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2009 Spring Newsletter
Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. on 3 July, 2009 in the Museum.
Hello to all,
I would like to give special recognition to Pat Srofe Harris, class of “68” who had assembled a crew to clean the basement of the Museum. Pat Srofe Harris, Clyde Harris, George Srofe, Bill Boivin, Bonnie Westenberg Wennerstrom and Gail Westenberg had sorted significant historical artifacts and discarded non-historical items. A special recognition to all of the above involved. This was done over a full two-day weekend on 01.03.09 & 01.04.09. The basement has been cleaned, mopped and organized for possibly later historical sorting by Wright State University Interns initiated by the Greene County Historical Society (GCHS).
Whether it is the state of our economy or the fact that the date of our Christmas Dinner was changed in 2008, the attendance was a little less than normal. After our Home was closed in 1995, Christmas at the Home was changed. The AXP Board decided to reinstate tradition of our Christmas Dinner as it was originally set up. I’m hoping Christmas Dinner 2009 will be better attended. Many thanks to all members that contributed their time and labor to make this happen.
Memorial Day Services will be observed on May 24, 2009 at 2:00 pm. I would like to extend an invitation to all that would like to join us in memory of all that have passed on. Services will be held at Collier Chapel. Following the service, a cookout will be held at the Museum. A covered dish would be appreciated. The meats will be supplied.
Our 2009 Reunion is approaching, as it will be our 129th Annual Reunion. We will be observing our 25th & 50th Year’s Class as our Annual Reunions’ Celebration. As an addition to this year, the Class of 1969, our 40th has orchestrated a Hog Roast headed up by our 2002 Past President and an institution to the grill masters of past reunions, Judson Targett and his crew to be served on Saturday at 12:00 Noon. Jud and crew will be roasting the hog commencing at 3:00 a.m. on Saturday till done @ noon on Saturday. Again this year, Mr. Stock who is the Principal of Xenia Christian Schools has opened the gym for our 2009 Reunion. Children MUST be accompanied with an adult in the gym. Our Banquet on July 4th will be handicap accessible this year. Location will be in Xenia, Ohio and will be announced on our website or you can contact me for the location. Programs for our reunion and banquet will be available at registration. Registration will be in the Museum.
As you return to reunion this year, you will notice some changes on our Museum site. Hurricane Ike hit us and some damage was done to the Museum. Weather had to break before repairs could be made. Repairs have been made.
In closing, refer to our website for updates on lodging in our Home’s area. Come one, come all to our 129th Annual Home Reunion. As always, drive safely. See you soon!
Sincerely,
Larry S. Tolle, Class of 1969
A.X.P. President, 2006-2008
Letter to the Membership from Bonnie “Wylie” Hare, 1969
Class of 1969, it has been 40 years since we walked down the band shell aisle to
receive our diplomas. We all had different experiences in the Home and since leaving the Home. Probably, I was the shyest girl in my class. I am still basically shy but have
learned to be outspoken when it counts. Since I have been elected the Association of Ex-Pupils’ Recording Secretary, I have been no less outspoken. Those of you from the 1969 Class, remember to contact your classmates and lets make 2009, a “Fortieth Reunion to Remember”.
To those other members of our Association of Ex-Pupils, who know my life
experiences have not been easy, I want to share that the Home experiences are what make us strong. I learned ethics, self-discipline, courage, and Godliness from my Home
experiences. The Home experiences helped me when my life was a turmoil to rebuild.
The work ethics I learned from the Home helped me to seek the help, including medical
help, and to go to college and start a new career. The prayers of family and friends sustained me when I lost faith. Today, I am hoping those of you who have not been to the Reunion in a long time, maybe due to illness, financial difficulties, or what ever else has been keeping you from the Annual Reunion, come to your Home, this July 3, 4, and 5, 2009.
Sincerely yours,
Bonnie “Wylie” Hare, Class of 1969
Recording Secretary, 2006-2008
From the AXP Membership Chairperson
Dear members,
Our Brothers, Sisters and Friends would like to see you this year. Please call all your home friends and relatives and let’s get a big reunion going this year. I know I would like to see more of my classmates and cottage friends. The reunion will be July 3rd
Friday through July 5th Sunday closing ceremonies at 2:00 pm. We will have breakfast, Lunch and dinner under the Shelter house cooked from the grill. We will also have a banquet and a dance Saturday evening. There will be games, bingo and all kinds of beverages and good old times.
Sincerely,
Robert Allen Stone (Rocky), Class of 1967
Membership Chair, 2006-2008
From the Rooney Foundation President
The A.X.P. Board has approved two projects for the Association, and hopefully they will increase interest and membership in our Association.
The first is an excellent opportunity to improve the condition of the cemetery behind Collier Chapel where about 100 children who lived at the Home are buried, but to make it a reminder that at one time a Children’s’ Home was on this land. The memorial stones are in need of repair or replacement as many are over 100 years old. Time has taken its toll on the graves as we honor those children who are buried there. The memory of a great Home will live through the children who died there.
The second project is to assist classes with their reunion programs. We believe that many Ex’s will return to Home if they know classmates will be there. The proposal is to have the Association arrange a dinner on Friday night and pay for a photographer and recorded music (DJ) of the time the class graduated. The Ex’s would pay for their own dinners. For older Ex’s, 1940’s & 1950’s graduates, several years would be combined.
Both projects are in the beginning stages and suggestions are welcome. Also a great deal of work is necessary on both projects and volunteers are needed. Please contact Larry Tolle for volunteering or suggestions.
