MS-138

MS-138

 

TERRY WRIGHT COLLECTION

 

INTRODUCTION

 

MS-138, the Terry Wright Collection, was added to the Flesh Public Library Archives and Special Collections in February, 2006.  It is contained in two boxes with 26 Series and 272 file folders.  The collection comprises Echoes of the Miami Valley, 1991, a history of Piqua and the Miami Valley, as well as Terry Wright’s newspaper articles and reminiscences.  There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.

 

SCOPE AND CONTENTS

 

MS-138, the Terry Wright Collection, is divided into two boxes containing 26 Series and 272 file folders.  Box 1 contains 19 Series with 229 file folders, while Box 2 has 7 Series with 43 file folders.

 

BOX 1:

SERIES NO;

 

I.

Articles

II.

People

III.

Piqua utilities

IV.

Piqua stores & companies

V.

Transportation

VI.

Buildings

VII.

Churches

VIII.

Schools & sports

IX.

Military

X.

Rossville – slaves – Black history

XI.

Piqua Miami & Erie Canal

XII.

Covington, Ohio

XIII.

Sidney, Ohio/Shelby Co.

XIV.

Tipp City, Oh.

XV.

Troy, Oh.

XVI.

Waco Aircraft Co., Troy

XVII.

Miami County

XVIII.

Miami Conservation & River Corridor

XIX.

Miami Valley – Dayton & north of Piqua

 

BOX II

SERIES:

 

I.

Ohio history

II.

United States

III.

Wildlife & flowers

IV.

Photography

V.

Travel brochures

VI.

Miami-Erie Canal

VII.

Snapshots – Piqua

 

HISTORY

 

Terry Wright is an historian, educator, and journalist from the Miami Valley. His columns, “Echoes of the Miami Valley” and “Back in Time” have appeared in the Troy Daily News, Piqua Daily Call, and Miami Valley Sunday News.

 

He has served as Director of the Miami County River Corridor Committee, where his job was to “preserve the history of the river and promote recreation along the river.”

 

Wright earned his Bachelor’s degree at Wright State University, and his Master’s degree in political science at the University of Dayton.

 

Terry’s interests include photography and involvement with the Piqua Amateur Radio Club, and the Don Gentile Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol in Piqua. He has been a photographer for the Piqua Daily Call sports department, a teacher in Vandalia and New Lebanon school districts, and an active Miami Valley historian for many years.

 

His collection includes various newspaper articles on the history of the Miami Valley, as well as numerous photographs, brochures and pamphlets. The time period of the collection is from pioneer life in Piqua in the 1700’s to the present day.

 

CONTAINER LISTING

 

BOX 1

 

SERIES I – ARTICLES

 

FILE NO.

 

1. Echoes of the Miami Valley, 1991

 

SERIES II – PEOPLE

 

FILE NO.

 

2. Robbery

3. First licensed optometrist – 1902

4. Women of Piqua – early 1900’s

5. Hilliards of Huntersville

6. Joe Gard

7. Frank Hardy & William Rayner

8. John F. McKinney

9. Piqua opera star Francis Mac Clennan

10. William P. Orr

11. Black Hoof – Shawnee leader

12. Twightwee clan of Miami Indians

13. O’Ferrell House

14. The Dilbone Massacre

15. William McKinley & John Battelle

16. Harding Presidential Campaign

17. Charles Wiltheiss, archaeologist

18. Admiral S. C. Rowan Monument – 1909

19. William Jennings Bryan visits Piqua, & Wm. Taft, & T. Roosevelt

20. Mills Brothers

21. William McCulloch

22. Helen Wellmeier

23. Charles Householder

24. John S. Garbry, Ohio Conservation Hall of Fame

25. W.P. Lear

26. Charles Kettering “Bug” Story, first airplane of its kind

27. President James Garfield

28. A.B. Graham, Lena-Conover

29. Thomas Harbaugh, dime novels-Casstown

 

SERIES III – PIQUA UTILITIES

 

30. Electric Co. -1864

31. Municipal Power Plant, 1885

32. Water Works, 1876

33. Sewage Treatment Plant, 1957

34. Fire – 1924/new fire engine – 1904

35. New motorcycle for police – 1910

36. Working men of Piqua, 1907-1925

 

