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Copyrighted 2010 by Bill & Jean Venrick
The pictures accompanying this essay show a BIS boy plowing with horses and a BIS boy driving a tractor pulling a hay bailer! A few weeks prior to writing this article found this writer driving through a rural setting and taken back a hundred years or more - there came an Amish young man driving a team of horses pulling some kind of agricultural "distributor" of fertilizer. He was standing up, holding rein on those horses just like farmers did all over our country decades ago, and you could tell by the smile on his face he couldn't have been happier had he been sitting atop a modern John Deere combine. One fact has to be recognized: he knew who he was. This was not the young man trying to "find himself" who in reflection years later laments, "been there, done that".
Some principles and precepts governed the BIS (and FSB) that might be foreign or no less than a light year or two different from our current culture. Is that (all) bad? No, and it should not be all that surprising either. In one of the photographs above it is obvious farm work at the BIS was done just like the rest of farmers at that time--they used horses (or mules). The other photo shows a farm scene where horse-power was supplied by a tractor. But "work" was work in either case, the methods simply coincided with the times. The Amish boy, in the first paragraph, was simply exercising his privilege to work with horses instead of a gasoline-powered tractor.
The following copy from the September issue (Page 14) of The Industrial School Journal, dated 1930 expresses the basic guidelines of the BIS during its 125 year history. Of course, in any organization, whether then or now, all kinds of personalities and individuals are involved and it is a given admission that no supervisor or any other employee claimed perfection but these words sum up the institution's basic purpose and principles:
"Training the boy who has broken the laws of our land in a useful occupation so that he may become a self-reliant, self-sustaining, producing citizen is the objective for which the Boys Industrial School was established by the State of Ohio. To supply a [temporary] home, giving the youngster a [surrogate] father and mother in place of the ones from which he was taken, that he may have parental advice, counsel and care. We are only meeting our obligation to the great state employing us in so far as we faithfully strive to attain that objective in spirit and in deed, failing in that the school should be closed."
No one is so naive to believe that every boy who was sent to the BIS would give an A+ to the facts testifying to the accuracy or fulfillment of this objective but those who often wrote back to the school or to this author, conceded what they received at the BIS (or the FSB) was what they needed. Some were even convinced that the BIS saved their lives! Perspective and introspection can result in truth when given time.
The photos depicting work and education at the BIS may be repulsive to some social groups who believe a child should not be forced to work. Yet within the biblical principles that enabled our nation to grow through faith in our Creator God, it is noted in words and principles: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." (2nd Thessalonians 3:10) But some in our society have taken the stance that it was wrong to make the children raised in orphanages work during previous years. It was common to require the children to work in the fields or the barnyards. Unfortunately, for the most part, those otherwise successful orphanages and children's homes and institutions like the BIS have been forced to close their doors in compliance to these unsettling theories. Work is no disgrace to anyone and to those familiar with the Bible know the Scripture teaches a strong work ethic To those in rural areas of the 19th century (and earlier) there was no alternative - you worked because the milk would not magically appear in bottles on your breakfast table, you worked at shearing sheep because your wool did not magically appear in bundles in your barn, you worked at getting the crops in or they remained useless in the fields. Meat, milk, vegetables and eggs were food on the tables because someone worked. Work, whether it involved adults or children, boys or girls, was a part of life, and continues to this day.
We live in a very casual world and work has been denigrated and our throw-away society has corrupted good things of life. In less than six decades we have seen torn clothes, in need of patches, glorified and made a sign of fashion. Less than fifty years ago if fabrics wore out, mothers patched torn garments. In fact, some mothers were so proficient their patches were nearly invisible. And even patches became a rite of passage for some clothes -- a neat leather patch at the elbows of coats and sweaters was even fashionable. Today clothes that have been tumbled in some kind of "stone washing" are sought out by those who "have to be in style". Some even buy perfectly good jeans and tediously separate the fabric making "designs", regardless how erratic they appear, giving a pretense that their clothes are worn threadbare. Rather, if the truth were known, it is more likely those who intentionally tear the knees out of brand new jeans would have never known what it was to work hard enough to wear holes in their clothes.
