John Miller
Photo provided by Carol Gay.
Operator Mabel Eddy is in charge of her switchboard at âCentral.â
“Hello, Sarah? This is Barney Fife. Get Sheriff Taylor for me.”
This greeting sounds familiar on television but not necessarily for today’s communication standards. In the early days however this was as modern as the times allowed. “Central” was the hub of keeping the lines of communication open. That was where all calls were “put through” as the phrase went.
In Matamoras during the time period of 1926 to 1936, Sophia and Nancy Way were the operators assigned at “Central” and they had no days off for vacation with someone always there 24 hours a day. Other operators over the years included their sister, Josephine Barnhart, plus Lucy Cochran, Helen Taylor, Nellie Fisher, Beryl Hubbard, Leatha Smith, Olga Marsh, Lucy Huffman, Edna Beaver, Ada Machetanz, and Delia Busche. And depending on which older citizens of town you ask, the various locations o
Reports/Ohio State Highway Patrol
¯ A single vehicle crash was reported Feb. 13 on Ohio 60 in Bloom Township, Fairfield County. Jaden Michelle Nichols, 22, of 60 Ninth St., McConnelsville, was traveling southbound on Ohio 60 when her 2013 Hyundai Elantra went off the right side of the roadway, struck a guardrail and overturned into a ravine. No injuries were reported. She was cited for not driving in marked lanes.
¯ Anthony Tilly, 46, of 3375 Burnett Road, Vincent, was traveling westbound on County Road 42 in Fearing Township on Feb. 11 when he drove his 2015 Toyota Corolla off the right side of the roadway and struck a ditch. No injuries were reported and he was cited for operating without being in reasonable control of the vehicle.
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Feb 13, 2021
Photo provided.
Sarah Lowery Leithâs tombstone in Center Valley Cemetery proclaims her first capture by natives in 1763 and her marriage to John Leith in 1779 as the first recorded white marriage in the original Northwest Territory. She was buried here over 220 years ago.
In last week’s article I mentioned John and Sarah Leith as neighbors to John Burris. This couple’s story is one which reveals how wild and woolly situations could become on the frontier. Their adventures before finally settling in the Matamoras area are indeed things that develop into legend.
We start with the story of John’s future wife, Sarah Lowery. Born circa 1760 at Big Cove in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, she was captured by natives at the age of three during Pontiac’s War. Shortly thereafter three of her sisters were carried away as well.
mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com
The arrest of a Vincent man last week for receiving stolen catalytic converters isn’t the first report of people stealing these car parts.
Recent reports have shown thefts in areas including Adams Township, Barlow, New Matamoras and Marietta.
Car and Driver noted in December that police departments have been reporting a general swell of catalytic converter thefts which require but a few minutes and a pipe cutter that typically hit repair shops and businesses with non garaged fleets.
The converters are part of the car’s exhaust system and make harmful compounds, such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen gas, less harmful. They also reduce overall exhaust emissions.