Years Ago in Downtown Chattanooga, Ohio

Last week I wrote about the residents of Chattanooga, Ohio, as they were enumerated in the 1940 census. As I was going through some of my dad’s old photos I found a couple photos of Chatt.

 

Heffner's Grocery, Chattanooga, Ohio.

According to the 1940 census Walter Heffner had a grocery. When I was young Harold Bollenbacher owned the grocery next to the Fire Department. My friend Karen and I always enjoyed stopping at Bollenbacher’s Grocery for a soda or an ice cream bar while riding our bikes through town in the summer.

The Fire Department is now across the street, where Wendel Brothers Pontiac dealership was located.

Wendel Brothers Pontiac Auto Sales, Chattanooga, Ohio.

Downtown Chattanooga, looking north.

This photo of Ivan Johnson’s garage was taken in 1972.

Ivan Johnson's Garage, Chattanooga, Ohio.

Chattanooga also had a school back then but the 1938-39 school year was its last. Those in the school photo: Row 1 from left: Eldon Stetler, Ralph Schaadt, Tommy Schaadt, Robert Hunzinger, Paul Duff, Kenneth Bransteter, Richard Andress, Victor Andress, Alfred Schott. Row 2: Pauline Egger, Donna Andress, Betty Ruth Bransteter Carr, Phyllis Raudenbush Nash, Wanda Lou Carr Gilliland, Donald Mayes, Charles Myers, Roger Bollenbacher, Richard Bollenbacher, Eugene Baker. Row 3: Robert Carr, Dale Schott, Robert Deitsch, Anna Lee Schott, Helen Jean Hileman White, Vera Mae Andress, Romania Zumbrick Linn, Dorothy Jean Leininger Hellwarth, Donald McCoy. Row 4: Norval Weitz, Donald Deitsch, Hilda Koch, teacher, Dale Baumgartner.

Chattanooga, Ohio, School, 1938-39.

It is that time of year–conference time once again. This Saturday I will head off to Fort Wayne to attend the Indiana Genealogical Society’s Annual Conference at the Allen County Public Library. Their featured speaker is Debra Mieszala. Debra is a Certified Genealogist specializing in forensic genealogy, 20th century research and the Midwest. She will present four sessions. Several other speakers will also talk about Family Search, Ancestry.com and writing a book using Family Tree Maker and MS Word. The topics all look interesting and I still need to decide which ones I want to attend. I may even be able to squeeze in a little time for some research at the library during the lunch hour.

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  1. I wanted to send a big THANK YOU for posting photos and information about Chattanooga. My grandmother is Ruth Schott Edwards, she would often tell us stories about growing up in Chatt. The Schott children in the photo above are her younger sister and brothers. I also found the Zion Lutheran Church records that you translated and transcribed, Thank You so much for all the time and work you spent doing this. I found lots of information about the Shott family in this book.
    I will also be attending the IGS conference in Ft. Wayne tomorrow and look foward to it as this will be my first conference.

    Thanks again,
    Kaylehn Brunner

    1. Nice to hear from you. I remember your grandmother! She helped identify some people on Zion’s older confirmation photos. I hope we can meet tomorrow at the conference. Karen

    • Randy Lee Deitsch on August 16, 2012 at 7:13 pm
    • Reply

    So much THANKS go out to you Karen for all the work you have done in order for all of us to look at, to enjoy and to remember.. My father Robert Deitsch and his brother (my Uncle) Donald Deitsch are in the school photo.. Oh, how i remember spending summers out on my Grandparents farm (Henry and Anne Deitsch) when i was young.. My Dad’s brothers were, Glenn, Vilas, Olen (Oat), Donald, and sister Bess.. My wife will be happy to see this page BUT she may already have it.. those days of long ago are so vivid in my mind and I think about them so very often.. My Father later became a Railroader and retired after 42+ years, working in Crestline and Canton Ohio.. My father passed away as has all my Uncles and Aunt.. So, again Thank You for the wonderful post.. Randy Deitsch

    1. Thanks, Randy. I’m glad you enjoyed the post and the photo. I recognize many of the names you mention. There were many Deitsches in the Chatt area and I know a couple. It is a nice area to live in. Karen

    • Sherry Eady on January 27, 2013 at 8:55 am
    • Reply

    Thank you for the memories, I hadn’t realized you had this chat blog, I’m so thankful to Don for sending me the information to it. You are a special person and I am so PROUD that you would do this for the Chatt area which means so much to all of us!! God Bless Karen, and THANKS again you made my day!! LOVE, Sherry

    1. Thanks, Sherry! I have fond memories of the Chatt area and for me this is a way to get some of them written down. I remember that your dad used to come and fix our TV! My dad must have been friends with Ivan Johnson, too, because he had quite a few photos of Ivan. Lots of photos of Ivan and Wes Kallenberger.

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