SERIES IV – PIQUA STORES & COMPANIES

 

37. Store Ads, 1921-22

38. Cottage Bakery

39. S. Zollinger& Co., 1915

40. Ice Co., 1879

41. Winans Candy, 1960

42. Thoma& Sons, 1840

43. Tin Plate Co. – late 1800’s

44. Favorite Stove & Range Co. – 1881

45. Wood Shovel – 1902

46. Newspapers – 1st in Ohio, 1793

47. Brewing Industry in Miami Co.

48. L.C. & W.L. Cron Co. – early 1900’s

49. Early Industries – late 1800’s

50. Montgomery Ward & Underwear Bldg.

51. Pope’s Grocery – 1920’s

52. H.H. Oda Grocery – 1920’s

53. Grocery business in 1900’s

54. Limestone pictures

55. Ice harvesting – early 1900’s

56. Val Decker Packing Co. – 1873

57. Atlas Underwear – 1899

58. National Bank – 1847

59. Fire Station pictures – 1900

60. French Oil &Cron Co. – 1900’s pictures

61. Buildings construction – c. 1887

62. Ohio Marble Co. – Piqua Quarries, Inc. – 1894

63. Piqua Granite & Marble Co. – 1882

64. Manufacturing history c. 1887 (companies established)

65. Landman Mill – 1840

66. Hartzell Propeller’s race – 1924, story of 6-blade bi-plane

 

SERIES V – TRANSPORTATION

 

67. From Buggy Whips to Steering Wheels

68. Local Interurban systems by Scott Trostel, 1869-1930

69. Trolley Service, Darke Co. –1905

70. Before cars & Interurban trolleys, 1889

71. Railroads, 1867

72. Western Ohio railroads

73. Troop train wreck in Piqua, 1945

74. Camp car-1913, picture by Scott Trostel

75. Early auto accident, 1904

76. Trip down Wayne St., c. 1900’s

77. Ash St. Bridge, early pictures

 

SERIES VI – BUILDINGS

 

78. Library moved to Piqua Club, 1930

79. Library popular in 1930

80. Piqua Museum – the Library takes over-1984

81. Piqua’s past revisited at Museum

82 New Town Hall – Piqua, 1904

83. “Hotel of Many Names” – Tamplin – early 1800’s

84. Benkert Building – 1889

85. Hotels in Piqua – 1820-1940

86. House – 502 Caldwell, 1884

87. Scott House – 528 Caldwell, 1837

88. American Legion Home dedicated, 1946

89. Forest Hill Cemetery – 1846

90. Cemetery monuments – Forest Hill, 1869

91 Piqua, Ohio – booklet

92. Piqua chronology – 10,000 B.C.-1874

 

SERIES VII – CHURCHES

 

93. Anti-Saloon rally of Piqua church – 1904

94. Rift among Presbyterians – 1836

95. St. Boniface – 1855

96. St. Boniface & St. Mary’s merge – 1987

97. Cyrene A.M.E. Church – 1853 (African Methodist Episcopal)

98. Old cemetery – c. 1811

 

SERIES VIII – SCHOOLS & SPORTS

 

99. Early teachers had to pass exam – 1830

100. Park Ave. School – 1874

101. Drake School – District 7, Washington Twp., 1914

102. Blasting in school zone – 1911

103. Jerome C. Smiley Collection to schools – 1920

104. Piqua High School – 1912

105. Piqua – 1st to teach impaired – 1927

106. Frank P. Irvin – President, Piqua Bd. of Ed – 1930

107. School year opens – 1932

108. “Early Education” to Miami & Shelby Co. &Midwest – 1880

109. Chautaqua –Early education in US. – 1880

110. Bennett Jr. High handbook – 1988-1989

111. Piqua – semi-pro ball, 1883

112. Heavyweight champ of America son of Piqua medicine show man – 1913

 

SERIES IX – PIQUA MILITARY

 

113. Miami County - soldiers of Revolution

114. Lewis Boyer – 1775 (bodyguard to George Washington

115. Major James Shellenberger – 1904 – Army doctor

116. Miami Co. men & Mexican War –1846

117. “Camp Piqua” – 1862

118. Piqua’s 94th Regiment – 1864, March to Atlanta

119. Battle of Murfreesboro – 1862, the 94th

120. Renovated armory – 1904

121. Piqua National Guard started as Cavalry unit – 1920

122. War rationing – 1942

123. Colonel William Baugh – POW – 1967-1973 in Vietnam

124. Don Gentile, Piqua, W.W. II Ace Pilot

125. “Civil Air Patrol”- started in 1941

 