True, this is a battle of fads and fancies and a glorification of tattered clothes, but it is also subtle evidence that people are pretenders of the first degree. People just fifty years ago would have been ashamed to go to school or appear in public places with torn clothes. Another reality: many modern moms apparently are clue-less as to how to patch clothes.
Early on, the BIS made it a point that no boy at the BIS (or FSB) would ever have to wear torn clothes. In the Officer's Manual, dated 1924, reads: "Untidy dress induces carelessness and slovenliness in other things." "It is not only necessary that boys be provided with comfortable, tidy and good fitting wearing apparel, but it must be given proper care and situation and kept neat and clean." Rules were rigidly followed and enforced. Appearance was a virtue in the annals of the institution. A barber shop was one of the early additions to the institution and later, as was noted in a previous article, barbering was offered as a career class making it possible for a boy to obtain a license to be a barber when he left the BIS. Within the last dozen years of the institution's existence a move was made to let the boys set some rules much comparable to the "modern" ideas of rearing children was tried. However there was sufficient concern by those in charge of checks and balances that such an idea was too risky when you are dealing with personalities already primed to challenge authority. The last superintendent was brought in to thwart that attempt to change the successful philosophies for over a hundred years. Codification of rules and regulations is inherent to maintaining the necessary discipline, otherwise chaos would reign.
Yes, we are talking about a cultural crisis. And, ultimately, as in any culture throughout history we find confrontations of philosophies have either made or broke those societies. It is a credit to the BIS that for years it upheld respect, honor and responsibility as qualities every boy should attain. And, until the day that the institution was closed in 1979, such virtues were often challenged but steadfast principles were a part of every day life at the BIS, from the soles of their shoes to the top of their heads. One aside case of acquired virtues is about one boy during the last ten years of the school's existence. This boy went with a group to an outing in a nearby city, and as usual all boys came back, "Present and accounted for." The next day that boy "ran away". When the authorities found him he was asked, "If you knew you were going to run away, why did you not run away when you were with the group?" His answer was classic: "I didn't want to give the program (and the school) a bad name."
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I NEVER KNEW THAT - Part One, Tunnels at the BIS
Copyrighted 2010, Bill & Jean Venrick
Lancaster, Ohio
While we were researching the history of the Boys Industrial School (aka Fairfield School for Boys), we often found occasions to tell about unique pieces of that history. The usual response was truthfully, "I never knew that."; and in all honesty this writer often made the statement during our interviews. It quickly became obvious there was a lot to learn about the BIS and what went on through the years. The Boys Industrial School had been around since 1858, when it was known as The State Farm, and at any time of its existence such a reaction would be nothing less than normal even to natives in Lancaster, Ohio. Unless you were personally involved or knew someone who worked at the BIS throughout those 125 years much of what went on at the BIS was simply not common knowledge.
The farther back our historical digs went, the less familiar experiences in life and trades would surface, like blacksmithing, making hames (part of the harness for horses), broom-making, making brushes and shoe-making. Some trades like woodworking and sheet metal continued on through the later years and current trades were offered and taught at the BIS. The significant fact is whatever a boy could use once he left the BIS, that is what the institution wanted to be sure the boys could "take home with them"--a trade or occupation. The following story tells about the unique tunnel system at the BIS.
