HELP!

I have been writing these articles for a number of years and have done tons of research. I have come across a couple of questions in the last month or so that I can't answer. Can anyone out there help me? If so, email me at EvansHistSoc@aol.com, write me (Cheryl Delano) c/o the Pennysaver office, P.O. Box 112, or call 549-5812 and leave a message

Lyth Tile Company

LYTH TILE COMPANY   
I am always amazed when I see pictures of the Emblem Bicycle Company or the Lyth Tile Company (above) and realize that these large manufacturing plants were part of the Village of Angola.
While doing some research in the old Angola Record, I came across a couple of interesting articles about the relocation of the Buffalo business to this area.
August 18, 1887 - "We understand that Messrs. John Lyth & Sons are in a mood to receive propositions from the people here that are interested in having them locate their terra cotta works here. They have tried the car of earth from here and find it good, and they are ready to entertain propositions from several different locations, and the one that suits them best is the one they will accept. Now the question is, what can we afford to do to secure their location here? We have got the best location on the lines of railroads for laying branches to works, on nearly level ground which is worth more
    
to them than any preliminary inducement we could hope to raise for them. We also have one of the best schools in this section of state. We have a fire department equipped in good shape and understand their business under fire has been improved.
These advantages are worth more to this firm as a location to settle than any tiding we can offer to induce them to locate here. Other towns can raise more money than we can, but there is not another town on the road that has the advantages enumerated and others we could mention. We hope our citizens will offer them every facility possible to induce them to come."
Things moved very rapidly, and a little more than a month later, September 29, 1887, there was the following headline:
ANGOLA WINS. J. LYTH & SONS OF BUFFALO COMING HERE:
J. Lyth & Sons of Buffalo have purchased 40 acres of land on the west end of J. R.
      
Newton's farm for their terra cotta, tile and sewer    
pipe works which they wish to establish here. They will receive a hearty welcome from our people, as they have come without having to be bought. Messrs. Lyth have decided that Angola is the best location for their works, (having exhausted the material at Buffalo) notwithstanding other towns made tempting offers if they would locate with them.
Their locating here will be a help to the village without a doubt, as they are men of business and men of means also. The thanks of this community are due J. R. Newton for his tireless energy in bringing them to Angola.
The price paid was reasonable, $3,500, and undoubtedly others may wish to locate with us, where land is reasonable, as high prices are a thing of the past. The papers will be delivered tomorrow."
The factory was opened and production began in March of 1889.

Community Gatherings

COMMUNITY GATHERINGS    
The picture above is a lawn fete held in 1918 by the Congregational Church in Angola. Over the years, community organizations have held bazaars, ice cream socials, lawn fetes, strawberry socials and other gatherings to bring the commu-    
nity together.
On Sunday, June 12th, the Evans Historical Society will be holding what has become an annual event, our Ice Cream Social. The museum will be open from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be music and free ice cream sundaes and/or     
root beer floats. This is a good time to come and get to know us.
The Ice Cream Social is in place of our June meeting. There will be no speaker this month.
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Memorial Day 2

MEMORIAL DAY    
The picture above is dated May 30, 1941. This Memorial Day parade took place on Main Street approximately seven months before the United States entered World War II.
Memorial Day (or Decoration Day) began as a day to honor Union and Confederate soldiers after the Civil     
War. It was originally celebrated on May 30. That date was chosen because it was not the anniversary of a battle. The name "Memorial Day" was first used in 1882, but it did not become common until after WWII, and it was declared the official name in 1967. The federal law moving it from May    
30 to the last Monday in May took effect in 1971.
If you look carefully at the windows of the theatre you will notice that the snack bar area is the home of Louis Kuntz's Homemade Candies and that ticket prices were 20¢.
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Memorial Day

MEMORIAL DAY    
As the Memorial Day holiday approaches, I return to a photo that I have used before. During WWII this board listing the town residents who were fighting for their country was placed at the post office on the corner of Main and Center Streets.     
Two other panels were added during the war. It's difficult to read at this size, but if you look at the original at the Historical Society Museum, the names are readable.     
This Monday, May 23, at our monthly meeting, we have three of our members     
Jane Ehmke, Jackie Haderer, and Muriel Wolff, talking about women during WWII on the home front and in the service. There will be a short business meeting at 7:30 p.m. followed by the presentation. The public is invited, and refreshments will be served.

Whar Shall We Wear: 1890

WHAT SHALL WE WEAR? 1890       The following article appeared in a local newspaper in October of 1889.  The historical society has notebooks full of clippings that are always fun to read.  They contain much information about life at the time.  The public is welcome to come in and read through these.  We have been open the first Sunday of each month from 2 to 4 p.m.  We will be open on June 5 and will hold our Ice Cream Social on June 12.  Then we begin our summer hours and will be open every Sunday in July and August.  Come visit us and read articles like this.

WHAT SHALL WE WEAR - 1890

STYLES THAT ARE APPROVED AT HOME AND ABROAD.

A French Cycling Gown for Misses and Young Ladies - Three Parisian Riding Habits

Illustrated and Described.

American women are happily learning the importance of outdoor exercise, which their English cousins appear always  to  have   known.          Horseback riding is no longer confined to the south and west, but has become at the east a favorite exercise.  Cycling, although approached rather timidly by women, is also gaining ground.  For this latter exercise there does not seem to be as yet any prescribed costume for the gentler sex, although most men, as a rule, have suits especially adapted to cycling.  It is with pleasure, therefore, that we produce for the benefit of our readers, along with some French riding habits, a French cycling gown.

This cycling gown, as will be seen, is very simple, and at the same time striking in effect.  The jacket and skirt are of gray tweed, finished either with rows of machine stitching or narrow braid, as may be preferred.  The white flannel blouse bodice is tucked in front and belted at the waist.  The high cloth gaiters match the dress in color, while the peaked cap corresponds with the blouse, and is decorated in front with a  club  device  or       tricycle.  The riding habit shown in the same cut is in       black ladies' cloth, the close fitting bodice is buttoned in front, but leaves a small V opening to throw off the flat neck-tie.

Wigwam City

WIGWAM CITY       I did a series of articles before on Hi Backus and the Lake Bay area including Wigwam City.  It has to be mentioned again in this series.

Monday, April 25th, at the regular meeting of the historical society, the speaker will be area resident Rich Anderson, who will talk about the Lake Bay community.  There will be a brief business meeting at 7:30, followed by the talk.  Refreshments  will  be  served,       and the public is always invited.

The picture above is Wigwam City, which was across the road from Lake Bay. Hi Backus created this area to draw people to the lake and lease property to summer visitors.  He held races and boxing matches to entertain the crowds.

Can you imagine paying to stay in one of the thatched huts instead of a hotel room?  To the left is one of the "statues"  that   greeted  visitors.      They were often supposed to be biblical characters made from driftwood and old farm equipment.  To the right is the crow's nest that Hi used to give his speeches. He often repeated messages supposedly from his grandmother on Mars.

Hi was a colorful character in our town's history (and my great-grandfather), and Lake Bay was definitely one of the important areas in the town's development.

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