Williams County. For years we faithfully attended many Perkins Family Reunions. We also drove past the location of Elizabeth McLaughlin’s log cabin from which she walked to Bird’s Mill on Mill Creek at present day Zone.

Do you folks remember the Alva Smith auction that was held at Fayette in the late 1950’s?

The auction that lasted for days? Because even as a teenager, Bob collected muzzle loading rifles. Bob got permission from his Archbold HS principal to skip school and attend the Smith auction for 3 days. The principal said he would learn more at the auction than he would in school! Today at the Bean Creek Valley History Center in Fayette, we have a binder full of black

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and white photos of that auction and the thousands of items that were sold. I heard stories about the size of that auction many times from Bob. Interesting how things come full circle.

As life moved along, Jon and I attended one of Tom Spiess’s Civil War Reenactments at Fayette.

There were several people there that I knew… including Tom and Cherie as I had given their son Jon guitar lessons when he was a child.

One thing led to another and Tom asked me if I would be interested in being on the board of the Fayette Opera House. I said Yes and enjoyed being on the board for several years. I resigned a year or so ago because of my involvement with the Bean Creek Valley History Center.

One day at an Opera House Meeting…it must have been a about 2013, I mentioned to Tom Spiess that I had a dream of having a table where history lovers could sit and share photos and tell local history stories. Tom said “That’s a good idea! And Fayette needs a place for its archives…let’s do it!” Because of Tom Spiess’s and Ruth Marlatt’s experience in getting a nonprofit up and running and others of us creating the format of what the the History Center would look like, we became a registered non-profit organization, were incorporated, have a board of seven, an attorney, and a CPA. We didn’t have a building to house the History Center and its archives. Gene Beaverson came to us to see if we would be interested in his family donating the former Fayette Review building to the History Center. We were thrilled and are forever grateful to them for donating the building to us in memory of Mike Beaverson.

The archival room is called the Beaverson Room.

The fledgling BCVHC didn’t have much money, but we had a vision. With community monetary donations and donations of the bathroom sink, new windows, flooring, desks, kitchen cabinet and countertop for the kitchenette and volunteer help and the list goes on...we turned the former Fayette Review/Ada Yost Hat Shop into a wonderful spot to meet and talk about local history!

We use the computer program called Past Perfect to track the items that folks have donated to us. When an item is donated we fill out a Deed of Gift that gives the information about the donor and a description of the item or items they are donating. When the person signs the Deed of Gift as the donor, they are then legally giving those items to the History Center. The archiving team then assigns an accession number

to the donation, puts pertinent information into the Past Perfect program. We take a photo of the item and assign it a spot on the shelves. It is quite a process, but when we go to the computer program and type in for instance a search for Fayette Normal University every item we have in the system so far about that particular subject comes up on the screen…with where each item is located in our building. Wow! Verna Williams, with late husband Wayne and son Mark’s help created a wonderful study of the history of the buildings of Fayette. Taking the ownership of each business building from today’s owner and tracking backwards through the life of the building. Naming the different businesses and the owners…including photos and stories about the business as Verna was able to find information. What a gift to the community! We have a special room for Verna’s Study and have named the room “Verna’s Library”. Quite fitting as Verna was the Fayette Normal Memorial Library’s librarian for years!

Stop in and see this special collection!

I started research my family’s roots and found that my gr-gr grandfather and grandmother, L D and Rachel Lickley Woods, moved to the corner of Fulton County Roads L and 22 in Franklin Twp…along Bean Creek. In 1875, L D had a sawmill on Bean Creek…and would you believe that little area was called Walnut Valley? This was before the Post Office at Zone even existed.

I have researched my family’s history for over 25 years and am fascinated not just by the pertinent dates but most of all trying to figure out what their life was like. Who they knew, what they enjoyed doing and even my doing Underground Railroad research because of a suspicion that this side of the family may be been involved in the UGRR. I could ramble on telling local history stories and talking about the historic homes and such in Fayette. But I have personally come to love the kind citizens of Fayette and Fayette’s rich history. They have welcomed this stranger into their midst…and I thank you for that.

I am very blessed to be able to do what I love!

Please stop in at the Bean Creek Valley History Center. We have regular hours…Fridays from 1 to 5 pm and Saturday mornings 9 to Noon. We would love to welcome you. The coffee is always on!118 W. Main Street, PO Box 27, Fayette, Ohio 43521. Phone is 419-388-3518. Website www. beancreekvalleyhistorycenter.org. “Where History and People Meet”.

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

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Pictured is founder Hal Snow with his sidekick, Stub.

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The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Welcome From Dr. Karen King - Fayette Community Development Corporation President -

Growing up on a centennial farm three miles west of Fayette was a great experience which offered many life lessons. For example: how to budget money; appreciation for life, care of livestock, learning diligence, respect, and to work until the project was done. There were lots of fun things to do such as: riding bikes together as a family before switching to motorcycles; having a pony and cart which was often overloaded with friends; swinging on the large barn ropes; building straw houses in the straw mow; and having a lot of pets, including a skunk. That was also an era when families sat down together to eat their meals, enjoying each other’s fellowship, and sharing each other’s events of the day. Another blessing was we went to church on Sundays as a family.

The farm came into the Snider family through the Ritter family who bought 80 acres from the government in 1848. They sold it to their son, Christopher K. Miller in 1885. C.K. Miller turned the farm into one of the best in Fulton County. He also owned a prestigious herd of registered Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. Besides farming, he served as member and president of the Gorham Township School Board for twenty-five years, as president of the Fulton County School Board for five years, was director of the Fayette State Bank, and served as the Fulton County Republican representative in the Ohio State Legislature. What a rich family heritage!

Since Fayette is primarily a farming community, the people have an appreciation for our valuable farm land and rural areas. With the Harrison Lake State Park so near, this provides opportunities for camping, swimming, fishing, hiking trails, and just enjoying and relaxing in the beautiful surroundings. It is a great place for picnics, reunions, and all kinds of gatherings. I spent a lot of time there while growing up.

Growing up in the Fayette community instilled deep roots of love and pride for this place I call home. After leaving in 1969, my

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roots drew me back in 2006. This is home, and I am glad to be back and excited to be involved in the community in various ways – served on the Fayette School Board, was a member and treasurer of the Fayette Opera House, now pastoring New Beginnings Ministries of Fayette, President of the Fayette Community Development Corporation (CDC) and Ministerial Association, a member of the Bean Creek Valley History Center and the Fayette Lions Club. Trying to follow in some of my ancestor’s involvements and plus some of my other experiences, I worked in a bank, drove school and charter buses, was an EMT, was a newspaper reporter, and taught school until I retired. Besides all that, I am currently a professor for Christian Leadership University, and I love to rehab houses using my carpentry, plumbing, and electrical, etc. skills.

Fayette was once a booming, beautiful village full of businesses, job opportunities, and great neighbors. In the past, five railroads were near plus still having the major highways - U.S. 20, Route 66, and 127, gave Fayette strategic advantages. However, when big box stores became popular and factories moved out, Fayette was hurt financially and has struggled in many ways.

For the last couple of years, the Fayette Community Development Corporation (CDC) (formerly the Chamber of Commerce) and with the newly formed Garden Club, it is once again rising up to be a community we can be proud of. The CDC is helping residents with cleanup and the Garden Club with main street beautification. We are working on getting new businesses back. Many residents are fixing up and restoring their homes, and Fayette pride is on the rise.

Fayette is a great place to have a family.

We have an excellent school, various sports and lots of activities for kids and adults. It is one of the safer communities with low crime rates. Our police are very helpful and caring.

As small as Fayette is, along with our police department, we have our own post office, fire department, and water/park crew.

Recreationally, the parks are being used more with scheduled ball games and other activities. A Splash Pad is being installed this summer along with a 9 Hole Disc Golf Course at the Normal Grove Park. Last summer, the

old tennis courts were renovated and turned into Pickle Ball Courts.

Arche Solar field is being installed east of Fayette and a larger solar field, ConnectGen is in the process of securing permits to be installed northeast of Fayette. These solar fields will consume many acres of prime farm ground. There are a lot of mixed feelings about the solar fields.

It seems a number of villages aren’t sure about their official incorporation dates. For many years, the date originally thought to be Fayette’s was 1872. The Village of Fayette Seal was dated 1872 so the village was preparing to celebrate Fayette’s Centennial in 1972, until Vivien Ford and her daughter, Kathy Fix, local historians, did some digging into old files and found the official date was 1873. Since a lot of plans and preparations had already been made for the Centennial Celebration, the village went ahead and celebrated in 1972.

Since then, the Village Seal’s has been updated to 1873, so Fayette will celebrate its sesquicentennial August 12, 2023.

When I learned about Fayette’s 150th year coming up, I set things in motion to prepare for a special celebration. From the CDC members, I formed the 150th Celebration Committee to plan the event, with Colleen Rufenacht chairing the committee since she is the founder president of the Bean Creek Valley History Center. If Colleen doesn’t know a certain thing about something, she is quick to find it.

A lot of discussion and planning has gone into preparing for the 150th Celebration to be held August 12, 2023 at the Fayette High School from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It will be a funpacked, informational day!

To help make the 150th memorable, the Fayette Garden Club began collecting recipes for a 150th Cookbook edition and asked residents to submit designs for 150th T-shirts.

They also asked businesses, organizations, and individuals if they would sponsor flower boxes, which are now setting on the four main streets. There was a great response to this with at least 24 boxes sponsored. The cookbooks are a great success.

Even though a small village and having had its setbacks, we are proud to live here! As we work together, Fayette is going to have a great future!

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

ConnectGen and the Fulton County Solar Project are thrilled to join the Village of Fayette in celebrating its wonderful historical milestone.

Happy 150th, Fayette!

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The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Fayette Local School District - Superintendent Dr. Angie Belcher -

The Fayette Local School District has a rich educational heritage. It has been serving the community for many years, providing generations of students with quality education. Over time, the district has evolved and adapted to meet the changing needs of its students and the community it serves. It serves students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The district is committed to providing a quality education that prepares students for success in college, career, and life. Notably, the school offers an all-day, everyday preschool program, ensuring that young learners receive the necessary foundation for their educational journey. Fayette’s preschool has a five-star rating, which is the highest rating that can be awarded through the Ohio Department of Education.

The district offers a variety of academic programs and extracurricular activities to meet the diverse needs and interests of its students. One notable program offered by the district is the Future Farmers of America (FFA). FFA is a national organization that promotes agricultural education and leadership development. In the Fayette Local School District, students have the opportunity to participate in FFA activities, such as raising and showing animals, participating in career development events, and learning about various aspects of agriculture. Fayette’s FFA Chapter consists of students in grades 7-12 who have the opportunity to attend state convention each year. This past year the chapter had several members who were American Degree Recipients.

Another program offered by the district is STEAM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. The STEAM program integrates these disciplines to foster critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and creativity. Students engage in hands-on, project-based learning experiences that encourage collaboration and in-

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novation. Our STEAM program is one of the best! Students are involved in extensive projects on a daily basis focusing on teamwork, communication and real-word simulations.

Students from our STEAM class won a NASA Engineering Project competition in 2022, TechRise Student Challenge, competing with 600 teams from across the county participating.

Our students are able to attend all home games for FREE. In addition, this summer we are offering FREE programming for students in grades K-6, in conjunction with Normal Memorial Library and the CED, including transportation. Students are able to participate in academic tutoring with licensed Fayette teachers, hands-on interest based projects, and special event programing such as exercise classes through Fulton County Health Center. We plan to continue to offer before and after school programming for the upcoming school year.

FFA Archery Club, with over 60 archers, enjoys many success during their competitive season each year including several archers who qualify for state each year and an archer who qualified for World Championships this year.

Fayette Local School District is dedicated to providing a well-rounded education that prepares students for the challenges and op-

portunities of the future.

--------------------Dr. Angie Belcher is a dedicated educator and the Superintendent of Fayette Local Schools. With extensive experience in education, she has positively influenced students and communities throughout her career. While she is going into her 5th year as superintendent she has been a part of the school for over 10 years as her husband, Dr. Erik Belcher was the superintendent at Fayette Schools for the previous 7 years.

Previously, Dr. Belcher worked as the Director of Student Services at Pike Delta York, where she ensured students received the necessary support for academic and emotional success. She fostered an inclusive learning environment, helping students overcome challenges and reach their potential. Before that, she served as the Elementary Principal at Crestwood Elementary in the Swanton local schools.

Dr. Belcher’s leadership is student focused.

She believes in the transformative power of education and values strong relationships with students, parents, and community members.

As Superintendent of Fayette local schools, Dr. Belcher prioritizes creating a supportive environment for every student and looks forward to continuing her work within the Fayette Local School District.

Fayette 150th Tribute Note: The Fayette Community Development Corporation (CDC) 150th Committee has partnered with The Village Reporter for the publication of this special tribute.

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Fulton County Commissioner Thought - Commissioner Jon Rupp -

I have lived in the Fayette area all my life. I graduated from Gorham Fayette High School in 1978 then started farming right out of high school. I married my wife, Deb Lovejoy, in 1980.

We have two children who have both graduated from Fayette. Our daughter Tiffany married Ben Johnston and they have two sons. Our grandsons Tucker and Zander currently attend Fayette schools. Tiffany has her doctorate in Nursing Administration and is currently the CNO of Fulton County Health Center. Tyler, our son, and his wife Traci have three boys Silas, Emmitt and Roman.

They live in Radnor, Ohio. Tyler received his Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Toledo and currently works for Honda Research and Development. When Tiffany and Tyler started school, Deb became a volunteer at the school. She has been there over 30 years and is currently the Elementary Secretary. She often comments about how lucky she is to be able to watch her grandkids go through school.....her two and the other 450+ of them.

In the early 90’s, I was encouraged by my father in-law, Bill Lovejoy, who was the Mayor of Archbold at the time, to run for the office of Franklin Twp. Trustee. I had always admired his community service and so I ran.

I won the race and at the time, I was one of the youngest trustees elected. I served in that position for 27 years. In 1994, I purchased a livestock equipment manufacturing company

in Bellefontaine, Ohio and moved it next to my farm. We made precast concrete flooring and did welding and installation of the equipment. We employed many local high school student workers.

I ran for Fulton County Commissioner in 2016 and am currently in my second 4 year term. I have retired from farming and devote most of my time to the commissioner job.

I will always be proud that Fayette is my home. It provided a great foundation for my children in the fields they pursued and for the families they have created. My story is not unique. It’s the service of others that makes Fayette a great place to live. It is our duty to give back and strive for excellence in our community where we live.

Get involved and make a difference!

Happy 150 Fayette!

“What Do You Enjoy About Living In Fayette?

DEAN MYERS

MARGARET (MARGE) & EUGENE ROSINSKI

BILL WATSON JAMES CRAWFORD BRENDA SHOEMAKER

14 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Fayette - The First 100 Years

Editor’s Note - The following historical pamphlet highlights the first 100 years of the Village of Fayette. Information provided

by Bean Creek Valley History Center.

Pamphlet information compiled by the late Mrs. Vivien Gamble Ford in 1972.

HISTORY OF FAYETTE, GORHAM TOWNSHIP, FULTON COUNTY, OHIO Father Marquette visited the Upper Great Lakes in 1668. He is undoubtedly the first white settler west of the Ohio. Robert de la Salle, a French fur trader, came to the valley of the Maumee River in 1679. He built a small stockade at Miami below the city of Maumee proper. He was the first to set up the tricolor of France under a commission from Louis XIV, its king.

In 1763, by the Treaty of Paris, France ceded all her American possessions east of the Mississippi to the English. Indian tribes were dissatisfied with the English and preferred French control.

In May 1763, the Indians under Pontiac, an Ottawa Chief, made a simultaneous attack on Forts La Boef, Presque Isle, Michellimacinac, St. Joseph, Miami, Green Bay, Pittsburg, Sandusky, Niagara, and Detroit.

Pontiac regarded the French as friends. The French often married Indian women. Even when the French traders cheated the Indians, it was done in a graceful, pleasant manner. Pontiac said of the English: These dogs dressed in red had come to rob them of their hunting grounds and drive away game!”

The cruel Indian War was a fail-

HISTORIC REFLECTION … Gabriel D. ‘G.D.’ Snow was the son of Elijah Snow, an early pioneer of Gorham Township, who arrived in the area between 1837 and 1840. Oliver B. Verity, another early resident of Gorham, considered G.D. Snow to be a pioneer, stating that he was one of the, “…sons and daughters of those old pioneers,” that had endured, “…all the vicissitudes of a pioneer life.” Verity was a teacher at the log schoolhouse in the eastern part of the township during the winter of 1844-45, and was also a Justice of the Peace. The G.D. Snow farm was located northeast of Fayette, not too far south of what is today Township Road T on County Road 21. Snow was also an early businessman, carrying on his father’s ashery business, while opening a store and operating a cheese factory. ure. In the summer of 1764, General Bradstreet arrived in Detroit with an army of 3,000 men.

By the Ordinance of 1787, the territory northwest of the Ohio was ceded to the U.S. Great Britain retained possession of Detroit and Michelli-

15 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

macinac until July 1796, when Michigan became an American possession.

On August 20, 1794, General Anthony Wayne broke the strength of the Indians and their allies. He defeated the Indians in the Battle of Fallen Timbers (west of Toledo, so named be-

cause of debris of a tornado).

After Chief Tecumseh’s threats, by Hull’s treaty on Nov. 17, 1807, at Detroit, the Indians ceded the southern part of Michigan and northern Ohio to the whites. This treaty did forCONTINUED ON PAGE 16

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Fayette - The First 100 Years ever extinguish all Indian titles within said boundaries. This was a council of Chippewas, Ottawas, Wyandottes, and Pottawatamies.

Indiana Territory was organized by an act of Congress in 1800 and in 1802 the Lower Peninsula of Michigan was made a part of it until 1805.

On Jan. 11, 1805, Congress passed the act for organization of Michigan Territory to embrace all land “north of a line drawn east from the southerly bend of Lake Michigan until it intersected Lake Erie.” In 1807, Indiana territory was subdivided, and the northern part (north of the Fulton line-the boundary of the Ordinance of 1787) was organized into the Territory of Michigan.

In 1803, Ohio was admitted as a state with an indefi-

nite northern boundary. This included Toledo (Vistula) and a considerable strip of land. Gov. Lucas of Ohio proclaimed control and Gov. Mason of Michigan Territory called out the militia. Several shots were fired but no blood was shed. This was the “Toledo War.” Congress settled the dispute in favor of Ohio - Michigan relinquishing all rights to soil south of the “Harris Line” (the present boundary) giving Michigan the Upper Peninsula. The disputed territory was attached to the counties of Lucas and Fulton. Michigan became a state on January 26, 1837.

The territory of Gorham township has been in four township organizations: Logan, Medina, and Chesterfield in the east part and Mill Creek in the western part, and at last Gorham.

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In 1826 Gorham was under the jurisdiction of Lenawee County. In the winter of 1831, the western part was under Hillsdale County until 1836 when Lucas County controlled the eastern half and Williams County the other half until April 1, 1850, when Fulton County was erected.

There is no account that any Indian or white man lived within the present limits of Gorham township prior to 1833. The Indians had no camping grounds, as no indications of such appear upon its soil before the advent of the real settlers. Yet the soil was for ages trodden by warriors and hunters of the dusty tribes of the forest for game. It was roamed by Pottawatomies and a small band of Ottawas.

