Talk About Clyde: Parade started Christmas season
The feeling of Christmas was in the air in Clyde this past weekend when Christmas music set the mood during Winesburg events. At 6 p.m. on Saturday, the half-hour parade was filled with twinkling lights and Christmas music. Many parade participants huddled under large umbrellas to protect themselves from the drizzling rain. The rain didn’t keep away the spectators, many of whom bundled up, put their kiddies in wagons or strollers and braved the elements to attend the parade. The fireworks held immediately after the parade were definitely worth the effort.
Clyde museums welcomed visitors
Approximately 100 people toured both the Clyde Museum or the McPherson House on Nov. 21, many for the first time. Some were locals, others came from Vermillion, Port Clinton, Tiffin, Fostoria, Green Springs, Norwalk, Toledo, Vickery, and Bellevue, happy that they could finally see the interior of the McPherson House.
At the house, where I was a hostess, a group of teenagers said they attended annually. “I come because the house is a part of history,” said one teen. Adults had questions about the age of the house and the Heritage League, which maintains both the house and museum. Others were amazed to learn more about General James B. McPherson, who attended West Point; designed Alcatraz Prison and might have become president of the United States had he not been killed in the Battle of Atlanta. Although both the museum and house are usually open by appointment year-round, both will be closed during construction of the new addition and reorganization of exhibits at the museum. The grand opening and hours will be announced in the Spring of 2016. Excavation has already begun for the new addition at the museum.
Library offers veterans display
In honor of Veterans Day, veteran family members of the staff at the Clyde Public Library are being honored this month in the display case by the circulation desk. Service mementos, badges, medals, photos and clothing are on display until after Thanksgiving.
Sgt. Major James Eberly, the father-in-law of Laura Eberly, library aide, was a member of the U.S. Army for 24 years. Displayed are his World War II Victory medal, and medals from African and Middle Eastern Campaigns, good conduct medal and others. His lambs-wool army cap is displayed beside a photo of him wearing it.
A photo of Carl Willingham, father of Christie Armstrong, library aide, and his service flag that hung in the family’s window while he was serving his country is on display. Pinned to the flag are badges he earned while in the service: Army US enlisted brass insignia, honorable discharge emblem, VFW 100 year pin 1899-1999, sharpshooter badge and others.
A Navy photo of Christopher Wood, 20-year Navy veteran, is displayed with his medals and awards in a specially built shadow box. Wood is the husband of Michele Knoderer Wood, library aide. Wood served as Air Reographers mate 1st Class specializing in meteorology and oceanography. “I was given a choice and meteorology is something I was interested in,” he said. Displayed in a specially built shadow box by a fellow seaman are brass plaques listing his tours, ribbon bars, his medals and an American flag that hung above the Capitol building in Washington. The plaque in the middle of the shadow box, under the United States Navy Retired symbol, features a Navy saying, “Fair Winds and Following Seas.”
The Clyde Heritage League loaned a photo of Rodger Young, WWII hero, and the sheet music of the song written in his honor, “The Ballad of Rodger Young.”
Jeanette Liebold-Ricker’s column appears each Tuesday. Write her at 1134 N. Main, Clyde OH 43410; call 419-547-8177; or email jlricker@ambt.net.