Revealing the Real Great Gatsby

Revealing the Real Great Gatsby

 

(originally published July 14, 2014 – Cool Cleveland)

Did you ever wonder it how it would feel to be present and experience one of The Great Gatsby’s parties?  While this story was written in the 1920’s, every young generation wants to experience a lavish party where one rubs elbows and interacts with the rich and famous. This fictional prose was set it the New York City, and while it will never be believed in New York City or other east coast cities, it’s literally possible the Great Gatsby was based on Cleveland area families and parties that occurred in the region during the period.   The recent Great Gatsby movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and the original F. Scott Fitzgerald book, reminded Clevelanders of all the similarities between this fictional character and the Van Sweringen brothers.  An earlier publication “Mentor and Mistress” tells of these two extremely wealthy and powerful brothers sharing a love for a married woman named “Daisy”, just as Gatsby’s fictional love was named.  The similarities between the real life Van Sweringens and fictional Jay Gatsby are so numerous they needed to be examined more fully.  From the evidence below its likely The Gatsby Character was based on Clevelanders and their life styles. 

As a writer, F. Scott Fitzgerald was known to have based his stories on real people.  The story Bernice Bobs her Hair was said to be written about a young woman from Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  As F Scott was from St. Paul Minnesota he may have heard stories about her and this is upon who he based this story.  It’s therefore not too hard to fathom that Jay Gatsby and his love Daisy could have been based on real life Clevelanders.   

The real Daisy’s maiden name was Louise Davidson and when the name Louise was quoted to a friend who knew Daisy, she simply stated “they didn’t know her”.  Anyone who was a friend of Daisy knew her by that name.  Mr. Fitzgerald may have given his leading lady the name Daisy for a reason.  Daisy is not a common name and searching database names from the 1920’s it wasn’t even in the top 100 names during that period.  In addition the name Daisy is usually associated with a rural family and not a high society family.  It curious Mr. Fitzgerald choose this name and it’s my belief he did so as to give credit to the inspiration for the story.

 

Photograph reprinted with permission of Shaker Heights Historical society

 

Daisy Davidson married Mr. Ben Jenks and shortly thereafter the two Jenks became close friends with two of the Van Sweringen brothers.  The ‘Vans’ were beginning their careers in real estate and railroads.  Daisy’s wisdom and drive helped her husband and the two ‘Vans’ begin to build a multi-billion dollar railroad and real estate empire.   People who knew them and even the Van Sweringens gave credit for their success to Daisy.  In a book Daisy published in the 1940’s she remarked how OP Van Sweringen came to their home one night and told her she was the reason behind their success.      

The Vans started with a single small railroad and quickly began expanding their enterprise.  Using the stock market to raise capital they continued to purchase railroads and soon they were the largest railroad owners in the country.  They had amassed great wealth and by some accounts had net worth of over $2 billion dollars in the 1920’s, a massive fortune today but even bigger during the time.  This is similar to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s character in The Great Gatsby. Mr. Gatsby had started from humble beginnings (The Vans started out as paper boys) and amassed a great fortune.  Also just as “Jimmy Gatz” had changed his name to Jay Gatsby, the Van Sweringen’s also changed their name.  Originally their last name was Sweringens, and they added the “Van” early in their career. In both stories they were in love with a woman named Daisy. 

 

By the 1920’s the Vans and the Jenks had moved to Hunting Valley on what is now known as “Daisy Hill”.  The Jenk’s front door is directly across from the front door of the Van Sweringen home.   In the book Gatsby could see Daisy’s home across the way, just at the Vans could.  F Scott wrote also of a light at the end the pier and that the light could be seen from Gatsby’s home.  To this day there is a prominent light and light fixture on the Jenks home.  Anyone driving anywhere near the home would see this prominent architectural feature and this may have been why it was written into the story. In the fictional story there was a water way separating the two homes, in the real world there is half mile of open land between the two homes.  Not in the story however in the real world, there is an underground tunnel between their two homes; it exists to this day. 