Fulton County was included in “Congress Lands” so called

because they were sold to purchasers by the immediate officers of the general government.

Land within its limits was sold by the Federal government at the price of $1.25 an acre.

For free schools, Congress reserved one-thirty-sixth part of all lands lying northwest of the Ohio River for their maintenance. Ranges were numbered east from the meridian line being the west line of Ohio, and the towns were numbered north and south from the base.

“Fulton” is said to be chosen in honor of Robert Fulton, the inventor, and builder of the first steamboat.

Fayette is located on a beach ridge. It crosses the west line of Franklin township, a half mile north of the Fulton line, and runs northeast to Fayette and CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

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16 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Fayette - The First 100 Years thence to the Michigan line. An ancient shore of Lake Erie came almost to Fayette. The beach ridges have but a small area.

Interspersed with these are marshes and wet prairies.

The first real settlers of Gorham township were Hiram Farwell and his wife who came in the fall of 1834 and settled on the east side of section 10, town nine south, range one east, later called Ritter’s Station.

On the evening of December 31st, 1834, David and Esther Severance arrived at the township of Mill Creek (now Gorham) and located on the north side of section 36, town nine south, range one east of the meridian. Among the settlers of 1834 were Abijah Coleman, town nine south, range one west, with wife and family.

Settlers in 1835 were William Lee in March. Freeman and Clement Coffin came in June.

In September came Sardis, Joseph, and Erastus Cottrell.

North of the Harris line (William Harris concluded his survey in 1816) were Henry Meach, Justice Cooley, James McCrillis, Sr., Orville Woodworth, Abel Perry, John Gould, and Henry Teneyke. In the spring of 1835 came James Baker, Martin Lloyd, Stephen Chaffee, William Sutton, Asa Butler, and William Griffin.

In 1835 the Old Plank Road or Vistula Road from Toledo west was laid out and built by the government. This was the “Old Territorial Road.” In the season of 1836 came Levi Crawford, Philip Clapper, John Whaley, John C. Whaley, Aaron Price, Calvin Ackley, Nelson Fellows, and John Donaldson.

The settlers of Gorham township endured the privations of a new wooded country. The place

of trade was Adrian, and for milling, Medina and Canandaigua.

Gorham township was incorporated in 1837, and named after Gorham Cottrell, one of the first settlers in 1835. His son, Erastus, was the first postmaster. The first post office was named “Gorham.” (From the Ford Genealogy Book, 1910, Library of Congress).

Another story is that Gorham township was named for Elisha Gorham, one of the 1st settlers and a prominent petitioner for the township organization before the board of county commissioners of Lucas County.

Settlers who came from 1837-1840 were George McFar-

17 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

land, John Jacoby, Elisha A. Baker, Simeon Baker, Lucius Ford (1838), Nathan Shaw, Hosea Ford (March 1839), Elijah Snow, Wendal A. Mace, George W. Sayles, Alfred Whit-man, Abel Paul, Justice L. Hale, Willard Gay, Nathan Salsbury and Nathan Salbury, St., Joseph Sebring, Josiah Colvin, Benjamin Russell, Almon Rice, Milo Rice, John Kendall, M.D., James Griffin, Amos Kendall, M.D., Hiram Hadley, Alanson Pike, James P. Emerick and Rensselaer S. Humphrey.

Within the first 10 years a very large immigration set toward this township, mostly from central New York. Michael Martzoff, Ansel Ford, Sr.,

Asa Cottrell, Danial Huffman, John Saltzgaber (1841), Oliver B. Verity (1843), Day Otis Verity, James Henry Verity, Jacob Woodward, Abram Van Valkenburg, Ephraim Sergeant, Truman L. Schofield, Jacob Cox, Martin Beilhartz, William Conrad, Amos Ford, Philander Crane, Israel Mattern, Jacob Mattern, A. P. Boyd, Joseph O. Allen, Jacob Demerrit, John Gamber (1846), Henry Gamber, George Acker, Sr., George Acker, Jr., Charles Hoffman, Samuel Hoffman, Isaac and Daniel Hoffman, John Paul, Obadiah Griffin, John Woodward, Stilly Huffman, William Davis, Daniel CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Fayette - The First 100 Years Bear, William C. Ely, Joseph Ely, Benjamin Dee, Stephen Hicker, Franklin Ford, Amos Belden, Bainbridge Belden, John Mallory, Peter Holben, George W. Kellogg, Truman Whitman, John B. Kimmel, John D. Brink, Jared Parker, Peter F. Chambard, William F. Ward, Junius Chase, J. P. Ritter, Jacob Hippert, Thomas C. Lester, J. L. Wise, George Lewis, Ebenezer Lloyd, Lyman Ellsworth, George F. Dubois, George Graves, David F. Spencer, Edward Gamble (1845), A. Amsbaugh, Rial Sweatland, Henry T. Caulkins, Daniel Rhodes, Oliver Town, Uriah S. Town, Hosea Harmdon, Isaac Town, John W. Lilley, George Gamber, Henry Punches (1850), Samuel Farst, Hon. A. W. Flickinger, William Plopper, W. P. Garrison, William Thompson,

John Wiley, Josiah Woodworth.

There were Gabriel D. and Spencer T. Snow, Benjamin, and Columbus Sayles, Wendel A. Mace, A. A. Gay, H. S. Conrad, Charles Conrad, Charles H. Van Ostrand, Thomas T. Baker, Byron Hoag, Asher Bird, Ezekiel Griffin, George W. Coffin, Cyrus Ford, James Cox, Edwin Farwell, children of pioneers.

Later migrations were: Miles Wolcott, R. Todd, William Kinkaid, J. Reynolds, Abram Schneider, E. Jones, Anson Aldrich, S. Youngs, B. F. Robinson, Calvin W. Thomas, John Smith, S. A. Allen, C. Hettinger, John Beilhartz, J. Walkup, A. Kanaur, Thomas Ellis, Solomon Gotshall, S. Oswald, W. W. Oswald, J. Toosley, Heman A. Canfield, William Woolace, Jacob Gorsuch, and Solomon Wynn.

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Fulton County was not organized until Feb. 28, 1850. It was created by the surrender of portions of Lucas, Henry, and Williams. At this time the population was 352 people.

In 1839 Gorham post office was established and held for a number of years at the home of Erastus Cottrell at Cottrell’s Corners on the northeast quarter of section 20, town nine south, range 1 east. It was afterward moved to Fayette in 1854 and changed in name to Fayette. Dr. Joseph O. Allen was postmaster for a number of years.

Volume 4 of Barber’s Abstracts mentions that John I. Schnall, surveyor started surveying lots on February 26th, 1852 and Israel Mattern announced that lots would be sold “for a village called Fayette, June 23, 1852.” Towns usually have to have a certain number of settlers before being incorporated.

Fayette’s main North and South road called Fayette Street is half in Section 19 and the East half in Section 20.

Henry Punches, who settled near Fayette in 1850, was township treasurer for nine years. In his family, the story is told that it was his suggestion to name Fayette after Fayette, New York, from which many of the early residents came. Many families from New York State bought the land.

VILLAGE OF FAYETTE

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18 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

The Cottrell settlement (Handy) settled in 1839, was the beginning of Fayette, although the corporate limits eventually developed a mile or so beyond their land.

The first to settle within the present Fayette was Rensselaer S. Humphrey. Maud Chase, the

late Morenci historian, says that Fayette was first called “Parker’s Corners.” The land on which Fayette started was taken up from the government by Justin Colley in 1835.

The Paul Ford house, said to be the oldest in Fayette, has Justus Cooley’s name as the first land owner-filed 1837.

Justus Cooley deeded to Cornelia and Rensselaer S. Humphrey for a $300 consideration in June 1844. Then Rensselaer and Cornelia Humphrey to John J. Gamber. It’s called Gamber’s addition of Fayette. Here lived John Keller who drove a sprinkling wagon around the streets of Fayette to lay the dust on hot summer days.

Henry and Polly Gamber came from Seneca County, N.Y. in 1852. He had earlier purchased “80 acres being on each side of the town with Main Street as the southern boundary. He paid $750 for the eastern half (80 acres) and $800 for the land he purchased and which he cleared and improved.”

Rensselaer S. Humphrey was the first man to clear up the land upon which a part of Fayette is located. He built the first log cabin within the present limits of the village. Rensselaer S. Humphrey was sometimes called the “Father of Fayette.”

The first mill, the only one Fayette ever had, was constructed in 1850 in partnership with Dr. Joseph O. Allen. It was a steam grist mill, the only one in the township. Dr. Allen was the first Postmaster; his successors were E. B. Wightman, Charles Allen, and W. P. Goodsel.

RENSSELAER SAMUEL HUMPHREY CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Fayette - The First 100 Years Rensselaer (probably named for Rensselaer Co., New York) Samuel Humphrey was born in Lysander, New York, on July 29, 1821. He was the youngest son of Josiah C. and Esther Daball Humphrey.

Rensselaer Humphrey married Cornelia Emerick on January 28, 1845. In the spring of 1845, he started, with his wife and her sister, Maria Emerick to Ohio, to make a new home.

This was the time of emigration toward the west. Hannah Humphrey Shipman, daughter of Rensselaer and Cornelia Emerick Humphrey writes of this move as follows: “... in the spring of 1845, Rensselaer Humphrey with his wife and her oldest sister, Maria, started for Ohio; coming most of the way by stage and canal

boats. The journey took many days. The country to which they came was then a dense forest filled with Indians, wolves, and deer. The white settlers were few.”

Rensselaer Samuel is known as the “Father of Fayette.” He cleared away a part of the forest; he built the first log cabin on the present site of the town; made the first road; and cleared the first farmland. He later built the first store in Fayette, which was then Gorham Center, on the site where Farmer’s State Bank later stood.

In 1851, Rensselaer Humphrey owned and operated the first sawmill which was built in that part of the country. The mill was built on the Humphrey land. In 1856 he tore down this mill, and in company with Dr. J.

O. Allen, built a better one, with a grist mill. This mill still stands in Fayette, and some of the first machinery installed is today being used in the mill.

Charley L. Allen, brother of Dr. Allen who is living in Fayette today, although a man 84 years of age, writes of Rensselaer Samuel Humphrey: “I came from Monroe County, New York in November 1859 and stopped at Fayette which was then a village, to visit my brother, Dr. Allen. There were perhaps 40 people living in Fayette then.

The first man with whom I became acquainted was R.S. Humphrey, who in company with my brother had built, and was operating a flour mill, with a sawmill attachment; and doing a thriving business, as the nearest mill was eight miles away, and the land all about Fayette held a growth of wonderful timber, walnut, oak, and ash of superior quality.”

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ELLERY ABRAHAM HUMPHREY Life began for me at Fayette, Ohio, May 26th. Rensselaer and Cornelia Humphrey, my father, and mother, cleared away the forest trees and began a home there in 1845. It was far from a lonely or quiet home when I arrived; for there were 9 children already there.

My thoughts go back to a Christmas morning when I was 4 years old. I hurried downstairs with my brother so early in the morning. There in my high chair were Red Topped Boots. They fit perfectly. Red Topped Boots were all that I could see. They fit perfectly. Charley and Elmer found new boots on that

19 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

tree also. Away went the boys to Dr. Allen’s! It was merry there.

Don, Earl, Lillian, and Viola, all around the lighted Christmas tree.

Our first home was a log house and was so small that we boys slept in the attic. I remember the attic, for I was afraid of rats, and the boys kept me awake nights by telling me the noises I heard were rats. I was glad when the new house was built and I could escape that attic, in which I never saw a rat; but because of fear, suffered the tortures of the damned . . .

Because of the school, we moved back into town and I recited my first lessons in the “Old School House.” Professor Barber was the schoolmaster and Will Lewis, Earl Allen and I made up the ABC class. Have any of the boys of that ABC class forgotten the old hickory stick, which Professor Barber kept hanging over his desk? Never! But the hickory stick helped to build strong, moral men, and we took our medicine.”

The youngest daughter of Ellery Abraham and Maud Donaldson Humphrey was Carol Emerick Humphrey. “Emerick” was a given name which had long been saved for the son who never came.

Mary Humphrey married James Emerick, brother of Cornelia Emerick Humphrey.

(Humphrey” Published 1923 by Oak Leaf Press, Clinton, Okla. Michael to son Samuel, to Samuel, to Isaac, to Issac. d 1732.)

LETTER WRITTEN BY MARY HUMPHREY EMERICK TO HER SISTER, MRS. DANIEL G. SMITH CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Fayette - The First 100 Years (NORCISSA) HUMPHREY SMITH (Gorham, June 30th, 1851) Dear Sister: It is a long time since we have heard from you. I do not recall that we have heard anything from you since Daniel wrote to Mr. Spencer soon after his mother died. I do not recall when we have had a letter from you last, but I think that it was some time last year. Our family is enjoying as good health as usual.

Josiah D. has had the Ague and Fever this spring but he is smart now and I have had a few fits of it and Lame also. Mother is at Rensselaer’s now. They are well as usual. Mr. Spencer has had the Ague this Spring pretty hard and he got better of it so that he has been to work for a

number of days but today he is sick again with it. The rest of your acquaintances in this part of the country are well.

Mr. Ware has gone to housekeeping about 4 miles from here.

We hear a great deal about the sickness and death in Lysander.

We heard week before last of Mother E’s death, and also of Mr. Shanck and a number of others but we hear no particulars from you. Josiah, we have not heard from you since last fall. Only D said in his letter to Mr. Spencer that his health was better. We feel very anxious to hear from all of you. R. wrote to Josiah last winter but he never received an answer.

We received a visit from Cousin Sylvester Humphrey a few weeks past. He said that Uncle Wm. Diseson died this spring and W. D. B. Diseson’s

20 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

wife and that Tidelia was almost gone with consumption, and Wm. H’s wife’s health was very poor. Silvester married his stepmother’s daughter and they have one child. Asenath’s married to Charlotte’s husband.

Brother Wm. has bought out the heirs and lives on the home farm. We have a new school house about 180 rods from our house built last fall so that our children have a good opportunity of going to school.

I want you to answer this letter as soon as you receive it. We want to know how you get along, all of you folks, and particularly about Josiah, where he and his family are, and what they are doing. I want you to write about Father E. how his health is and where he is. Daniel said his health was quite poor but he was some better.

I wish you would come and make us a good visit this summer. We would be very glad to see you all. It seems as though there was nothing to hinder you from coming. Mary can keep house and Daniel can hire hands enough to do his work.

Just think so and start, for, O how glad we would be to see you. Do not forget to write all about our friends and acquaintances in those parts.

-I remain your sister, Mary A. Emerick.

Rensselaer is Rensselaer Samuel Humphrey.

Josiah is Josiah W. Humphrey, brother of Rensselaer.

The schoolhouse built 180 rods from the home of Mary Humphrey Emerick is the schoolhouse where Ellery Abraham Humphrey first went to school in Fayette, Ohio.

Gorham is the name given to Fayette, Ohio.

Lysander--New York.

ELIJAH SNOW Elijah Snow built and ran an ashery located on the east side section 17, town nine south, range 1 east. His son Gabriel ran this successfully until about 1860.

He had a store in connection with the ashery and this was the first store in Gorham township.

Philander Crane built and operated an ashery south of Handy, as early as 1841 and worked it for two or three years, and stopped.

The first cemetery in the township was located on the northeast corner of section 17, town nine south, range 1 east, at what is called the “Snow Schoolhouse in the year 1848.

The next cemetery on lands owned by George W. Coffin was built. After the Fayette cemetery was laid out, these graves on Section 21 were moved to Fayette.

SCHOOLS The first organized school district in the township was in the Cottrell settlement, in 1836, and a log schoolhouse was built upon the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of Section 21, town 9 south, range 1 east. Lucinda Rogers taught the school. She began under the jurisdiction of the territory of Michigan and ended it under the jurisdiction of Ohio.

In 1842 another district was organized in the Snow “Settlement” and a frame schoolhouse was built by R. S. Humphrey, it being the first frame schoolhouse in the township.

At about this period, another school district was organized in the east part, and a log schoolCONTINUED ON PAGE 21

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Fayette - The First 100 Years house was built. Oliver B. Verity taught the winter school of 1844 and ‘45 at fourteen dollars per month and board around which all teachers of that age did. The practice went out of date with the adoption of the free school system in 1854.

The first school in the southwest part of the township was a log building (Severance Schoolhouse) situated in the southeast corner of Section 26, town 9 south, range 1 west.

In 1845 a frame schoolhouse was built on the northwest corner of section 35, town 9 south, range 1 west, and was painted red. Miss Minerva Cottrell, the daughter of Asa Cottrell and wife of George Acker was the first teacher.

In 1888 Gorham township had eight school districts and one joint sub-school district

besides a special district for Fayette. The first union school building was erected in 1862 on the north side of Main Street.

The school was moved east of the hotel, and burned in the hotel fire of 1880.

From the old “Fayette Record”: “In the spring of 1836, the first schoolhouse in the township was completed. It was built of hewn logs, and located on the northeast corner one mile east of Fayette.

In 1839 the post office was situated a few rods south of the schoolhouse. The mail route extended from Defiance to Medina, Adrian, and the mail was brought every Thursday by a man on horseback. Young John Butler of Chesterfield, a boy of thirteen, was the mail carrier over the route, and for many

21 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

years after, who blew a horn as he came near the post office, greatly to the delight of the little people in the schoolhouse.

There were no postage stamps in those days and everyone who received a letter must pay twenty-five cents postage before he could get it from the post office.”

In 1888 the Fayette public school building was a large and convenient brick structure with 4 rooms for grades 1-8 and has an average attendance of 130 pupils (Note: This building was located on the northeast corner of the present cemetery, now Maple St.). Burd Gamble remembers the Bennington bucket and dipper from which everyone drank.

The Fayette Normal, Music and Business College was established in 1881. It was an institution of which the village was proud. Students came from all over the area to Fayette. It had ample buildings and grounds and through an able and efficient faculty had become a prominent institution.

The school district was overcrowded. Mr. E. P. Ewers came here and with Mr. Jodgen began the work of soliciting funds for a college building with boardinghouse attachments. The Fayette Normal, Music and Business College continued for several years with a fair degree of prosperity when the management, for a reason never ascertained, transferred their interests to Wauseon.

The Normal College first opened in 1881 and in 1888 was closed.

Mikesell writes, “Appreciating the value of such an educational institution, the people of Fayette set about securing another school.

In Sept. 1888, the Fayette

Normal University was opened to students. The school flourished a number of years but finally, the citizens became convinced that the University militated against the success of its graded schools. They withdrew their necessary support.

In 1905 the Fayette Normal University closed its doors.

A high school maintained by public funds took its place and building. The first Superintendent was C. D. Perry (He later was County Superintendent; then Registrar at B.G.S.U.).”

In 1905 there were 10 rural schools in Gorham Township. (The author graduated in the Opera House and taught in 1930 at the newly consolidated Gorham-Fayette School).

When one had completed the eighth grade, he took the Patterson-Boxwell examinations at Wauseon. If these were passed one was eligible to attend any high school in Ohio tuition free.

These tests were rugged. Out of 50 some taking the test-two passed from our village one year.

