CAPTURE THE MOMENT History Dinner Reivew...

Doug Stevens, president of Stevens Construction Company, presents Kaitlin Beltz the first place prize check for winning the Capture the Moment History Dinner Essay Review contest. Joining them are Amanda Dichtl (seated left), second place winner, and Bernadette Dichtl (seated right), third place winner.
Here is the winning essay by Kaitlin Beltz.

Capture the Moment essay winner

REMEMBER WHEN…
Kaitlin Beltz
Tri-Rivers Career Center

I attended the Remember When…History Dinner 2007, put on by the Marion County Historical Society and Marion County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Thursday, October fourth at the Marion Catholic Activity Center . This dinner, along with great food, was a chance to learn a little bit about the history of Marion County , but more to hear more about patrons years in this town and the impact it had on their lives. I also had the opportunity to view historical memorabilia, and take a glance at what Marion sas, and has become. The changes are vast, but from what I heard and what I know as a resident, Marion was and still is a great place to live.

The evening began with a chance to meet with others attending. With displays of historical memorabilia from maps to pictures and many things in between including Mike Perry's photo collection, conversation was easily made. I was greatly impressed by the detail of the displays and also with the fact that I cannot remember WalMart not being here! Come to think of it, attending this dinner made me realize there was a lot I did not know about my home town and that the history was both informative and interesting. It was nice to see so many people having one thing in common, their home town, Marion , Ohio .

Followed by the meet and greet, was dinner. Served buffet style by All Occasions Catering accompanied by Tri-Rivers Culinary students, the dinner was served in three courses. First was salad, followed by main courses including, my choice shredded beef in barbecue sauce, green beans, and dinner rolls. The dessert was, however, the bes, a wonderful cherry cobbler. The servers were friendly and professional making me feel as if I were actually at a restaurant. Promptly following dinner we began the main event of the evening, hearing speakers who have lived and worked in Marion .

I'll start with Bill Young and a bit of his background. You may know of Young's Paint and, of course, it's owner Bill Young. But before that business venture he worked for the Marion Paint Company. Also, he attended Ohio Wesleyan. Bill spoke about a time I had never known about. A time when Marion consisted of just seventeen families, three saloons, and a jail. Well, this was in 1824 when you could walk to Marion and everybody knew everyone else. Kensel Clutter also took a turn to talk about those early years. He was a graduate of Harding High School and as well, he served his country in World War II. His farming background took a part of his later passion, the Sandusky Plains. As, well this helped him in his discovery of Indian Trails. Another to share his history of Marion was George Kasotis. George told of the Home Café and the Crest Restaurant. George later had his own place called Café George. He is now retired after spending sixty years in the catering business. A staple in community affairs, Larry Morse, attended and took his turn in the spotlight. His family was the start of Morse Electric Company and he told quite an anecdote about the red light system in Marion . Eula Rhoads got her start in Marion when she attended Marion Business College and started work at the Heney and Cooper Drugstore. Maybe the most interesting fact of the night, she shared that in 1939 her wages were eleven dollars for a forty-eight hour week. Then again, she also said a cup of coffee would run you five cents back then, lunch was about thirty-five cents. George Brown , president of the Wyandot Popcorn Museum , got his start just there. A company that is still a large part of Marion . Brown spoke a great deal about the depression and the courage it took to make it through those times.

However, Carrol Neidhart made the best point. He shared how important it is to connect the past to the present. To get youths like me, not just involved, but excited about the history of where they come from. That is just what this night did. Although I came for the food, I was thoroughly captured by what these people had to offer in their accounts of Marion . The evening was coordinated beautifully and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. My advice to others by age, take advantage of the resources we have now, but take time to learn about a time when those opportunities were not available. Opportunities such as attending the Remember When…History Dinner.