Richwood  My hometown in Ohio T. Buckingham Thomas physics Oberlin WOBC Richwood Tom Thomas Chyron Infinit Pittsburgh Most articles that mention the village where I grew up are listed below. To search for specific names or events that might be listed elsewhere, click the icon to bring up a Google search box.  Replace ql in the search box with the word or words you seek.   Native American Artifacts Arrowheads show that Indians inhabited Union County, at least north of Boundary Road. Dad Says Some very old stories (1880-1905) from the weekly newspaper. Essex Racetrack Four Miles Long Wagering on horse races (Camptown and elsewhere) and on Presidential elections. Tales of 153 North Franklin Richwood gets trolley service to Delaware; the terminal becomes the location of my father's dealership. . 1910 °The Scharf Local inventor drives newfangled car to Columbus looking for investors, finds none, gives up.  I get one of his stock certificates. Sheltering in Place Union County schools and saloons are closed due to the 1918 influenza epidemic. 1930 Union Theatre The town hall known as the Opera House becomes a movie theater. . 1940 Running Off to Covington Young people in Richwood often tied the knot more than a hundred miles away in Kentucky.  So did my parents.  I hear from the grandson of the minister who married them. . 1950 °The Kindergarten Operetta My reading role in a 1953 stage production. °Ohio Tax Stamps  These little sales-tax receipts were once ubiquitous in daily life. °A Mother's Garden in a New Land My mother's poem about learning again how to garden on the windy plains of Richwood, Ohio. Brigadoon Reappears Gene Kelly stars in a movie I didn't see at the time. °B.R. Isaiah On India's religions, the changes brought by Christianity, and a church that our family built. Mr. Ivories I perform in a minstrel show.  Also making music are the Gill family:  Mabel, Chuck, and Zack. °Hot Rods As a boy, I watch modified stock cars race at the local fairgrounds and make my own set of flags. Sideswiped! My 1957 account of a highway accident. The Twenty-Eight Remembering a 1928 Chevrolet, after a Corvette and a Nomad. Mother's Flowers Pictures of the flowers that Ann Thomas grew. °The Bixbys A script for a radio sitcom that I wrote in 1958. Mr. Merriman When I started fifth grade, my teacher was only 19 years old.  When I finished sixth grade, he took the class on a picnic. °Rasslin' Big-city Chevrolet dealer Lex Mayers hosts a weekly wrestling show on TV. °Ed Paulin and the Radios A portable radio in a $4,000 carrying case; a sportscaster who called Richwood High School basketball. . 1960 °Keeping Score Scoreboards, from the huge one at the L.A. Coliseum to the antiquated one at the Richwood gym, inspire my playful experimentation. The Three-Cornered Field Teasing the sheep, and some reflections on seeing the big picture. Ann and Elifrede Parts of conversations between my mother and her friends. Halftime for Richwood High A freshman manager's brief report on what football players do while the bands perform.  Also, memories of the RHS football team. °Latin Humor At the Richwood High School Latin Club, a Roman general won't behave. Twin Gables Following a floor plan that I drew up, the Thomases build a new house. Miss Pete and Juno Musings on memory, with a parakeet and a song that I "composed" in Latin. °Vernon Thomas at the Richwood Fair A local poet guests on my father's radio program from the fair. °Surely Kin to Me Rev. John Wagner of Richwood travels to Mississippi to stand up for civil rights. Where I Was Sketchy news reports of President Kennedy's assassination came over the school public-address system. °Hoops Copy Introductions and imaginative commericals for my mock radio broadcasts of basketball. °Riding on the Basketball Bus The long trip home in January 1964; also, later trips with the L.A. Lakers.