 

It was said the Vans worshipped and idolized Daisy and were lifelong friends.      The Vans at the time were known by all Clevelanders and used their money and influence over much of the Cleveland area.  It was they who moved the private schools and many country clubs out of Cleveland into the suburbs.  They also developed many area  roads and railways which we still in use today.  If you have ever traveled to the Greenbrier in West Virginia this was also created by the Van Sweringens.  You can almost imagine the Great Gatsby walking through the Greenbrier’s opulent halls. 

 If you were in Cleveland or knew anything about Cleveland or railroads you certainly knew about the Van Sweringens.  However as with most wealthy individuals, they were private and secretive about their activities.  Few knew them personally and even fewer knew of their activities. This was a time of great wealth in Cleveland and they were at the top of the ladder, at least for a time.    Today it’s hard to imagine how well known, feared or cheered they were.  A similar set of brothers exist today and they are the Koch brothers of New York.    Imagine the Koch brothers living in Cleveland and this was the influence of the Van Sweringen’s.  For a detail and thorough appreciation of their business and personal lives, please read Invisible Giants by Herbert Harwood.  His title says it all. 

It might also be difficult to visualize Cleveland as an area for the rich and famous, however in the 1880 US government census, showed there were more millionaires living in the Cleveland than any place else in the United States.  This was true all the way through the 1920’s.  To understand the wealth in Cleveland at the time anyone who remembers watching Gilligan’s Island and seeing Thurston Howell III the millionaire, can appreciated how Clevelanders lived and behaved during this period.  Jim Backus who played ‘the millionaire’ was originally from a wealthy Cleveland area and has told reporters, many of his lines from Gilligan’s Island were simply lines he heard from his father and his father’s friends.  Mr. Backus was born in 1913 and would have been a young boy in the 1920’s.  His role as Gilligan’s Island millionaire was developed during his time growing up in Cleveland. 

There was another well known Clevelander who is central to this story.  His name is Leonard Hanna and Leonard was heir to the great Hanna mining fortune and was a strong supporter of the arts.  In his support of the arts it is said he knew F. Scott and may have invited him to parties his home.  Mr. L. Hanna was said to have large, noisy parties with many influential individuals attending.  It’s not hard to imagine the writer writing these parties into his book.  He may have also been introduced to the Vans.    

There is connection between the Vans and Mr. Hanna which needs to be mentioned.  Mr. Hanna was known to live an alternative lifestyle which at the time was rare and hardly mentioned in public.  The Vans also lived in the same bedroom their whole life and by some accounts the same bed.  While they shared a love for Daisy they may too have had alternative lifestyles.  This certainly would create a connection between the Vans and Mr. Hanna as their wealth and lifestyle would have certainly put them in contact with each other.  Mr. Fitzgerald meeting them is almost a certainty. 

Even today, it’s not unusual for married men to have a mistress or even a married mistress.  It certainly is not worth  writing a book about it.  However two powerful extremely wealthy, rags to riches individuals in love with a woman named Daisy, this is a different story.  Hearing a real life story such as this is something most writers can only dream about.  While in the 1920’s and even today, it would be hard to believe or write about two brothers in love with the same married woman, a story could certainly be written about one rags to riches individual in love with a woman named Daisy. 

There is another story in the Great Gatsby which ties the origins of the book with the Cleveland area elite.  In one edition of the book, it is written about how ‘rich are different than the rest of us’ and an example is given of two wealthy cousins marrying each other.  This may have happened in New York and in other cities, however in at least one situation it happened here in Cleveland.  They may have been in love however Clevelander’s wedding occurred to help preserve the family fortunes.     In hearing about this wedding, I remember my aristocratic friend who told me this, saying ‘they had to get permission from the bishop first’.    

As discussed the Great Gatsby and the Vans were in love with a woman named Daisy.  In addition they each began in humble and meager circumstances.  They each changed their names.  However further research is needed to cement this story.  Any photographic evidence of Scott Fitzgerald’s trips to Cleveland and possibly attending parties at the Hanna’s would be great.  If there is a possible photograph of The Vans with F. Scott, this would almost cement the connection between the book and these Clevelanders.  Let’s hope one day photographic or at least written accounts of the 3 or 4 (including Daisy) of them meeting can be found. 

