WE ARE INDEBTED

Bradner’s Centennial-Bicentennial celebration and this commemorative booklet all STARTED WITH A BOARD as the three excerpts from Council minutes relate. I have tried to do as I promised, and one of the first things I learned was that dates and places did not agree. Weaving all of the information and pictures together has been fun: all the notes taken during delightful visits: the long phone conversations; the many hours spent reading Council minutes of 1890-1975. Court records of 1890-1973, school hoard minutes of 1876-1926 (we have Helen Ostrander 1-user to thank for preserving these when they were going to be destroyed as worthless): Beers, 1897. The Commemorative Historical and Biographical Record, Wood County. Ohio: Its Past and Present, which frankly I have both plagiarized and quoted directly.

I wish to pay special tribute to the memory ot Ella Tillotson Schroyer (Nov. 15, 1884-Dec. 17, 1975), a native of Bradner. 1-ler intense interest and enthusiasm for things patriotic preserved Bradner’s earliest history. Ella loaned me her treasures: Annie Hyter Kirk’s (1857-1950) story of Bradner’s Beginnings and her painting of Mt. Prospect (see back cover) showing our first log church (M.P.). and second school house (see chapter on education) (Annie was also a native ot Bradner); scrapbooks of news clippings on Bradner history gathered through the years; early newspapers--Daily Graphic, 1891: Bradner News, 1893: Bradner Advocate, 1897; and her willingness to share her memories of Bradner which was mostly woods when she was a child.

I have quoted extensively from Ralph "Tootles" Shepler’s series of articles "Getting Acquainted with Bradner’s Past" in which he states that he had interviews with Danny Stahl - Richard Smith. and many other old-time residents. The chapter on the early school history is based and quoted in part from a series of articles by Opal "Chokie" Eckert who received her information from Anna Kirk and Nancy Bierly Plantz and others.

I xvould mention the pleasant talks with Jessie Conley Cribbs, (1880-1975) who, having spent all her ninety-five years in Bradner. introduced me to the Bradner before corporation; the visits and the many, many telephone conversations with J. Frank Coveney who made Bradner’s early corporate history live for me by identifying people and places, and sharing Bessie Fairbanks Coveney’s (1891-1974) schoolgirl scrapbook; and two others who wanted to see the history in print and who shared early experiences--Lillie McNulty Bell ( l8~)~-l97~) and Jessie Daily Hanlcy (1895-). I want especially to thank Anna Christian Bryan (188 1 - ) for the early Ii istory of the ~O5 t office and the drug store; Frances Eckert Rees (I 886-) who spent her early childhood across the street from the M P. Cli urch and used to run errands for her mother to the little corner store run by Sam Klotz; to Charles Dale Stump. identifier of places and faces, who kept saying. ‘‘Henrietta, you should remember that.’’ to which I’d reply. ‘‘But I neve r got around town in uch When I did get to 1 own I went straight to the store or to the Post Office as I was told and straight home.’’ I wool d loCution F. Eugene Beatty. home-town boy, and contemporary. who had been reading the early Bradner Advocates on microfil in for me before his untimely death; those who responded with pictures and realia: to many who so graciously consented to interviews, the Elntwood I ugh School Photography Club, and to the other members of the historical commit tee: Edward F. Dow for time, picturesand materials, and J one Zimmerman Kern for the enthusiasm for the preservation of art i facts and her assistance in collecting pictures; and last to my husband. Merritt. who did the signs on the front cover and kept the ‘‘home fires burning’’ while I relived the past.

I have enjoyed every minute of it. I irtist you will be pleased, too.

Henrietta Blessing Keller.
Historian

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The History of This History:

It All Started With a Board

Council minutes quoted:

May 20, 1971

Mr. Noel Lentz brought a large board with historical information on it written in 1887 and installed as part of the pulpit in the present Faith Calvary Church. After sharing, Mr. Lentz said that he would recommend their Board of Trustees give it to the Village of Bradner for its historical value.

July 15, 1971

Rev. Lender and Mr. Lentz presented the Board of History of 1887. This was discovered in their church and was the front of the pulpit. It was put there at the dedication of the Evangelical Church and was built into the pulpit when the pulpit was constructed. Pastor Lender and Mr. Lentz presented it to the Village of Bradner in care of the Council with the following stipulations quoted from their Board minutes:

"Mary Dannenburger moved to donate the historical board to the town council to be displayed for historical purposes and not to be sold; when no longer of value, to be returned to Faith Calvary Church, seconded by Mary Gump. Motion carried."

Council member Keller moved to accept the historical board according to the above stipulations, seconded by Councilmember Mary Stahl. Roll call: five yeas.

July 19, 1973

Councilmember Henrietta Keller remarked that as the Board says Bradner was recognized as a village in 1876, we should celebrate our centennial in 1976 when the nation celebrates the Bicentennial. After discussion it was moved by Councilmember Mary Stahl and seconded by Councilmember David Sabo to celebrate in 1976. Roll call: six yeas. Councilmember Keller said that she would see that Bradner had a human interest history compiled for sale.

And that was the start of this history. The first picture shows Rev. Lender (on the left) and Mr. Noel Lentz (right) presenting the board to Mayor Don Graber (center). In the back~ound on the wall is a picture of John Bradner for whom the town was named. This picture was presented to the Village by the family of Mr. Bradner after his death in 1901

The second picture shows the council members, mayor and clerk who were in office July 19, 1973, and who voted in the Centennial celebration.

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