By Ercel Eaton
Reprinted
with permission of the Journal-News
The words “historic
preservation” could possibly sound like a dull subject; like a peek into the
past filled with largely inanimate objects, buildings and sites.
But the Historic Hamilton
organization can claim a living, breathing, moving vitality within its
boundaries — the Butler County Farmers Market which is held on Saturdays around
the courthouse square.
This year, as Historic
Hamilton recognizes its 25th year of existence, a renewed look at the market is
on its list of projects.
The people who come year
after year to bring their produce and other items to sell around the square are
“a great group of people,” said Fred (Fritz) Banker who helped keep the market
going. “It’s a good thing for kids to see, too; to know hard work goes into
bringing them the food they eat.”
Hazel Brown has been
selling on the square for 39 years, following in her parents’ footsteps. Her
parents, John and Carrie Diefenbacher, began opening their vehicle of
vegetables and other foods to the public there in 1922, Brown said.
At that time her mother
sold milk, butter and cottage cheese along with the other farm-raised foods.
Other vendors sold fresh meat such as chicken and rabbit. The Diefenbachers
brought some of their fowl on foot, some dressed.
“As a child I would come
along with them and help. Even when I was very little I learned to make change
and how to operate a stand,” Brown said.
Brown has already been back
on market this year, bringing young, spring-fresh asparagus and other early
crops to sell.
A special opening
celebration is planned for the market this spring, according to Pat Martin, who
is secretary to the HH board of trustees and coordinator of the market
operations. She said about a dozen vendors are lined up for this year. The
market is open from 7 a.m. until noon.
David Belew, president of
the HH board of trustees, said the group is unique in that it the “umbrella
organization for three historical districts” — Dayton Lane, German Village and
Rossville.
He said one of the current
major projects is partnering with the City of Sculpture to bring a statue of
Alexander Hamilton to the city.
Susan Myers, who has served
on the board since its inception, said she used to come to the Farmers Market
every Saturday morning with her mother.
“We would get soft pretzels
from Radcliffe’s and a real treat sometimes would be ice cream in the morning.
There was a wonderful man who sold fresh ground coconut.”
She said Jim Schwartz was
the first HH president and early officers and organizers included Dick
Mitchell, Dorothy Beeler, Tom Millikin, Norm Koehler, David Watson and many
others.
Among the early projects of
the group was the placing of the courthouse on the National Register of
Historic Places, Myers said, adding that Schwartz and the late Esther Benzing
were the forces behind the effort.
Other historical interests
sprouted around the area as the group began to serve its purpose: “to discover,
preserve and memorialize the architecture and history of Hamilton; to discover,
inventory and procure and purchase where possible, restore and assure the
preservation of building sites, homes, historical districts, material
resources, furnishings and printed materials which may relate to the history
and architecture of Hamilton.”
It has been a busy quarter
of a century. Bus tours were organized to historic places, speakers were
invited to talk on local history, a survey was conducted to find historical
buildings and, Myers said, “Nancy Tryloff led a committee that was successful in
saving the Anthony Wayne Hotel from demolition.”
They paid attention to the
Main Street revitalization and they supported efforts to restore and beautify
the Captain John Cleves Symmes monument in Ludlow Park among the many projects
and efforts over the years.
Board of trustees members
of HH are Belew, Sonia August, Craig Wilks, Neil Smith, Martin, Myers, Karen
Whalen, James Noonan, Tom Zettler, Anne Carr, Carla Weusthoff, Jeannie
Garretson, William Weeks, Bob Sherwin, Banker and Emily Reed.
Belew said the group would
welcome new members.