While F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote a wonderful ending to The Great Gatsby not even he could foresee the ending to the Vans Sweringens and their fortunes.  The roaring and profitable 1920s’ came to an abrupt end in 1929 with the stock market crash.  The Van’s fortune had been made by selling more and more stock in their railroad ventures.  Not quite a Ponzi scheme, but close.  The stock market crash punished their holdings considerably and it literally killed them.  Mantis James Van Sweringen passed away of ill health in December 1934 and his older brother Oris Paxton Van Sweringen met a similar fate to Jay Gatsby in November 1936.  They both passed away too young and as others have written, their work was unfinished. 

 

Exploring "The World"

Recently while at a conference on Amelia Island in Florida, a small piece of information helped me enjoy a real and rare world experience which others might enjoy learning about.

There was an insurance conference on the island and as the taxi driver took me to the hotel, he explained there was a high end automobile auction in town.  He said this was the ‘real’ deal with high end bidders in attendance.  We saw some amazing cars as we headed to the hotel.  The one I remember most, was a newer Ferrari and it was  being towed by a golf cart.  My thought was ‘they can have their high end cars’.  As we passed the airport we saw over a dozen private jets and the taxi driver said most had left. 

After checking into hotel and unpacking I went down to the lobby area to get a drink and relax after the long day of travel.  It was your usual suspects and I just sat quietly.  As a people watcher I saw an older man with a younger rather attractive woman.  She was standing and sort of dancing around and he was looking down and seemed more into his thoughts and drinks. 

Then she said out load and to no one in particular, ‘I live on “The World”’. 

As no one else seemed to hear or understand her remark, I looked up and replied, “I know what that is and I have been on it”.

She looked over and asked “where?”

My response was “Grenada, it was there for the cricket matches”

At this point the older gentleman looked up from his thoughts looked and me and then signaled for me to join them.  Needless to say the rest of the evening was an interesting and educational opportunity.

He said they had moved to The World a few years ago as things in this country seemed to be going in the direction he didn’t agree with.  When asked, he confirmed they were there for the automobile auction as he has a large collection of automobiles.   When asked if he purchased any vehicles, he said they had not and he was mostly there to see which cars seemed to be going up in value and which seemed to be declining.  In other words he was ‘managing his investments’.  He later said the value of his vehicle holdings was over $8 million.  He wouldn’t tell me what type of cars he owned or where they were located however I knew he was a serious collector and most likely part of the one percenters. 

We then turned our attention to “The World”.  I told him I understood  why they lived on the ship and his savings probably paid for his car collection.  He only smiled. 

If you’re from Cleveland and you’re at all familiar with Peter B. Lewis, former Chairman and CEO of Progressive Insurance, you might have known he lived ship called the “Lone Ranger”.  Most might not be familiar with the reason for him living on the tug, however most will agree that it was in order to save income taxes.  Many other billionaires have their own boats, including Tiger Wood and Greg Norman.  Its not unusual for billionaires to live on their own sea worthy ships. 

Recently someone told me, they had sold Peter Lewis’ boat however it only went for ten cents on the dollar.  My response was his tax savings during his time on the boat was far greater than the cost of the ship.

Other top one percenters who can’t afford or don’t want their own boat can buy a suite or cabin on unbelievably luxurious cruise ship called “The World”.  My mother in law first told us about this ship and when we were in Grenada and saw it there we had to get a closer look.  When an older woman saw my wife, my young son and I admiring the ship, she asked if we wanted to go on board.  It was an amazing insight to this lifestyle.  This couple at the bar seemed to fit right in.

This is why it’s interesting when the politicians say they are going to raise taxes on ‘the rich’.  Every time this is done, more people move out of the country which is actually lowering the taxes paid.  While it might make good politics and sound bites, it makes bad economic business. 

The rest of the evening was passed talking about politics, “The World” and even the auto auction.  The one car he had wanted but said it sold for too much was the 1938 Delahaye Torpedo Roadster, it sold for over $6.6 million.  He thought someone overpaid for the car.  He also was hoping to acquire a 1965 Shelby Mustang but it also sold for too much at almost $985,000.  As both of these vehicles sold for more than he expected, I asked if it was time to sell and his response was “not yet”.   It was easy to understand why there was so many jets on the runway.   This was not your average automobile auction.