FAYETTE HOUSE The first hotel (the old Fayette House) was built by Wm. Hardenberg in 1865. Part of the material for this building, he brought with him from Rhode Island.

Sophia “Auntie” Pierce (daughter of Peter Chambard) remembered them announcing the close of the Civil War from the Hotel porch. The first brick building was put up by Dr. VanBuskirk in 1865. It was used as a drug store. The next one, built

by G. W. Thompson in 1866 was used as a general store from CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Fayette - The First 100 Years 1858 to 1870.

In 1853 was built the first church of the township and dedicated by the Methodist Episcopal denomination. It was originally located in the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 20, town 9 south, range 1 east, at what has been called Cottrell’s Corners (1 mile east of Fayette).

The church was removed to Fayette. The building was destroyed by fire in the first great fire of the village in 1859 or 1860 and a brick edifice was erected. The Disciples completed a church during the year 1888.

The Christian Union constructed a church edifice on Gorham St. near the public school building. It was erected about 1874. In the year 1886, the Disciples erected a brick edifice on Cemetery St.

Two professors of the old Normal University, E. P. Ewers and J. D. Palmer started the first Church of Christ. The first bell was moved from the old Normal School which stood on Main St. and was donated to the church

by E. P. Ewers, Nov. 1888. This church burned on February 2, 1908.

The construction of the Wabash line 1½ miles north of the village furnishes shipping facilities. Its station is called North Fayette (Munson).

LODGES -Free and Accepted Masons organized 1867.

-Order of Eastern Star Chapter No. 77 organized 1897.

-Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 1869.

-Rebeccas, 1891.

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-Knights of Pythias, 1895.

-Pythian Sisters, 1907.

-Woodman Lodge No. 1035, 1902.

-G.A.R. (three left in 1905: C. L. Allen, G. W. Heckman, H. B. D. Donaldson.)

-W.R.C. War Records have not been listed. These could have an honorable history of their own.

NEWSPAPERS The first newspaper published in Fayette was the Fayette Journal and its first issue was in the year 1874 by Delos Lyon.

1888, Present Press of the County-Fayette Record was established Jan. 1876 by W. A. Baker. He published it one month. In February it was bought by Holcomb and Lewis.

They conducted it until 1878 when G. W. Griffin purchased Holcomb’s interest, changing the name to Lewis & Griffin.

In the disastrous fire on May 8, 1880, the entire plant was destroyed; 2 months later a new office was established with a new cylinder press, the first to be used in the county. In 1882 they erected a frame building which they occupied until Feb. 28, 1882, when the office was destroyed by fire. But they rebuilt in 30 days Charles E. Yost founded the Fayette Review on the 1st of September, 1901. Herbert M. Woodard is the present editor and publisher (1972).

MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY Prior to the year 1858, there was a vast amount of land lying within Fulton County that was wholly unfit for agricultural purposes on account of its swampy

character. Routes followed by travelers were circuitous and their progress slow. Tracts of wilderness stretched 150 to 200 miles without roads, bridges, or ferries. When purchasing a horse, to ask if he were a good swimmer was considered one of the most valuable qualities of a saddle horse. Travelers had to swim every water course too deep to be forded. They went through a succession of wet prairies. The Black Swamp was difficult to traverse. The driest spots were usually on the banks of streams.

Fayette’s Springwood Acres, once the home of the James Grisier farm, was in the brush and much of it underwater when Mr. Grisier located there soon after his marriage in June 1864.

Springs abound in many places west of Bean Creek. The Public Well is shown below the stop light on Main Street in the middle of U.S. Route 20 in the 1888 Atlas of Fulton County.

Forest, streams, and prairies furnished game, fish, fruit, and nuts.

Oliver B. Verity moved to this county on May 8, 1843.

“When I was at Adrian, I had fifty cents in my pocket, and with a wife and two children, had to get to this county.”

Martin Ellsworth settled in 1851, in Gorham Township, from Lysander, New York. They sold their property, traveling to Buffalo, N.Y., on a boat on the Erie Canal, thence by lake boat to Toledo, went by railroad as far as Clayton. Just east of Fayette, he bought 40 acres.

When the family of William Griffin arrived here, they turned over the wagon box to shelter CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Fayette - The First 100 Years the family at night. William Griffin was later the head of a family of 27 children (14 of whom were stepchildren!).

After a toilsome journey of two weeks through the mud of the Black Swamp, nearly devoured by mosquitoes, sometimes with no water except what stood in the cattle tracks, families arrived.

One lady, on her wedding day, did a large washing, shelled a bushel of corn, took the corn upon her head and “footed it” to a mill, got it ground, carried it back 2½ miles, made it into a pudding, and was married in the evening.

An unfortunate suitor, 18 years old, started to call on a neighbor a few miles off. “It was late in the fall though too early to put on shoes, so he

started barefoot.” He arrived at the neighbor’s log hut just as the family was sitting down to the supper of mush and milk.

Reaching for a bowl, he struck the large pitcher upsetting the milk. Out went the milk over the room. Out went Sally, his beloved, from the room, laughing!

The maps of an early day did not represent Lake Michigan as running as far south as it actually did. It was discovered by a trapper who said that an eastto-west line would not touch Lake Erie at all, so a line was to be run from the southern extreme of Lake Michigan to the north cape of Maumee Bay. The line was the Harris Line which caused the Toledo War. At Spring Hill, a Mrs. Hibbard was alone with four little children. There were no near neigh-

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bors. A shadow fell across the floor and looking up, she saw a party of Indians with guns in hand, filing into the little cabin.

Seeing her alarm, the foremost one turned and stood his gun behind the door, motioning the others to do the same. They made her understand that they were hungry. She gave them as good a dinner as she could, and after eating it they went quietly away. One morning not long after, an Indian appeared, carrying a deer over his shoulders.

He gave it in return for what she had done for the hunting party.

Indians came through the woods to the Hosea Ford home.

They would bring honey in a freshly killed coonskin in return for salt. The frightened children hid behind their mothers’ hoop skirts. Indians said, “Me no hurt papoose.” Twelve hogshead of pork were “put down” to tide them and neighbors through the winter.

In the 1860’s a daily line of stages passed between Wauseon and Adrian, via Ottokee, Morey’s Corners (Lyons), and Morenci.

The fare was $1.50.

Lewis C. Connell (son of Wm. J Connell, a vocalist trained at Xenia College for many years a teacher of vocal music, born 1839, died in January 1913) attended Valparaiso College in Indiana, began farming on his father’s place. Since then his home has been on the Coffin place, Maple Avenue Stock Farm (now owned by Herb Schaffner).

In 1884, Mr. Connell married Dora E. Coffin. Their two daughters are Laura L. and Elsie L. Mrs. E. T. Pierce remembered Wm. Connell in white gloves, spanking team, surrey with the fringe on top, going to singing school to teach.

James L. Griffin son of William and Sallie Griffin of New York, was born in Delaware Co., N.Y., on September 23, 1826. He was married in Medina, Michigan, in July 1854 to Eliza Acker.

Their children are George W., William F., Ovida, and Walter.

Mr. Griffin and his parents settled in Fulton County in 1837.

Freeman and Clement Coffin left Williamsburg, Mass., for the West. They came to Albany by stage, on the Erie Canal to Buffalo, on Lake Erie to Monroe, and by stage to Adrian, Michigan, being 17 days on the journey. Freeman Coffin returned for his family with their furniture, in a wagon drawn by oxen at Woodsworths Corners (west of Morenci). They cut the road for their wagon, all the way to their home.

Calvin Ackley built a sawmill near the meridian line. Auntie Pierce once had a letter addressed to Ackley Corners, Ohio.

Dr. Joseph O. Allen was chiefly instrumental in bringing the Chicago and Canadian Southern Railway through Fulton County. In 1870 he was a representative to secure the right-ofway for the proposed line.

Charles Allen came to Fulton County in 1859. He clerked for $8 a month and board, taught school, served in 1861, founded the Bank of Fayette (For whom B.V. Gamble worked, getting off to pitch baseball for Fayette occasionally).

Arthur Allen came to Fulton County in 1865. Auntie Pierce said Dr. Allen remembered listening to a conversation between two matrons discussing if they would have the doctor or not (at their youngsters’ births).

E. H. Rorick graduated from CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Fayette - The First 100 Years the U. of M. medical department in 1869. He settled at Spring Hill. He bought out Dr. J. Allen of Fayette. He contributed largely toward the expense of establishing the Fayette Normal University.

All were poor - Samuel Darby arrived with a wife, 3 children, 2 pair oxen, a wagon, and $1.75.

APRIL 22, 1892, FAYETTE NEWS Dr. J. O. Allen who has been very sick with malarial fever and lagrippe, thinks he is slowly mending.

C. S. Morrison, teacher at the Old Normal, composed “Meditation” published by John Church Company. If there were any “Doings” in town, they always played it. It was composed in Fayette.

PLENTY OF FIRES Beginning as far back as the 1870s, Northwestern Ohio was the scene of disastrous fires, frequent and plainly incendiary.

For a couple of winters, firemen slept in their clothes. Firebugs were operating. Fayette’s great fire was on May 8, 1880. In May 1903, the Williams County grand jury was furnished evidence for several indictments. It was an organized band.

MID TO LATE 1880s Fayette is located at the terminus of the Chicago and Canada Southern Railroad and is built upon the east half of section nineteen and the west half of section twenty, town nine south, range one east, and was dignified with the name as early as 1852, but was not incorporated until the year 1872.

In 1887 the population of the

village was 1,000. Henry Boyd of Maumee opened a general store in 1852, the first in Fayette. Henry Gamber, Rensselaer S. Humphrey, Daniel Keifer, and Dr. Amos Kendall cleared the land where Fayette is located.

Humphrey in 1845, Kiefer in 1846. In the year 1856 Rensselaer S. Humphrey and Dr. Joseph O. Allen built and operated the first steam grist-mill and sawmill.

“Fayette has one hotel, a fine brick building pleasantly located on Main Street.” (1888).

Charles L. Allen came in 1859, and Arthur Allen, about the same time. They came from Clarkson, Monroe County, N. R. By 1888 the township had one representative, Hon. Charles L. Allen; commissioners, William Sutton, Heman Canfield, and Charles Van Ostrant; probate judge, Hon Oliver B. Verity; associate judge, Hon Abram M. Flickinger.

Merchants in 1888 were: A. P. Grieser, general stock of dry goods, groceries, shoes; Howard & Co. general stock of dry goods, groceries, and shoes; Huffman & Co., general stock of dry goods, groceries, and shoes; John F. Shaw, family groceries; F. Verrier, family groceries; L. A. Purcell, clothing and gents’ furnishings; Acker and Sons, clothing and gents’ furnishings; Perry and Allen Hardware; Mrs. N. M. Shaw and Mrs. A. M. Empy, millinery business; Rorick and Cawley, drugs, books, stationery; Andrew Kendall, drugs, books, stationery; Bank of Fayette, began 1885, Charles Allen cashier and manager; Garlick and Booth, blacksmithing and wagon making; John Vine and Eli Foglesong, blacksmithing and wagon CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

24 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

PHOTO COURTESY OF WILLIAMS AERIAL MEDIA

150 YEARS HAS BROUGHT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CHANGE TO THE SMALL VILLAGE OF FAYETTE, OHIO.

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The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Fayette - The First 100 Years making.

Year Population Village Twp. 1870 1055 1880 2029 1890 1000 2144 1900 886 2218 1910 915 2175 1920 936 2076 Dr. Rorick contributed much to Fayette College. “Within this time temperature was estimated by the rapidity of pulse and the touch of the skin. Bleeding for pneumonia and typhoid fever was still in vogue. Malaria was a poison floating about. The mosquito had not yet been discovered as the agency for malaria and fever.” Dr. Rorick “had the same hearty hand-shake, the

Evolution

same warm smile, the same cheerful word for all alike.”

Ansel and Deborah Tower Ford--Ansel Ford born in Cummington, Massachusetts, June 27, 1788, became a farmer and carpenter in New England. Having a large family to provide for, he determined to seek better opportunities in the newer country of the west and in the spring of 1841, arrived in Gorham township, then part of Lucas County.

He arrived there with only $5 in money but at once arranged for the purchase of hundred-twenty acres of land covered with heavy timber. d. Aug. 1, 1869.

Reighard, Vol. II 1923, p152.

William Gamble was a grocer for 14 years when their children were in school. They wanted to give their children the best edu-

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cational advantages. Grocers used to solicit and deliver’. They did the north and south sides on alternate days. The day ran from 10 to 7 and often ended at 2 a.m. Paul H. Ford was a grocer on Main St. for 41 years, first on the north side, and later on the southwest corner. He had the first self-serve store in this area.

The Bank of Fayette was the first bank. Grisiers started the Farmers State Bank on the corner. Charlie Hause was the first cashier. Henry Crane started the Fayette State Savings Bank, now no longer exists. The Bank of Fayette was robbed once in deep snow. The robbers got a livery team at Montpelier and changed horses in the orchard west of Fayette.

Lake Shore & Southern Railway Fares from Ritter’s Station - December 1879: To Toledo, 2 tickets sold at $2.25-$4.50.

To Morenci, 6 tickets at 15c-90c.

To Fayette, 9 tickets at 15c-$1.35.

To Grosvenor, 2 tickets at $1.05- $2.10.

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To Adrian, 1 ticket $1.55.

To Fairfield, 1 ticket, 15c.

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$11.05 J. P. Ritter, Agent Aug. 1894-Toledo Exposition and Bawbeese Park.

Largest amount Oct. 1904, $12.55.

Jan. 1893, $14.70.

25 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

Aug. 1892, $17, Toledo Tri-State Fair.

July 1891, $22.90 Detroit Exposition Coupon.

Sept. 1889, $23.50.

WRITTEN FOR THE CENTENNIAL PLATE, 1972 - V. FORD In September 1888, the Fayette Normal University was open to students by the people of Fayette. It gained public favor.

It flourished until 1905.

In 1847 a steam sawmill was built. In 1856 the first steam grist mill was constructed by Dr. Joseph O. Allen and Rensselaer S. Humphrey who were the proprietors until 1861.

Prior to this, people had a long journey to mill (by oxteam?). The same mill is in operation today.

In 1901 the Toledo and Western Railway Company sought to construct, maintain and operate a railroad by electricity, upon and along the old Indiana plank road, east and west.

The old creamery was on the banks of Spring Creek. Fred Pessle and later Herbert Partridge was a cheese maker and dairy expert.

The first hotel, the old Fayette House, was built by William Hardenburg in 1865. Part of the material he brought with him to Providence, Rhode Island. The “Old Tavern” was a roomy twostory 40’×80’ building. Farmers pitched horseshoes or quoits here. It opened for business on July 4, 1866. There gathered the biggest crowd Fayette had ever seen. Such grit of pioneers, in a town of 200, in the woods, 11 miles from a railroad!

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

26 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Minutes From Village Incorporation (1873) RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Record of Proceedings in the Incorporation of the Village of Fayette: The Board of Commissioners in and for Fulton County, Ohio, met at the Auditor’s Office in Said County in Regular Session June 2 A.D., 1873, present or full board to wit: A. B. Thompson, C. A. Canfield, and Joseph Shadle - Commissioners and L. Ely, Auditor and Clerk of Said Board.

And upon the 3rd day of Said Session, it being the 4th day of June, 1873 and present or full same board “to wit” A. B. Thompson, C. A. Canfield, and Joseph Shadle - Commissioners and L. Ely, Auditor and Clerk of Said Board.

The Citizens of Fayette Village, Gorham Township, Fulton County, Ohio, presented to the Commissioners and left of file in the Auditor’s Office as the law directs, a petition asking for the Incorporation of Said Village.

PETITION Said petition being as follows to wit: Gorham Township, March 4, 1873, to the Honorable, the Commissioners of Fulton County, State of Ohio: Your petitioners, residents of the Village of Fayette, and of the Territory adjacent (as hereinafter described)

would respectfully petition your Honorable Body on their behalf to Incorporate for “General purposes” that tract of land (which includes the said Village of Fayette) described as follows being the West Half of the North West Quarter of Section Twenty (20) and the West Half of the South West Quarter of Section Twenty (20). Also the East Half of the South East Quarter of Section Nineteen (19) and the East Half of the Northeast Quarter of Section Nineteen (19) all of Town Nine South of Range One East.

The population of Said tract is about three hundred. And the Corporation desired to be established is for general purposes as hereinafter set forth.

1st - Improvement of streets and drainage, sidewalks, and grating.

2nd - Ease of property on the streets and to prevent running at large cattle, hogs, and other stock to the damage of citizens residing within the proposed limits of Said Corporation and of citizens who come into Said Corporation on business.

3rd - To regulate the business of Auction, Merchants, and Hoaxers who operate to a great extent against the interests of the permanent business of the village.

4th - To regulate

27 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

and control such other matters as are necessary and such as are usually regulated by incorporated villages.

The population of the above-described tract of land which includes the recorded Village of Fayette is rapidly increasing. The building and managing of a Rail Road through Said plot calls together a great amount of transient population which cannot be properly managed and governed without the

restraint of Municipal Law, and as the welfare and interests of this community so imperatively demand it, we most earnestly pray that this, our petition, may be granted.

We nominate to act on our behalf D. D. Nichols, A. Allen, W. F. Gamber, who are fully authorized to act in our behalf. The name of Such Corporation shall be Fayette.

Names of Petitioners: Lewis Benner, C. L. Allen, J. S. Mof-

fitt, L. B. Shipman, W. H. Griffin, H. Collins, E. W. Lewis, A. Bryan, John Fuller, D. D. Nichols, R. J. Paul, William Trowbridge, John Gamber, Chas. Johnson, H. Alford, D. Garlic, W. Goodole, W. Reynolds, A. B. Ely, S. W. Maucker, G. W. Heckman, E. Rorick, H. Booth, S. Wynn, B. Colby, John Eddy, L. E. Coleman, E. Punches, D. T. Acker, G. W. Parker, J. Woolace, E. Rogers, R. Spencer, CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Minutes From Incorporation B. Purcell, J. Tuesly, B. F. Wise, William Willson, Frank Vernier, Alex Wright, George Ferriss, W. F. Gamber, C. A. Snow, W. A. Barayer, G. Ferrold.

The Board counseled the foregoing petition to be filed in the Auditor’s Office in Said County and appointed August 7th, A. D., 1873, at 10 o’clock a.m., as the time for hearing the said petition at said Village of Fayette.

NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Notice is hereby given that a petition for the incorporation of the Village of Fayette, Fulton County, State of Ohio, for general purposes has been filed in

the office of the Auditor of Said County, and that Said petition will be heard by the Commissioners of Said County at Fayette on Thursday, Aug. 7th, 1873, at 10 o’clock a.m. The territory embraced in this proposed incorporation is described as follows: From the records in Deeds, Vol. 56, p.500-503, Fayette was Incorporated in 1873.

TIMELINE 1866 - On July 4, 1866, the Fayette House opened for business. (Vivien Ford Archives for David Green, Morenci Observer, Jan. 4, 2001.) Vivien Ford’s neighbor was Auntie Pierce, a very old woman when Vivien was in her 20’s. When the Civil War

ended, Pierce heard the news from an announcement made on the Fayette House porch. (Vivien Ford Archives) 1867 - The Fayette Mason Order organized in March, 1867.

