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January 2008 Edition |
Our culture has always been fascinated with daredevils but perhaps none as much as that of the iconic motorcycle stuntman Evel Knievel, past inductee of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington, Ohio. With Knievel’s recent death, many memories of the feats he achieved and failed to achieve (in dramatic fashion) rekindled a love many of us share as motorcycle enthusiasts. Whether we’ve ever been on a bike or not, a rebel stirs inside. What better time to let the rebel ride than the middle of an Ohio winter. Put yourself on the road to Central Ohio for a trip through motorcycle’s history, culture and lore. The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is more than just a wide range of motorcycle displays. It tells the history of one of America’s favorite pastimes. In addition to the Hall of Fame, the museum has three major exhibition halls. The stories of motorcycling through the ages come to life with riding gear, race track reconstructions, dioramas, awards, literature, sculpture and photos. In addition to those known for their contributions to road riding and off road riding, the Motorcycle Hall of Fame recognizes those who have made significant contributions to motorcycling, including those who have excelled in motorcycle business, history, design, and engineering and all categories of motorcycle racing. Some of the famous inductees to the Motorcycle Hall include Chris Carr, The motorcycle land speed record holder for the fastest speed recorded by a motorcycle on land reaching a speed of 350.884 MPH. In addition to Carr, many legends (past and present) of cycling belong to the Hall representing many categories of achievement. Some of its celebrity inductees include Peter Fonda, Jay Leno, and Steve McQueen. Of course, significant contributors to the motorcycle were household names like William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson. But you’ll also learn who Sylvester Roper, Oscar Hedstrom and others were and what significance they brought to the growth and success of the motorcycle. The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is the country’s premier showcase of motorcycling heritage and history. Soon, it will spotlight more than 100 of the world’s most recognizable enthusiasts in its new exhibit, “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles.” Scheduled to open in late March 2008, the 8,000-square-foot exhibit will feature many priceless machines, exclusive memorabilia and tales from celebrities’ favorite two-wheel adventures. A dedication ceremony for “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” will be held June 28, 2008, on the grounds of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington, Ohio. The dedication ceremony will gather featured MotoStars, Motorcycle Hall of Famers, industry leaders and enthusiasts for a momentous ribbon-cutting. Notable celebrities offering personal motorcycles and memorabilia to the exhibit are auto racing legend and Alligator motorcycle inventor and manufacturer, Dan Gurney; General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz; “King of the Kustomizers” George Barris; and rock legend, “Rush” drummer and lyricist, Neil Peart. Famous movie bikes include the 2004 MV Agusta F4-SPR ridden by Will Smith in “I, Robot”. Exotic custom motorcycles designed and built by Austin Weiss for entertainers such as will.i.am, frontman for hip-hop group The Black Eyed Peas, and Carlos Mencia, critically-acclaimed comic and star of Comedy Central’s “Mind of Mencia”, will also be featured. The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum will announce additional contributors in the months leading to the exhibit opening. “The Museum extends its thanks to those who have already agreed to play a role in this significant exhibit,” says Mark Mederski, Executive Director of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. “To make ‘MotoStars’ as diverse and comprehensive as possible, the Museum welcomes further support and assistance from industry colleagues, collectors and celebrities in gathering pedigreed machines and memorabilia.” Throughout history, motorcycles have played a starring role in the public and private lives of a significant number of celebrities and personalities. Whether they are adventure tourers, collectors, builders or ambassadors of the sport, each MotoStar has a unique story to tell about what fueled their interest and love for riding. Museum visitors will find these private glimpses into the community of motorcycling especially compelling. “Motorcycling, whether an occasional hobby or lifelong obsession, has always connected individuals from very different walks of life,” says Mederski. “Whether you work in a factory, the corporate suite, or on a Hollywood set, you’ll always have a shared bond and make new friends if you spend time on two wheels. For that reason alone, we expect this to be our most popular exhibit ever.” “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” is the latest in a series of award-winning exhibits at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. The current “Motocross America” chronicles the history of the country’s original action sport and has drawn record crowds. Past exhibits, including “Heroes of Harley-Davidson” and “A Century of Indian” have brought motorcycling to life and introduced the industry’s history to a new generation of riders. True to the Museum’s mission to fully explore the stories and history of motorcycling, ‘MotoStars’ will go even further. The exhibit not only presents celebrity machines, it provides a rare glimpse into the passion that has brought famous persons and motorcycling together.” As in all Motorcycle Hall of Fame exhibits, rare images, footage, memorabilia and ephemera will play a major role in illustrating stellar individuals and their love for two wheels. Following the exhibit’s installation at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, a national tour of “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” is planned. To plan your visit to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, visit www.motorcyclemuseum.org. CARVING A SPECIAL NICHE IN LIFE