This interesting evening was possible due to my knowing about “The World”.  Hopefully this interesting piece of knowledge can help one of the readers in the near future. 

 

 

Tremont's Civil War Camp Cleveland

HISTORY: Tremont’s Camp Cleveland Housed Plenty of Characters

In July of 1862, Cleveland’s largest Civil War camp opened to instruct citizens on becoming soldiers.  It was a beautifully landscaped 35 1/2-acre site located in what is today known as Tremont. The land was owned by the Wade family and was known as University Heights, as there was a closed university in the area — Cleveland University — which was located at the current site of Gospel Press. Unfortunately there are no remains of the old university.

The Civil War camp’s location was between Hershel (now West 5th) and University (now West 7th) Streets and Railway and Marquardt Avenues.  Many called it the most beautiful camp in Ohio as it was well landscaped by the citizens of the Forest City. There were almost 200 buildings and a high of 4,151 volunteer soldiers occupied the barracks in December of 1862.  A total of 15,230 men would eventually be stationed there and this was approximately 5% of total 310,646 enlistments in Ohio.  There was a hospital on the grounds and, later during the war, the barracks would be used to house Confederate prisoners of war.

Lt William Dustin, a lieutenant in the 19th Ohio Volunteer Artillery, wrote following the war, “The camp was a table land above the city and admirably suited to the use of a camp of instruction.  It was as level as a floor and carpeted with grass. The capacious pine barracks held about 25 of the battery’s men. A row of six pine barracks fitted up with bunks, accommodated the men, and a single one at the rear was used for head quarters.”

The barracks were roughly 20X24 feet and high enough for two rows of berths.  There were over 150 barracks in total. There was a fine fresh water spring in a deep and shady ravine at the lower end of the camp and it furnished the men with an abundance of excellent water.

This may have been a military camp yet the atmosphere, especially during the beginning, was more that of social hotspot and gathering place.

Below are stories from letters and diaries of friends and relatives of individuals who were stationed there.  Many came from members of the 19th Ohio Volunteer Artillery unit and they moved into camp in August of 1862.  To put it mildly, these young men were having fun and blew off plenty of steam while they were stationed there.  This is a little known chapter of Cleveland’s history and one Clevelanders should better understand.

Theodore Tracie was also in the 19th OVA and in 1874 he wrote a book about the unit and below is the way he described the camp:

Barracks-life at Camp Cleveland was like a long-continued gala day and picnic. No day passed that did not bring lady relatives and friends of the members.  The camp was the favorite resort of the people of Cleveland, and bore a dreadfully unmilitary appearance.

Social pleasures were varied and pleasing; vocal and instrumental music could be heard day and night.  Billy Childs’ banjo solos kept the quarters thronged by day with lady visitors, and by night with admiring comrades. On more than one occasion bands from town came to play and there was lively singing, dancing, and conversation.

In addition, there were street vendors selling souvenirs and even a photographer who set up shop to take photographs of the soldiers in their new uniforms.  Baseball games were played on the parade grounds.   At one time or another it seems everyone in Cleveland came out to the camp.

A signing bonus of $50.00 was paid to each of the men who enlisted and as this was the first paycheck given to many, and many felt well to do.  Unfortunately it was reported many of the men wasted their funds on drink and tobacco.  An additional $50.00 bonus was to be paid at the end of the war.  Unsure what happened to those men who didn’t return home.

The boys grew restless under the inactivity, of camp life, and longed for marching orders.  “Camp life was all good enough in its way,” they murmured. “But we came out to fight the Rebels, and not waste our time feasting and flirting.”

Michael Houck of the 19^th OVLA - Christopher Whipple’s great great grandfather

 

Breaking Out of Camp

As the camp was located near the entertainment area of downtown, it was a favorite nighttime activity to try to leave the camp.  Since only 25 of the 144 men were permitted in town each night, many of the remaining 119 men found creative ways to get out.  On one night, 75 of the 144 men were in town to see a play.

Initially, there were no passes given; however, because too many men were seen in town each night, shortly thereafter a password was given to the guards and no one was permitted back into camp without it.  This didn’t work well as the guards were friends of everyone else and soon further restrictions were needed.