(Fulton County, Ohio: 18501976. p. 184) 1869 - The Fayette Methodists built a brick edifice at a cost of $3,500, in the present limits of Fayette. (Fayette United Methodist Church, a gift to Vivien Ford from Alice Wilson.)

1872 - Dr. Joseph Allen works to get the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad to Fayette. (Vivien Ford’s “History of the Allen Family”) The Canada Southern Railroad made Fayette a railroad town on July, 1872.

MORE HISTORY OF FAYETTE BY VIVIEN FORD Dr. Rorick came to Fayette in 1872. He contributed much to the success of the Fayette Normal College. He bought out Dr. Allen’s practice. Dr. Allen traveled on horseback to make house calls. He contracted malaria in 1872, because the mosquitoes were so bad. (Vivien Ford’s “History of the Allen Family” and “Dr. Estell Rorick, History of Fulton County Vol. II pp. 3-4.)

1873 Fayette is incorporated.

From the records in Deeds, Vol. 56, p.500-503, Fayette was Incorporated in 1873.

-Typed Amy Wendt, The Village Reporter -Archive Credit: Kathy Fix & Dr. Karen King

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The Village Reporter (August 2023)

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The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Fayette - Last 50 Years (Brief Summary) By: Jacob Kessler

THE VILLAGE REPORTER

In 1849 a French writer named Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr wrote the saying, “the more things change, the more they stay the same. In some respects that is true for Fayette, while in others it is not.

Thankfully one thing that hasn’t changed is Fayette’s atmosphere.

The people are friendly and compassionate everywhere you look. It is a small town that puts an emphasis on safety, community and enjoying yourself. In some ways, these are apparent more today than ever before.

Sure, the village has seen some challenging

times throughout its history, especially within the past fifty years. It has seen several businesses leave the area such as Cra-Z-Art, Fayette Tubular, the town supermarket and more. The town has even faced the prospect of an environmental disaster when chemicals threatened to enter into local wells that supplied residents with water.

This issue came from Fayette Tubular when vinyl chloride and trichloroethylene migrated from the facility after its concrete containment pit cracked and allowed the chemicals to leach out.

But to borrow another saying from theologian Thomas Fuller, “it’s al-

ways darkest before the dawn.” Fayette’s Dawn is here, and the day has been getting brighter and brighter as time has gone on.

During the afternoon hours of August 17th in 2008, a new school was unveiled to the residents of Fayette. This was done due to the ground water contamination discovered in the 1990’s.

With concerns being raised by the OEPA and the nature of the contamination in general, the Board of Education thought it prudent to build a new school in a different location from where the old school was located. 81% of the cost to build the school was

PHOTOS BY: JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

WELCOME … A sign reads “Welcome to Fayette” as you enter into the village from the East on US 20/East Main Street. Flowers help to beautify the sign that also features a Lions Club sign, list of churches, and Bull Thistle event sign.

30 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

taken care of through the Ohio School Facility Program. The other 19% was paid for by the community and with money collected from a court settlement with the factory involved.

In addition to a new school, the village has continued to see growth, especially in recent years.

Eagle Manufacturing has moved in as well as production for Green Bubble Gorgeous. Louie’s Pizza Shop, Cruisers Drive-In, Freddy’s Bar & Grille, Dollar General, Sunoco Gas Station, Circle K and more are just some of the Fayette staples that everyone knows.

Other recent additions to Fayette would include the Saw Shop, the Washboard Laundry Mat, Meraki Salon and Boutique, Sherwood State Bank, Stephen T Priestap Attorney at Law, and the Family Life Center. Additionally, new solar fields are being worked on just outside of town. The Arche Solar Field by LightSource BP and the Connect Gen solar fields, while owned by different companies, will span a combined 2,575 acres when completed.

Fayette has also been busy adding new activities to its offerings as of late. Recently, Pickleball Courts were added to the Fayette Park and a new Disc Golf Course has been installed. A new splash pad has also been in the works and is now close to being finished.

Continuing along with water, the village has been

working very hard these past years in order to redo the towns water distribution system. This hard work has led to the project receiving a $10 Million grant from the State of Ohio for the program. This project is being done in phases and is now closer than ever to getting underway.

The Fayette Community Development Corporation has also been extremely busy in their attempts to better the community. This group has helped with the new Pickleball Courts, as well as the new disc golf course.

McCarthy Building Companies helped the CDC with the disc golf course donating their time to install of the of the equipment for the course that was also purchased by the company.

The group holds meetings that are open to the public and they also continue to attend village council meetings where they help to put out positive information about the village. The Fayette Garden and Beautification Club has also been working to better the village since its start in January of 2023.

The Bean Creek Historical Center is another important part of Fayette.

It began in 2017 where it held its open house on March 1st. Since then, it has continued to preserve and share the history of Fayette and the surrounding area. Without these CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Fayette - Last 50 Years

SPLASH PAD … A new splash pad will soon be a welcome addition to Fayette. As of July 31st, work was continuing in order to try and have everything ready in time for the Fayette Bull Thistle event.

DISC GOLF … A newly created disc golf course has been added to the Fayette Normal Grove Park.

individuals working tirelessly to preserve the towns history, much of what has been saved could very well have been lost as time went on.

Much of what has been spoken of has happened fairly recently as far as history is concerned. The Fayette Opera House, while not very recent, is something that has played an important role in the town’s history. Within the past fifty years, the building was reborn.

In the 1970’s the Fayette Fine Arts Council decided it was time for a change. A long restoration process began in order to turn many businesses throughout the years into a modernized opera house. The Opera House is still run by the Fayette Fine Arts Council to this day.

Fayette is very much alive with

many great activities, businesses and people. Going into any of the local churches, businesses or the park will do much to prove that.

People are more than happy to explain why they like Fayette.

People love the small-town atmosphere. The people are warm and welcoming and ready to help one another at a moment’s notice.

This is the kind of response you get when talking to people about the village. Many people have lived in or around Fayette for most or all of their lives.

These individuals continue to help make Fayette a better place to live. They are a testament to the villages character and why it is a good place to live there.

Jacob may be reached at jacob@thevillagereporter.com

31 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

PARK … The Normal Grove Park in Fayette features many amenities. From a playground to disc golf, a soon to be splash pad, basketball court, volleyball, baseball fields and more. The park is well situated in Fayette and even features a good view of the village to the south along with the water tower.

SOUTH … A sign features all of the churches in Fayette. People pass by the sign as the enter into the village from the South on OH-66/South Fayette Street.

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

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The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Glimpse Of Fayette Today (In Photos)

By Jacob Kessler THE VILLAGE REPORTER (Photos & Article) Fayette, Ohio is a community that continues to grow to this day.

Much of that growth takes place through its community members who take a proactive role in what goes on around them. Whether it be local business owners, members of the local Community Development Corporation, or local residents who just want to see Fayette thrive.

According to U.S. Census data, the population was set at 579 people back in 1880. It has since grown to over 1,305 residents according to the last census in 2020. All of these residents call the 0.98 square miles of Fayette home. Numerous activities are available for residents includ-

ing newer pickleball courts, a new disc golf course, and the numerous businesses downtown. Activities are also available through the Fayette Opera House, and everyone looks forward to the big event that takes place every year, The Bull Thistle Festival.

Fayette may be a small community in Fulton County, but it has a lot going for it. At the end of the day, it is home for many. For some it has been home for most of their life and will continue to be so as time goes on. It is full of history, life, and memories. The village has much to be proud of and it is that sentiment that will keep it thriving much later into the future.

Jacob may be reached at jacob@thevillagereporter.com

33 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Fayette 150th Silver Advertiser

ConnectGen Solar Power Coming Soon To Gorham Township By: Daniel Cooley THE VILLAGE REPORTER

ConnectGen, a multi-technology renewable energy development company, is preparing to file an application with the Ohio Power Siting Board requesting a certificate of environmental compatibility and public need for a solar project under development in Gorham Township, just east of Fayette.

Curt Judy, Director of Development at ConnectGen, said construction could start as soon as late 2025. The target commercial operation is 2027.

Judy said the solar project would be near the corner of County Road 23 and State Route 20, near where the Arche solar field is currently under construction.

The Fulton County Solar Project is anticipated to positively affect the area, providing up to 200 family-wage construction jobs during construction with even more during peak construction times, 80% of which will be sourced from the State of Ohio. Additionally, ConnectGen will source Ohio-based equipment, material, and labor when feasible, further enhancing the economic benefits provided by the project.

While Judy said that the money that could be generated for Gorham Township and Fulton County is under negotiation, the project could provide six figures annually to the Fayette Local School District and another six figures in revenue to Fulton County, Gorham Township, and other taxing jurisdictions.

Known locally as Fulton Solar, the project will have the potential to power more than 45,000 Ohio homes annually. The tax revenues generated by Fulton Solar can also be used for road upgrades, schools, and emergency services.

Also benefitting would be local landowners, who could receive tens of millions of

34 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

dollars over the life of the project, through annual lease payments, easement agreements, and neighbor agreements. This additional revenue can diversify landowner revenue streams and help maintain family farms.

Based in Houston, Texas, ConnectGen has over 20,000 megawatts of wind, solar, and energy storage projects in development across the U.S. Dan can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com

PHOTO BY DANIEL COOLEY / THE VILLAGE REPORTER FUTURE PROJECT … A field such as this one, located on County Road 23, will be the site for Fulton Solar. Construction of the project, which will be sited on approximately 1,800 acres of privately owned land, is to be located between north and east of Fayette. Construction of Fulton Solar will start as soon as late 2025 and should be completed by 2027. The project should bring in six figures annually to Fayette Schools and another six figures to Fulton County, Gorham Township, and other taxing jurisdictions.

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Fayette Grove Disk Golf Course Now Open

PHOTOS PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

HARDWORKING … Workers from the McCarthy Building Company work to install the new Disc Golf Course in Fayette.

By: Jacob Kessler THE VILLAGE REPORTER A new Disc Golf course is now open to the public in Fayette. The new course is called the Grove Golf Course and has been made possible by the Fayette Community Development Corporation.

The story begins back in 2021 when the Fayette CDC began working with the Fulton County Health Department’s HC3 on a Tobacco Cessation program.

“During the first year of meetings, Beth Thomas, FCHD/HC3/DEE explained the program to the CDC members, along with them brainstorming about ways to reach the community to provide help for those who wished to quit tobacco usage,” says CDC’s Karen King.

(Ohio Tobacco Program Quit Line 1-800-7848669/My Life-My Quit 1-855-891-9989) Some of the ideas that came from the brainstorming were to have available facilities for sports and other physical activities.

“At that time, I knew disc golf was one of the fastest growing sports and that some Fayette residents were saying the Normal Grove Park wasn’t being used enough. I thought that a 9-hole golf course would be a nice fit.”

Rev. King explained that she herself had never played the sport. So, she went out to Harrison Lake and West Unity’s courses to see what a course was like.

“After seeing and walking West Unity’s course, I called and talked with West Unity’s

35 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

Administrator, who in turn gave me Stan Tipton’s number. Stan has assisted West Unity with their course.”

King went on to explain that Stan is a retired dentist who had worked in Bryan, OH, but moved to Fort Wayne, IN. Stan volunteered to come to Fayette to help lay out the course.

Stan was later assisted by John Ryan of Archbold. Together the two tweaked the layout, which later received approval from the Fayette Village Council and the Department of Public Works.

John Ryan then voluntarily listed the course online at UDisc and had a friend, Bryce Conklin, who volunteered to design the tee signs.

King then explained that she received a call earlier in the year from Jon Nystrum, Manager of McCarthy Building Company, asking if his company could help with a project for Fayette.

“I asked him if they could put in a disc golf course for us. He said they could, and they did. They purchased the baskets, all the tee materials, furnished the installation equipment, and had at least 25 volunteers from the McCarthy employees install it, Saturday, June 24th, 2023.”

At this time, the signs are yet to be finished or installed. These signs will complete the course.

Otherwise, the course is fully operational

GROVE GOLF … The new Grove Disc Golf Course is ready and open to the public. and ready for players. The Fayette CDC also has a few words for those who helped with the project.

“It is exciting to have this dream come true and to see that people are already playing the course! The Fayette CDC offers a big “THANK YOU” to McCarthy's, Stan, John, Bryce, Fayette Council, and the Department of Public Works for making this possible! The Grove Golf Course is open to the public.”

Jacob can be reached at jacob@thevillagereporter.com

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Fayette Famous Citizen - Gaylord Yost -

By: Jesse Davis THE VILLAGE REPORTER Gaylord Yost was born and would eventually die a resident of the same small Ohio town, but what he did and where he went in between took his name around the world.

Yost’s story started on Jan. 28, 1888, when he was born in Fayette, Ohio, to Charles E. and Ada (Purcell) Yost, but his “lifelong love affair with violin” began in elementary school, according to the preface to one volume of the Yost System for Violin.

“At the age of 15, he was so advanced in his abilities that he became the principal violin teacher in his community and had a class of eight students,” it states. “After studying in Toledo and Detroit, he traveled to Berlin, Germany where he studied with Issaye Barmas, a Russian violinist, who lived there and taught and performed for Germany’s audiences. Upon his return to the US, he taught violin in Indianapolis. During this period, he made one concert tour of Europe, one of Central America, and three in the US, from coast to coast. He was the first violinist to give an entire program of American works.”

According to his obituary in the Toledo Blade, Yost’s career began in 1911 as head of the violin department of the Indiana Conservancy of Music before teaching at Indiana University in 1916, then later at the Indiana College of Music and Fine arts.

“Since 1920 he had been listed in Who’s Who in America which said that Gaylord Yost made revolutionary discoveries regarding violin techniques with his publication of the Yost system,” the obituary reads.

The Yost System preface states that Yost moved to Pittsburgh, PA, in 1921 to become head of the vio-

lin department of the Pittsburgh Musical Institute.

In 1925, Yost founded the Yost String Quartet in Pittsburgh.

“His quartet performed on KDKA, the first commercial radio station in the US. His compositions have been performed by Zimbalist, Maude Powell, Albert Spaulding, and other celebrities,” the preface reads.

The Yost System preface states Yost was “active in Pittsburgh musical circles until the early 1940s when World War II interfered with his and many other musicians activities.”

According to a December 1941 “Who’s Who” article in the Pittsburgh Press, Yost received a doctor of music degree from Waynesburg College in 1938 as well as an honorary membership in the Institut Litteraire et Artistique de France.

He won the Art Society’s first price in 1939 for his Eclogue for violin and piano.

It points out that Yost composed works for violin, voice, piano, string quartet, and orchestra, including his Louisiana Suite (scored for orchestra from its original piano-violin iteration), a concertino for violin and orchestra, and more.

“A serious musician of intellectual attainment, Gaylord Yost is an indefatigable devotees to his art,” the article states.

The Yost System preface similarly extolled Yost’s technical mastery, specifically in the realm of his violin program.

“Students who are truly interested in working with a complete and comprehensive system to develop their abilities will find that the Yost System will meet their expectations,” it reads. “Gaylord Yost has combined his understanding of the violin and music with his abilities and ingenuity to bring meth-

36 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

ods, exercises, and techniques necessary to develop students to a level of excellence not attainable elsewhere.”

The front of a 1950 Yost System manual on left-hand pizzicato and harmonics reads similarly.

“Two of the most important technical devices for violin -- lefthand pizzicato and harmonics -- are neglected because of their infrequent use in standard violin repertoire. Hence, the enormous benefit derived from the practice of both is missed by violinists and serious violin students,” it reads.

“Dr. Yost’s book fills a distinct need in the pedagogic literature and is a welcome and valuable contribution. It is a complete exposition of these phases of technic.”

The 14-title Yost System for Violin is still available online at yostviolinsystem.com.

The Pittsburgh Press article states Yost also served as conductor of the Pittsburgh WPA Symphony Orchestra, that he had a “pet penchant” for chess, and that he

was interested in science, philosophy, psychology, and literature.

After the death of his father in June of 1950, Yost moved back to Fayette, according to his obituary.

He then took over weekly newspaper The Fayette Review, which had been founded by his father. The obituary adds that he became publisher in 1951 before serving as the town’s mayor from 1954 through 1957.

“While living (in Fayette), Mr. Yost and his wife, Ruth ... made many trips to concerts in Toledo, Detroit, Indianapolis, Ann Arbor, and at least one trip yearly to New York City,” it reads, also noting a 1957 trip the pair took to France.

Yost and Ruth had two children together, Gaylord Charles and Sandra Arlette.

Yost died on Oct. 10, 1958, in Detwiler Hospital, Wauseon.

Jesse may be reached at jesse@thevillagereporter.com (Photo courtesy of the Bean Creek Valley History Center)

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

37 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Fayette Famous Citizens - Rev. Samuel Binns & Son Bill: Unsung Heroes Who Helped Shape American History -

By: Amy Wendt THE VILLAGE REPORTER

Many individuals have played vital roles in shaping the United States of America.

Among these heroes are former Fayette residents Rev. Samuel Binns and his son Bill, two men who were dedicated to freedom during an important period in American history. Their commitment to justice and equality helped pave the way for the abolition of slavery and the triumph of the Union.

Samuel Binns was born in Bury, England in 1816.

In 1836, he married his wife, Ellen (Taylor) Binns and they had 10 children, however, tragically, only five survived.

The family immigrated from England to New York City in 1838 and later settled in Ohio in 1842. The Binns family established roots in several Ohio communities before eventually settling in the Fayette area. Although born in Britain, Binns embraced his American identity with pride.

Samuel found purpose in serving as a minister of Jesus Christ, a vocation that spanned 35 years. Over the course of his ministry, Samuel built numerous churches and guided congregations.

One such church, now known as New Beginnings Ministries, is in Fayette.

Rev. and Mrs. Binns and their son, Bill are all buried in Fayette’s Pleasant View Union Cemetery.

The Civil War brought with it the rise of a rebellious group known as the Copperheads. These individuals, residing in the North, actively opposed the Union. In 1862, the Copperheads formed a secret organization called the Knights of the Golden Circle. Their plan aimed to dismantle the Union, creating a new country encompassing the Southern states, Mexico, Haiti, Central, and South America. Their vision included the continuation of slavery and the consolidation of power for the Southern slave-holding upper class.

As the war progressed, the Copperhead Knights gained strength, offering support to those evading the draft and protecting deserters and bounty jumpers. The group encouraged those who enlisted in either the Union or Confederate army to collect their bounty, ranging from $50 to $1000, and then forsake their duty and abandon their fellow soldiers.

Samuel Binns found himself at the forefront of an effort to encourage enlistment in the Union Army. At a rally, he delivered a powerful speech that initially met with silence. However, a courageous man in the back of

38 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

the crowd rose and shouted “I’m going.” The act of bravery ignited a chain reaction, leading others to volunteer, including Samuel’s own son, Bill.

Despite Bill’s diminutive stature, the army recognized his potential as a spy and enlisted him.

Bill infiltrated a gathering of the Copperhead Knights, held in secret at the Cave School House near Independence. Hiding beneath the building, Bill eavesdropped on their conversations, which revealed the extent of their military weapons and their intentions against the North. Federal agents promptly seized the weapons and disrupted the Copperhead’s plans.

In 1863, as the campaign for the Ohio Governorship ensued, Samuel Binns supported John Brough, the Union candidate, in a demonstration of the belief that ministers should engage in the political process.

