Passing gypsies once common here
Neil Snarr - Contributing columnist
In June of 1950 an article in the Wilmington News-Journal stated, “Gypsies Are Escorted Out of City.” The article continued, “Approximately 100 gypsies were ordered out of the county Tuesday, Sheriff Howard C. Botts said Wednesday.”
Reportedly some 15 house trailers were parked along Rt. 68 eight miles south of Wilmington. For three days they had been in the vicinity calling on people wanting to repair their stoves – and charging enormous prices!
Sheriff Botts and Deputy Foote “escorted the gypsies to Ft. Ancient where they were met by the Warren County sheriff, who in turn escorted them to the Butler County line. When last heard of the gypsies were in Indiana where they were being escorted on through the state by state-troopers.”