A written pass was given only by permission and only with good reason.  There was the “important business to be settled” before they left home excuse as well as “illness at home.” There was also “to take a bath” excuse and men walked to the stream outside of camp with towel and bucket. However, many didn’t return until the next morning.

Men also made mad dashes across the grounds hoping to return to their barrack before being caught. This made for great amusement by the other men as they watched their counter parts running across the yard. Even if they were caught, a bribe of liquor or money usually allowed one to pass to their cabin.

Eventually extra guard duty was issued for those who were caught.  If men were too intoxicated or caught too often they were often put in the Guard House.  Due to the number of absences, the guard house was seldom unoccupied.  Many might think being put in the guard house would be a punishment but these men took it with good cheer.  Feeling they didn’t have to perform guard duty or drills and being given beer and other luxuries through a window, some felt it was a nice break from the routine.

One evening the guard house had a little more activity than most.  Two men were brought back from town and, being extremely intoxicated, were immediately put in the guard house.  Shortly thereafter there were “strong noises emanating from the guard house.”  Then there was the sound of crashing lumber and “triumphant yells”; the two prisons had literally kicked down one of the walls to the guard house.  When everyone ran to see the commotion, they saw the two guilty parties congratulating themselves. The two were secured with ropes to keep them in place and the guard house was hastily repaired.  The next morning their real punishment was given.

The officers chained 30 pound iron balls to their ankles and ordered them to sweep the camp.  While most of us would think this as punishment, these two did not.  They had a good ole time and had a great deal of fun and could be heard laughing as they swept.  Needless to say, there were some real characters at the camp.

There was usually more than one unit in the camp and, as expected, rivalries developed between units. They raided each other barracks and “took pistols and emptied flasks.”  Fortunately none of these ended in battles or brutalities and most units became lifelong friends after meeting at the camp.  My father was still visiting the farm of one of the unit members well into the 1960s.

It should be noted that one of the men’s favorite food in town was caviar.  Cleveland caviar was known as some of the finest available because, at the time, Lake Erie was full of sturgeon. Unfortunately, later in the 1880s and 1890s these 8 to 10 feet-long aquatic creatures were said to have interfered with the steel and other shipments and were fished out of the lake.  Currently there are only a small number of sturgeon left on the west end of the lake.

Camp Comes to Order

Slowly the camp came to order as the soldiers soon learned they were no longer their own masters.  Roll-call was called twice a day and required the attendance of all men. A guard duty had been instituted and, at first, guard duty was a novelty. With chest protruded, guards carried heavy Austrian rifles. But later on it was not uncommon for the night relief to find more than a few guards asleep on their post.

Drilling was also one of the daily duties.  Cannon and rifle squads were organized, and rather quickly the men became proficient in the drills and the use of their equipment.   The marching or foot drill was practiced each day, as well as zouave skirmish drills.  Zouave drills had more space between the men and other less visible tactics.  Overall the men were afforded a variety of military exercises.

This was a typical military camp as there were no mattresses on the bunks and not everyone had government issued blankets.  Fortunately the aid society supplied many of the men with blankets.  The food was rather bland; coffee, meat, dark bread, potatoes or some other dish.  There was no milk, butter, sugar or other simple pleasures available. 
While some men complained, most later realized this was better than what they would be receiving later in the war.

Departure From Camp

As the time of departure approached, the number of visitors increased greatly, until even the quietest men could boast of his warm personal friends.

This time was also used to make final visits, finishing up business matters too long delayed, and general preparations for departure.  Few thought they would serve longer than a year, and each one felt he held special immunities from death and disease, and had no doubt of their return home.

The crowds of visitors became larger every hour, and every man was a hero, with plenty of admirers. Then the last roll call in camp was called, absentees were accounted for, knapsacks were strapped on the shoulders, and the march was put in motion.  The military organizations in the city turned out as escort to honor their departure.

They marched down Superior Street and saw the streets and sidewalks filled with citizens.   Outstretched hands greeted them at every step, and every man was energized.

They felt the whole people of the Forest City were in the streets doing honor to her sons, and showering them with prayers and wishes for their safe return.  There was true spirit in the patriotic outpouring of those days!  However not everyone was happy and it was said about citizens and soldiers alike, “tears were shed like rain.”

