Local historian puts own past behind him

LANCASTER - Glass City Tattoo owner Richard "Jiggy" Smith is well-versed on local history and knows the stories of numerous city buildings, people and sites.

It's not what he thought he'd be doing while spending 20 years of his life behind bars.

He is in the process of turning that knowledge into a coffee-table book, post cards and a calendar.

"I'm writing a photographical historic book on the city of Lancaster," Smith said. "The homes, the houses, the churches, the buildings. This city has the history that rivals no other city. Generals in the army are from this city. Our flag was invented in this city that we fly all over the nation and on the moon (by Lancaster High School student Robert Heft in 1958)."

Smith said the title of his book will be "Pictorial Lancaster, Ohio." He said he is doing the project in honor of his 2-year-old daughter and plans to self-publish it unless a publishing house shows interest..

"History keeps my mind occupied and I love it," Smith said. "I just like looking at the old architecture and the way things were built, how they were built. So I just try to pass that on. It really just started out with me trying to pass on knowledge to other people.

"I grew up uneducated and ignorant, really," he said. "Getting into a lot of trouble and not knowing what I was doing and didn't even care. And then it came to a point to where I just started realizing...I started reading about the city and I realized that I was born here. I should know (its history)."

Smith spent 20 years in prison on theft-related charges.

"Now I am father, a friend, a local historian, business owner, taxpayer and philanthropist — something I never believed laying in those dark cells I would ever be," he said. "As so many people complain on social media about how they can't get a job, can't find a home to rent, can't pay child support because they have felonies or tattoos, I'm living proof that you can spend 20 years of a 49-year life in prison due to ignorance and stupidity and still become someone your family and children can be proud of."

He said he has never been addicted to drugs or alcohol, but to crime and the money it can bring.

Smith started working on his book project about two years ago and said he's about half finished. He said he's sorting through thousands of photos, some of which will eventually make into his book. Smith said "Pictorial Lancaster, Ohio" will probably be between 150 and 300 pages, depending on the design he chooses. He plans one photo per page with a short description under each, although he said that could change.

"I can use the pictures to tell the stories of places that are long gone," Smith said. "Some of the places are still here, some of the buildings are still here. But the businesses are long gone."

He has posted some of his photos on various Facebook pages.

Smith is doing all the work on his smartphone and laptop computer, before turning it over to a printing company. His work includes visiting the library, courthouse and other places for research. He also uses old telephone books as part of his research.

Smith then writes the brief stories that go with each picture. Smith plans to use a photo he took of the city from Mount Pleasant as the cover of his book. That photo will also be made into a postcard and will also be the main shot for his calendar.

Smith said he has edited all the photos for the book, but would like to get some snow scenes in front of local churches also. He uses the online editing tool Pixlr to edit his photos and writes the text with Word.

He hasn't decided yet on what the book will cost, but he said he will give local schools, libraries and genealogical societies free copies. Smith said whatever price he decides on will be reasonable. He plans to donate all the proceeds from the postcards for pediatric heart research.

Smith's book is not his first foray into local history. Several times in 2014 he hid $50 somewhere in the city and gave historical clues to where it was on the Twisted Fate Tattoo shop's Facebook page. That is the business he owned before opening Glass City Tattoo recently.

Smith said he got the idea for the money giveaway from similar events in Flint, Michigan, and other places.

As a history buff, he said the city should have a museum dedicated to it and its past.

"Baltimore has a museum," Smith said. "Why don't we have a museum? The history of this city alone warrants a museum. I'm not saying I'm in a position or I'm the person to do all the stuff or running it, or anything. But I have great ideas for a museum and I'm sure there's people with even better ideas."

In the meantime, he plans to continue working on "Pictorial Lancaster, Ohio" and show the city's history through the printed page.

jbarron@lancastereaglegazette.com

740-681-4340

Twitter: @JeffDBarron