Ernest “Mooney” Warther was a wood carver extraordinaire. Terms such as “world’s greatest” or “world’s best” are often used as fictitious hype, but when applied to Mooney’s aptitude with a knife, they are not an exaggeration. It’s a quirk of human nature when hearing such exalted claims to believe that such talent is found only in some strange faraway venue. In truth, one of the most skilled artists in history was born, grew up, and plied his trade—largely unnoticed—in our own back yard: Dover, Ohio. His father died when Mooney was three, and he acquired only a second grade education that took him four years to complete. Mooney didn’t have much time for school—he was working. His cattle herding for a penny a day was the source of his name—an adulterated version of “moonay” from his Swiss heritage that means bull of the herd. It was on one of his herding excursions in 1890 at the age of five that he found a pocketknife and began carving. Mooney said it was a hobo who taught him to cut a pair of pliers from a solid block of wood. It was a procedure he perfected and claimed as his signature. It is estimated that in his career Mooney made and gave away 750,000 of the little wooden devises. By age fourteen he was working in a steel mill but continually carved models of steam locomotives that had enthralled him since early childhood. At one point however, he found time to carve a working model of the mill including an animated figure of his old friend who liked to hide behind a furnace and steal a nip from his flask. Mooney carved hard woods like walnut and ebony, and was dissatisfied with store-bought knives that wouldn’t hold an edge. No doubt aided by his experience at the mill, Mooney researched different types of steel and techniques of tempering and sharpening. He first made a kitchen knife for his mother. It was so good that word spread rapidly, and by 1923 Mooney left the mill and began making knives as a business.
While Mooney designed his own carving knives, he decided to see how far he could go with his pliers-making expertise. He started with a large block and hewed one pair after another—all connected, until he had a “tree” of pliers—511 in all that could be folded back recreating the block from which they were fashioned. It was an exercise in mental dexterity as well as carving skill. Engineering professors from what was then Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland studied the sculpture and proclaimed it was impossible to have been produced in one piece. Yet undeniably, there it was. As a young boy I was the recipient of one of Mooney’s pliers. His bushy snow-white curls bounced, as he talked non-stop in his high-pitched gravelly voice. He held a four-inch rectangular piece of wood in one hand, and with the other made a series of quick strokes with a short bladed knife. In the matter of about five seconds he opened it, revealing handles hinged to jaws just like a real pair of pliers. My eyes bulged in wonder as he handed it to me, the youngest in the family of viewers. But the pliers rate only as a parlor trick compared with his train carvings. They’re done in exact scale and authentic in minute detail. Some of them have as many as 7,500 parts: pipes, rivets, screws, connecting rods, perfectly round wheels—each created on a simple bench with a vise, and Mooney’s carving knives. Many are equipped with electric motors that turn all the moving parts, held by bearings he made from a Brazilian “oily” wood that never needs lubrication. As well as wood, he used ivory for some pieces that are almost microscopic. Because of his love for elephants his ivory carvings were mostly from old billiard balls. Engineers have poured over his models with precision instruments and measuring devises, drawing the same conclusions as most nonprofessional observers: The replicas are so exact that it was not possible for them to have been carved by hand. But they were. By the time railroads began phasing out steam engines; Mooney had carved 54 exact-scale counterparts of his favorite iron horses, but swore as long as he lived, he’d never carve a diesel locomotive. Instead he began a series of “Great Events in American Railroad History.” He created a solid ivory rendition of the driving of the golden spike connecting the transcontinental railroad, the great locomotive chase, and the Lincoln funeral train to name a few. He was working on the Lady Baltimore locomotive when he died at eighty-seven, leaving it unfinished. All his work can be seen at the museum in Dover, displayed in style worthy of the Smithsonian. Mooney’s carvings are so notable as to make the cutlery business seem secondary, although since its inception it has been a foundation of the family business. Mooney taught his sons and grandsons the art of making knives and they continue to this day—every one annealed and hand ground to Mooney’s specifications. During the Big War, starting with a single request, Mooney made 1,100 personalized commando knives carried by every rank including Generals. The Warther’s have made special knives and kitchen cutlery for several presidents and numerous dignitaries. Yet the most important contribution of the commercial success was allowing Mooney to pursue his true passion. Like one bull in a herd—Mooney Warther had no peer. Warther Carvings Museum and Button Collection is located at 331 Karl Avenue in Dover. Call 330-343-7513 or go to www.warthers.com for more information.