Not all the stories were sad and below is one from Theodore Tracie.  It is reproduced in full as the story can’t be better written today:

Few seemed free from this emotional epidemic, was compelled to laugh as I saw an enthusiastic maiden lady of forty summers, glorious in spectacles and side-curls, clasp the hands of one of our modest boys, and after bidding him “good-bye!’ and “I pray that you will return home!’ suddenly kiss the youth with the most enthusiastic earnestness.  I leaned forward and innocently remarked to the favored youth, “sweetheart, of your, my boy?  Never mind; you can trust her while you’re away!” and was shocked when he replied: “No ! blame you; I never saw the girl; before in my life!”

The men were put on trains to Cincinnati and one unit member wrote the trip lasted only 12 hours.  12 hours was probably a short time relative to the number of days it took to travel there by horse and buggy. Trains during the Civil War had to stop every 30 minutes for water.  Their first stop was in Berea and their second was in Grafton.  At the first few stops friends wished the soldiers well.

Scenes such as this occurred many times over the next few years as there were at least 20 units organized or reorganized at Camp Cleveland and no one ever knew who would return and who would not.

US General Hospital – Cleveland

A 320 bed pavilion-style hospital, (pictured above) designated as the United States General Hospital at Cleveland, occupied 3.76 acres on the southeast corner of W 5th Street and Jefferson Avenue.  The hospital opened in December 1862; a total of 3,028 soldiers received care for gunshot wounds, illnesses, and diseases before it closed in July 1865.  Some of the 91 deceased patients lie buried in the federally owned plots at Woodland Cemetery.

Camp Closes

More than 11,000 soldiers were discharged at Camp Cleveland at war’s end.  The camp officially closed in August of 1865 and, in September, the hospital and camp buildings were dismantled and the lumber and government equipment were sold at a public auction.

In the last few years there were some buildings built in the Tremont area and it was reported Civil War buttons were found in ground.  Other than these small remnants, only photographs and written antidotes remain of this large, beautiful and important Civil War camp.

Hopefully the readers will find interest in these fun-loving, rambunctious individuals.  It should be remembered that these same individuals became part of Cleveland’s Greatest Generation.  Some of these individuals would later become part of Millionaires Row and were at least part of the city with the highest number of millionaires in the country.  Hopefully we can regain some of their energy and positive reinforcing comradery and return this region to respect and greatness.

Units at Camp Cleveland
Date Open:        July 1862
Location:         West 5th, Railroad St, West 7th, Marquardt St.

Units Organized:
1862
August     103rd OVI, 105th OVI, 19th Battery
September      107th  OVI
October     10th Cavalry, 20th Battery
December      6th Co. SS

1863
January     124th OVI, 7th Co. SS
February     5th Co. SS
July        86th OVI – Unit Reorganized
August     129th OVI
October    125th OVI
November    12th Cavalry

1864
April        60th OVI – Unit Reorganized
May        150th OVI, 164th OVI, 169th OVI
February     5th Co. SS
October    177th OVI, 2nd Light Battery

Originally Published by Cool Cleveland Memorial Day 2013 

All material the responsibility of Christopher C. Whipple 

 

M Houck - An Early Cleveland History

Michael Houck

(aka Hauck)

June 29, 1839 – June 22, 1916

 

Michael Houck – born June 29, 1839 on Washington St. in the part of present day Cleveland directly west of the Cuyahoga River.  At the time, this part of Cleveland was called Ohio City.  He was one of nine boys (no girls in family).  They roamed the flats – Whiskey Island was their playground –

His father owned & operated a spoke factory (made spokes for wagon and carriage wheels).  He (Michael) attended the first West High School – a stone building on or near W28th St. & present day Clinton Ave.  His maternal grandfather, an Austrian by the name of Pfalsgrafs who had fought against the Prussians  and lived with M. Houck’s family.  It was probably his tales of soldiering that incited the Houck boys into joining the Union Army to fight in the Civil War.  All nine joined – then later his father was drafted.  However because he had those nine sons in service he was able to get out of serving. 

 

M Houck’s lost his left eye in service and for this reason received one of the best pensions given Civil War Veterans to the end of his life – June 22, 1916.   about the times of the beginning of hostilities in Europe of World War I.  the news of which greatly disturbed the old man. 