Junior Choir Moonlight   other references to  FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: Tambourine Building Fund General Conf. Home Communion Sunday Racing Singing Up Here College Days Add Drama! A Silent Movie Super 8: Christmas

°Confederates on the Roof Terry Rockhold dreams of an epic battle. °Ann's Beef Stew My mother's recipe.  Also:  chicken sandwiches, Richwood style. Moon through the Night As chairman of the Decoration Committe, I plan for the Junior-Senior Prom and write a melancholy poem. Musical Tonight!   High school musicals at Richwood, and in 2023 at Freeport High School. °The Great Fire of 1964 Vernon M. Thomas Chevrolet is destroyed in a spectacular blaze.  With pictures. °The Making of the (Student Council) President 1964 High school politics:  Ed Olson surprises his opponent by actually campaigning, stealthily. °Rain in November Outside Richwood High School, a gloomy night. Beginning and Ending Vernon M. Thomas Chevrolet rebuilds a facility that will remain in operation until Mills Chevrolet closes 44 years later. Ten Key I learn valuable skills:  typing, and operating the adding machines at my father's dealership. Tigerisms Students and teachers mix and mangle the language. °Real Tiger The basketball team honors its manager, me. Let the Sportscaster Beware High-school fans don't like to hear their kids criticized. °Where Can We Put the Camera? The gym's too small; try on the wall! °Playing with Words A family in a rut, a very long sentence, and songs about thwarted cheerleaders and noble underdogs at Richwood High School. °Dear Diary Pictures and dialogue from my senior class play, starring Roxye Carter. Know the Rules The Mixed Chorus presents Brigadoon, but a cast member forgets to explain a key rule of its fantasy world. °Richwood Relays The annual track and field event as I remember it from 1965. °Carl Martin A few memories of a classmate. Prom May, 1965:  some impressions. The Will My classmates' bequests to the incoming seniors. The Merger Roxye Carter summarizes the four years of high school. °Valedictory My high school commencement speech. Tracks of the Richwood Tiger Remembering the RHS building through yearbook photos. Rev. Wagner's Cake A comic song for a going-away party. The Edge of the Nest Preparing to leave home for college, I write my future roommate and report the first North Union Wildcats game. °The Metz Bug This Volkswagen ran unopposed in our Richwood Prep Rally and still had trouble winning. My Father's Dealership A summer job at the Chevrolet garage leads to a few incidents recounted in letters. . 1970 Talking with Terry Terry Rockhold and I discuss California tourist spots and pink ties. °Rally! A motor sport for nerds:  driving down a road, navigating to the nearest 0.01 minute. Vern's Chevys Pictures of my father and the automobile business, from the 1930s to the 1970s. Super 8: Christmas Images from home movies of my family's 1973 and 1974 holidays. North Union Crisis of 1976 Local voters skimp on school district support, so boosters hold a Springenfest to raise funds. °The Big 8-0 Dozens of folks surprise my father with a party for his 80th birthday. 1990 Now an Orphan My father dies.  Later, the 35th reunion of my high school class prompts more memories of Ohio. . 2000 A Foggy Morning in Ohio Pictures of my hometown in December 2000. The Organist I return to Richwood to play a concert on the pipe organ. Where In Ohio Is Stringtown? A simple geographical question with a surprising answer. NUHS/RHS Alumni Banquet A few pictures I took at my 40th high school reunion, with a link to a couple more from my 45th. 2010 Tigers Roar We go all out to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our graduation. More on the 50th Reunion Statistics on our class members plus photos of 38 reunion attendees. Remembering Terry Rockhold Recalling my best friend from high school (1947-2006). RBC 150 The Richwood Banking Company observes its 150th anniversary at the annual stockholders dinner. 2020 A Light by the Pit The lake that used to be a gravel pit gets a lighthouse, thanks to a future Eagle Scout.   Arrows left by Native Americans along the Boundary Road Baseball from a front-seat row (in a parked car) Basketball on a small court:  North Union plays at the Hoosiers gym Brides and grooms: 60% are crazy Chevy garage belonged to Paul Curl before my father bought it Crime spree: burglary, threatened arson, four cars smashed Criss Somerlot is honored at Athens Crossing guards remembered Culligan Man made our well water soft Dialect quiz says I'm from the South Drone video over Richwood, from Dustin Gilliland Ed Olson tells a story on himself as a junior unlucky in flirt Eighth-grade choristers sang songs older than we were Electoral College tracking on a map in 1960 Endsley, Mrs. Mildred, eighth-grade teacher Ethyl and Ethel Swartz "Holy City" as an organ-piano duet Horse joke from Nick Taylor?  I think not Husband-hunting in 1883 Lacrosse on a reservation 20 miles south?  'Twas in the paper Latin-Club type joke: Caesar walks into a bar Marion Correctional Institution is a nearby cell of infection May (seeds, gramophones, drunks, no lights, motorbikes, senior day, ball game) Meetings of Union County Commissioners halved Methodist services are online during COVID-19 Mr. Shoemaker's band asked to play "See the USA" My bloopers in the junior class play North Union Gnus?  Rebels?  The Blue and Gray? Old police station Oldsmobiles remind me of Cracker Jack Opera House clock tower atop the "wigwam" "Pizza pie" was once a novelty Playing surfaces aren't used; First Lady visits egg farm Police station used to be at Franklin and Ottawa Post Office used to be at Franklin and Blagrove Prom picture; RHS class ring Remembering Chevrolet aftershave Richwood Bancshares uses video for annual meeting Richwood Bank stock Richwood Lake's eight acres now have a lighthouse Rooftop signs for aviators Second-grade discussion:  Do you believe in Santa Claus? Sidewalk proposed; solar projects shouldn't decrease school enrollment Starting time at Richwood High School (8:45) was ahead of our time "Sunday Driver" tours the farms outside town Sunset in December at Richwood Lake Suspenders are now necessary due to my expanded waistline Turkey tossing and sleigh hopping causes mayhem Uncle Jim Buckingham invents anti-Zep bullet — but not my Uncle Jim Vacation Bible School produces fish plaque.  Oh, Lordy! Water tower painted by Class of 1965; who did it?