Samuel campaigned up until just before the polls closed and then he proceeded to cast his own vote. Met by a Copperhead member of the election board, Binns was told he could not vote without his citizenship certificate.

Binns accepted the challenge, mounted his horse, raced home to retrieve his certificate, and arrived back at the polling station moments before the dead-

line. Voting during those turbulent times carried significant risks, as Copperheads resorted to every means to suppress votes.

Thanks to the help of Samuel and Bill Binns, the North prevailed in the Civil War, and slavery was ultimately abolished.

Their legacy serves as a reminder that individual actions can help shape the destiny of a nation and inspire future generations to strive for a more just and equitable society.

Amy may be reached at amy@thevillagereporter.com

“What Do You Enjoy About Living In Fayette?

– RUTH BORTON –

– PEARL PHELPS –

– RON MERILLAT -

– AUSTIN COBB –

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

New Fayette Local School District Dedication (2008) The Village Reporter 2008 Newspaper Archives On the afternoon of August 17, 2008, a new and bright future for the Village of Fayette was unveiled with the dedication of the building that is the new home of the Fayette Local Schools.

With the seats of the new gymnasium almost packed to capacity, District Superintendent Mr. Russell Griggs welcomed all to the dedication ceremonies. To his right on the stage sat the members of the Gorham Fayette Local Board of Education. To his left was the guest speaker, State Representative Bruce Goodwin; Pastor Winston Hatcliff, who would deliver the Benediction; and staff member and Fayette Citizen of the Year for 2008, Ms. Ruth Hutchison.

After the playing of the Na-

tional Anthem by the Fayette School Band under the direction of the newlywed Mr. John Keys, Mr. Griggs introduced Ms. Paula Schaffner, the President of the Gorham Fayette Local Board of Education. Ms. Schaffner recalled the transitions and changes made by the schools over the years as they dealt with the growing student populations. She also spoke about the dire need for a new facility that arose with the discovery of chemical contamination emanating from the old Fayette Tubular building, and how the OSFC, the citizens of Village of Fayette, and the Board worked together decisively and with dedication to bring about the impressive new facility.

The Vice President of the Gorham Fayette Local Board of Education, Mr. David Brinegar, came forward to recognize the efforts

39 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

put in by the Board, as well as those of former Board members Ms. Kelly Bentley, Mr. Terry Kovar, and Mr. Fred Stockburger.

Mr. Brinegar then left the agenda to introduce Fayette elementary educator and decorated veteran of the War on Terror, Captain Cameron Thompson. The audience responded to the introduction of Captain Thompson with a well-deserved standing ovation.

Captain Thompson then came to the stage and presented the School with a United States flag that had flown over an American Military Base in Iraq on 6 April, 2008.

Returning to the podium, Mr. Griggs recognized several special guests seated in the audience, including members of the OSFC, the Buehrer Group Architectural firm, the individual contractors, and the Mayor and Village

Council of Fayette. He then introduced the special speaker of the day, State Representative Bruce Goodwin, a man who has spent 36 years in the classroom as an educator and school administrator.

Representative Goodwin opened by talking about, “…the electricity that I feel as I look at this building, and I look at the faces of the people who know that they have something special here.” He spoke about the commitment that was made by the citizens of Fayette to the past, present and future of the Village of Fayette that is aptly summarized in the completion of the new school. “Everyone who had a part in this has made a significant… a very significant contribution to the future of Fayette, Ohio,” he CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: 2008 Fayette School Dedication said, prefacing his remarks about the processes that were put into place on the local and State levels to begin the construction of the facility. He challenged the staff and the community to move forward in academic excellence. “A little bird told me that academically, there’s some great things happening here at Fayette,” he said, setting the stage for a significant announcement. Representative Goodwin announced that the District would soon be receiving official notification and the associated recognition for achieving an Excellent rating in academics from the State Board of Education. This announcement brought about a long, loud, and well-deserved round of applause from the audience.

Returning to the podium, Mr. Griggs noted that two past District Superintendents were in attendance, including Mr. David Hankins, under whose watch the actual construction project was commenced. Mr. Griggs also recognized the staff of the Fayette Schools, and echoed the announcement of Representative Goodwin saying that the staff and Mr. Hankins helped bring the Academic Excellence rating to the District.

In closing, Mr. Griggs noted that on such an occasion as this, some fun is in order. He then turned his attention to Ms. Hutchison and noted that not only was this the birthday of the new facility, it was also number 80 for Ms. Hutchison. After needling her about “…partying in New York,” when she was supposed to be at the Bull Thistle Parade, he produced a bouquet of flowers, presenting them to her as the Fayette School Band led the audience in a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ in her honor.

Mr. Griggs introduced Pastor Hatcliff for the Benediction, after which the staff adjourned to their

respective classrooms, accompanied by the Band playing the Fayette Fight Song. With the completion of the song, the ceremonies were closed, and the audience enjoyed a most impressive tour of an even more impressive building. In this case, the superlative ‘impressive’ is an understatement of epic proportions.

It is easy for one to form an image of a consolidated school in one’s mind. In order to fully comprehend what resides inside its halls and classrooms, the new Fayette School must be seen on a first-hand basis. Once seen, it makes one want to shave a few years off the age, just to open enroll, go back to school, and participate.

An edifice, regardless of how impressive it may be, will not educate the leaders of tomorrow.

That duty falls squarely upon the shoulders and administration of the school itself, but the teaching tools installed in the building are the truest definition of what has become a tired phrase... ‘cutting edge’. At the new Fayette School though, ‘cutting edge’ is anything but tired, it is technology on a level that is 21st century, world class, and in our backyard.

One simple example falls under the category of multimedia applications. Each classroom is equipped with a combination VHS/DVD player whose playback can be routed to any room. The ceiling of every room has an installed digital image projector for playback of whatever the VHS/ DVD is playing...but it doesn’t end there by a long shot.

Each room has a computer that can also tie into the projector, allowing a teacher to project whatever is on their computer in the same way that the VHS/DVD does...to any room. Of course, these applications are highly useful, but lack the capacity for true interactivity from the students.

40 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

That situation has been resolved with the installation of SMART Boards...and there’s one in every classroom.

We’ve all seen the old standard ‘whiteboard’. You can use it as a screen for movies. You can get out your felt-tip pens and dry eraser and use it as a portable type of chalkboard. The SMART Board from SMART Technologies is roughly the same size, and is white...but the similarities pretty much end right there.

When switched off, the SMART Board can be used quite nicely as a video projection screen with one of the in-ceiling projectors, but when switched on, the world of interactive education comes to life in a huge way. Tied into a

computer, the SMART Board essentially becomes a touch-sensitive extension of the computer.

With the computer running an educational program, kids can come forward and use the touchscreen technology of the SMART Board, actively interacting with the program.

Like the old whiteboard, there is a tray at the bottom of the SMART Board that holds what appears to be different colored felt-tip pens, and a dry eraser. Closer examination of these items, however, shows that they are not what they appear to be, but rather their digital equivalents. A teacher or a student can CONTINUED ON PAGE 41

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: 2008 Fayette School Dedication draw directly into a running program, using digital, ‘virtual’ ink from the ‘pens’. When used like a regular eraser, the digital eraser virtually erases the virtual ink.

All this is done while the SMART Board is displaying the activities to the class. Everyone participates, and no child is left out of the loop. Just to reiterate the point, each classroom either has a SMART Board installed into the wall at the front of the room, or has one mounted on a wheeled frame for portability.

It is one thing to say that a new school is a showpiece or a community gem. The new Fayette School, combined with the human synergy that has together brought about an OBE Excellent Rating, is more than just a collection of superlatives and adjec-

tives. Combined, they are the new educational standard from which the youth of the Fayette School District will attain the education required to successfully compete in the global markets of the 21st century.

The new school goes well beyond these aspects though. It also goes a long way into showing the world that the Village of Fayette is serious and committed to the social and economic development of the community, making Fayette an ideal place to relocate to, and an exceptional place to get an education for your children.

Congratulations to the Village of Fayette for living the credo engraved into the front of the new Fayette School building... “Dare to Soar”.

Eagle-Marry Funeral Home 412 W. Main St. P.O. Box 397 Fayette, Ohio 43521 419-237-2564 www.eaglemarryfuneralhome.com

Honored To Be Part Of The Fayette Community Brian K. Marry Owner

41 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

Robert K. Brehm Manager

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

-The Village Reporter - Roving Reporter Questions-

Fayette Students Share Thoughts ~ KADEN CONRAD ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things What is a fun memory about

~ BELLA SALLOWS ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

~ LEO KOPIETZ ~

~ OWEN OPDYCKE ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ CHARLOTTE GEARIG ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ GAVIN MILLER ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ ELLEANA ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

~ GRANT LANTZ ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

~ SHELBY K ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things

What are your favorite things

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about

What is a fun memory about

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ ELIJAH RODRIGUEZ ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things

What are your favorite things

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about

42 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

~ LOGAN ~

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ TORI PHILIPS ~

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Fayette Students Share Thoughts ~ KASEN K ~

What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ ELLA SHAFFER ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

~ JAXON ~ What is something you like about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ MAIZIE RICHARDSON ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

~ ALONNA ~ What is something you like about living in Fayette?

~ KASSI ~ What is something you like about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ ARIANNA SMITH ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ JACEN SIMMONS ~

~ DON REEVES ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

~ DALTON ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things

What are your favorite things

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

43 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

~ EMERSYN ~ What is something you like about living in Fayette?

~ GABBY STAMBAUGH ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Fayette Students Share Thoughts ~ BLAKE KESSLER ~

What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things

~ ISSAC ~ What is something you like about living in Fayette?

~ ELLIOTT ~ What is something you like about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ SHELBY ~ What is something you like about living in Fayette?

~ KORBIN ~ What is something you like about living in Fayette?

~ BROGAN ~ What is something you like about living in Fayette?

44 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

~ ELLA ~ What is something you like about living in Fayette?

~ AVAH ~ What is something you like about living in Fayette?

~ DAYTON ~ What is something you like about living in Fayette?

~ KAMEDON ~ What is something you like about living in Fayette?

~ MADDOX ~ What is something you like about living in Fayette?

~ HOLDEN ~ What is something you like about living in Fayette?

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Fayette Students Share Thoughts ~ SHELBY ~ What is something you like about living in Fayette?

~ JOURNEY ~ What is something you like about living in Fayette?

~ BAILEY JENNINGS ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ EMMERSYN ~ What is something you like about living in Fayette?

~ NOAH ~ What is something you like about living in Fayette?

~ TYLER ROSS ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ LEVI ~ What is something you like about living in Fayette?

~ MADILYN ~ What is something you like about living in Fayette?

~ ETHAN LEE ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ JAELYNN ~ What is something you like about living in Fayette?

~ REILLY BAILEY ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

45 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

~ MAYCEE BEERS ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Fayette Students Share Thoughts ~ WYATT MITCHELL ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ ETHAN LYNCH ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ EMERSYN SINKS ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ HANNAH HALL ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

~ ETHAN HILER ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ SHANE MAGINN ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

~ ERIKA FETTERMAN ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ KENADIE RAMAY ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

~ LESLIE BURROW ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

46 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

~ JOCELYN M ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

~ DEMI STORRS ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ HAWK BREHM ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What are your favorite things

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Fayette Students Share Thoughts ~ AMARI TENZY ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ LILLY CAMPBELL ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

~ JESSE HOWARD ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ REBECCA STEVENSON ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ TYLER TUSSING ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things

~KADEN FRENN ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ AIDON BRUBAKER ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

~ CHASE MOATS ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

47 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

What are your favorite things What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ HANNAH KOVAR ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

~ CONNOR LYONS ~

What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things

What is a fun memory about

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

~ SKYLAR LESTER ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in

~ DEMETRIUS WHITESIDE ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Fayette Students Share Thoughts ~ GABBY GREEN ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

~ MARIAH RAMOS ~ What have you liked most about going to school in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What are your favorite things about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

What is a fun memory about living in Fayette?

Advantages Of Living In A Small Town?

Less traffic Lower crime rates More relaxed way of life Increased time spent outdoors More green space and fresh air Improved mental health Opportunities to get involved in the community

Happy 150th Village Of Fayette

150 th

Happy Birthday Fayette

150

Happy Birthday Fayette !

Lions Clubs help those in need in the community: ■ Eyeglasses and exams ■ Diabetes ■ Children’s cancer research.

■ Take old glasses as donation ■ Scholarships for graduating seniors Fayette Lions Club serving Fayette since 1940

Fundraising projects include: ■ Vidalia onion sales in the spring ■ Working Thresher’s gates ■ Selling community calendars in the fall

New members welcome!

48 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

Planted 150 years ago and still watered and nurtured today.

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

History - Fayette School District

This 1904 view is believed to be a picture of the old school located on Cemetery Street.

The Village Reporter 2008 Newspaper Archives In the late 1800’s, in the far northwest corner of Ohio just south of the Michigan border, a small town named Fayette made great strides toward being the center of education for the students of the Gorham and Franklin townships. This school year, as the town celebrates moving into their new top-of-the-line school, they are still a great choice for Northwest Ohio families to send their children for a K-12 education.

Families began settling in this area in the early nineteenth century, and soon it was divided into counties, townships, towns, and districts. The Gorham and Franklin townships felt a need for the education of their children, and one-room schoolhouses began to be built with the goal being that no child

would need to walk more than two miles to a school. There are several different lists of the oneroom schools in the area, and various resources including a map from 1913 help us know some of the names and locations of the schools. They dotted the countryside in different forms… some log, some brick, and some frame. One memorable frame building was known as “the little red schoolhouse”. Our list is far from complete, but it is one that will stir memories for many of our older citizens.

It is believed that a building was used as a church and school in the Cottrell settlement as early as 1836. When a church was built across the road, it was used exclusively as a school and was known to be still standing as late as 1862. The first frame schoolhouse, called the Snow School, was built in 1842 by Rensselaer S. Humphrey and

49 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

was located just north of Fayette.

On the 1913 map from the State of Michigan Board of Geological Survey and the State of

Ohio Board of Geological Survey, titled Ohio-Michigan Alvordton Quadrangle, there are several schools identified with CONTINUED ON PAGE 50

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: History Of Fayette School

only a number. With the help of Mrs. John (Wanda) Bacon, who spent 45 years of her life in the Fayette school (12 as a student and 23 as a Cafeteria worker), we were able to put names to those schools.

Slightly north and east of Fayette was the aforementioned Snow School. Directly east of that school was School #2, or the Ritter School. A few miles south of the Ritter School was School #7, or Handy Corners as it was known at the time. The Ritter School was a log building and was up and running at the approximate timeframe of the Incorporation of the Gorham Township, with one source saying 1836, and another saying 1839.

West of Handy Corners there was a school in Fayette, appropriately known as the Town School. South of Fayette was

the Hoffman School on what is now County Road 23. West of the Hoffman School on County Rd. 27 was the Kanauer School which Mr. Bacon remembers attending, and which on the map was called the Sugar Grove School. This school was at one point hit by a tornado and reduced to a pile of rubble.

Straight west of Zone was School #4, or the Maple Grove School. Directly east of this school, on the other side of Zone, was the Pfund School.

On the map, it is spelled Pound because that is the way it was pronounced. South of the Pfund School was School #6, which may have been called the Severance School. The last school we will mention was slightly north of Elmira-Burlington, labeled School #8, which we believe was the Fisher School. There were between 10 and 15 one-room

50 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

schoolhouses where the children of Franklin and Gorham townships were receiving their first through eighth-grade educations.

Quoting Vivien Ford, “In 1888

the Fayette public school building was a large and convenient brick structure with 4 rooms for grades 1-8, and had an average attendance of 130 pupils. (This building was located on the northeast corner of the present cemetery, now Maple Street).” Many sources referred to this school as the Cemetery School. Students in the oneroom schoolhouses and the Fayette Public School went on to the Fayette High School after completing the 8th grade.

In 1881 the Fayette Normal College of Business and Music was built and turned out many good teachers and businessmen.

In 1888, the Fayette Normal College of Business and Music changed its name to the Fayette Normal University. There is a lot of history available about the FNU, as it was lovingly called.

The library that the citizens of Fayette enjoy was established in the 1920s by the Fayette Normal University, thus answering those who wondered where they got the name Normal Memorial CONTINUED ON PAGE 51

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: History Of Fayette School Library.

Another memory that I ran across on a 1904 Ladies Basketball Team Calendar from the Normal was an old school cheer, humorous by modern standards … Boom-a-lacka! Boom-a-lacka!

Bow-wow-wow! Ching-a-lacka!

Ching-a-lacka!

Chow-chowchow! Boom-a-lacka! Ching-alacka! Who! Who! Who! Off the earth for F.N.U.!

Many Fayette students attended FNU, and when the University left Fayette for Wauseon and eventually Bowling Green, the building became the Fayette High School.

The old FNU building was razed in 1905, and a new Fayette High School was built in its place. Dr. John Van Valkenburg said in his internet article that this building had “…one of the best gym floors of that era which served as auditorium, basketball court, banquet hall and a Thespian center for plays and programs.” Records dated to 1908 note that the new facility was called the Gorham-Fayette School.

1911 found the students from the old Cemetery School going to the new bigger school. Soon afterward, the Cemetery School was torn down, and the small

The brick school building with grade school age children in front was located on Cemetery street in Fayette on land that is now part of the cemetery - 1911. cemetery became a larger one.

The first school lunches were served in January of 1916, and the Athletics Department com-

menced operations in 1917.

By 1921, the elementary school section consisted of 4 rooms.

By 1928, there were nine school districts in Gorham Township, and one special district in the Village of Fayette. A single consolidated district soon began with the school building being located in Fayette. Since it was closer to some of them than Morenci, high school students from Michigan were allowed to attend for a tuition fee. Franklin High School students could choose to go to Fayette, Archbold, or West Unity.

In 1928, a new school was built on what is now known as Eagle Street in Fayette. The students began the school year CONTINUED ON PAGE 52

51 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: History Of Fayette School

spread out in different buildings while they waited for the new school building to get finished, with one class being held in the Opera House. The 1928 senior class did get to graduate in the new building, but the 1929 class were the first graduates to spend their entire senior year in it. This new building housed all 12 grades in one place.

By 1937, all of the area oneroom schoolhouses had been closed, and a new school facility was built for the children of Franklin township in the tiny community of Zone, four miles south of the Village of Fayette.

In 1968, the two schools consolidated, and some of the younger students went to the Franklin School. The Gorham-Fay-

ette School District grew to 55 square miles in size when they added the northern half of Zone.

With the jog in the road being used as a dividing line, the students on the south side of Zone went to Archbold. In its final year of occupation, the 20072008 school year, the Franklin School had the K-4 grades, while grades 5 through 12 were in the Gorham-Fayette School.

An Industrial Arts and Vocational Agriculture Building was constructed in the 1970s without the need for a tax levy, which was a great thing for the community.

Over the years, many exciting and historic events have taken place in the Gorham-Fayette School District. They were re-

52 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

nowned for their musical groups and soloists dating back to the

days of the Fayette Normal College of Business and Music, including boasting a graduate who wrote a famous piece of music. The commencement speaker for the graduation of the Class of 1968 was Ohio Fifth District United States representative Delbert Latta. Through the years, the students of the District have excelled in many areas, and Fayette graduates have gone on to excel in many professions.