 

He enlisted in the 19^th Ohio Battery Light Artillery organized by prominent men of the area under the direct command of Capt. Joseph Shields.  At the close of the war after being mustered out, he returned to Cleveland and work in the spoke factory.  He married Fredericka Gehring the daughter of a well known west Cleveland family and made his home on Gehring Ave in Cleveland until bad health sent him to the country.  There on Lorain Rd in what used to be Rocky River but is now Fairview Park, he started a small fruit farm specializing in strawberries and red raspberries. Because of the quality of his berries his entire crop was contracted for each spring by Cleveland’s fancy grocery – the Chandler & Rudd Co. which is still in existence today.

 

The above was written by Jean Wallace Whipple – one of M. Houck’s grand children

 

Below was written by John G. Whipple, Jean’s youngest child

The material for this biography was supplied to me by my mother Jean Wallace Whipple who was one of Michael Houck’s four grandchildren.  My mother, her two sisters, and their brother lived on the farm with Michael & Fredricka Houck and their parents lived next door.  They were told many stories about the Civil War and the 19^th OVA.  They often attended Ohio G.A.R. Conventions and reunions of the 19^th O.L.A.  Their father Charles Wallace was the maître d' at White’s Two Minute villa restaurant.  Mr White was the chewing gum king at the time and his fascination with horses and a 2 minute mile; this led to the name of his restaurant. 

The Power of the Ring - Alternatively - Preventing Arthritis

The Power of the Ring

Alternatively – Preventing Arthritis

 Before my mother passed away she told me the only finger she did not have arthritis in was her ring finger.  Upon telling this story to an apothecary friend, she said gold is used for arthritis.  The only problem was my mother’s rings were platinum, so I don’t know if it is the metal or simply the wearing of a ring that makes a difference.   The only I do know is everyone over the age of 70, I have mentioned it has agreed. 

In high school I broke my little finger and around the age of 40 it started becoming arthritic. Based on my mother’s advice, I purchased a simple gold ring with a running theme.   My wife didn’t like the idea of my wearing a pinky ring, but I said it was to help with arthritis.

As soon as I began wearing the ring, my finger began burning.  I didn’t know what was happening but I knew something was happening.  After wearing the ring for a few months, the ring was too big as my finger had gone down in size.  I took it to a jeweler and this is where the story gets more interesting.

I told the female jeweler who was about 50, what my mother had said.  I further explained it was working for me and it now needed to be downsized.   She had never heard this before and I suggested she ask her mother.  She mentioned her grandmother was still alive and it was suggested she ask her grandmother. 

A few days later when she saw me walking into in the store, she was white and acted as if she had seen a ghost.  My thought was the provided information surprised her.  She told me she had spoken to her grandmother and her grandmother had agreed, the only finger which was not arthritic was her ring finger!  The woman further explained, she had worked in the jewelry store for 30 years and had never heard this before.  Something tells me she will repeat this story to many, if not most of her clients. 

I don’t know what it is that prevents or heals arthritis by wearing a ring, but I believe any senior citizen who reads this story will agree.   It’s hoped that individuals who may have severely arthritic fingers, that this may help them reduce their arthritis.  Even preferably, there is further hope a scientific teacher or researcher may study this phenomenon to help understand why it can assist. 

There is one downside to this information.  When my wife heard the above power of a ring, she smiled and waved her fingers in front of me and said, “I need ten rings….” 

Enjoy…

 

White’s Two Minute Villa and the invention of chewing gum

This was written by my grandmother in about 1950.  its a great story about William J. White who invented modern day chewing gum.  This story provides a great insight to the parties at White's Two Minute Villa.  It was so named as Mr. White wanted to race a horse that could run a mile under two minutes.  He was able to accomplish this but that's another story. 

 At the turn of the last century, White’s Yucatan Gum, wrapped in pink paper which was encircled by a narrow yellow band, was one of the few chewing gums on the market.

It is a generally accepted fact that W.J. White made the first gum in his own home from his own formula, and that Mrs. White sold it from door to door using a little hand pulled cart to carry her stock of gum. 