SERIES X – ROSSVILLE – SLAVES – BLACK HISTORY

 

126. Miami & Erie Canal & Randolph slaves – 1840

127. Miami Valley pathway background

128. Troy Crossroads for Underground Railroad – 1920

129. Vanished black rural communities in Western Ohio & map

130. Rossville Museum – through efforts of Helen Gilmore – 1982

131. Historic Inventories on Rossville – 1981

132. Randolph slaves in Miami County & North, by Helen Gilmore

 

SERIES XI – PIQUA MIAMI & ERIE CANAL

 

133. William Combs – one of last canal boat captains –b. 1867

134. Capt. G. Edward McConnell – born 1850, boat captain

135. Canal – opportunities for Piqua – 1840

136. Northern extension of Miami & Erie Canal, 1837-1842

137. “Passing of Miami & Erie Canal” by F.C. Simon

 

SERIES XII – COVINGTON, OHIO

 

138. Covington, Ohio – 1794

139. Farrington Lock, pre 1837

140. Rowdy town – 1835

141. Lloyd Reck – 1917 (Boy Scout leader)

142. Memorial Day 1986 (list of names of war veterans, War of 1812-Vietnam)

143. Bradford, Oh. Railroad, YMCA – 1906

144. Blue Jacket – Shawnee Indian – 1771

 

SERIES XIII – SIDNEY, OHIO/SHELBY COUNTY

 

145. Mayors – 1834-1982

146. Cardo family – 1850

147. Edward Lyons – 1881

148. Joseph Altenbach – 1839 (architect)

149. Monumental building –1873 (for Civil War veterans)

150. “The Spot” – 1907

151. Opera House – 1876

152. Fort Loramie, Ohio electric car – 1911

153. Post Office – 1917

154. Sheets Mfg. Co. – 1890 (Botkins, Oh. )

155. Robertson Bldg – 1892-1917

156. Wagner House Hotel – 1873

157. Old Infirmary – 1869

158. Shelby House – Botkins, Oh.on National Register – 1864

159. Shelby Co. 1st railroad system – 1840’s

160. Rhine & Port Jefferson – 1838 & 1814

161. Archaeological dig

162. Turtle Creek – twin culverts – Shelby Co., 1838

163. Demise of Turtle Creek Culvert – 1980

 

SERIES XIV – TIPP CITY, OHIO

 

164. Old Mill site – 1891

165. Seed Co.(Saunders) – 1906

166. Old Tippecanoe business district, 1840-1917 booklet

 

SERIES XV – TROY, OHIO

 

167. Troy Belle – canal boat, 1840’s

168. Miami County Jail

169. “The Noted Doctor Hays” – 1840

170. Mayor John F. Somerville, 1811

171. Genealogy of John F. Somerville

172. Troy Fire Dept. c. 1824

173. Hobart Brothers – 1863

174. Gene Shockey c. 1986 builds own plane

175. Soldiers in Troy & Miami Co.- 1855

176. “The Last Steam Trains” – 1956

177. The Underground Railroad in Troy – 1840’s

178. Miami County Courthouse – 1885/rededicated – 1982

179. Miami County Courthouse & Powerhouse & Safety Bldg. – 1885-1971

180. Old Miami County power plant – 1885

181. Use of Great Miami River – 1870’s

182. Lease of canal lands to Ken M. Sullenberger – 1976

183. Governor’s deed of land to Dettmer Hospital, Troy – 1963

184. Map of Miami-Erie Canal through Troy; canal newsclippings: 1824, 1827, 1835

185. Twin arch culvert on County Rd. 25-A, National Register – 1971-78

186. Troy, Ohio, USA booklet

187. Miami & Champaign Co. “Ohio Review” – 1980

188. New Resident Guide, c. 1988

 

SERIES XVI – WACO AIRCRAFT CO., TROY, OHIO

 