In the 1990s, it was discovered that there was chemical contamination from a nearby factory in the groundwater near the school. After the OEPA expressed concern, the Board of Education decided that it would be wise to build a new school in a different location. Through the ‘Extreme Environmental’ portion of Ohio School Facility Commission program, the State of Ohio paid for 81% of the new building, with the community covering the remaining 19% of the total. Part of that 19% was CONTINUED ON PAGE 53

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: History Of Fayette School covered by the court settlement with the legal partners of the factory involved.

Groundbreaking for the new facility was held on Saturday, August 5, 2006, at a new site located on the south end of Fayette, facing Township Road R, just east of the intersection of Road R and State Route 66. The school is built on 56 acres of land with playgrounds and ample parking lots outside, and the cuttingedge educational technology inside. There are 25 classrooms and common areas consisting of an Auditeria, a Learning Resource Center, two gyms with locker rooms, and a weight room.

Special thanks and acknowledgments must be made for the contributions of those instrumental in compiling information used in this article. They include

John and Wanda Bacon, Mr. John Winzeler, Mr. Dave Loffer, Mr. David Hankins, Mr. Russ Griggs, and the staff of the Normal Memorial Library.

Acknowledgment is also made for online articles and information written by Dr. John Van Valkenburg and Charles Paul Keller.

The websites of the Michigan and Ohio Geological Societies, as well as those of the Franklin and Fayette, were most beneficial. A number of important historical points came from the book about Fayette written by Vivien Ford and from “The History of Henry and Fulton Counties, Ohio,” edited by Lewis Cass Aldrich.

Congratulations to the citizens of the Fayette School District as you move into this new chapter in the history of the Fayette Schools!

THE FAYETTE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS COME A LONG WAY INTO DEVELOPING INTO A CENTRALIZED SCHOOL CAMPUS.

MOLITIERNO AND THIEL Thomas S. Molitierno Attorney at Law

tommol@fulton-net.com

Travis J. Thiel, Esq. Attorney at Law

Travis.thiel33@gmail.com

• Bankruptcy • Personal Injury • Criminal Law • Estates and Probate • Dissolution & Divorce • Real Estate

104 E. Main St. • PO Box 40 • Fayette, Ohio 419-237-2661 53 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

History - Fayette Area Schools (In Photos)

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The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Fayette Area Schools (In Photos)

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The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Fayette Area Schools (In Photos)

Fayette Normal University in the late 1800s to early 1900s.

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The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Fayette Area Schools (In Photos)

57 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Reflection: Gorham Fayette Marching Band At Washington, D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival (1964)

By: Dr. Karen King FAYETTE CDC In 1963, Mr. Richard Chadwick, Fayette’s music director, sent a request for our band to march in the Cherry Blossom Festival parade which would take place in Washington, D.C., April 1964. Only two bands from each state would receive an invitation. When we received ours, excitement rose to over the moon!

From then on, Mr. Chadwick drilled us in our every day band classes and many days after school marching and playing up and down the Fayette streets sunshine, rain, or snow. If the

weather was really bad, then we practiced in the gym. We had to memorize five marches, work on formation, marching in step, and all the kinds of things good marching bands do. When we weren’t practicing, we were busy selling magazines and gathering donations to raise funds for our trip.

When it was time to leave for Washington, three charter buses picked us up (there were over 100 in the band out of 580 school students K-12 at that time), and we were on our way. The chaperones were: Carlton & Mildred Daso, Dick & Ruth Hutchinson, Mrs. Chadwick, Mr. & Mrs. Syx,

58 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

and of course our band director, Mr. Chadwick. What an exciting time for most of us who were rural small town kids!

In Washington, we stayed in a nice hotel. At the end of our stay, the hotel told us we were one of the best behaved bands they had had (that was a proud moment for us)! They had to send one band home due to bad behavior.

We enjoyed tours of the White House, U.S. Department of Treasury, the Capital Building, National Museum of American History, some monuments, including the Washington Monument with 896 steps (which

some of us had fun running up and down) and were given some free time to roam.

Washington was beautiful with all the cherry trees in full bloom! Each year, the Festival commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Tokyo to Washington, DC which heralds spring across the country. Annually in March and April, the Festival welcomes over one million people to the nation’s capital for 25 days of programs focused on traditional and contemporary arts and culture, community spirit, and the environment.

We had never seen so many CONTINUED ON PAGE 59

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Reflection Marching Band - Washington D.C. people in all our lives. There were tourists and dignitaries everywhere. Delbert Latta, our 5th district member of Congress, arranged for our group to be photographed at the Capital steps. A picture most all of us still have today and treasure!

When the big day came for us to line up to march; we were ready, for we had prepared well!

As we marched, we played perfectly, our lines and diagonals were beautifully straight, we stayed in step, and felt proud to wear the sharp-looking band uniforms. Afterwards, we were told that out of the 100 bands, we were one of the best! What a great honor and privilege for Fayette! Thanks to Mr. Chadwick for teaching us so well and to all who helped make this possible. These are wonderful, lasting great memories!

(From a band member)

“What Do You Enjoy About Living In Fayette?

– TOM PHELPS –

– WENDY KIPLINGER –

59 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

– GRACE SLY -

– PAULINE VEREECKE –

– JENNIE MCKINNEY -

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Sponsoring & Hosting Fayette’s

150th Birthday Celebration GROWING A STRONGER COMMUNITY TOGETHER

Anyone may attend or join the CDC meetings who has an interest in Fayette.

Working together with other organizations to make Fayette the best.

Partnering with Fulton County Health Department/HC3 for Tobacco Cessation.

Festivities begin at 10:00 a.m Don’t miss the opening ceremonies!

Gives donations/assistance to many community organizations and individuals.

Assists village residents with yard work.

Chooses Community Nominations

• Citizen of the Year • Best Curb Appeal and Most Improved Homes • Christmas Lights Contest Winners

Sponsored Grove Golf 9-Hole Disc Golf Course at the Fayette Normal Grove Park

60 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

History - Fayette Eagle Athletics

Fayette Eagles Basketball: Looking Back At The Storied Tradition Of The Purple & Gold By: Nate Calvin THE VILLAGE REPORTER Despite being one of the smallest schools in the state of Ohio, Fayette has enjoyed plenty of success over the decades on the hardwood.

Along with BBC, district and sectional titles, the boys’ teams have been to the regionals in 1967, 1995, and 2016 with the 67’ and 95’ teams finishing as regional runner-up.

In total, Fayette has 23 BBC championships, 12 sectional crowns, three district championships, three district runnerup and two regional runner-up trophies to their credit.

The earliest BBC title for Fayette dates back to 1925 with the latest coming in 2016.

On the girls’ side, the Lady Eagles have been to regionals five times (1988, 1989, 1990, 2005, 2016) with the 2016 team finishing as regional runner-up after falling to Fostoria St. Wendelin.

The program has won 10 BBC titles (1986, 1988, 1989, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2013, 2016) seven sectional championships (1988, 1989, 1990, 2005, 2013, 2014, 2016), five district titles (1988, 1989, 1990, 2005, 2016) and one district runnerup (2013) to go with the regional runner-up trophy.

1967 REGIONAL RUNNER-UP The 1966-67 team went 18-2 during the regular season with their only losses coming on the same weekend at the hands of BBC foes Pettisville (73-71 OT) and Stryker (84-71).

In their 18 wins, Fayette scored an average of 78.1

SECTIONAL CHAMPS … The Eagles celebrate after clipping Delta 64-58 to win the sectional championship at Anthony Wayne High School in 1967. ppg and twice surpassed the 100-point mark.

The tournament run started with wins over Spencer-Sharples (51-36) and Delta (64-58) to win the sectional title before edging Lakota 58-57 in the super-sectional to advance to districts.

Upper Scioto Valley was the district semifinal opponent for Fayette at Anderson Arena in Bowling Green.

Senior Wendell Heximer poured in 41 points to help the Eagles eclipse 100 points for the third time that season in a 10185 victory.

Heximer followed that performance with 34 points as Fayette surprised state ranked and pre-

61 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

viously unbeaten Carey 74-67 to clinch the school’s first ever appearance in the regionals.

The Class A regional semifinal at Lima Senior High School was an all-Fulton County matchup with the Archbold Bluestreaks, losers of just two games that year.

The Eagles overcame an early Archbold lead and carried by the play of Heximer, Fayette knocked off Archbold 66-53 to move to within one game of the state tournament.

The dream season ended for the Eagles with a 67-65 double overtime loss to Kalida as the Wildcats would get a tip-in at the buzzer of the second overtime to send them to the state

tournament.

THREE STRAIGHT REGIONAL TRIPS FOR THE LADY EAGLES This was one of the most successful stretches in the Eagles program as the 1987-88, 198889, 1989-90 teams all brought home sectional and district championships on their way to regional semifinal appearances each season.

On top of the tournament success during that time, Fayette won three straight BBC titles, to give them four the league championships during the 80s, with the other coming in 1986.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 62

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: History - Fayette Basketball BBC TITLE DROUGHT ENDS FOR THE BOYS Under first-year head coach Bill Roback, Fayette turned some heads by going 9-1 in the BBC and 16-4 overall during the 1993-94 season. The Eagles, who last won part of a BBC crown in 1987, clinched the league title outright after a convincing 70-44 win at home over Hilltop led by 28 points from junior Troy Langenderfer. The season ended on a sour note though as top seeded Fayette was upset by Pettisville 49-47 in the Division IV sectional finals.

1995 REGIONAL RUNNER-UP The 1994-1995 team had high expectations as they brought back all five starters from their league championship squad a year earlier.

BBC play got off to slow start for the Eagles as they dropped games at Pettisville 69-64 and at Stryker in the infamous “wet floor game” 60-58 to start league play at 1-2.

After the loss to Stryker, the Eagles righted the ship going 11-1 (including wins at home over Pettisville and Stryker) to close out the regular season at 17-3 entering the tournament.

Fayette opened their tournament run against Liberty Center in sectional finals at Wauseon High School.

The Tigers (9-13) led 32-31 after three quarters and one half of the “6’8” Twin Towers”, Troy Langenderfer, fouled out with 4:23 to go with Fayette clinging to a 38-37 lead.

Sophomore guard Brent Brehm would come through down the stretch by hitting two free throws with 47 seconds remaining to push the lead to 4744.

Liberty Center had a couple shots to tie the game, but both were off the mark as Fayette survived to advance to districts for the first time since 1986.

A third meeting of the season with the Stryker Panthers awaited the Eagles in the dis-

1993-1994 BBC CHAMPS … Fayette steamrolled Hilltop 70-44 on February 18, 1994 to clinch the Eagles first league title since 1987 when they shared it with Pettisville and the school’s first outright title since 1980. Pictured – (Front) Manager Andrew Schang, Aaron Brehm, Rodney Bingman, Jasen Schaffner, Brent Brehm, Eric Lichtenwald. (Back) Manager Josh Rodriguez, JV Coach Jeff Bridges, Steve Fruchey, Mike Repp, Troy Langenderfer, Lewis Grant, Ryan Elarton, Toby Adams, Head Coach Bill Roback. trict semifinals at the “Grand Canyon” in Napoleon.

Fayette used a 10-0 run in

1966-1967 FAYETTE EAGLES … (Kneeling) Manager – Kenny Hibbard, Head Coach Myron Carson, Manager – Roy Crooks. (Standing) Gayle Schaffner, Les Schaffner, Joe McKinney, Nick Bezruczko, Wendell Heximer, Bill Riegsecker, Mike Williams, John Maginn, Pete Bezruczko, Robert Repp.

62 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

the second quarter to take a 2613 lead at halftime and then a 13-6 spurt in the fourth quarter after Stryker (15-7) drew within 39-34 for a 56-46 win.

It was another rematch from the regular season in the district finals as Fayette squared off with Edgerton, a team they had handled 80-54 just three weeks prior.

This meeting proved much closer though as Edgerton outscored Fayette in the fourth quarter to force overtime tied at 41.

In the extra session, Fayette scored all four of their points at the foul line while holding the Bulldogs scoreless for a 45-41 victory.

The district title was the first for Fayette since the 1967 regional runner-up team. Coincidentally, two members of the 95’ team, Mike Repp and Jasen Schaffner, had fathers that CONTINUED ON PAGE 63

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: History - Fayette Basketball played on the 67’ Eagles team.

The regional semifinal opponent at Savage Hall (now Savage Arena) at the University of Toledo would be the Ottoville Big Green.

A back-and-forth battle through three quarters saw Ottoville take a 33-32 lead into the fourth quarter. Junior guard Rodney Bingman would put Fayette on his back in the final frame by scoring seven of Fayette’s 11 points in the quarter to help the Eagles to a 43-40 win.

Fayette faced a huge challenge in the regional finals as they took on an undefeated Liberty Benton (24-0) team that featured the Division IV District Player of the Year in Andy Butler and post player AJ Granger.

Granger would go on to play at Michigan State where he won a national championship in 2000 under Tom Izzo.

Fayette jumped out a 16-11 lead after one quarter before L-B used a 19-8 second quarter to take a 30-24 lead at the break.

Liberty Benton pushed the lead to 36-28 early in the third before back-to-back rebound buckets by Langenderfer brought Fayette to within 36-32.

The eventually state champions from Liberty Benton would take control of the game at that point by outscoring the Eagles 22-9 the rest of the way to close out a 58-41 win.

2015-16 Boys & Girls Teams Enjoy Historic Seasons A historic season was the talk of the town with the boys and girls teams winning BBC titles (both went 10-0) and each team advancing all the way to regionals.

After a 21-1 regular season, the boys opened tournament play with a dominating win over county rival Pettisville 5618, the third time they beat the

MAGICAL SEASON … The Fayette girls’ and boys’ basketball teams each had record seasons in 201516. The teams combined to go 42-2 during the regular season and 20-0 in the BBC as each team won outright league titles and advanced to the Division IV regionals.

Blackbirds that season.

Districts started with another dominant performance by the Eagles as they cruised past Edgerton 42-26.

The Eagles took control of

63 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

the game thanks to a 17-0 run in the middle of the game and a suffocating defense that held the Bulldogs to only five points in the first half.

It was a nip and tuck battle

in the district final at the “Grand Canyon” in Napoleon as the Eagles faced top seeded Ayersville.

Fayette would build their lead to 24-16 before the Pilots ralCONTINUED ON PAGE 64

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: History - Fayette Basketball lied to take their first lead of the game at 34-33 with 2:14 left in the game.

Trailing 36-35, Fayette big man Tristan Bates fought through a triple team for a bucket to put the Eagles back on top with :45 seconds remaining.

That set the stage for controversy as an Ayersville desperation three-pointer at the buzzer found the bottom of the net but was waived off by the officials who said it was after the horn.

After reviewing the tape after the game, it was apparent that the clock had started late when the ball was inbounded thus time should have expired before the last second bucket by the Pilots.

Another No. 1 seed awaited Fayette in the regional finals as they faced the Lincolnview Lancers at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green.

Both teams were plagued by cold shooting in the first half, but Lincolnview was able to take an 18-13 lead at halftime.

The Lancers continued to increase their lead in a low scoring second half to 27-15 before eventually winning 36-29 to end the Fayette season at 24-2.

The Lady Eagles tournament journey began with wins over North Central (50-27) and Edon (58-32) as they brought home their third sectional crown in the last four years.

In the district semifinals, Taylor Griffiths had a team-high 14 points while Kaela Seiler and Alexis Fruchey each added 11 to lead Fayette into the district finals after a 45-39 win over Holgate.

Fayette had revenge on their mind as the Pilots of Ayersville was the district final foe for the

Lady Eagles.

Fayette’s only loss during the regular season was to Ayersville, who handled the Eagles 55-29 a couple months earlier.

The Eagles closed the game on a 7-1 run after the Pilots had cut the Eagle lead to 41-40 to secure a 48-41 win and clinch their first berth in the regionals since 2005.

Fayette would face New London in the regional semifinals at the Elida Fieldhouse as they looked for the program’s first ever berth in the regional finals.

Fayette led early 12-4 before New London put together an 8-0 run to tie the game but Fayette answered back with a 10-0 spurt to claim a 22-15 lead at halftime.

The Eagles’ lead ballooned to 30-21 but once again New London rallied scoring ten straight points to trim the Fayette lead to 33-31 after three quarters.

Two free throws by New London eventually tied the game at 39-39 with 2:12 remaining but neither team scored the remainder of regulation to send the game to overtime.

Griffiths paced the extra session for the Eagles going 6/6 at the line as Fayette outscored New London 9-3 in the extra period for a 48-42 win.

Through the first three quarters of the regional finals, the Lady Eagles went toe-to-toe with the Fostoria St. Wendelin leading 25-23 heading to the fourth quarter.

The final stanza was dominated by St. Wendelin though as they used a 14-4 quarter to close out a 37-29 win and end the Lady Eagles season at 26-2.

OTHER SPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS VOLLEYBALL SECTIONAL CHAMPIONS: 2003, 2004 BASEBALL BBC CHAMPIONS: 1946, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1961, 1985, 1987 SECTIONAL CHAMPIONS: 1972 DISTRICT CHAMPIONS: 1972 GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY BBC CHAMPIONS: 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2020 DISTRICT CHAMPIONS: 2007 BOYS CROSS COUNTRY BBC CHAMPIONS: 1972, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2004, 2005, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2020 DISTRICT CHAMPIONS: 2004, 2005 DISTRICT RUNNER – UP: 2014 REGIONAL CHAMPIONS: 2005 BOYS TRACK: BBC CHAMPIONS: 1934, 1971, 1996, 2022 GIRLS TRACK: BBC CHAMPIONS: 1988, 1995 GOLF: BBC CHAMPIONS: 1980, 1981, 1982 SECTIONAL CHAMPIONS: 2019

Nate may be reached at sports@thevillagereporter.com

64 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Fayette Cross Country Grows Into One Of Area’s Strongest Programs By: Nate Calvin

THE VILLAGE REPORTER

FAYETTE – Over the past two decades the Fayette Eagles Cross Country program has become a power in the BBC along with their success at the district, regional, and state level.

The man leading Fayette cross country during that time is Bryan Stambaugh, a 1998 graduate of Fayette.

Stambaugh just finished his 22nd season as head coach, 17 of them with another Fayette alum, Matt Maginn, as his assistant.

“I started coaching the year after I graduated and I was not ready for that”, recalled Stambaugh. “It took some time to implement what I wanted to get going since I was the head coach of kids I just literally ran with.”

Stambaugh though gives credit for the success of the program to the kids who have been a part of Fayette cross county the past 20+ years.

“Honestly, I would have to say the kids. We have been very fortunate to have some very hard working, “lead by example” kind of kids.”

“These same kids help recruit within the school and are really the face of our program”, continued Stambaugh.

“When you have kids that have individual success, it helps build a platform to a more competitive program overall.”

“Success breeds success and without the leaders we have had throughout the years our program wouldn’t be where it is.”

“Lastly, the families of so many past runners help make our program complete, to where it feels like one big family.” “That’s my favorite part of all this…the friendships and the memories.”

The boys’ dominance is displayed in the fact they have finished no worse than third in the BBC since 2005 with league titles in 2005, 2014, 2018, and 2020.

