NB Historical Society News – Winter 2016

NB Historical Society News – Winter 2016

A Periodic Publication of the North Baltimore Ohio Area Historical Society  –  Winter 2016

Knowing where you’ve been, helps you see where you’re going

RICK MAYS DONATES CHANDLER AND PRICE LETTERPRESS

Rick Mays, local resident and businessman, recently donated a ca. 1916, Chandler and Price Letterpress which was used in his family business, to the North Baltimore Ohio Area Historical Society. This is especially significant as it provides a much needed interactive display which can serve as an educational tool for visitors of all ages. Rick has promised to be available to give demonstrations on operating the press at Good Ole Summertime and possibly on other occasions. Stay tuned for more information on demonstrations. Although “Chandler” has been donated to the Historical Center, Mabar Printing continues to operate at their new location at 400 N. Tarr.

The Chandler and Price Company was founded in 1881 in Cleveland by Harrison T. Chandler and William H. Price. The company manufactured machinery for professional printers. They first marketed the 10 x 15 Letterpress in 1887. Within 20 years Chandler and Price had became the dominant supplier of presses beating out dozens of companies, producing over 100 models of presses. By 1910, the company had sold over 38,000 presses. In the 1930’s, it was estimated that over 90% of professional presses were produced by Chandler and Price. Letterpresses remained in use through the late 1960’s when the offset lithograph displaced letterpresses; however, many shops retained their platen presses for foiling, perforating, numbering, and die cutting into the 21st century. Chandler and Price ceased production of the letterpress in 1964.

The following article was written by Rick Mays prior to the time that the press was donated to the Historical Center.

A STORY ABOUT A SMALL-TIME AMERICAN PRINTSHOP

By Eric (Rick) Mays
Current Owner of Mabar Printing Service

This story is about Mabar Printing Service in North Baltimore, Ohio. The name was formed in 1950 when William McCoy “Mac” Mays and newly married bride Barbara Bucher came up with the name by combining Mac and Barb. Mac bought a 10 x 15 open feed Chandler and Price letterpress and housed it in the garage which was owned by Barbara’s mother, Goldie Bucher, at 304 N. Main Street.

Mac subsequently worked at Kennedy Printing in Findlay and the NB News as a job printer. In December of 1960 Mac and Barbara built a small building at the back of their property at 408 North Tarr Street, which has been Mabar Printing Service ever since. In April of 1984 son Eric “Rick” Mays bought the business and has owned it ever since. Small town printshops have taken a hit in recent years with all the PC’s, digital copiers, and such; however, Mabar is one of the oldest businesses in North Baltimore. There is, of course, much, much more to the story, like how after one year in business Mabar nearly closed and if it wasn’t for the compassion of a young lady named Bernadine King it possibly would have. Mabar’s Chandler letterpress is nearly 100 years old. A Google search of the serial number shows that it was manufactured in 1916. To find out more about Mabar Printing Service just ask Rick–you all know he’s good for an old STORY!!! Thank you for listening.

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THE HISTORICAL CENTER WILL BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC DURING THE MONTHS OF JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.

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KING GEORGE III AND DEWEYVILLE CEMETERY

By Larry E. Slaughterbeck

A few weeks ago a lady visited our North Baltimore Area Historical Center seeking any information we might have on the Archer family that is buried in the small cemetery which is located on private property on Deweyville Road. I was happy to share what I knew…my father; Edward Slaughterbeck had done extensive research on this chapter of the family. It is very interesting that the 1776 American Revolution leads to a small family burial plot at the edge of town.

Historians disagree with the date of Henry Archer’s birth. He was born December 12, 1750, in Suffolk, England. In England, Henry and his best friend, John Taylor, were King George’s bodyguards. This was probably because of their physical strength and strong character. King George III requested that they serve in the 63rd British Light Infantry under Lord Cornwallis in the Americas. Shortly before the campaign at Yorktown, Henry was sent out on a scouting party and taken captive by the “Peoples General”, General Marquis de Lafayette. He was imprisoned in Camp Chase, near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and was released when peace was declared. He decided to stay in America as he liked the people and wanted to raise a family here.

About 1778 he met Hannah Keine (Keline), a Quaker born in Philadelphia. They were to be married 82 years and had a very interesting life. They had eight children; nearly all lived to be over 80 years old. Hannah died at the age of 105 and Henry at the age of 110. They were held in high esteem by everyone. They were honored for their advanced age and the town they lived in took the name of Old Hundred, West Virginia.

Henry was very proud of his war experience and his loyalty to the King and; therefore, refused to sign the Oath of Allegiance to the American Colonists until it was explained to him that he couldn’t sell his land unless he did. He felt he let the King down, although he strongly defended his adopted land in deed and voice when necessary. During the War of 1812, he was called by the government to serve which he was proud to do and shouldered his rifle and started off by foot to report.

My ancestors through the generations passed down orally that Henry Archer greatly admired King George and spoke often of the king being an avid gardener. Back to the beginning of this article; some of Henry’s heirs are buried in North Baltimore. Since I have never seen the grave markers I assume that it is his son, James Archer who married Henry Copus’ daughter. Copus was the first landowner in Bloom Township and his father was Reverend James Copus of the 1812 Massacre at Mifflin, Ohio.

Part of this text was taken directly from an article I found while researching for this article and from family history. Anyway it makes for interesting reading and re-hashing.

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NEW NBOAHS OFFICERS ELECTED

The following officers will serve until November 2017:
President Courtney Mays
Vice-President Margaret Bobb
Secretary Paula Miklovic
Treasurer Gwenn Mauk

Newsletter Editor – Margaret Bobb

Board Members – Thomas Boltz, Janis Dukes, Janice Emahiser, Phyllis Mercer, Pam Seiler, Larry Slaughterbeck, Rick Van Mooy

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ANSWER TO FALL NEWSLETTER QUESTION:

Delbert Latta lived in this house on E. Water St. in the 1930’s. He attended school in N.B. and graduated from McComb H.S. in 1938.

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2016 MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

NOW IS THE TIME TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP!

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Exciting things are happening at the N. B. Historical Center. This year we have added a number of significant artifacts to our collection including: Dr. Henry’s surgical instruments, Dr. Foltz’s medical journals, and the Mabar Chandler and Price Letterpress. In addition, we will be restoring the Estey parlor organ to playing condition in the near future! Your membership helps us to continue the work of preserving the history of N. Baltimore and area.

New members are always welcome … Spread the word!

Membership form at the end of this newsletter!

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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Virgil and Peggy Thompson; Kitty Burns Florey

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The North Baltimore Ohio Area Historical Society
229 North Main Street, P.O. Box 174
North Baltimore, Ohio, 45872
(419) 257-2266
Email: [email protected]

NBAHS Website  (www.northbaltimorehistory.org) for more history articles and Society news.

You may remember this Santa from his visits to the N. B. Food Center in the 1950’s. He now resides in the Juvenile Room at the Historical Center (when he’s not at the North Pole).