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Childhood Memories of Lowden

    One of my earliest recollections of Lowden is of the little Methodist Church that stood in the north part of town on the northeast corner of Main and Cedar Street**; of my Sunday School days and of the old house north of the church that had served as a parsonage for the preachers in its more prosperous days. “Grandpa Moore”, the kind old gentleman who served as caretaker of the church and Sunday School superintendent, lived there with his sister. Then I recall that after the church could no longer support a resident minister, students from Cornell College would serve three churches in Lowden, Massillon and Oxford Junction, often walking the distance between these towns to keep their appointments.

     I remember the Christmas programs there too and the large Christmas trees with the bright, gold star at the very tip, sometimes touching the ceiling; the decorations of tinsel, popcorn balls and lighted candles. One of the men of the congregation usually sat on a front seat to keep a watchful eye on those lighted candles. Then Santa Claus always appeared at the end of the program amidst the jangling of sleighbells with his pack full of sweets for the children.

     I also recall when the Banks and Struck families lived in the old Methodist parsonage, where I went to take piano lessons from a Miss Edith O'Hern, who came out from Clinton on the morning passenger train one day a week. How well I remember the summer day I lost the quarter that was to pay for my lesson. As I went skipping over the flagstone walk east of the Dave Kimball residence with the quarter clutched in my hand, I accidentally dropped it. It hit a stone then bounced over into the grass. I didn't have time to look for it then fearing I would be late for my lesson as Miss O'Hern was a stickler for promptness. On my way home I located the spot and after considerable looking found the quarter. People didn't cut their grass as short then as they do now, and, a quarter was a lot of money to a child in those days.

     Then I recall the church suppers that were held in the City Hall for the benefit of the little Methodist Church. One of the best workers and most generous donors of food was an Irish Catholic lady, much beloved by everyone, a Mrs Peter Jurgensen, or “Beezie” as she was known to all. When there was sickness or death in a family she was the first to call, offering her services and always a gift of food.

     I also have fond memories of the home of my Grandmother Reid in the north- . . .

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. . . part of Lowden which stood on the southwest corner of Main and Chestnut Streets. I don't remember my grandfather, (James Porter Reid) as he died when I was very small. A carpenter, he came to this area in 1854 and built many of the first homes and business houses in Lowden. In the early 1860's, he built this home for his bride. Their ten children were all born there, I remember the birthday parties and the family gatherings, in later years when my grandmother lived alone she roomed and boarded teachers. It was also a favorite stopping place for the student preachers who served the little Methodist church.

     Another early recollection is the Harden Restaurant, which stood about where the west end of Licht's Department Store is now****. To pass the long winter Sunday afternoons, we sometimes made taffy or popped corn. But, the real treat was occasionally a whole nickel to spend on store candy. My brother, Hale and I being the oldest, took turns going down to Sadie Harden's restaurant to buy the candy. When it was my turn to go, it usually took me longer to pick it out and upon returning home I was usually greeted with the admonition “What took you so long?” from my brothers and sisters. Then we five children and my mother would sit around the dining room table when she doled out the candy, piece by piece. That was a real treat!

     The community of Lowden was not without its intellectual side. At least one year, probably 1910 to 1911, during the winter months, I recall there was a Lyceum Course of Entertainment sponsored by the business men of the town to which citizens could purchase season tickets. Programs I particularly remember were a group of Swiss yodelers, a men's quartet and comedian, a lady who whistled, sang and gave readings, a magician who pulled rabbits out of a hat and the Craven Family Orchestra of Tipton. Before the end of the latter program the youngest member of the orchestra, 10-year old Norma, fell asleep at her drums.

     And, last but not least, I remember the first moving picture show on Saturday nights operated by Rudy Stoecker in the old Germania Hall *****. Foremost in my memory were the adventure series, “The Perils of Pauline” and “The Adventures of Pearl White.” Interspersed with these would be the slap-stick comedies starring Charlie Chaplin, Fatty Arbuckle and other famous comedians of that day.

     Invariably during the show, the film would break and have to be mended-not just once but often several times and usually at the most exciting and suspenseful part of the story. The kids would holler and stomp their feet until the film was mended. At the end of the show Rudy would always call out, “That's all till next Saturday night.”

              Ina (Reid) Barewald

     *A picture of the Methodist Church can be found in the Lowden Centennial Book, Page 61.

     ** Main and Cedar Street is now Washington Ave. and 5th St.

     *** Main and Chestnut Street is now Washington Ave. and 8th St.

     **** Licht's Dept. Store is located at what is now 510 Main.

     ***** The Germania Hall was located on the site which is now occupied by the American Legion Building in the 600 block on the north side of Main Street, the third establishment west of McKinley Ave.