News from Days Past

1888

Last Sunday night thieves stole a horse and harness from the barn of George Turner, living a short distance east of Clyde on the Pike, and led the animal to the barn of George Hegmeyer, a neighbor, where they hitched it to an old open buggy and disappeared. On learning of his loss the next morning, Mr. Turner came to Clyde and notified the marshal, who at once went to the scene and succeeded in tracing the thieves for several miles on South Ridge, but finally lost the track, there having been so many teams driving over the road. Postal cards were sent to all the neighboring towns and villages describing the stolen property, but so far nothing has been heard from them. The animal stolen is a bay mare, and has a peculiar twist to her hind leg which makes the track easy to recognize. She is in good condition, weighs about 1000 pounds, and is ten years old. Quite a number of horses have lately been stolen in this vicinity.

110 years ago

1898

The addition to the cemetery was being improved. The old apple orchard at the back was removed, along with fences and other obstructions. The entire plot was graded, tiling put in where needed and hundreds of loads of dirt hauled into the hollow fronting on the pike.

90 years ago

1918

George Persing went into the ditch with his Ford car, while out driving with a friend near Oil Station. Nobody was hurt, but the car was considerably damaged and had to go the repair shop.

Roy Hoffmaster, a former Clyde barber, was burned out at Bellevue when fire badly damaged the Mayne block in which his shop was located.

80 years ago

1928

Some malicious rascals toured part of Clyde and dumped over boxes of rubbish and glass into the streets.

Two Clyde men were injured in runaway accidents. Both teams were hitched to drills when the horses became frightened and ran away. C.R. Wott's team dragged the drill over him, but Clark Green managed to get his stopped, although he was dragged some distance.

The most damaging fire Clyde had experienced for some time destroyed the Adventist Church, consumed a garage on the Howard Hawk property, and set fire to help a dozen houses and barns in the vicinity of Washington and Vine Streets. The fire began in the Hawk barn, spread quickly to the church, and in less than 20 minutes the bell tower and roof fell in.

70 years ago

1938

Mrs. Nye took over the Nye double-dip ice cream station on McPherson Highway, east of town, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Brown, who had run the stand for some time, returned to Clyde.

Contract for construction of the new Davidson Enamel Co. building was let to the Steinle-Wolfe Construction Co. of Fremont, and work got underway immediately.

Daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Crockett, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Fultz, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Beier and Mr. and Mrs. Peter Beier; and a son to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Greene.

60 years ago

1948

Mrs. Alma Albright, 86, fell at her home south of Clyde and broke her right hip. She was taken to Bellevue Hospital.

A total of 144 parking meters were installed in the downtown business section.

Equipment was to be purchased to install and operate four traffic lights on McPherson Highway in sequence, according to action taken by Clyde Village Council.

A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. George H. Gill; and sons to Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow Earhart, Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Minier and Mr. and Mrs. Jay Myers.

Local deaths reported were: Judge J.C. Craig; Arthur Galvin; and Mrs. Joanna Marion Raidy.

50 years ago

1958

W.S. Smila celebrated his 92nd birthday.

Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Staver announced the sale of Staver and Company 5 cents and $1.00 Store on S. Main Street to Mr. and Mrs. C.O. Furman, Toledo.

Daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Russell West, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wright and Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Keegan; and sons to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Minier, Mr. and Mrs. Jay Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Anstead and Mr. and Mrs. Gene Slotto

40 years ago

1968

The Vickery Elevator was leveled by a fire of undetermined origin. Clyde, Margaretta and Green Springs firemen aided the Townsend Township Volunteer Fire Department in fighting the blaze, but it was a lost cause. All that remained after the fire were three grain filled concrete silos.

The final plat of the M.E. Zimmerman subdivision was approved by Village Council.

30 years ago

1978

Clyde Volunteer Fire Department were called to a mobile home fire at the David Cantrell residence on CR 213. The home was destroyed, and Michael Cantrell, 23, was injured. Also destroyed were two cars, a 1966 Corvett and a 1972 car, a dog and cat. Cause or estimates were not given.

Clyde fire Department also responded to the home of Rev. Larry Miracle on Cherry Street when neighbors saw flames in the living room. The couch had burned, causing an estimated $1,000 in damages.

Sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Tuttamore and Mr. and Mrs. Philip Borer.

20 years ago

1988

Preliminary plans were in the works to build a motel and restaurant between Whirlpool Corporation and Clyde Findlay Federal Credit Union.

Gastown gas station and convenience store at Main and McPherson was to be replaced with a new Speedway station.

10 years ago

1998

Clyde City Manager Dan Weaver announced he will begin accepting bids for the renovation of the current Clyde Light and Power building on US 20 for use as a food pantry and EMS station.

Local deaths reported were: Cory S. Woessner, 17; Mary Heller, 104; Marvin Stein, 53; John Raschke, 42; and Sue Ann Audritsh, 64.

1 year ago

2007

The local man accused of 12 arsons and more than $500,000 in fire damages throughout the Clyde area since February 2006 entered a plea of not guilty in Sandusky County Common Pleas Court. Justin Chill, 26, formerly of Norris Drive, was arraigned on 84 counts in a grand jury indictment.

Spader Freight Services is preparing to add a second warehouse on Elm Street after completing its new warehouse just about one year ago.