This could have been true for only a short time as before 1890, the White were enormously wealthy people.  In fact, Mr. White was spoken of as “Millionaire White” as often as “Chewing Gum White”

Those of us who remember Rockport, Ohio at about 1900 (especially that part of Rockport where Wooster Road crosses Lorain Road and winds down into the Metropolitan Park) will remember White’s Two Minute Villas at the top of Wooster Road hill, and White’s Stock Farm at the foot of the hill. 

Mr. White, like many wealthy men, had become interested in thoroughbred horses, especially race horses.  (He named his villa, “White’s Two Minute Villa” as he wanted to his horses to run a mile under 2 minutes – he would later have a horse succeed at this)  It was on his farm which is now part of the Metropolitan Park, that he bred, raised, and trained his race horses.  One of his most famous race horses was “Star Pointer” and is buried somewhere in what is now the golf course.  The race track, where his trainers worked the horses, is now part of the golf course.  And the old, red brick building near the entrance to the golf course was, I believe, Star Pointer’s stable.  My grandfather’s farm adjoined White’s Stock Farm, and as very little children, we used to watch the horses working out on the race track, from the part of our farm which overlooked the valley. 

The very early years of my life were closely tied to the White’s Stock Farm and White’s Two Minute Villas.  About 1890 a young man (my father) had come from his home on a farm in southern Ohio (New Philadelphia area – his grandfather Mr. Kneisley had earlier founded New Philadelphia)  to manage White’s Tow Minute Villa.  (His brother in law was manager of the Stock Farm and was in sending for Papa.)

Papa met and married a young woman of the community (my mother) and they lived with her parents on a nearby farm where my two sisters, my brother and I were born.

The Villa was a private inn run solely as a place where the Whites could bring and entertain their friends.  It was a rambling wooden structure, the first floor encircled by a wide porch.  There were bedrooms upstairs, and on the first floor, a parlor, dining room and kitchen.   A gramophone with its horn shaped like a morning glory was the outstanding furnishing in the parlor as far as I was concerned.  It stood on a stand near the entrance to the dining room,  and Eli (who was in charge of the dinning room ) spent a great deal of the time holding me up to peer into the horn to find the voice.  How well I remember Eli!  Standing just inside the wide entrance to the dining room, immaculate in the white coat during the day.  Straight and proud in a perfectly tailored black coat for the evening meal, his flashing smile and eep bow welcomed every guest. 

The Villa was known for its service, and its excellent food – its baked whitefish, its steaks, and fried chicken.  Bthe the clambakes in the late summer and early fall were worth coming to.  And come people did!

This was, of course, in the dirt road era before the automobile so Mr. White’s guests were brought to the clambakes in conveyances we call “Tally-Hos”.  These were topless rigs, or carriages with rows of seats along the sides, each carriage having room for eight or ten gaily dressed ladies and men.  Every lady was a Gibson Girl picture in her lace-trimmed dress, huge puffed sleeves, lace-trimmed hat atop a pompadour, and, crowning touch, a lace-trimmed parasol which matched her hat and dress.  The carriages were horse drawn,  and driven by a liveried driver beside whom sat another man in matching livery.  The second man carried a horn on which he blew at intervals.  The sound of the horn never failed to bring us children running to stand wide-eyed at the fence beside the road until the carriages were out of sight around the corner.

Then it was time for us to go into the house to be buttoned into our good dresses so we, too, could go to the clambake.  Later, if we could keep our eyes open, we stayed to watch the dancing and listen to the music of the Andy Braggs’ Band.  No clambake at the Villa was complete unless Any Braggs furnished the music.

These are the gay remembrances of day a half a century ago.  Sometime about 1904 or 1905, Mr. White disposed of both the Farm and the Villa.  His interests were now confined almost entirely to the East.  The Villa became a public road house – both an eye sore and an ear sore to the people of the community.  It burned to the ground a few years later and was never rebuilt. 

Papa’s connection with the Villa stopped when Mr. White sold it.  But I have two very tangible reminders of those gay, long ago days hanging on my wall in my dining room.  There are two very beautiful china plates given to Papa by Miss Josephine, buyer of china and glass ware for the Bowman Company in Cleveland, when he was the manager of White’s Two Minute Villas in old Rockport, Ohio..