1787 Northwest Ordinance
1803 Ohio becomes 17th State
2006 Historical Society of Olmsted Falls formed
December, 2022
THE NORTHERN CROSS
Many people are aware of the Southern Cross located in the Southern Hemisphere. The Northern Hemisphere has its own NORTHERN CROSS. She can be seen standing in the northwestern sky at Christmas time. The Northern Cross is the brightest part of the constellation CYGNUS, the Swan. If you look to the west (with a little luck it may be a clear night on Christmas Eve) you are able to see the cross. If you are unable to see it at Christmas time, you will be able to see it overhead in the night sky during the summer. It consists of five fairly bright stars. In December, lowest to the western horizon is ALBIREO (magnitude 3.0) - at the bottom of the cross. In a straight line up is SADR. To the north and south of this star are two other bright stars which form the arms of the Northern Cross: the eastern star is GIENAH (2.4) and the western star is RUKH (2.8). Above SADR (magnitude 2.2) is DENEB (visually the 19th brightest star in the sky: magnitude 1.2) - the top of the cross. The Northern Cross is a starry symbol to Christmas.
Sources: A FIELD GUIDE TO THE STARS AND PLANETS by Donald H. Menzel: SKYGUIDE by Mark R. Chartrand; 1001 QUESTIONS ANSWERED ABOUT ASTRONOMY by James S.Pickering.
WME
ARMISTICE DAY, November 11, 2022
November 11, 2022, was a day with swirling winds and heavy rain as the remains of a tropical storm raced through Ohio. The weather report the night before was for severe weather. In the hopes that the weather might improve we waited for updated morning weather reports. The weather map showed heavy rain coming from the southwest so the ceremony would have to be cancelled. The first thing was to contact the speakers and inform them. They were most gracious. Mayor Graven suggested that, if we like, the ceremony could be moved to City Hall. It was a gracious and kind offer but it would be difficult to inform the general public. This brought up another situation: how would the public be informed of the cancellation? What if someone showed up at Chestnut Grove? To be on the safe side, I went to Chestnut Grove Cemetery about 10:30 a.m, Around 10:45 a.m. a few people started to arrive for the ceremony. Fortunately, I had taken our two wreaths and three flags from U.S.S. VULCAN,,AR-5 and from U.S.S. SEMMES, DDG-18-just in case we would be able to have a brief ceremony.
Around 10:50 a.m. Mayor James Graven arrived and police officer, Sgt. Alex Bakos, who was a member of the 107th Cavalry Regiment. About 10:55 a.m. the heavy rain stopped and the wind settled down-for about fifteen minutes but long enough to have an abbreviated ceremony.
Thank you Mayor Graven and Sgt. Bakos for placing the wreaths at the American Legion Post 403 Memorial. The flags were raised and a few words were said about the 107th and the U.S.S. CLAUDE V. RICKETTS, DDG-5.
DEDICATION
On November 29, 2022, we dedicated our two new display cases in honor of William "Bill" Nickels and Joan Kaskey Jocke. Mayor Graven gave the introductory remarks at the dedication. Nancy Nickels' unveiled Mr. Nickels display case; Ralph Jocke unveiled Mrs. Jocke's display case. At the conclusion a luscious lunch prepared by Bev Smith was served. At 1:00 p.m. we decorated our Christmas tree which is in the Jenkins Center activity
room.
CHRISTMAS PARTY December 7, 2022
We had our Christmas party at Tony K's. The weather was nice and people enjoyed their dinner and conversations with each other. It was nice to have a chance to get together and renew old acquaintances.-and to make new friends
2023
March Happy Birthday Ohio!
June Picnic, "Key Person"
December Christmas Party
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It seems highly unlikely that every marker and point of interest in Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township have been identified for our brochure but it must be so as no new suggestions have come in.
Speaking of not coming, is anyone interested in being an officer - president, vice president, treasurer, secretary? December 1 has come and gone!!
WME
ARMISTICE DAY REMEMBRANCE DAY November 11, 2022 VETERANS DAY
Introduction
Presentation of the wreaths in honor of the veterans
At:
The American Legion Post 403 Memorial,new Chestnut Grove Cemetery
By:
JAMES SHERWOOD,U.S. ARMY VETERAN, 1st 73rd Armor, 4th Brigade
ALEX BAKOS,U.S. ARMY VETERAN, 107TH Cavalry Regiment
Raising of the American flag flown over U.S.S. VULCAN (AR-5)
Presented by Captain Harry Spencer, Jr., Commander Tom Goodall (Olmsted Falls), Officers, and Crew.
BRAVO ZULU
Only official congratulatory Signal used by the U.S. Navy: a mission well done.
Presented by Commander David Clark, Officers, and Crew, U.S.S. SEMMES (DDG-18).
PRAYER BY
CHAPLAIN CHRIS HINCKLEY, The Olmsted Falls Bible Church
MAYOR JAMES GRAVEN
TRUSTEE JEANINE KRESS
MR. THOMAS OSBORNE
IN FLANDERS FIELDS by John McCrae
READ BY
MRS. JOANNE DUMOUND
Source: IN FLANDERS FIELDS: THE 1917 CAMPAIGN
by Leon Wolff, Ballantine Books, New York, 1958
Special Thanks from Chestnut Grove Cemetery and The Historical Society of Olmsted Falls to:
Mayor James Graven, Trustee Jeanine Kress, Mrs. JoAnne Dumound, Chaplain Chris Hinckley, Terri Grospitch, Mr. Thomas Osborne, Olmsted Falls Police Chief Odis Rogers, Denise Schippel (designed wreaths), James Sherwood, Trudy Wilmink
JAMES WALLACE
Olmsted Falls, Commander American Legion Post 403
U.S. ARMY Veteran: Korea, Viet Nam. responsible for the AMERICAN LEGION POST 403 MEMORIAL He was most helpful and encouraging to us over the years in regards to the Memorial Day and Armistice Day ceremonies. We thank him for all his support. Mr. Wallace passed away October 18, 2022. Bravo Zulu
Cancelled due to weather
REQUESTED INFORMATION
We received an e-mail November 22, 2022,: "Is it possible, is there some way to find out what land/addresses some of them lived on ?"
On November 30, 2022, we received an e-mail: "Thank you so much for the info! I will try these steps.... I wonder if you are in touch with any of the Cooks? It looks like my family & there's (sic) were married way back when."
It is possible some of you may be familiar/know a Cook family. If so, please let me know and you can either contact the person or I can forward the information to her.
Thank you.
WME