Columns

Fire Up The Kettle

Who would have thought that kettle corn could mean so much to so many? Apparently that large kettle over an open fire producing hundreds of bags of the sweet corn at Oglebayfest each year is one of the most popular attractions at the fall festival. And it’s just not the kettle corn people are clamoring for; there are other traditions that have taken on an especially significant meaning this year. Since 1978, people from the Ohio Valley and beyond have traversed the winding routes leading to Oglebay Park’s hilltop perch in Wheeling to enjoy the annual weekend autumn festival. It ...

Collectors Treasure Railroad Memorabilia

A few days ago, I was walking on the Wheeling Heritage Trail in Warwood with my daughter and her three sons. Two of the boys were on bikes and we followed with a stroller and her youngest son. We came to some side rails that remain in place and lead from the walking trail into a large parking lot. Naturally, my grandson Gabriel, 7, noticed the still visible train rails running through the parking lot that were used to take loaded trains off the main track and into the nearby factory. These rails actually lead right into the factory. I explained how we used to have train tracks ...

Enjoy A Day Of Rest

Do you remember when stores were not open on Sundays? Well, since that all changed decades ago, only a few businesses hold on to the tradition of closing on Sundays for various reasons. Lately, however, Mondays and Tuesdays have become the Sundays of years past. I have noticed more and more businesses have limited their operating hours. It’s no secret that retailers, restaurant owners and other business owners are desperate to hire workers. The help wanted signs are on business doors and signposts everywhere you look. I won’t get into the politics behind this need for ...

Match Safes Are a Hot Collectible

Before safety matches were invented, stick matches had to be stored carefully and conveniently. Because they had tips that were highly flammable, matches were kept in fireproof containers. Some were small, often sterling silver, pocket size cases that looked a lot like today’s fancy lighters. Others were wall mounted boxes in various designs that kept wooden matches handy and safe. Today, collectors enjoy collecting these match safes from yesterday. Made from various metals and glass, match safes and match holders are an attractive small collectible to enjoy and search for at ...

Read Me A Story, John Boy

I recently watched an old episode of “The Waltons” in which Olivia, the mom, decided to spend good money on a set of books for her seven children. A traveling salesman had enticed her with the promise of books that would open a whole new world to the somewhat isolated country family. This episode was set during the Great Depression when work and money were equally scarce. So when Olivia gave up hard-earned money for the books, it was a big deal. The story goes on to show that she was flimflammed by the salesman. But there was a positive outcome by the end of the story. What ...

Curious Collectibles Offer a Look at Yesteryear

We live in a visual age where photos are so numerous that we don't even bother to print them off our cell phones and videos are viewed many times a day thanks to news alerts, YouTube and other digital applications. But movies got their start in the 19th century as photography developed on a much smaller scale. Back then, film stories were told with still images that amazingly to today's viewer, moved manually. The “special” effects then still seemed like magic to viewers who may have never even seen a camera, let alone used one. These early movie projectors are today’s ...