by Melba Edwards
When are we going to get some warm weather? The wind this year has made some days unbearable. I suppose when the warmth comes I will complain about it also!
As I decided to write this morning I saw a wonderfully preserved book that my father gave to me a long time ago. It was to be saved for Zanesville History.
It is about nine inches by five inches and is titled “Standard English Classics” “The Life of Samuel Johnson” by Macaulay. It is copyrighted 1903 and noted in her own writing it is signed Amy Brown. On the left hand page you will find the date May 1, 1911 and under it she noted this. (Test on this book). She had likely bought it to study as it is marked 25 cents.
If Amy passed the test on this book she surely graduated but I did not find her name in the East Union Center graduates.
At this time, however, I found that my aunts went to Bluffton High School but are listed as Union graduates so Amy could have taken her high school years at Bluffton.
She however stayed in Zanesville the rest of her life. She married Harry Keplinger and he and his daughter Wilda ran a barber and beauty shop that sat very near the present Knight house. It was a long building and they both worked there. I remember going with Mom so she could get her hair cut and Wilda left me pick up the hair pins with a magnetic rod. What fun!
Amy spent her last days living in the Knight house. Harry and Amy had two daughters Wilda and Marceille. Marceille passed away recently and as far as I know Wilda is still living.
This school book is very complicated so Amy had to be very smart. My Dad sort of helped her in later years and now I know why. He loved books and probably she gave him this book.
I was meant to find it today to remind The East Union graduates to get their reservation in for the Alumni Banquet as soon as possible. The Alumni is held at Lighted Gardens and will be Saturday evening, May 13, with doors opening at 4:30 p.m.
Our special condolences to the family of Glenna Cecile Cayot as she passed away at the age of 95 after a long and productive life. She was born north of Zanesville to Ruthford and Bertha Smuts. She was one of six girls and with Mom that made seven girls with only one bathroom. Rosemary Kumfer told me that was really a time getting ready for school as Dad had to have his time also as he was a school teacher in the Fort Wayne system!
Glenna was a 1946 graduate of Lafayette Central High School. A lifetime member of the Zanesville Church of God who had many passions in her life. Note: Glenna and her sisters loved to play pranks around Zanesville and Glenna and Gene were well known as owners of Cayot’s Plumbing and Heating in downtown Zanesville.
Just a reminder that Mother’s Day is Sunday May 14, so you have a few days to get that card!
There is a lot in the news about books these days. Let me tell you this is not new news as this has happened many times since I have been a mother. I try my best to not let books not suitable to take home to be given out free at the Lions Club Free Library. I try to put new books outside all the time and if you want you can come in if I or any other Lions member is inside the clubhouse where there are more free books. Please let me know if you have found a book unsuitable and we will get rid of it.