By Robert Carpenter LEGO MANIA STRIKES OHIO
Housed in an old school turned museum, a man by the name of Dan is on a mission. Dan Brown, founder of the Bellaire Historical Society and Toy Museum, boasts to have the world’s largest private LEGO collection. Whether or not that's true, there is one distinction officially proclaimed by the Guinness Book of World Records that cannot be denied – The Bellaire Historic Society and Toy Museum is home of the World’s Largest LEGO brick image. “My dream of doing something unique finally came to pass and it was great,” said Dan Brown of the Guinness accomplishment that took more than 600 people and 2,000 hours to achieve. “We are way underfunded but having a blast!” The LEGO brick image took approximately 1.2 million LEGO bricks and measured 44 feet by 21 feet. The image was that of a tractor trailer. About 250 kids participated in the record-breaking project. The previous record holder in this Guinness mosaic category was a LEGO image of the Liberty Bell built to promote the 2001 ESPN Summer X Games in Philadelphia. The mastermind behind the record-breaking venture was Brian Korte, a lifelong LEGO enthusiast who was brought in by Dan Brown due to his reputation and success in creating previous LEGO mosaics. Although originally conceived as a toy museum, the LEGO exhibit grew and grew. And GREW! Now instead of a LEGO room in the museum, each room has a LEGO theme. If you enjoy the sea, there’s an “aqua” room complete with ships built from LEGO’s. Other rooms include a classroom with life-size teacher and students, a zoo, an old-west town, and other pieces such as a life-size astronaut. An out-of-this world exhibit is illuminated with black lights and features the galaxy …in LEGOS of course. The last time someone checked it was estimated the total museum brick count exceeded 4 million! Although Dan Brown has had a hand in creating much of the museum’s displays, he has also been instrumental in acquiring one-of-a-kind pieces. Some of the one-of-a-kind exhibits feature LEGO creations that were done for the NBA and Kellogg’s. As a big-time Star Wars fan, Dan Brown has not disappointed! The force is with the museum. Throughout the museum are eye-popping masterpieces demonstrating the engineering world of LEGO’s. Some of the astonishing pieces even seem come to life with the use of animatronics. “I build lots of stuff and have plenty of friends that do the same,” said Dan Brown. What started as a hobby has gone wild. Dan’s wife eventually put her foot down and said she wants the LEGOs out of her house. So Dan bought a school and is now determined to fill it with one of America’s favorite toys in the shape of …whatever the imagination dreams! The Bellaire Toy Museum, featuring LEGO toys is located at 4597 Noble Street in Bellaire, Ohio 43906. It is open from Noon to 7pm Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $8 per adult and $6 per child (4 and younger free). For more information, call 740-671-8891 or visit www.brickmuseum.net. By Frank R. Satullo THE OLD FIREHOUSE WINERY
The three partners in the Winery, Dave Otto, Joyce Otto, and Don Woodward never thought twice about their decision to start a new winery in Northeast Ohio, an area long known for outstanding wines and home to over a half-dozen wineries. The winery opened in 1988, and featured only 6 wines. (The winery now features over 20). "The area's reputation for fine wines, singular grapes, and the extraordinary wineries is precisely why we chose Northeast Ohio," stated Dave Otto, managing partner. "Without quality grapes readily available, you are not going to have a quality wine." But why The Old Firehouse Winery? "You can thank my partner Don Woodward for that", answered Dave. A third generation volunteer firefighter, Don currently serves as a firefighter and EMT with the Geneva-on-the-Lake Fire Department and was the Assistant Fire Chief for a number of years. His grandfather was one of the original seven firemen who started the Fire Department in 1924. "It really is an engaging story as to how this came to be the first firehouse," explains Woodward, one of the partners in the Winery. "After fruitlessly battling blazes with a "bucket brigade," several local businessmen chipped in and ordered a 1924 Graham Brothers fire truck. They now had a truck on the way, and had two immediate issues to address: a place to put the truck and who was going to be fire chief. Emery Tyler offered the use of his barn, which then became the Village’s first fire station. Everyone was so grateful they promptly made him chief," Don continued. "So in 1987, Dave, his mom Joyce, and myself looked at an old run down barn and a rusting, 1924 Graham Brothers firetruck, and decided we had our Winery." The fire truck still silently stands guard at the front of the Firehouse. During the Summer months, the large, meandering patio and gazebo