Nov 18

Schumm Sawmill/USS Constitution Connection

As 2022 winds down to its final weeks, Willshire’s Bicentennial year does the same. The village was founded and platted in 1822 by Captain James Riley and the village and residents of the area have been celebrating its 200th birthday all year long. Willshire’s Bicentennial Committee has done a great job planning monthly events for the entire year. The latest event was last weekend, the Blessed by Willshire banquet, where Sondra Samples presented an interesting and informative slide show about the history of Willshire and some of the surrounding area.

Among the many things Sondra mentioned, I was particularly interested in the information about a connection between the sawmill at Schumm and the USS Constitution, aka Old Ironsides, nearly 100 years ago.

I wrote about the Schumm Sawmill in September 2014, The Schumm Sawmill  , which was owned and operated by W.P. Robinson and Fred Smith.

Schumm Sawmill, c1924.

At Saturday’s banquet Sondra told that the sawmill at Schumm provided some lumber for the 1927-1931 repair of the USS Constitution. Sondra noted that Willshire’s Photo Star published an article about this in August of this year. How did I miss that? Luckily, I found a copy of that Photo Star article in my personal newspaper archives, one of our closets.

According to the article, the following is handwritten on the back of a 1927 print of the USS Constitution, the print currently owned by a Van Wert County resident:

This picture: Old Ironsides is in Boston Navy Yards. This Ship was Rebuilt in 1927 with millions of dollars from school children’s pennies and much history carried with it—3 carloads of Indiana and Ohio white oak ship timbers 30’ to 42’ were manufactured and shipped in May 1928 from WP Robinson Co.- sawmill at Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio on NYC-St. L NKP RR. WP Robinson and Fred A. Smith, owners; Ben H. Handwerk, mill supt.

It appears the wood was cut at Schumm and then shipped east by rail in May 1928. Wow!

All this should come as no surprise because Robinson and Smith cut and processed some very large logs about that same time. In 1934 the Robinson Sawmill at Schumm cut the largest bur oak tree ever cut in Ohio. According to a 1934 article published in the American Lumberman, the heavy, up-to–date sawmill specialized in Indiana and Ohio white oak lumber and long timbers for high-class trade all over the U.S.

W.P. Robinson Co. with largest bur oak sawed in Ohio, 1934.

Schumm sawmill, w/Carl Weinman, photo courtesy of Deb Reichard.

Bur Oak from Auglaize County, Ohio, 1930.

White oak is what they needed. White oak trees are the longest living trees in this area. In addition to shipbuilding, white oak is used for bridge timbers, office furniture, flooring, caskets.

A little more about the USS Constitution.

The USS Constitution, a frigate, was built about 1794 and launched in 1797, the third of six original frigates authorized in 1794. It was built with white oak, which is waterproof and rot resistant. The vessel was nicknamed Old Ironsides after its War of 1812 battle against the HMS Guerriere, when the enemy’s shots seemed to repel off its thick oak sides.

USS Constitution, Boston marker, 2009

By the 1920s the USS Constitution was in very poor condition, rotting, and at risk of sinking. A significant restoration was done to the USS Constitution from 1927-1931 and nearly 85% of it was restored. To help raise money for the restoration U.S. school children across the country raised $154,000 through their Pennies Campaign.

White oak trees were needed for the restoration and those suitable for ships and restoration are usually 110-120 years old and 40 inches in diameter. Maintaining a source of white oak for building and repairs of a fleet has been a concern since the vessels were built. Trees were often cut when they were found and transported to navy yards, where they were stored in sheds or in freshwater ponds for future repairs. The first naval live oak plantation for this purpose was acquired in 1828 in Pensacola, Florida. Some oak that was cut around 1860 and stored at the Pensacola Navy Yard were still viable for the 1927-1931 restoration.

Since that major restoration nearly 100 years ago, and because seasoned white oak is difficult to find, the Navy decided to grow its own white oak for the continuous restoration of the USS Constitution. In 1973 the Navy dedicated an area at the Naval Facilities Engineering Command in Crane, Indiana, where 150 mature white oaks are spread over the 64,000-acre base. There is a special area there, Constitution Grove, a small ceremonial area with oaks that are used to repair the USS Constitution. Thus, the Navy maintains an inventory of cut and standing white oaks for future repairs at Crane. Crane is the third largest naval base in the world and houses the largest contiguous forest under single ownership in Indiana. Crane is located 35 miles southwest of Bloomington.

The USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship still afloat. The ship has never had a cannonball pierce her sides. Planks, 30-40 feet long and 6 inches thick, with no defects are required for repairs.

We saw the USS Constitution/Old Ironsides when we were in Boston in 2009, when son Jeff ran the Boston Marathon. We did not get to take a tour of the ship but I did get some photographs:

USS Constitution, 2009

USS Constitution, 2009

USS Constitution, 2009

How interesting to learn about a Schumm connection to the historic USS Constitution.

Sources:

USSConstitution and the Legacy of Live Oak

Gary R Morrison Blog, Historic Trees: Constitution Grove White Oaks

Indiana Connection, Ironsides of Indiana Oak

 

Nov 15

Tombstone Tuesday-Rudolf B & Lula A (Scare) Allmandinger

Rudolf & Lula (Scare) Allmandinger, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Rudolf B. and Lula A. (Scare) Allmandinger, located in row 4 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

ALLMANDINGER
Rudolf B.
1903-1993
Lula A.
1905-1999

Rudolf Benjamin Allmandinger was born in Mercer County, Ohio, on 13 January 1903, the son of Frederick (1869-1953) and Anna Kathrina (Kallenberger) (1875-1944) Allmandinger. Rudolf was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, Ohio, 25 January 1903, with his parents serving as sponsors.  

The Frederick Allmandinger family in 1910, residing in Black Creek Township, Mercer County: Frederick, 40; Anna K, 34; George F, 14; Paulena K, 11; Rudolf B, 7; Carl M, 4; and Elizabeth, 2. They lived next door to Andrew Kallenbarger, wife Anna’s parents. [1]  

By 1920 the Frederick Allmandinger family had moved to Liberty Township, Van Wert County: Fred, 56; Anna, 46; George, 24; Paulena, 21; Rudolf, 16; Carl, 14; Elizabeth, 12; and Matilda, 9. The father Fred was a farmer. [1]

Rudolf Allmandinger married Lula Scare 14 July 1929 at Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm. Church records indicate both were members of Zion Schumm’s parish. They were married by Rev. R.O. Bienert and Carl Scare and Matilda Allmandinger, siblings of the couple, were witnesses to their marriage.

Lula Anna Scare was born in Pleasant Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, on 15 December 1905, the daughter of Peter (1862-1946) and Hannah (Schinnerer) (1868-1958) Scare/Scaer. Her family’s surname was originally spelled Scaer but Lula’s father changed the spelling to Scare at some point. I have seen Lula’s maiden name spelled both ways, but most times spelled Scare, the spelling I will use for Lula in this post.

In 1910 the Peter Scare family resided in Pleasant Township and the family included children Herman, 17; Edward, 9; Carl, 7; and Lula, 5. Two of their other children were deceased by this time. Peter was a farmer. [3] By 1920 the Peter Scare family consisted of the parents and children Edward, Carl, and Lula.

After their marriage in 1929 Rudolf and Lula Allmandinger set up housekeeping in Willshire Township, just north of Schumm. Lula’s parents had also moved to Willshire Township by this time and it appears the two families resided in the same household. Rudolf was a farmer. [4]

The Rudolf and Lula Allmandinger had two children by 1940, William, 9, and Emma, 6. The couple still lived with or very near Lula’s parents. [5]

Lula’s father Peter died at home in 1946. 

The Rudolph Allmandinger family in 1950: Rudolf, 47; Lula A, 44; Wm F, 19, son; L Emma M, 16, daughter. It appears Lula’s mother Hannah, a widow now, was living with them. [6]

Lula’s mother Hannah (Schinnerer) Scare died at home in 1958.

In 1993 Rudolf and Lula’s address was 16883 Schumm Road, Willshire, likely the same home they had lived in since their marriage.

Rudolf Allmandinger died 30 June 1993 at Chalet Village, Berne, Indiana, at the age of 90. He was buried on 3 July.

Lula (Scare) Allmandinger died at a Van Wert County nursing home on 26 May 1999. Lula was 93.