The history of success extends

PHOTO PROVIDED/ THE VILLAGE REPORTER

2022 EAGLES … The girls and boys teams gather for a picture following the BBC Championships held at Harrison Lake on October 15, 2022. past BBC championships and into district and regional competition.

The boys team had a stretch of regional appearances from 20022010 along with berths in 2014, 2015, 2018, and 2021.

Perhaps the highlight during that time was in 2005, when the boys team was district and regional runners-up to qualify for the state meet.

That team, comprised of Heath Armstrong, Nathan Stoltzfus, Tyler Downing, James Henry, Matt Kovar, Andy Mullett, and Nic Roth, are to date the only team from Fayette to reach the state level in any sport.

For Armstrong, 2005 was his fourth year qualifying for state, as he finished fifth overall.

Darrell Randal (2008-2010) joins Armstrong as a multiple state qualifier for Fayette during Stambaugh’s tenure along with single state appearances from Skylar

65 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

Lantz (2014), Brett Merillat (2018), Quinn Mitchell (2020), Wyatt Mitchell (2022), and Jose Blanco (2022).

The 2005 season was also a big one on the girls’ side as the Eagles fielded their first full team in 20 years.

They followed that accomplishment with league titles in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, and 2020.

The girls have produced state qualifiers in 2005 (Danielle Wyse (Shay), 2008 (Erica Goeltzenleuchter (Towers) and Leslie Burrow in 2021 and again this past season.

The success of Fayette program can also be attributed in part to a strong junior high program.

On the boys’ side, Fayette captured league championships in 2006, 2009-2012, and another run between 2014-2019.

The girls team has BBC titles to their credit in 2010, 2011, 2014,

2016, 2018, 2020, and 2021.

“I just hope the kids keep enjoying it”, said Stambaugh when talking about what he wants the program to be in the years ahead.

“Running isn’t for everyone. It isn’t pretty. It’s run until you want to fall down, in any kind of weather, only to have to do it again the next day.”

“But as many of our past runners will tell you, it’s so rewarding in so many ways.” “As I mentioned earlier, it’s the friendships and memories you make before and after those workouts or races.”

“Most of all it’s what those runs teach you about yourself. From the first time you laced up those running shoes to just how much stronger and capable you really are.”

“That’s what I hope to see, kids continuing to grow and become amazing adults in the real world.”

Nate may be reached at

sports@thevillagereporter.com

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

History - Fayette Eagle Athletics (In Photos)

DISTRICT SEMIS … Jerad Seiler goes strong to the bucket in a district semifinal win over Edgerton on March 1, 2016 at Napoleon High School.

66 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: History - Fayette Athletics (In Photos)

67 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: History - Fayette Basketball (In Photos)

TAKING THE FLOOR … Fayette starters (from left to right) Gayle Schaffner, Bob Repp, John Maginn, Bill Riegsecker, and Wendell Heximer take the floor at Anderson Arena on the campus of Bowling Green State University for a district game.

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REGIONAL FINALS … Alexis Fruchey takes a shot down low over the St. Wendelin defender in the Division IV regional finals on March 3, 2016.

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: History - Fayette Basketball (In Photos)

RECORD HOLDERS … The 4x100 relay team broke the school record with a time of 45.2 in the regional finals on May 27, 1995 and were first at the BBC championships on May 13. Pictured are: Coach Laura Bostelman, Spencer Lester, Aaron Brehm, Mike Repp, Eric Lichtenwald.

Early 1900s baseball - top of photo cut off in original photo.

69 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

History Of Fayette Normal Library By: Jesse Davis

THE VILLAGE REPORTER

After the Fayette Normal College of Business and Music was established in 1881, after it was renamed Fayette Normal University in 1888, it was still decades away from founding its namesake library.

According to the Normal Memorial Library website, the basis for the library was put together by a group in the early 1930s - funds and books which they presented to the community for that purpose.

More funding was eventually obtained in 1940 through the county’s

intangible tax “to be used for the extension and promotion of library services,” the website states. In 1944, the library held just 4,345 volumes.

On Nov. 3, 1964, voters approved a one and one fourth mil levy for the purpose of building a public library facility. Up to that point, the library had been located inside a school building while its collection had grown to more than 14,000 volumes.

A Fayette community supporter pledged a gift of $10,000 and the project also received a grant of $36,946 through the Library Services and Construction Act. The build-

ing was completed at a total cost of $84,070 and the dedication and open house held on Jan. 8,

1967.

The Library has continued to grow and now holds more than 30,000

volumes in its collection as well as offering a wide CONTINUED ON PAGE 71

in business since 1994 Hiring CDL drivers and Mechanics

call 419-452-7201 Fayette, Ohio

70 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: History - Fayette Normal Memorial Library variety of services, including standards like DVDs and large print books along with tax forms, voter registration, and homebound delivery service. It also offers an after-school program, story hour for young children, a summer reading program, a teens and tweens program and various adult programs.

You can visit the library’s website at fayette-nml.org or call (419)237-2115 for more information.

Jesse may be reached at jesse@thevillagereporter.com

“Normal Memorial Library was dedicated on January 8, 1967. The library is a memorial for the Fayette Normal University that was established in 1888. Today, the library is still a place to grow your imagination and connect with others.” Current Library Director: Wendy Adams.

“What Do You Enjoy About Living In Fayette?

SERGEANT BILL MCCONNELL

JERRY VAN ZILE

JAMES & PAULA FRUCHEY

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MARY BORER

BRITTANY THEIS

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

History - Fayette Fire Department (In Photos)

PHOTOS PROVIDED & BY AMY WENDT / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

1908 FAYETTE FIRE DEPARTMENT … Fayette Fire Department members left to right: Arnold Landis, Elmer McNair, Wm Yackley, Dave Zolman, Estell Heckman, Chief Mel Gunsavllus, Mayor Henry Crane, Ben Zimmerman, Leer Hickman, Herb Tillotson, Geo Snider, Estell Foglsong, Tom Gray, Jacob Miller, Chas Schlegel, Walter Fidler.

BREAKING GROUND … Historic photo of the east side of the current fire station (former trolley station) when they were breaking ground.

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FIRST FAYETTE RESCUE UNIT … Members of the department during rescue training in front of the opera house. The white vehicle was Fayette’s first rescue unit.

HISTORIC HOSE CART … Original hose cart from 1876.

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Gorham-Fayette Fire Department.

Gorham-Fayette Fire Department is an emergency services department that covers Gorham and Franklin townships, staffing a fire, paramedic and EMT 24 hours a day-seven days a week. The department was organized in 1876 and keeps history going by holding onto the original hose cart and the 1932 REO Firetruck. The station has been housed in the current location since 1950.

Current members of the department are: Chief Thomas Franks, Matt Welch, Brian Riegsecker, Brad Knierim, Dara Lavinder, Jada Reinking, Dan Knierim, Linda Chapa, Dick Vine, Nicole Stritz, Chris Stillion, Shane Myers, Tyler Miller, Jennifer Baer, Shane Phillips, Michael Baer, Samantha Netcher, Amie Gomoll, Jeff Hibbard, Tracy Stanford, Ada Davis, Corinna Riley, Ashley Leach, Desiree Snyder, Beth DeLeon, Robert DeLeon and Trishia Baney.

Gorham-Fayette Fire Department 118 East Main St., Fayette 419-237-2716 73 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Fayette Area Houses Of Worship

History: New Beginnings Ministries had set empty for so long, Pastor Karen had a lot of work to do both inside and out to get it ready to reopen for church services.

Volunteers helped. The first service was August 12, 2012.

Various improvements and repairs have continued to be added since 2012: two stair chair lifts, a sound board, organs, and a baby grand electronic piano which was brought by a man from Florida.

The old church west entrance damaged doors were replaced with nice new steel ones, and the siding, which was coming loose on the high gable east end, was repaired. Overgrown trees and bushes were cut down. Crushed pavement was donated for the parking lot.

In 2016, all of the old frosted CONTINUED ON PAGE 75

PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

PHOTO OF THE CURRENT CHURCH BUILDING The history for New Beginnings Ministries is scanty since the church has been under various denominations without much information being passed to the next.

The founder and first pastor, Rev. Samuel Binns bought a lot across from the cemetery for $30.00 and built the original church in 1870. It was the second church to be built in Fayette, the Methodist was the first in 1853.

The denomination was Christian Union Universalist.

The church was destroyed by fire in the early 1900’s but was rebuilt. The original structure had a very tall, beautiful steeple that could be seen from a long distance. The rebuilt church lacked the steeple but resembled the first structure.

The United Brethren denomination bought the building and lot for $400.00 in 1915 and continued until 1969. The Bird Lake Wesleyan Missionary Church, Osseo, Michigan, bought the building and lot for $6850.00 in 1970, and it became the Fayette Wesleyan Missionary Church. Rev. Samuel Wickard was its first pas-

tor, followed by Rev. & Mrs. Lynn Leininger and others.

In December 1975, the Bird Lake Wesleyan Missionary Church transferred the ownership to the Fayette Wesleyan Missionary Church. When the new addition was built in 1979, the name was changed to The Fayette Bible Church. The old church became a youth center and then housed The Fayette Christian Academy which was started in 1981. The total church edifice consisted of the old church building attached to the new addition.

When the Fayette Bible Church closed in 2007, the ownership was transferred back to the Bird Lake Wesleyan Missionary Church and set empty for five years. Some wanted to purchase it to turn it into apartments, a rehab store, a VFW dance hall ~ and a youth center, but Bird Lake wanted it to stay as a church and wouldn’t sell.

In 2012, God led Rev. Dr. Karen Joy King to purchase the church, March, 2012 and open it back up as a church now known as New Beginnings Ministries of Fayette, OH. Since the church and lot

74 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

PHOTO COURTESY OF BEAN CREEK HISTORY CENTER

Fayette Wesleyan Missionary Church, April 1971 The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: History Of New Beginnings Ministries windows in the newer addition (now called the Sanctuary) were replaced with new stained glass windows. More lights were added to the Sanctuary as well as a ceiling projector, projector screen, and large 72” TV monitor. A church bus was purchased in 2017 and a

garage erected for it in 2018.

The two combined church structures had four old, inefficient furnaces, one to heat the old church and three for the new addition. Those have been all replaced with new highly efficient furnaces as well as a new central

air conditioner.

When Pastor Karen bought the church, the old church basement had been totally gutted, was cluttered and dirty. This had previously contained the classrooms and rest rooms for the old church.

In this space, she built a closet for badly needed storage, finished the kitchen area, and totally remodeled the basement which included redoing the floor, painting the walls, jacking up the ceiling, enclosing the jack posts, adding electrical outlets and light switches, a new suspended ceiling, new lights, and windows.

The old church (now called the New Beginnings Ministries Chapel) was rented by the Fayette Church of the Nazarene Ignite youth group for five years until they moved back to their church in 2020. The Chapel will be used for ladies’ ministry groups starting

this fall 2023. Some other ministries New Beginnings participates in are Serenity Haven and Fulton Manor in Wauseon, Ohio.

As a start-up church consisting of only God and Pastor Karen in the beginning, New Beginnings Ministries has stayed the course through many difficulties and is expecting great blessings and growth from God. The congregation is friendly and welcoming! A visitor is only a visitor once; after that, they are family. The Word is taught rightly divided and in simplicity so all can understand. God raised up New Beginnings Ministries to be a light house to the community and far beyond.

Mission Statement: Changing lives through Christ by ministering to the whole person.

(INFORMATION COURTESY OF THE MINISTRY)

Proudly Serving the Fayette Community with

NATURAL GAS Since 1965

75 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

History: Fayette Christian Church (Former Church Of Christ)

PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

PHOTO OF THE CURRENT CHURCH BUILDING The Christian Church is one of the largest Protestant bodies founded in this country. The church began as a movement in post Revolutionary War America to bring unity to a church thought to be divided over European theological, political, and social issues. The early “Disciples of Christ,” used the word “brotherhood” to describe themselves, a unity of people for Christ.

Fayette’s Christian Church is a post-Civil War church. It came into being after the town grew, was incorporated in 1873, and just after the Fayette “Normal Music and Business College” was organized. The Fayette Church of Christ was organized in 1882.

Rev. Hayes greatly assisted this venture. He was a pastor at the Spring Hill Church, at Tedrow.

E.W. Gordon, a “Normal” student and preacher, was also active in the organization of the Fayette Church of Christ.

First services were often held at the Christian Union Chapel, now New Beginnings Ministries, where the organization was first established. Mr. Gordon preached and

conducted the services at first.

Rev. Hayes was the first regular pastor.

When Sunday School became strong in our country, it was necessary to remodel the church building to give room for the Sunday School program, which was completed in 1906. The church was successful and well used until the morning of Feb. 2, 1908, when fire broke out. In a few hours, the structure was totally destroyed costing a serious loss of $10,000. While the new church was being constructed, the congregation met in the Fayette Opera House.

Before rebuilding, the congregation decided it needed to select a more central location since the town had grown. Lots, formally occupied by the Record Office on West Main Street, and the adjoining property were chosen. A supreme effort was made to raise necessary funds to build a new church in the new location. People from all denominations donated to the building fund. The present structure began the last week of June, 1908 and was dedicated

76 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

December 13, 1908.

The sanctuary can seat 150 people on comfortable cushioned pews, donated by Genevieve Snider. The elegant windows are memorials. The glass came from Germany. According to recent insurance valuations, each of the large windows holds a value of about $60,000. The glass itself is irreplaceable.

The large window themes are: “Clinging to the Cross,” “Christ Knocking at the Door,” and “Christ in Gethsemane.” Pastor Welty and Dr. Backus dedicated much time to the construction of these beautiful windows. Although not a member, Dr. Rorick, was also a friend of the Fayette Church of Christ and a generous giver.

Through a generous gift from the Mary Anne and Beryl Clough family and a memorial fund from members of the Fayette Christian Church, new storms were recently constructed for these windows and repairs on the stained glass continue as an ongoing project.

May 20, 2001, marked the groundbreaking ceremony for a new addition to the existing church building at a cost of $160,000. This created a new main carpeted entry into the church, included the installation of an elevator, two handicapped accessible restrooms, and two offices, one for the pastor and one for the church secretary. Mr. Jim Crawford, a Fayette Christian Church Elder and the Church Board President, dedicated much time and energy to the project.

Rev. Mary Jo Bray was the pastor during this time. More recently, new beige carpeting was installed in the whole upstairs. New basement windows were installed. The parsonage was painted as it was originally when it was obtained

from the Acker family. The old gravel parking lot is now blacktopped.

Several pastors have served the Fayette Christian Church over the years. 1921-1946, Miss Ada Hawley. Rev. Swain 1949-1957.

Rev. Herrington 1957-1959. Rev. James Osuga 1959-1966. Rev. Fox 1966-1969. Rev. Paul Gardner 1969-1975. Errett Scott was interim pastor in 1976 in 1980.

Ed Allen 1976-1979. Rev. Hal Zug 1980-1993. Martha Crookham served as Interim Pastor. Dana Hoover 1994-1997. Dr. Ed Bomeli, served Interim Pastor. Reverend Donald Glasgow served as an Interim Pastor from June 1998 - November 1998. Mary Jo Bray 1999-2006. Pastor Gene Sugg 2006 - 2020. Vicki Schnitkey began her ministry in 2020 and became our Interim Pastor in 2021.

The Fayette Christian Church opens its arms to everyone. The church believes that the Bible is the guide for life and should be intelligently and reverently interpreted. While salvation gives the Christian believers the sure hope of life with God in eternity, it begins with life with God here and now. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God and needs to the Lord and Savior of your life.

Much has happened at Fayette Christian Church since our 125th Anniversary Celebration in 2007. In 2007, the church bought the building next door, east of the church, from Dee Potter. In April 2008, that building was torn down and a lovely green space created in its place. The church is now landscaped thanks to a memorial gift honoring Larry Frederick and the garden expertise of Irene CONTINUED ON PAGE 77

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: History Of Fayette Christian Church

PHOTO COURTESY OF BEAN CREEK HISTORY CENTER

HISTORIC REFLECTION … The following picture shows the construction of the Church of Christ in Fayette, Ohio. The church’s construction was completed, and it was consecrated on December 31st, 1908.

Fether, Larry’s sister-in-law.

The parsonage has been professionally repainted. Extensive painting in the church was also accomplished. The Bell Tower was enclosed and the outside of the church was fixed up. In 2012, a new baptistery was put in complete with a new pool liner and handrail.

Also that year, a new sound system was installed. Thanks to a generous gift from the Beryl and Mary Anne Clough family and the Clough Memorial Fund, the beautiful stained glass windows of our church shine and are well protected. Our organ was repaired and a new Yamaha Clavinova was purchased. Another welcomed change was new air conditioning in the sanctuary and chapel, thanks to a gift from Lori and Mike Creighton. Jared Lemley put in a new side entrance door

to the church. Jared takes care of many needs around the church lighting, hanging of historic portraits, and seeing to repairs that come up.

Many people work hard to make our church successful.

Kandace Lemley presides over church board meetings. Curt Fether is our vice chairman over the meetings. Jennifer Gould is our church secretary. Irene Fether is our church treasurer.

The Elders include Ron Merillat, Grace Sly, Curt Fether, and Kathy Fix with Vicki Schnitkey. Curt Fether is the director of our Pulpit Committee. Linda Malchow makes the monthly newsletters. Interim Pastor Vicki makes the weekly bulletins. Susan Merillat is an ardent church worker. She has served the Christian Women’s Ministries well. She was a teacher for several decades

77 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

of middle school-aged children in our church. She is a historian in her own right, making scrapbook albums of church events.

Susan is a sincere shepherd of our church - always ready to visit or send a card to anyone in need.

Grace Sly has been a respected member over the decades. She is an active member of the CWF, secretary of the church board for at least five decades, helps with Vacation Bible Schools and teaching the Joyful Notes. Linda Martin has been the organist at Fayette Christian for several decades. Substitute organists and pianists since 2017 have included Jean Pfund, Ruth Hutchison, Elaine Schaffner, and Kathy Fix. Many hands have made the Fayette Christian Church viable to many. It is the people, working together, with Christ at the center that make this church a reality.

This is a church of people celebrating life as Christians, who serve this church, the commu-

nity, and the world in many various ways - through gifts of self, time, energy, and financial generosity. It embraces Vacation Bible Schools, Church Camps, Potlucks, Picnics, Mud Hen Games, Election Day Dinners, Christmas Eve Services, Children’s Christmas Programs, Birthday Parties, Anniversaries, Charities and Mission Work, Blanket Sunday, Earth Day Celebrations, Easter Sunrise and Worship Services, Baby Dedications, Baptisms, Funeral Services and Dinners, and the Christian Women’s Ministries.

The Christian Builders Class meets Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Children’s Church is at 10:30 a.m.

Worship service is held at 10:30 each Sunday, where people come to praise, sing, pray, serve, read the Word, listen, and renew.

(INFORMATION COURTESY OF THE CHURCH)

The Village Reporter would like to thank the following individuals for their assistance making this tribute possible.

DR. KAREN KING, Fayette Community Development Corporation President COLLEEN RUFENACHT, Bean Creek Valley History Center, Inc. President WILLIAMS AERIAL MEDIA (Drone Images) The hard working team at the newspaper office including the sales reps, writers and photographers.