Miles of tunnels at the BIS provided lessons or work experience common in years gone by. In 1881 steam heat was installed in the buildings. The pipes were laid in a series of long wooden boxes or chases. Sixteen years later the long wooden boxes were rotting with age and exposure. It could be imagined that as they stood there looking at those rotting long wooden boxes -- "Eureka!" as the ancient sage exclaimed, "Why not build an underground tunnel!" According to printed reports by the State of Ohio, several stages of this project were involved, starting as early as 1897, and 31 years later new tunnels were dug and still more work was in progress in the late 1940's. Remember, there was a constant labor force available--the residents or inmates of the BIS. The following appeared in the Seventh Annual Report of the State (The Dept. of Public Welfare) 1928:
"During the past year the project of the new power plant and its connecting tunnels has been completed and put into operation. The construction of the power plant and the tunnels is the largest single operation ever attempted at the institution and considerable pride is taken in the fact that the work was carried out as per specifications and on schedule[ed] time. A very large part of the work was done by the boys of the institution under the supervision of the institutions own employees. ... The success in the construction of the tunnels is remarkable, as engineers had considered the project for years and some of the estimates had placed the cost at as high as $135,000 and only a few were favorable to the plan of letting the institution construct the tunnels [skilled workmen were thought to be needed]. But the institution, with no outside help except the services of two experienced miners for several months, has completed the tunnels totaling 3,300 feet, about 1500 of which were driven through solid rock and yet the construction cost alone is below $20,000."
A map of the tunnels, dated July 8, 1948, shows the location of the tunnels and how they exited at each building, typically in the basement. When inmates found the tunnels were useful in runaway attempts extra security measures were used but the tunnels still were an ingenious method of getting electric, water and steam heat all over the campus. Quite an improvement over electric and telephone poles as used in "regular" communities of that day. Exactly how many miles the tunnels takes up is either not known or is classified but it is no exaggeration to simply say, "miles of tunnels" were in that system originating at the power house which was at the lowest geographical point of the campus and everything goes up from that point. The photo below shows a tunnel with an interior of bricks and stone construction.
Originally the tunnels were constructed like a coal mine with wooden beam construction and early on it was changed to stone construction and actual drilling and blasting through solid stone. Later, brick and masonry was used in construction as well as still later poured concrete was used with forms familiar with modern concrete construction. The size of the tunnel (4.5 feet wide by 6 feet high) never became larger than sufficient space to walk in or through and enable pipes for steam heat, water and later telephone cables. It can never be overstated that this was probably the most professional system for such an institution. A more brilliant idea would have been hard to imagine.
The map shows a comparable short length to a Y in the system forking off into two directions and as the tunnel system continues; only rarely does a curve or slight turn exist. Wherever there was a building on the campus there was a tunnel entrance-exit. Today those entrance-exit places are heavily locked and identified in bright yellow paint for obvious reasons--the facility is now known as Southeastern Correctional Institution, whose residents are offenders with felony convictions.
MORE STORIES TO FOLLOW....THE WORDWRIGHT
By Jean Steel Venrick (Mrs. Wordwright)
"Come into my kitchen and let's talk about pots and pans." You may be thinking, "What is so exciting about that subject?"
I'm very particular about how my pans look. I want them shiny clean so I use stainless steel with copper bottoms, which of course need an appropriate cleaner each time the pans are used. I do not feel this is time consuming, I just do it. "Copper-Glo"is the brand name I use but it has become hard to find and my husband has discovered another suitable brand, "Bar Keepers Friend" so that is what we use currently.
I have never had a dishwasher so this job has always been done by hand. I do not want to give up my cupboard space to a dishwasher. When our house was built in 1964 a dishwasher was not a necessity in the kitchen, however today a kitchen without a dishwasher is just not a kitchen, or so some think. Frankly I always found dish washing a good time to think and solve the world's problems. Since my stroke in April of 2008, Bill has assumed a lot of my household duties and since he used to help me and we together would talk and "solve the world's problems", now I am the one who helps unless it becomes too tiresome to stand for long periods. Another household chore, ironing, is something I like to do and that gives me another opportunity to think while I press the wrinkles out of clothes (that is, what clothes are not the permanent press kind). And because I have an adjustable ironing board I can set it at a convenient level for me to use while sitting down. But, back to the kitchen!
I have a couple iron skillets in my collection which are seldom used anymore but at one time I relied on them heavily. The iron skillet does make great fried potatoes, crispy edges, you know.