Rudolf and Lula (Scare) Allmandinger had two children:
William Frederick Allmandinger (1930-2015), married Coleen S. Wagner
Lula Marcile “Emma” Allmandinger (1934-2022), married Harold Salway

[1] 1910 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 107, p.5A, dwelling & family 99, Fredrick Allmandinger; Ancestry.com, viewed 13 Nov 2022.

[2] 1920 U.S. Census, Liberty, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 127, p.2A, dwelling 5, family 6, Fred Allmandurgh [sic]; Ancestry.com, viewed 13 Nov 2022.

[3] 1910 U.S. Census, Pleasant, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 96, p.1A, dwelling & family 10, Peter Scarr; Ancestry.com, viewed 31 Oct 2022.

[4] 1930 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 24, p.5B, dwelling 104, family 107, Rudalph Almandinger; Ancestry.com, viewed 13 Nov 2022. 

[5] 1940 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-28, p.5A, household 90, RB Allmandinger; Ancestry.com, viewed 13 Nov 2022.

[6] 1950 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-40, sheet 72, line 16; Rudolph B Allm??ndinger [sic]; Ancestry.com, viewed 13 Nov 2022.

Nov 11

Today Is Veterans Day

Be sure to thank a veteran today, on this Veterans Day 2022.

This federal holiday is observed to honor, thank, and remember our United States veterans.

Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day and was created to commemorate of the end of World War I. Fighting between the Allied Nations and Germany ceased on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. That date is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

Armistice Day became a legal holiday on 11 November 1938, primarily to honor World War I veterans and dedicated to the cause of world peace. After World War II and the Korean War the name was changed to Veterans Day. On 1 June 1954 Veterans Day became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

Veterans deserve our thanks and gratitude and so much more.

To all veterans, thank you for your service to our country.  

Nov 08

Tombstone Tuesday-Woodmen of the World

These unique tree-stump markers are easy to spot in a cemetery and are usually associated with the Woodmen of the World.

Woodmen of the World, Greenlawn Cemetery, Lima, Ohio

Woodmen of the World, Greenlawn Cemetery, Lima, Ohio

Woodmen of the World (WOW) is a non-profit, fraternal benefit society, owned and governed by its members that combines insurance with a common bond of mutual aid and social membership.

Woodmen of the World, North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Ohio

Woodmen of the World, North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Ohio

Woodmen of the World was founded in 1890 by Joseph Cullen Root as a lodge system similar to the Elks and Moose, controlled by its members, and to provide financial, insurance, and burial benefits to its members.

Early Woodmen certificates entitled holders to a death and monument benefit. Gravestones, often a tree stump, were originally furnished for free but were later were offered only to those who purchased a $100 rider. The tree stump tombstone was abandoned in the late 1920s due to cost. 

Woodmen of the World, Greenlawn Cemetery, Lima, Ohio

Over 45,000 WOW grave markers have been erected nationally. Other symbols seen on Woodmen grave markers include the dove and olive branch (peace), beetle, sledge, sawn log, and axe and wedge (workmanship, progress, and culture).

Woodmen of the World, North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Ohio

Some Woodmen monuments are inscribed with the motto Dum Tacet Clamat, “Though silent, he speaks.”

Woodmen of the World, Greenlawn Cemetery, Wapakoneta, Ohio

Woodmen of the World has spanned 3 centuries. It has merged with other fraternal benefit societies and has evolved into a modern financial services organization that offers life and health insurance, annuities, investments and home mortgages. Today the organization is known as Woodman Life and is one of the largest fraternal benefit societies. They have over 810,000 members who belong to more than 2,000 lodges across the US, conducting volunteer projects that benefit individuals, families, and communities.

Sources: Woodmen of the world and Women of the Woodcraft; History of Woodmen of the World ; WoodmenLife, Wikipedia.org; WoodmenLife.

Nov 04

Willshire Fires-1908, 1914, 1922

A couple weeks ago I wrote about the Willshire Canning Company.

The Willshire Canning Company was started about 1904 and operated for roughly 10 years. It was listed in Dun and Bradstreet from 1905-1913, and may have been called the Willshire Packing Company in 1914. I am not sure if the name of the company changed or if those were two separate companies.