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

History: Our Lady Of Mercy Catholic Church

PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

PHOTO OF THE CURRENT CHURCH BUILDING Mr. Steven Samac was the driving force in establishing and constructing a Catholic Church in Fayette. The first Fayette Catholic Masses were held in local homes.

The Toledo Diocese confirmed the establishment of Our Lady of Mercy (OLM) on 9-24-1942, known in the Catholic Tradition as the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mercy. The first Mass was held on October 18, 1942, in the building located at 201 West Main Street.

This location was first a garage, then a hall. At some time, there was a bowling alley on the second floor, and the last known ownership was by Harvey and Dee Potter, and it housed ‘The Glamourette Beauty Shop’, operated by Mrs. Karen Lavendar. It was in this building that the preparations took place for the first Parish Festival - Turkey Dinner. Dorothy McDowell remembered cleaning the home-grown turkeys on the 2nd floor.

In the 1940s, Willy’s Jeep requested Mr. Stephen Samac to move from Detroit to Fayette to expand his mobile home axle pro-

duction into an automobile line.

Stephen’s friendship with Henry Ford and the Dodge brothers provided the background and knowledge to help make this happen Fayette Manufacturing was born.

Stephen and his wife Adelaide, along with their 9 children, desired a Catholic church in Fayette. This would eliminate the longer drives to Archbold, Assumption, or Hudson MI. The Fayette Manufacturing business quickly expanded, and Stephen used a percentage of those profits, joined with the profits of the Korean War’s Fayette production of machine gun parts and water trailers to fund construction of the Our Lady of Mercy Church.

In 1948, the first OLM Festival was held in the new Fayette Manufacturing Building. Since this building was newly constructed, and the fall weather produced a muddy walkway, people walked on wooden planks to get in and out of the building. In 1951, the parish festival was held in the church basement for the first time. This parish-community festival ran

78 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

until just a few years ago, ceasing due to rising expenses and fewer workers available in the parish.

OLM now hosts a Silent Festival in the fall for its members.

Until Stephen and Adelaide could utilize any of their profits for construction, Mr. Guy Aker, founding Fayette Father, loaned the startup monies to break ground and commence construction. Other OLM families donating to the cause were the local Lumbrezer Families, Monahan Families, John and Bertha Borkoski (OLM parishioners and owners of the bar on South Main Street, now One More Bar), and many parishioners donated funds and physical labor.

The church construction began in December of 1950 and was completed with the church commissioned on March 23, 1952. With much donated labor and materials, construction costs were able to come in around $60,000, with the majority funded by Stephen and Adelaide Samac. ($60,000.00 in 1952 currently reflects the same buying power as $671,993 in 2023.)

To furnish the church, Adelaide worked with artists from the Detroit area. The Sanctuary was hand-painted with many Bible stories and artwork on the front walls. The 14 Stations of the Cross were obtained in MI, and the current crucifix, at that time with a golden sunburst behind the cross, were obtained. The church was filled with works of art, with most of the artists being from the Detroit area. The church pews were purchased from an older church in Detroit. Since they were black from much use, parishioners and workers from Fayette Manufacturing worked in the church basement sanding and refinishing the pews. The Lumbrezer families, Anthony, Lawrence, Cletus, and Bernard would drive from Assumption to work on the church interior

projects, not only sanding church pews, but to help lift and install the huge beams we currently see at the roof of the interior of the church.

A well-known Fayette resident was Babe Jones. He was Stephen’s ‘right-hand man’, and he invited Babe to Fayette. Babe started Quality Tube, and he supplied labor and items for the church.

One only has to look up, to see the unique lights that still hang in the church, to see the quality of Babe’s work and Babe’s dedication to the Samac family and Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church.

The Samac children provided a lot of sweat equity as well during the construction. They didn’t have far to return home, as they lived just across the street, at the home many refer to as the old Larry and Mary Lou Wilson home.

Larry and Mary Lou were parents of Charity Slyker, Valorie Swigert, Melody Lichtenwald, Ivy Kunkle, and Felicia Stockman. Mary Lou was the daughter of Stephen and Adelaide, first living in the original Samac home on College Street and then moving into the new family home across from the church. The Samac family legacy of making the community a wonderful place to live continues in Fayette through Mary Lou’s children.

During the 1960s, in response to many stating that Catholic Churches were too ornate, thus taking away focus from Jesus, churches were ‘toned down’. Our Lady of Mercy had the sanctuary paintings whitewashed and covered with wood, the front wall repainted to a plain covering, and the golden sunburst removed from the crucifix. However, an original painting of Our Lady of Mercy that hung in the building at 201 West Main Street remains hung in front of the choir loft.

Other interior modifications CONTINUED ON PAGE 79

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: History Of Our Lady Of Mercy included the removal of the main stone altar. The current wooden main altar was built by Colenzo Short, owner of Short Cabinets and OLM parishioner. Colenzo later constructed each side altar to match the main altar. The 14 Stations of the Cross were last repainted by Judi Lumbrezer, possibly 15 years ago.

To provide housing for a priest, a frame home was moved from the country and located near the church. It stands there today as the parish business office. A brick home used to house workers throughout the week was torn down and replaced with a parking lot. Around 1963, the Samac family donated the land and properties to Our Lady of Mercy.

In 1967, a 40’ by 85’ lot and home were purchased by the

Samac family and Rice’s Truck Stop, on the northwest half of the church parking lot, from Mrs. Amber Jewell at a cost of $1,900.00.

This is where the current St Vincent de Paul Society building now stands, established by sisters Noreen Dixon and Betty Monahan.

In true Fayette Community Spirit, Our Lady of Mercy was welcomed within this community.

From over 60 years of the annual Turkey and Ham Parish Festival, to the recently added Bullthistle Breakfast, Our Lady of Mercy Church has deeply contributed to the Fayette Village community life, bringing Catholics and Protestants to one table, for the enjoyment of food, fellowship, and one another.

(INFORMATION COURTESY OF THE CHURCH)

Towable Boom Lifts· Blowers Tractors· Seeders· Mini Excavators Air Compressors· Concrete Tools Log Splitters· Chainsaws Skid Loaders· Chippers· Brush Mowers Overseeders· Stump Grinders

PHOTO COURTESY OF BEAN CREEK HISTORY CENTER

TIMES PAST OF THE CHURCH - DATE UNKNOWN.

ALL THE EQUIPMENT TO FINISH YOUR PROJECTS ARCHBOLD · BRYAN DEFIANCE · ADRIAN

www.blackswampequipment.com · (800)445-2777 79 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

History: Fayette Methodist Church

PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

PHOTO OF THE CURRENT CHURCH BUILDING. The Fayette Methodist Church has been a longstanding presence in Fayette, Ohio.

In 1838, the early settlers of the area used the first schoolhouse erected in Gorham Township, located one mile east of Fayette, for their religious services.

During the same year, a group of worshipers were organized into the Gorham Methodist Episcopal Church, under the leadership of Rev. Littlebridge, a circuit riding pastor of the day.

The first log church building was built in 1848 to 1849 on the northwest corner of what is known as Ford’s Corners, one mile east of town, at a cost of $600.00. Although this

30 x 40 foot building was constructed cheaply and much of the materials donated, the building taxed the resources of the struggling community, and the raising of the money was very difficult.

The second church building was built in 1869 in Fayette, then known as Gorham, at 305 E Main St, which is the present site.

The two lots cost $150.00, and the solid brick edifice cost about $3500.00. Sadly, eleven years later, on May 9, 1880, the Methodist Church, along with several other buildings in Fayette, burned in the great fire that destroyed a good portion of the village.

The church was re-

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built after the fire in the same style at a cost of $5500.00. A key that unlocked the church built in 1869 and a small table were saved from the fire.

They are both on display in the narthex of the current church.

In 1905, the congregation decided to build a larger, more spacious church to accommodate the rapidly growing congregation. They built the present structure with a brick veneer at a cost of around $11,500.00. The cornerstone bearing the date of 1905 can be found near the front entrance.

Also original to this building are the stained glass windows. On the south side of the sanctuary is the Nativity Win-

dow. Its beauty is one of the most unique things about our worship space.

The window is especially stunning during Christmas Eve candlelight worship. In the evening, as you drive by the church, you will notice that the window is illuminated from within, offering us a glimpse of the light that is Jesus Christ coming into this world of darkness.

Throughout the 1980s, various updates were made to the sanctuary.

The choir loft and organ pipes were removed, and a new alcove was created at the front of the sanctuary.

A beautiful hand-made cross was placed in the new arch, a lighted stained glass window was placed in the dome of the ceiling, the walls and ceiling of the sanctuary were painted, the carpet was replaced, and the pews were refinished. All of these updates are still present today.

The Family Life Center is the most recent addition to the Fayette Methodist Church. Located directly across Main Street from the church, ground was broken for this building in May 2013, and the dedication ceremony was in December of 2013, just seven months later.

The FLC serves as a meeting place for church and community groups as well as our FUMY group for teens in 7-12 grades.

The FLC is a multipurpose space that enables the congregation to gather for fellowship, worship, and study.

It also serves as the Fulton County Senior Center for the Fayette area on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Other uses for the FLC have been graduation parties, bridal and baby showers, concerts, and funerals.

There have been three homes occupied as parsonages for pastors of the Fayette Methodist Church.

In 1875, a structure of twenty-three feet by twenty-five feet was built on North Eagle Street. It was decided this home should have a cellar, cistern, privy, barn, and all of the necessary fixtures.

The cost to build this parsonage was $896.22. The last pastor to occupy this dwelling was Rev. E.E. Roberts.

The next parsonage was purchased on 415 East Main Street in 1959.

Rev. Robert Rector and his family were the first inhabitants of this home.

The parsonage on 405 East George was acquired in 1979. It was thought to be a more quiet area.

The presence of the Fayette Methodist Church precedes the incorporation of the village of Fayette. It has long been an important part of the community.

An open invitation is extended to all to attend Sunday worship service at 10:30 a.m., adult Sunday School at 9:30 a.m., and Bible study Thursday evenings at 6:15 in the FLC. (INFORMATION COURTESY OF THE CHURCH)

CONTINUED ON PAGE 81

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: History Of Fayette Methodist Church

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE BEAN CREEK VALLEY HISTORY CENTER

(Left Photo - Fayette Methodist church circa 1960’s) (Right Photo: T&W tracks down middle of street from around 1905 when it was newly built)

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The Village Reporter (August 2023)

History: Fayette Nazarene Church

PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER

PHOTO OF THE CURRENT CHURCH BUILDING 511 SOUTH FAYETTE STREET. Fayette Church of the Nazarene began with a group of people who desired to have the message of the holy living taught, preached, and lived out.

The first services were held in a tent on a vacant lot at 508 South Fayette Street and the church was officially organized on June 7, 1925, with 15 charter members. Two times the wind blew the tent down. The

first time it was torn so badly, they stayed up all night to mend it so they could hold services the next day. As winter approached the people realized the need for a more permanent place of worship.

They bought a lot at 424 South Fayette Street for $100 and purchased an old Dunkard Church building ten miles west of Fayette for $200. The men

tors in its 98-year history, with Winston J. Hatcliff having the longest tenure of over 27 years.

Andrew Reynard is the present pastor. In that same 98 years, the church has had only 4 treasurers.

The people of the church have committed themselves to minister, not only to adults but also to children and teens with regular weekly activities as well as special ministry advents during the year.

Thank God for all who have gone before us and have been examples of prayer, godly example, and spiritual leadership. We praise God for all that He has done!

tore off the boards and the women pulled out the nails. They hauled the materials to Fayette by horse and wagon and reassembled the building.

That church was used from Thanksgiving 1925 until the first unit of the present building was occupied in December 1964. The old building now houses the Fayette American Legion. Additions were made to the present building in 1979, 1981, and 2006.

Over the years the church has been very involved in missions throughout the world, giving 10% to 20% of all income for world evangelism. At the present time, the Church of the Nazarene has ministry in over 150 world areas.

The church has had 23 pas-

(INFORMATION COURTESY OF THE CHURCH)

Kristy

Clouse - Owner -

419 237 2393 kristyccakes@live.com Facebook: Kristy’s Cakes at The Bake Shop, Fayette Ohio

The Bake Shop

27337 County Road S Fayette, OH 43521

PHOTO COURTESY OF BEAN CREEK HISTORY CENTER

PICTURED IS THE CHURCH, CIRCA SPRING 1926

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The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Fayette 150th Silver Advertiser

The Fayette Opera House:

Reviving The Past, Embracing The Future By: Amy Wendt

THE VILLAGE REPORTER

As the Village of Fayette marks its momentous 150th birthday in 2023, another establishment will also join in the celebration of a remarkable milestone.

The Fayette Opera House, located at 105 East Main Street, will proudly commemorate its 125th year as a beloved fixture in the heart of downtown.

The Opera House stands as an asset to the community, embodying the mission of the Fayette Community Fine Arts Council. With a focus on charitable and educational endeavors, this iconic venue has enriched the lives of its citizens by pro-

moting “cultural, artistic, and aesthetic values.”

Nearly 125 years ago when Fayette was in its infancy, the citizens petitioned the village council for a Town Hall to be built near the corner of Main and Fayette Streets for $4,450. Less than a year later, in 1898, the Town Hall officially opened its doors.

In its early days, the Town Hall was a multifunctional space housing village offices, shops, and the jail on the first floor.

The upstairs of the hall was utilized for various purposes including the Fayette Normal University’s commencement, minstrel shows, temperance meetings, concerts, and

83 - Village Of Fayette (150th Celebration)

medicine shows. The expansive space also proved to be the ideal location for the village’s first basketball court.

In the early 1900s, tent shows were a popular form of entertainment in rural and small-town

America.

These shows typically featured a troupe of actors, musicians, and performers who traveled from town to town during the summer months to provide entertainment for the locals. One such group, the Norma Ginnivan Dramatic Company Tent Show, wintered in Fayette yearly and used the Town Hall for their presentations during the colder months.

Following World War II, the building fell into disuse and was eventually sold for commercial purposes. Its new life saw it transformed into a laundromat, serving a practical function for the community. As time went on, the laundromat venture came to an end, and by the late 1960s, the building found a new purpose as a warehouse.

With renewed community interest in fine arts programs, in 1978 the Fayette Community Fine Arts Council (FCFAC) initiated a drive to acquire the structure and return it to its original purpose “as a venue for artistic, social and civic events.”

With the hard work of volunteers, the Fayette Opera House was born.

One of those volunteers, the late Tom Spiess, Executive Director of the Fayette Community Fine Arts Council for many years, was dedicated to restoring the Opera House to its former glory. He remained committed to his passion project until he passed away in 2018 when he asked his fellow FCFAC board members to “promise me you will keep CONTINUED ON PAGE 84

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Fayette Opera House the lights on.”

In the present day, the Fayette Opera House hosts various special events, including dinner concerts. One standout offering is the Glasgow Reed Organ Series, featuring talented organists and musicians from around the world.

Additionally, the venue supports local entertainers and artists by hosting the Bean Creek Coffee House once a month during January, February, and March.

“That is strictly local talent,” Dee Ann Lawrence, the current FCFAC President noted.

The Coffee House performances are reminiscent of sitting in a restaurant with live entertainment. “We call it ‘The Coffee House’ because we hold it downstairs and we usually have some kind of refreshments,” Lawrence added.

“It’s fun because of every age (involved). We’ve had a young man perform at eight years old up to a lady who is in her 90s.”

The late Tom Spiess, Executive Director of the Fayette Community Fine Arts Council for many years, was dedicated to restoring the Opera House to its former glory.

Outside of hosting special entertainment events, the Fayette Opera House is open for the community to rent for various occasions, such as weddings, reunions, receptions, meetings, anniversaries, and special programs.

As Fayette Opera House embraces its storied past and looks toward the future, the Opera House along with the Fayette Community Fine Arts Council remains dedicated to inspiring entertainment and fostering a sense of community for the people of Fayette for years to come.

Fayette Opera House Schedule - 2023-2024 Season: Friday, October 13, and Saturday, October 14 - 7:00 pm - Night at the Movies featuring Blood Woods and Imbeciles Saturday, October 28, 2023 - 7:00 pm - Down Home Country, Gospel, and Bluegrass Show - Free Will Donation Meal at 6:00 pm Sunday, November 5, 2023 - 2:00 pm - Dinner and Silent Film “The Kid Brother” - Dinner at 12:30 pm Saturday, December 2, 2023 - 7:00 pm - Siberian Solstice Trans Siberian Orchestra Tribute Saturday, December 16, 2023 - 7:00 pm - A Clark Family Christmas Thursday, January 11, 2024 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Coffee House featuring local talent Saturday, January 27, 2024 - 7:00 pm - Lee Warren and Friends Classic Country Rock Thursday, February 8, 2024 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm CONTINUED ON PAGE 85

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Continued: Fayette Opera House (IN Photos) Coffee House featuring local talent Saturday, February 24, 2024 - 7:00 pm Public Scene Classic Country Rock and Classic Country Thursday, March 7, 2024 - 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Coffee House featuring local talent Sunday, March 10, 2024 - 2:00 pm - Glasgow Reed Organ Series Concert Featuring Mark Herr - Dinner at 12:30 pm Saturday, March 23, 2024 - 7:00 pm - Music

by Bliss Sunday, April 7, 2024 - Time TBD - Dinner and Gospel Concert Saturday, April 27, 2024 - 7:00 pm - Down Home Country, Gospel, and Bluegrass Show Free Will Donation Meal at 6:00 pm Friday, May 17, 2024 - 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm - Mr. Magic - Tom Patton All events are located at the Fayette Opera House, 105 East Main Street, Fayette, Ohio.

Ticket prices vary. Call (419) 237-2721 for more information or to order tickets.

“What Do You Enjoy About Living In Fayette?

HISTORICAL PHOTOS SOURCE - A Fayette Community Fine Arts Council Publication with the Support of The Ohio Arts Council entitled FAYETTE OPERA HOUSE: Building a Future Upon Its Past COURTESY OF DEE ANN LAWRENCE, FAYETTE COMMUNITY FINE ARTS COUNCIL PRESIDENT

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MAT JOHNSON

PEGGY BRUBAKER

RACHEL JOOST

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

“What Do You Enjoy About Living In Fayette?

LYNDA HERZOG

PASTOR ANDY REYNARD

VICKI SCHNITKEY

RUTH HUTCHINSON

DEAN BATES

MARLIN SAYERS

ERIC YURCHEKFRODL

– CHERIE RIX -

BURT BLUE

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BETH SCHAFFNER

The Village Reporter (August 2023)

Continued: Fayette Adults Share Thoughts

“What Do You Enjoy About Living In Fayette?

RUTH MARLATT

RICHARD MILLER DEE LAWRENCE

RUTH REYNARD GENE SCHAFFNER

LINDA SNOW I have lived in Fayette all of my married life (almost 60 years).

I love attending our Methodist Church where Christians come together to worship and serve God! It is comforting to know there is a group with the same beliefs and that this group always has my back!

MAX SNOW I like the farm country and knowing my neighbors. I have lived in Fayette for 77 years.

Photos By Jacob Kessler, Renea Kessler & Dr. Karen King

JEANNE JOHNSON

KRIS KEISER

MARYANN FORD I like Fayette because it is small and have lived here for 30 years.

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Happy 150th Village Of Fayette

150

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