Bright Highlights

Chapter VI

  

    The French have a word for it - :pot pourri: - meaning a medley, a mixture.  Such is this column.    Your Lucas County Historical Society has just received from a local artist, Boyd F. Norberg, a very fine mural depicting the work of the coal mines in Lucas County.  Dominating the scene, but in proper proportion, is the portrait of John L. Lewis.  In the near background -  in the dark “below” - stands a youth with a mule.  A driller is working by the flickering light of the lamp on his cap.  Near by, another is shoveling the coal.  In the far background is a row of company houses.  The tipple is a reproduction of the tipple at the old Bucknell mine No. 5.  Some material was supplied to Mr. Norberg by the U. S. Bureau of Mines in Washington, D.C.           

This is a comprehensive work, ably conceived and masterfully wrought.  One may stand before it and visualize something of the whole panorama of the mines as they were in their heyday.  The Historical Society greatly appreciates the time, thought and effort given to this work and the more so since Mr. And Mrs. Norberg have been engaged in a joint effort of writing a book entitled “Psimplified Psychiatry” – a satire on the Psychiatric field.  Publisher is Stuart James Company, Bordentown, N.J.

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      Robert Chase of the Russell community has a 10 x 18-inch piece of wall paper on the back side of which was printed the G. A. R. Edition of the VICKSBURG DAILY CITIZEN.

      It belonged to Mr. Chase’s father.  Vicksburg had been under siege since April 16, 1864 and this little paper had been set up to issue on July 2.  Vicksburg fell that day but under Gen. Grant’s orders, it was printed and issued on July 4.  This is the footnote:

      Two days bring great changes.  The banner of the Union Army floats over Vicksburg.  Gen. Grant has dined in Vicksburg and he did bring his dinner with him.  The CITIZEN has lived to see it.  For the last time, it appears on wall paper.

No more will it eulogize the luxury of mule meat and fricaseed kitten – urge southern warriors to such diet nevermore.  This is the last wall paper CITIZEN and excepting this notice, is from the type as we (the Union Army) found them.  Printer soldiers set this note and work the form.

          It will be valuable hearafter as a curiosity.

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   Lucas County's first Historical Society was organized June 10, 1901.  It’s first president was Col. Warren S. Dungan, father of Mrs. Edna Culbertson of McCord Rest Haven and of the late Miss Myra Dungan, lifelong resident of Chariton.  Miss Margaret Brown (later Mrs. John Herrick) was secretary.  She later was instrumental in negotiations with the Carnegie Foundation to get our present Free Public Library.  She left a handsome bequest to the library for the purchase of children'’ books.

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    Mrs. M. C. Margaret Fisher coined the name MUSEUM MUSINGS for this column.

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      Mrs. J. D. Wayt of Shenandoah has joined the membership of the Historical Society.  She was Margaret Grimes, sister of Frank Grimes of Derby.  She recalls the musicals of their youth in the new Derby Opera House and the delightful parties put on for them by their elders around Christmas vacations.  She speaks of attending the Aeolians Concert two or three years ago and enjoyed it so much.  She sent a copy of MANTI by Ralph Cunningham of Shenandoah – a booklet about the Morman migration across the southern party of the state.  Mrs. Wayt has been a subscriber of the Chariton Newspapers for 50 years.

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      The first sliced bread was introduced in Chariton in 1932 by the Quality Bakery, owned and operated by C. R. (Code) Shelton.  During the 1930’s there were five bakeries here.  The bakery we now have was established well before the turn of the century and was called the ‘State Bakery.’  Mr. Shelton bought it in 1928 and changed the name to “Quality Bakery”.  He attended a Baker’s convention-exposition in Buffalo, N. H. and bought a high speed mixer and a wrapping machine.  In 1932 he attended the National Convention in Atlantic City and bought the electric slicer.  This was one of the first slicers between Ottumwa and Omaha.

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 Corilla Copeland Lewis, second cousin of the late Howard C. Copeland, wrote the lyrics of ‘Ol Thirteen’ the song of the Chariton Chapter of the D.A.R.   Mrs. Lewis was a charter member.  The music was composed by Harriet Hayden Hayes.  This was authenticated by the sheet music shown this writer by Mrs. Daisy L. Hooper, who presented a copy to each member of the Chariton Chapter and one to the museum.

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  Your Lucas County Historical Society is having its Annual Membership Campaign.  A great effort is being made to contact everyone in the county.  If any have not yet received a call, it is very likely that the caller did not find you at home.  If you are missed, please report to any member of the Society and your membership card will be issued to you.  It costs only $1.00 and is good until March 1, 1969.

Thomas Arnold, an outstanding English educator, tells us that there are two things we should learn from History.  One is that we are not, in ourselves, superior to our fathers.  The other is that we are shamefully inferior to them if we do not advance beyond them.

Pages 18-20