The Willshire Canning Company per se seemed to disappear about 1914 or 1915. Sondra Samples commented that the company may have been destroyed by a major fire in Willshire on New Year’s Eve 1914 and the early morning hours on New Year’s Day 1915.

A couple news articles about Willshire’s fire, New Year’s Eve, 31 December 1914.

Fire Wipes Out Half Block At Willshire
Decatur, Ind., Jan. 1-The new year at Willshire, O., east of this city, was ushered in with a fire that wiped out half a block, including four frame businesses buildings of seven rooms. The loss is estimated at about $25,000. The businesses wiped out were the Willshire Hardware company, Harry Cowan’s grocery, Frank Detter’s barber shop, Dr. Alspaugh’s office, Dr. Christy’s office, Simms & Simms meat market, Cully & Roller’s garage. The greater part of the goods was gotten out. Christ and Altheon carried no insurance on their three rooms, but some insurance was carried by the Cully’s and James Willey on their buildings. The amount is unknown. The origin of the fire is not known. It started in the canter of the block wiped out. [1]

The next account indicates the fire started in Frank Detter’s barber shop:

Fire At Willshire
The business district in the village of Willshire was swept by a destructive fire last Thursday night, at the hour for the reception of the New Year. A blaze, which had its origin in the rear of the F.A. Detterer [sic] barber shop soon gained great headway, under the force of a driving wind, and rapidly spread until seven business rooms were laid waste. The Detterer [sic] shop is located on Main street and the fire on the thoroughfare spread until it wiped out the establishment at the place of origin and those of the Willshire Hardware Co., the H.V. Conn grocery, the office of Dr. Alspaugh and Dr. S.K. Christy, the Sims & Sims meat market and Cully & Roller Auto Garage. The loss of stocks was almost total and the damage was on this basis, the buildings being all frame structures. The loss is estimated at $15,000, only partly covered by insurance. [2]

But apparently that New Year’s Eve fire did not destroy the Willshire Canning Factory. A separate fire, eleven months later, on Sunday, 6 November 1915, destroyed the canning factory.

The Willshire Canning factory burned to the ground Sunday morning at 1 o’clock, destroying the factory and its contents, a quantity of canned corn and tomatoes. The plant did not operate this year. It is believed the fire started from a passing locomotive. The loss will probably reach $10,000. [3]

We learn several things from that piece. It appears that the canning factory was located near the railroad tracks. The factory had not been in operation that year, apparently shut down before the fire. One wonders why. Or was it damaged during the New Year’s Eve fire? If it was, it was not mentioned as one of the businesses involved in that earlier fire. And, it appears the only produce they canned was corn and tomatoes, as was also indicated in a 1904 Willshire Herald article.

Below are some photo postcard images of an earlier Willshire fire. That the fire started 2:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, 23 June 1908, hand-written on the back.

Willshire fire, 23 June 1908

Willshire fire, 23 June 1908

Willshire fire, 23 June 1908

Willshire fire, 23 June 1908

Willshire fire, 23 June 1908

Like many towns, Willshire had its share of fires over the years. There was another major fire in March 1922:

Village Gutted
Van Wert, O., March 21-The village of Willshire, near, the Indiana state line, was the scene of a fire which destroyed four business houses, including the post office and the Harald [sic] Printing company. One residence also was burned. Five automobiles and three horses were burned at a livery. [4]

Sustain $100,000 Loss In Big Willshire Fire
Decatur, Ind., March 20-Fire of undetermined origin, which started in the Ward Atchison livery barn at Willshire, Ohio, early today, caused losses estimated at $100,000. Three business houses and one home were damaged by the conflagration. Willshire is nine miles south of here. [5]

I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has additional information about Willshire’s fires.

[1] The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Ind, 2 Jan 1915, p.4; Newspapers.com, viewed 1 Nov 2022.

[2] The Celina Democrat, Celina, Ohio, 8 Jan 1915, p.1; LibraryofCongress.gov, viewed 1 Nov 2022.

[3] The Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 10 Nov 1915, p.11; Newspapers.com, viewed 1 Nov 2022.

[4] Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, Lancaster, Ohio, 21 Mar 1922, p.1; Newspapers.com, viewed 1 Nov 2022.

[5] The Richmond Palladium, Richmond, Ind., 20 Mar 2022, p.1; Newspapers.com, viewed 1 Nov 2022.