Sincerely,
William Chavanne, Rooney Foundation President
Class of 1955
From the Xenia Community Theatre
The play will be happening. We will have evening performances July 3 and 4 and matinee performances July 4 and 5. The evening performance on July 4 will get out early enough for people to go to firework celebrations. Also for people who live nearby, the play will be performed the weekend following: July 9, 10, 11 and 12. The play--which will run between an hour and a half to two hours long--, will be presented at the Xenia Area Community Theatre in downtown Xenia.
About the play: It is called "Voices From the Home or We the Fruit of Poverty Knoll" and it is assembled from the many stories people have told me about growing up in the home. Basically it is a celebration of the Home and the people who grew from childhood into adulthood there. There's a lot of funny stuff and considerable heartache: it
Is life as people remember it. The seating is limited, so people should plan ahead
Page 3.
(But like I said: there will be matinee and evening performances.) Tickets are $12 for General Admission and $10 for students and seniors. The theatre box office number is 372-0516, if people decide to make reservations.
In terms of me, I'm a professional director and playwright. I have been writing and directing plays for over thirty years. I have had a number of my plays produced both professionally and in colleges, in both this country and abroad. I have been three times awarded an Individual Excellence in the Arts Award by the Ohio Arts Council for my work as a playwright.
Any questions, give me a call. Tony Dallas: (937) 767-1067
Reunion Lodging In the Xenia Area
On Campus Lodging
Athletes In Action
Terri Bullman (937) 352-1210
Holiday Inn
(937) 372-9921
Regency Inn
600 Little Miami Street
(937) 372-9959
Tecumseh Motel
1575 US St. Rt. North
(937) 372-2512
Victoria’s Bed & Breakfast
209 East Second Street
(937) 374-1202
Knight’s Inn
38 South Allison Ave.
(937) 352-0067
Update On "History Of Our Home".......
The writing of another history of our Home is a major effort. In January of 2006 The Rooney Fund decided that another history of the Home should be written, and to begin the project Dr. Birgette Soland was given a contract to create an oral history from interviews with students and employees.
We are now in the final phase of the project - the writing of the history. At the January 2007 meeting of The Rooney Fund we selected Mr. Edward Lentz to write the history of the Home. Mr. Lentz has spent his career teaching and writing Ohio and American History, and has worked for The Ohio Historical Society and The Columbus Landmarks Foundation. He also has taught and teaches history classes at the Central Ohio colleges and Universities. He has written several books and writes a weekly newspaper column on the history of Columbus. Mr. Lentz is expected to complete his work and publish the book by the end of 2009.
The written histories we have received to this point vary in length from two (2) to over twenty (20) pages. Both the oral histories and written histories are a joy to read and are very informative, but most importantly they tell the story of the success of our Home - our school - and the dedicated people who raised us. They remind us of our own personal circumstances that brought us to the Home and our experiences at the Home. We are fortunate to have a home where we can always return to see old friends and recount the days of our youth. While the oral history phase is complete, you can still write your own story of the Home as it was seen by you during your childhood.
The Rooney Fund Board has discussed printing these personal interviews as they are written in a separate book. They tell their own history. If we do decide to print the stories, we will return to each person their interview for their review.
Those who want to submit their written thoughts on the Home and their days as a student should send it to:
The Rooney Fund
c/o William Chavanne
1209 Westwood Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43212
The Rooney Fund is grateful to all of you who have participated so far and hope even more of you will add your thoughts. We believe this history will show Ohioans what a great place was once here for its needy children and will make us proud to say, "This is where I was raised - this is my Home."
Thank you,
William Chavanne
Rooney Foundation President
_________________________________________________________________
An excerpt from our "Pride of Ohio".......Page #17
XENIA SOLDIERS' ORPHANS' HOME IS IN NO SENSE TO BE CONSIDERED A CHARITY
From the foregoing it is obvious that when our fathers went to war, they were fully assured of the support in a respectable and creditable manner of their loved ones. No child in the Xenia Soldiers' Orphans' Home, should for one second consider that the Home represents a charity of the State nor tollerate such thought from any source. Your education in the Xenia Home has been fully paid for by the arrearages justly due and never paid your fathers for their services to their country. Would anyone have the temerity to suggest our soldier pensioners are subjects of charity? The pensions represent arrearages due them and if not paid to them it is due from the government to their dependents.
We should all be proud of the fact we are a product of the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home and not hesitate to let people know it.
Preceding the previous paragraph......
RETURN OF THE VETERANS FROM THE WAR
April 12, 1865, General Robert E. Lee commanding the Confederate Army of Virginia met General U. S. Grant, commanding the Union Army at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, where terms of surrender were signed.
Thousands of boys returned from the war expecting to resume their business or other vocations; in many instances they found others in their places which necessitated beginning life anew.
Some returned in apparent health, perfect in body; many others maimed for life. Others who had made the supreme sacrifice were brought home to lay with their fathers.
Whitelaw Reid said: "Of Ohio's third of a million soldiers, thirty-seven out of every thousand fell dead or mortally wounded in battle; forty-seven more died in hospitals of wounds received in battle; seventy-one were honorably discharged by reason of sickness or wounds incurred in their country's service." Many were returned home with legless trousers, as were the author's father and grandfather each of whom lost their right leg in the same battle on the same day. Others returned with armless sleeves, others with their ears closed to the world's sweet music and the voices of loved ones, still others enveloped in complete darkness. |
