Page 15

Accidentally Locked In Jail

    One memorable event I recall, took place soon after we moved to Lowden in 1945. Our daughter, Mary K, was 3 years of age and our sons Gary and Jon were 9 and 10.

     The Lowden jail was in the building that was located next to the alley in the northwest corner of the city park. Our boys played with Bob and David Witte. One day when they were playing near the jail, the iron gate on one jail cell was slammed shut with David, the smaller of the two Witte boys, trapped inside.

     Jon came running home* and said, “David's locked in jail. We have to get Fred Dreyer** to unlock the jail.” In a short while David was freed from jail and no longer shed any tears.

              Mrs Loren (Pearl Benning) Coppess

     *The Coppess home was the house known as the Twachtmann house, the last home located on the east side of south McKinley Ave.

     **Fred Dreyer was Town Marshal

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A Bet

    Harold Toerber tells of a tale told of his grandfather, John Toerber and another Massillon resident, John Hamdorf. Seems the two were engaged in conversation at the Massillon General Store one night when the topic got to the physical ability of the two men and how strong they really were.

     After a few drinks John Hamdorf decided to bet the price of a 100# bag of sugar that John Toerber couldn’t carry the 100# of sugar home which was one and three-fourths miles north of Massillon. The bet was on and so they started for the Toerber home with John Toerber carrying the sugar on his shoulder. They used a lantern to light the way along the road and finally they reached the Toerber farm (where Harold now lives).

     Seems there was a couple steps leading up to the houseyard which was surrounded with a picket fence. Just as they approached the gate, John slipped with the sugar and it slid off his shoulder and landed over the fence in the yard. Well the argument was on, John Toerber had gotten the sugar home, but not to the house, so one will never know who won the bet. We will let you be the judge!!

              Mrs Evelyn Hack

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Times Have Changed

    I will always remember what my Grandmother Kreinbring told me. She said “You children of today are lucky to sleep in beds. When I was a little girl, my bed was a corner of a room boxed off and filled with straw, and a few comforters, and a feather bed to cover up with.” So I guess we were really lucky and thankful. When I tell my daughters these things, they say, “Well, Mother, times have changed,” and I guess they have.

              Leona (Kreinbring) Brendes