overlooking Lake Erie features a full service menu with dishes ranging from sandwiches to Mexican to Barbecue chicken and ribs. Food is available until Midnight. Old Firehouse is known not only for its fine food; almost of the twenty-two wines have at one time won medals in state wide competition. Nightly entertainment is featured seven nights throughout the Summer. Lake Erie wines, such as Chardonnay, Seyval Blanc, Cabernet, Riesling, White Catawba, and Chambourcin are made right on premises. Four different fruit wines are also featured, such as Blackberry, Spiced Apple, Red Raspberry and Peach. Always in high demand is the Firehouse Cellars ice wine, Iced Delaware. Special events, nightly Summer Entertainment, and its location in a marvelous Resort town have made this a popular Northeast Ohio attraction. Special events are featured throughout the year. The most popular events include the Northeast Ohio Polka Fest in June, the Celtic Feis in August, the two day Clam Bake and Food Extravaganza in September, and the three day Christmas Party in December. Free tours are offered for groups of 15 or more, reservations are appreciated. Hours: May 1 to September: Seven Days from Noon to Midnight. October to December 31: Sunday through Thursday Noon to 7PM, Friday and Saturday Noon to 11PM. January to April, Friday & Saturday Noon to 11PM, Sundays 1-5PM. Directions: I-90 Geneva Exit, 6 miles North on Route 534 to Route 531 (Lake Road), then 3/10 miles on left. One of the major attractions in this region is the Lake Erie resort Village itself, a rare melange of shops, nightclubs, public parks, lake front cottages, and amusements. Ohio's first Summer Resort, Geneva-on-the-Lake is celebrating its 137th Summer Season in 2006. For more information, call 1-800-UNCORK-1. Ohio’s Historic West offers an abundance of exciting museums and other attractions to take in during the cold winter months!
Ft. Recovery is the site of two of the most dramatic Indian battles in American history: the devastating defeat of General Arthur St. Clair in 1791, and the successful defense of the fort by General “Mad” Anthony Wayne in 1794. The Fort Recovery State Museum contains two reconstructed blockhouses, a connecting stockade and many exhibits depicting the Indian wars of the 1790’s. The museum gallery displays one of the largest collections of Indian artifacts in the state of Ohio. An 1840 log cabin and blacksmith shop are also nearby. Contact the Auglaize & Mercer Counties CVB 800-860-4726, www.seemore.org; www.fortrecovery.org. The National Marian Shrine of the Holy Relics was founded in 1875 when Fr. J.M. Gartner entrusted his collection of relics to the Sisters of the Precious Blood at Maria Stein. A beautiful chapel built in 1892 houses the collection, with over 1000 relics on display, representing the second largest collection of its type in the United States. The Shrine was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Beautiful stained-glass windows imported from Germany and hand-carved woodwork also adorn the Relic Chapel. The unique Maria Stein Heritage Museum is located here, and the St. Charles Center is close by. St. Augustine Church - the “mother church” of the area - is in Minster. Maria Stein is located along the “Land of the Cross-Tipped Churches” Ohio Scenic Byway. Contact the Auglaize & Mercer Counties CVB 800-860-4726, www.seemore.org. The Darke County Historical Society operates the large Garst Museum in Greenville, which houses the largest known collection of memorabilia on sharpshooting legend, Annie Oakley. Also memorabilia and artifacts from radio broadcaster Lowell Thomas, and exhibits relating to Tecumseh, Gen. “Mad” Anthony Wayne, and the Treaty of Greene Ville. Greenville hosts “Annie Oakley Days” each July. For more information, contact the Darke County Visitors Bureau at 800-504-2995, www.visitdarkecounty.org. The Ross Historical Center is owned and operated by the Shelby County Historical Society in Sidney. The Center is only a couple of blocks south of the Miami and Erie Canal feeder and was once home to Mr. William Haslup, a local industrialist, who owned and operated the Sidney Steel Scraper Co. Contact Sidney Visitors Bureau 866-892-9122, www.visitsidneyshelby.com; www.shelbycountyhistory.org. The Armstrong Air & Space Museum was opened in 1972 by the Ohio Historical Society and named in honor of Wapakoneta native astronaut Neil Armstrong. The museum chronicles many Ohioans’ contributions to the history of flight and new horizons in space travel including the space shuttle program and the International Space Station. The museum’s Astro Theater presents the sights and sounds of space. Recent renovations include the addition of interactive exhibits with a space shuttle landing simulator and a lunar lander. Contact the Auglaize & Mercer CVB 800-860-4726, www.seemore.org; www.ohiohistory.org/places/armstron/.
