Lot 8

lot-8-and-9

lot-8-blacksmith-shop-silk-photo

Tax records indicate that a modest ($35) structure was built by Joseph Ritterbaugh on Lot 8 about 1855. Improvements ($50) in 1905 when owned by Minnie Rausch, whose husband, Bill Rausch, was a blacksmith, suggest that this is the building that still exists in 2007.

Oral History

In addition to Bill Rausch, Joe Wright and Vince Swalley were known to have operated a blacksmith shop in this building. Vince Swalley apparently lived in, and probably owned, the house on Lot 46 in the early 1930s.

Vince had a philosophical attitude that has survived oral history in his poem: “What’s the use / What’s the use / Chew tobacco / And spit out the juice.” Possibly this poem was related to his loafing habits at the local store. Loafing was a legitimate pastime for the men of the village, who would gather on benches outside the store in the summer and around the coal stove in the winter. While the other loafers did, in fact, chew tobacco and spit out the juice, Vince munched on onion sets.

Lot 8 Owners

(Partial List)

  • 1835 George Schell
  • 1836 George Schell
  • 1837 John Ritz
  • 1844 Joseph Ritterbach
  • 1845 Joseph Ritterbach
  • 1846 Joseph Ritterbach
  • 1847 Joseph Ritterbach
  • 1848 Joseph Ritterbach
  • 1849 Joseph Ritterbach
  • 1850 Joseph Ritterbach
  • 1855 Joseph Ritterbach
  • 1860 Conrad (?) Moore
  • 1866 Conrad (?) Moore
  • 1870 Conrad (?) Moore
  • 1875 Jacob Menkel
  • 1880 Jacob Menkel
  • 1885 Jacob Campbell
  • 1890 S. A. Campbell
  • 1895 (?) Yockey
  • 1899 Samuel Yockey
  • 1905 Minnie Rausch
  • 1910 Emma Allshouse (North)
  • 1910 Minnie Rausch (South)
  • 1915 Emma Allshouse
  • 1915 Minnie Rausch
  • 1920 Emma Allshouse
  • 1920 Chancey Ankrom
  • 1925 Emma Allshouse
  • 1925 Chancey Ankrom
  • 1925 Trustees Malaga Twp
  • 1930 Emma Allshouse
  • 1930 Emma Allshouse
  • 1930 Trustees Malaga Twp
  • 1935 Emma Allshouse
  • 1935 Emma Allshouse
  • 1940 Emma Allshouse
  • 1940 Emma Allshouse
  • 1940 Otto and Merl Burkhart
  • 1940 Simon Miller
  • 1945 Emma Allshouse
  • 1945 Emma Allshouse
  • 1945 Otto and Merl Burkhart
  • 1950 Emma Allshouse
  • 1950 Emma Allshouse
  • 1950 Lewis O. and Margaret Young