Now to when my "particular-ness" goes out the window. I have two electric skillets that are horrible looking, yet I wouldn't give them up for anything. The small one I wrote about in June 2006 is one of these "horrible looking" ones. See "MR. FIXIT" - This poor little skillet is still working after Bill fixed it three times, replacing the original Bakelite handle twice, once with oak and the most recent was made with maple. It is not non-stick and you dare not scour it with a metal scouring pad because that takes off, I will call it, the patina. Do that and your great fried egg soon becomes a scrambled egg because it "sticks to the pan". You can use a plastic scrubber on it but that's as far as you dare go. This little skillet has been around for years and seems to be like the Eveready Bunny--it keeps on working! I have another small skillet ready "in the wings" when the time comes that Bill can't fix it anymore.
There's another skillet in our kitchen, a large Sunbeam which was given to us as a Christmas gift in 1957 or 1958 (when we were in Hobbs, New Mexico) and it is still working! We only use it for one or two things - making corn cakes or French toast, Bill's favorite. (Since my recent bout with the diabetes issue French toast and Corn Cakes are a rare treat.) Saturday mornings were our time for something special, either the corn cakes or French toast with Mrs. Maple's LITE syrup, from Aldi's. This old skillet makes the greatest with either of these treats. I have a special recipe I dreamed up for the Corn Cakes - not from a mix.
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After starting this missive a year ago I might as well take it out of the can and publish it. Those who know us will recognize our peculiar ways in this story and hopefully those who do not know us will see some virtues of my wife Jean, that have been the impetus to make our marriage work since June 3, 1951. It's been sometime since my wife has appeared on this site so I thought it past time to share some more of her writings. Jean is a disciplined journalist and "pots 'n pans" is only one example how meticulous her routines have been through the years. She has enjoyed a pen-pal relationship with an English lady since entering high school -- that's around sixty years; and she got serious about a regular family journal when we adopted our children. Writing, you can see, is a very important part of life to my wife. The journal was started in 1967 and she has written nearly 6,500 pages (3-ring binder notebook pages mainly).
THE WORDWRIGHT
Whenever words are being used some kind of definitions and/or parameters must be factored into the equation. So let's begin with the words themselves.
"PRINCIPAL - First in rank, authority, importance, degree, etc." Next, the same sounding word is not as easy to define: "PRINCIPLE - The ultimate source, origin or cause of something, and the third suggested meaning is a further application of this root meaning: "A fundamental truth, law or doctrine, or motivating force, upon which others are based (like, moral principles)".
Life, as we know it on Planet Earth, is determined by absolutes. There are those who prefer to think otherwise but absolutes cannot be ignored. Try jumping off a ten story building and claim the absolute of gravity will not apply. Try putting your hand in a crucible of molten lead (which becomes liquid at approximately 540 degrees Fahrenheit) and leave it there for just 30 seconds. Consider just one more futile experiment. Drive your car at a speed of 60 miles an hour and try to stop when you get within 10 feet of a concrete covered bridge abutment. By the time your brain's message to your leg muscles gets your foot to the brake pedal your car will have smashed into the concrete wall and you will probably be dead and the car a total loss. These three scenarios are indisputable examples of principles.
Principles then, by the definition in the first paragraph are virtual absolutes. Gravity is indisputable--it works on this planet every day, sunshine or rain. It works the same for everyone, whether male or female, a 10 pound baby or a 200 pound adult. Money has no influence or effect on gravity; you cannot bargain with coin or paper currency and change the "law of gravity".
Life is affected by principals and principles, period. Charles R. Swindoll has written dozens or maybe hundreds of his small (68 pages) Bible study guides and his editor-writers, Bill Watkins and Bill Butterworth consistently used what I would classify a caveat in those books: "Knowledge apart from application falls short of God's desire for his children. Knowledge must result in change and growth." I believe these two statements are true regardless whether the subject is religious or secular.
What about the PRINCIPALS?
Every person who is "in charge" over matters, events or a company in which you have no control could be called a (or the) principal. If that person is not governed by PRINCIPLES that are fair, equitable or moral, you could well have problems (or "issues" as modern day parlance prefers over "problems"). It is that simple. How we deal with life or the circumstances that are our lot in life is what matters. It is that simple. In other words, Chuck Swindoll's editors wisely counseled biblical students: "Convert knowledge learned into change and growth."
