Old Photo of Chatt Bar

Today, an old photo from Chattanooga, Ohio, taken in front of the Chatt Bar some time before 1918. As far as I know, the Chatt Bar has always been in the same location.

Chatt Bar, before 1918. Photo courtesy of Doug Roebuck.

This photo is from Doug Roebuck. It is interesting to see the unusual shape of the roof-line, the hitching post with a horse tied tied to it, and a sign in the window-Smokes and Liquor. 

There are seven men standing in front of the building. Doug can identify one person in the photo, his great-grandfather Fred Heffner, the man with a mustache standing to the far right. Fred Heffner owned the establishment at the time.

Doug wonders who the other men in the photo are. 

Maybe some of you have seen this photo before and can identify the other men.

Close up of men in front of Chatt Bar. Fred Heffner standing on the far right. Photo courtesy of Doug Roebuck.

Doug Roebuck is also a Merkle descendant. Merkle & Egger once owned and operated a grocery in Chatt and ran a huckster wagon in the area.

Merkle & Egger, Chattanooga, Ohio. (photo courtesy of Doug Roebuck)

I would love to hear from someone who can identify the men standing in front of the Chatt Bar in the above photo.

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    • Andy Gappa on July 31, 2020 at 10:52 am
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    Here’s an interesting tidbit–I was eating at a local restaurant here in Hammond, IN, and I noticed that they had the exact same Merkle & Egger photo on the back wall of their family dining section. I asked the owner about it and he said he bought it because he liked the content. Do you think it’s a nationally syndicated photo or just a one-timer that I spotted?

    1. That is interesting. I purchased a copy of the Markle huckster photo on Ebay some time back, so evidently someone is reproducing it. My copy came from Indiana, from a second-hand store, so there is no telling where they got it originally. The copy I purchased is about 8×10. Is the one you saw in the restaurant about that size? It is a very cool photo and evidently other people think so, too! Thanks for the info!

        • Andy Gappa on July 31, 2020 at 3:08 pm
        • Reply

        No, it’s larger and somewhat distorted because of it’s size–things are slightly taller and thinner–I think. It’s been a while since I’ve sat back there.

    • marthalawler on July 31, 2020 at 6:13 pm
    • Reply

    I can’t help you with who any of the other men are, but Fred Heffner is my great-grandfather also. I really enjoy all the news you share with us about Chatt. No matter what, Chatt is still home to me. Thanks again.

    1. It is always interesting to hear of local family connections. Thanks for writing!

      • Douglas Roebuck on March 20, 2021 at 10:36 pm
      • Reply

      How are you connected to Fred Heffner?
      My e-mail is: dougroebuck1@gmail.com

      My grandmother, (Verla) Marguerite (Heffner) was his daughter.

      • Doug Roebuck on September 22, 2021 at 11:24 pm
      • Reply

      How are you related to Fred Heffner? His daughter, Verla Marguerite ((Heffner) was my grandmother.

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