189. Waco (thru times) booklet

190. Early beginnings – 1923

191. Waco aircraft, quality & performance – 1923

192. Waco model 8 – 1924

193. Crop dusting – early 1920’s

194. Tex LaGrove (1st salesman & C. Lindburgh picture)

195. Waco Cg – 13A glide – 1943

196. WW II pictures of glider functions

197. “Wacos attack Japan”- 1932

198. “Silent squadrons”, gliders in WW II history – 1940

199. Waco gliders in an attack of Burma – 1943

200. Forgotten heroes, the glider pilots c. 1940

201. Drawings for the Taylor-Craft TG -6

202. Volksmarch – Troy, among 1st ones – 1985

 

SERIES XVII – MIAMI COUNTY

 

203. Mail delivery – 1804

204. Transportation: rivers & roads

205. Lorimer of Shawnee Bridge – Piqua, 1915

206. City of Piqua – many bridges, 1820

207. Robert W. Smith, Miami County covered bridge builder – 1867

208. Eldean Bridge – third longest in Ohio

209. Miami County covered bridges

210. 5 covered bridges: Chatter – 1983 newsletters with pictures

211. Farming in Miami County c. early 1800’s

212. Threshing machine, 1833

213. Early lumber business in Miami County – 1700’s

214. Stone quarries c. 1880

215. Booklets: Piqua Memorial Medical Center; Dettmer Hospital; Stouder Hospital; Red Cross’s 50th Anniversary

216. Miami County water mills, Leonard Hill

 

SERIES XVIII – MIAMI CONSERVATION & RIVER CORRIDOR

 

217. Annual Report – 1982 – Dayton district

218. Terry Wright – River Corridor coordinator

219. Soil conservation know-how’s

220. Great Miami River story

221. Miami River Canoe Classic

222. Piqua Volksmarch– 1985

 

SERIES XIX – MIAMI VALLEY - DAYTON & NORTH OF PIQUA

 

223. Dayton homes

224. Wright Cycle Co.- Dayton, 1900

225. Area’s architectural assets – 1980

226. 1913 Flood – Dayton

227. Delco Products, 1899-1927

228. St. Mary’s Lake

229. Ohio Review magazine

 

BOX II

 

SERIES I – OHIO HISTORY

 

FILE NO.

 

1. Northwest Ordinance to mark 200th year

2. Indians in Ohio history

3. Shawnee nation

4. Ohio chronology

5. Election of 1824 important to Ohio

6. Ohio Historical Review

7. Ohio Department of Transportation

8. Bills (2) Congress & General Assembly

9. The Great Lakes Inland Waterway

10. Ohio River navigation

11. Ohio land grants

12. Ohio canal system

13. The Buckeye Trail; fish identification

 

SERIES II – UNITED STATES

 

14 .United Nations

15. Soviet strategic defense programs

16. CIA factbook on Intelligence

17. Memorial of the Battle of Normandy

18. The St. Lawrence River Canal Vessel

19. Ellet and Roebling

20. Morris Canal – bold scheme

21. Washington dreamed of canal

22. Halley’s Comet

23. Fighting ships into museums of Naval history

 

SERIES III – WILDLIFE & FLOWERS

 

SERIES IV – PHOTOGRAPHY

 

24. Early photography a popular business

25. Photographers & photographic process

26. The photo subject was A. Lincoln

 

BOX II

 

SERIES V – TRAVEL BROCHURES

 

SERIES VI – MIAMI-ERIE CANAL

 

27. Operating on the canal

28. Canal workers led rugged lifestyles

29. Early history of the canal

30. Engineering difficulties hamper construction

31. The Miami & Erie Canal locks – Lockington, Ohio

32. The Captain was a storyteller

33. Miami & Erie towpath open

34. The Miami – Erie Canal

35. The canal in Minster

36. Canals on National Register

37. Miami Canal & the Warren County Canal

 

SERIES VII – SNAPSHOTS – PIQUA

 

38. The Waco World– July ’82-Aug. ‘89

39. Ohio Cues – May, ’88-‘92

40. American Canals – Aug, 80-May, ‘89

41. Canal Currents – spring, ’82-winter, ‘83

42. The Fighting Fourth – Sept.,’86-Sept. ‘90

43. Shelbyana – Jan., ’85-Oct., ‘88