The Bicycle Museum of America, dedicated to the history of bicycling, opened in 1997 in downtown New Bremen. Featuring over 300 vintage bicycles, the collection includes over 150 Schwinn Bicycles from the former Chicago Museum. Named one of the “Top 100 Places to Visit in the U.S.” by Travel Magazine. New items are always being added to the collection. Contact the Auglaize & Mercer Counties CVB 800-860-4726, www.seemore.org; www.bicyclemuseum.com. The Piatt Castles near Bellefontaine are unique structures and have become a private, family-owned museum that interprets over 200 years of history of the Ohio land and Ohio people. Castle Mac-A-Cheek, a Norman-French style chateau (c. 1864) was built by Civil War Gen. A. S. Piatt. Castle Mac-O-Chee, a Flemish-style castle (c. 1879) was built as a retirement home for Col. Donn Piatt, a soldier, statesman, and poet. These two magnificent limestone homes are beautifully furnished. Also on display are a war relics collection, and Indian artifacts collection, and a European/Asian antique collection. Contact Logan County Visitors Bureau 888-564-2626, www.logancountyohio.com; www.piattcastles.org. Between 1919 and 1946, The WACO Aircraft Co. produced various models of open-cockpit and cabin biplanes, plus combat gliders for WWII. The WACO Historical Society has organized to preserve the history of the company and its airplanes. Visit the Historic WACO Field and Aircraft Museum in Troy, Ohio. Contact the Miami County VCB 800-348-8993, www.visitmiamicounty.org; www.wacoairmuseum.org. The Pennsylvania House Museum is one of the few original early American taverns left on the old National Road. It was built around 1820 and served the pioneers moving westward. The building was placed on the Ohio Historical Society Preservation list and holds one of the best collections of Early American antiques of the period in the State. Early American dolls and quilts, clothing, fine furniture, paintings and portraits. The Grace Porter collection of more than 100,000 buttons is considered one of the largest and most unique collections in the country. Contact the Greater Springfield CVB 800-803-1553, www.cvb.greaterspringfield.com. Further information on these and other places of historic significance can be found at the Ohio’s Historic West website at www.ohioshistoricwest.com.
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SEARCHING OHIO
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40 YEAR
OLD
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When a guy
is named Mooney you expect something out of the ordinary. Mooney Warther
would not have been a disappointment. He was witty, funny, gifted,
eccentric, ambitious, and entrepreneurial—genius would not adequately
describe his stature. 
It
was the same year that the New York Central Railroad discovered his
locomotive carvings. He was offered fifty thousand dollars, plus five
thousand per year to stay with the display. Henry Ford made an even more
generous offer, but Mooney declined both. “My roof doesn’t leak, I’m not
hungry, and my wife has all her buttons,” he said. (His wife was a
collector of buttons, which are displayed along with Mooney’s carvings.)
Bellaire, Ohio is home
to a museum being built one LEGO at a time. 
This
quaint and enticing winery is located right in the heart of the Resort
town of Geneva-on-the-Lake, situated in the Village's first fire
station. The name, Old Firehouse Winery, summarizes the atmosphere; an
eclectic collection of fire paraphernalia and the fact that this was
indeed the first Firehouse in Geneva-on-the-Lake. Besides its historic
charm, much of the enjoyment in visiting the Old Firehouse is in its
setting: the Lake Erie Shoreline. 
Located
on 250 acres, the Piqua Historical Area contains the most comprehensive
museum on the Woodland Indians, mule-drawn canal boat rides along a
restored section of the Miami and Erie Canal, tours of the restored 1815
farmstead and many special events and activities for history buffs and
weekend adventurers alike. Piqua is the beginning of the “Miami and Erie
Canal” Ohio Scenic Byway. Not far from Piqua, in Lockington, the Miami and
Erie Canal Locks are the most extensive and spectacular series of
structures which existed on the canal. Contact the Miami County VCB
800-348-8993, 
Located
on the campus of Urbana University, the Johnny Appleseed Museum contains
the largest known collection of memorabilia, written material, and
artifacts about the early Ohio pioneer. The popular folk hero traveled all
over Ohio, planted apple seeds, and developed a fine business selling his
apple trees. The Johnny Appleseed Society provides programs for school and
church groups, senior citizens and bus tour groups. Contact the
Champaign County VB 877-873-5764, 
