Round Table History Talk
Month #3
We had 9 people present at our round table history talk today: Diana Ingersol, Jim and Kathy Starbuck, Judy Schmitter, Yvonne Reindel, Sharon and Jim Vandike, Drew Bruner and Paul Anderson.
The discussion began with the group reminiscing about grain elevators and cleaning out corn cribs with shovels and how it was a fun time to have a “rat killin’.” The group laughed about how “city kids” didn’t know how to have fun but the country kids could find fun in almost anything.
Drew brought some information he had compiled about the Battle of Lancaster on November 24, 1861. He discussed and told the story in depth of how this came to be and all of the people involved in this. He told of 18 people killed in this battle but that 13 soldiers’ names and graves have been lost to history.
This led into talk about old gravestones being made of lime and would deteriorate over time so many grave markers have been lost over the years.
Diana talked about a cemetery that used to be in Livonia and the man who owned the land wanted to farm it so he removed the stones and plowed over the graves and now this cemetery has been lost to history. This led to discussion about the lost cemetery of Tippecanoe.
Diana passed around some school pictures she had from the Glenwood school and the marching band. She also had some interior photos of the Lancaster school which led to a few of the group discussing the layout of the school and memories of sporting events and other occasions there over the years. Jim Vandike remembers a soda machine at one time and Diana remembers when they added a milk machine and the students were able to get milk.
Other tidbits discussed were the age old rivalry between Queen City and Lancaster, sewer pit bathrooms in the basement of the Fariview school house, treadle sewing machines, the Spanish influenza of 1918 and the short life spans of women and children back in the day and the hardships of daily life.
As the group was winding down, Jim V. Asked the group if they would like to stick to a certain topic or agenda of discussion next time and Jim S. remarked “we probably wouldn’t stick to it anyways,” which led to laughter by all.
Our next Round Table History Talk will be Friday