There will always be principals and principles. We must come to some kind of terms with how we work with this fact of life. It is not a matter of rocket science to discover the principles mentioned above will be obvious in leaders in our government, whether it be politics or legalities in local or other levels of government. Believe it, principles are essential to the successful operation of any government.
With the above thoughts on principals and principles some applications are in order. In 1999, the popular TV host, Larry King, had CBS'S 60 MINUTES quips expert, Andy Rooney as a guest. All through that broadcast, neither "principal" or "principle" was mentioned as a word. However, throughout the comments Andy Rooney made in regard to two politicians in particular and others in general. (Please remember the DATE--1999! Readers need to understand my comments are not about today's politicians but the application is like the ubiquitous "politician "--their talents-virtues know no generational bounds.)
"Lowering Standards" - A PRINCIPLE
In the opinion of Andy Rooney, when a President chooses to refer to himself as BILL Clinton instead of William J. Clinton, he presents the idea or concept of a lesser or lower standard. We accept such lowering of standards with "common" people but when the President of the United States compromises principles of standards it is a fake acquaintance entitling "common citizens" to regard Bill Clinton (in this analogy) to be a "buddy" as opposed to the fact this he is the one who was holding the highest office in our land. Jimmy Carter did the same thing. Comparatively, I cannot imagine the average Brit being encouraged to refer to Queen Elizabeth as "Betty", can you?
"Buying Political Offices" - Andy Rooney feels that something has radically happened in our society when becoming elected is dependent on how much money you can raise to spend on being elected. This is literally (by principle) BUYING the office. The person seeking election should be qualified by what they are rather than whose they are.
"Principles of Principals" - When Bill Clinton allowed himself to become involved in a scandal with a young woman within the walls of the White House he was disdainfully disregarding the principles of morals, ethics and sanctity of the office of President. We do not expect this kind of conduct from the President and not only did he appear to be guilty he lied to millions on television when he denied he had such relationships. The same accusations can be applied to Republicans with former President Richard Nixon in the Watergate Scandal. Inexcusable is a fair word to use for either man. I think the conclusion Andy Rooney had about his opinion of former President Clinton ("...he was good at what he does but terrible at who he was") and finally Mr. Rooney said, "With all his faults I still liked the man." And don't we wish or hope people can regard us with the same concessions? No president has ever been perfect but neither should they relish in their imperfections.
"Knowledge apart from application falls short...knowledge must result in change and growth." --- Charles R,. Swindoll
It isn't every day or even a life-time to have been acquainted with a top-notch dairy farmer who married a grade-school classmate and both of these individuals have been known and kept track of for over sixty years. After the story about Russell & Delores Miller's dairy operation in Hortonville, Wisconsin, it was decided to publish this story about two brothers in Lancaster, Ohio, who had to take over a small twelve cow dairy farm when their father passed away. THE WORDWRIGHT
THE JOHN ETY FARM BEGINS
John and Ethel Ety established their farmstead in 1917 on Fairfield Township Road 201 and raised their four children, Ruth, Annabelle, Robert and Paul a few miles northwest of Lancaster, Ohio. At that time the acreage of the farm was 87 acres with about six or seven cows. In 1945 the Ety Farm was twelve cows with Surge bucket milkers in their old stanchion barn. Change was the main constant in the years to come. The first change came four years later when their father died. Bob had graduated from high school three years before and Paul was starting his senior year; the older sisters had married and moved away from the farm. Bob and his family moved into the home place with Mother Ety after their father passed away and Paul, Jane and their son rented a place in town. What began as a modest farm dairy was slowly changing, and with the passing of their father, the two sons were to develop one of the most outstanding dairies in Fairfield County. These brothers were exceptionally hard workers and left no stone unturned in providing the finest feed, environment and milking conditions possible for their herd of registered Holstein cows. Perhaps the most amazing parts of the success of the Ety Dairy Farm was that here were two young men in their twenties whose complementary talents and teamwork made it all happen.
THE ETY BROTHERS DAIRY GROWS
It didn't take these young men long to figure out that they were either going to have to get in or get out of the dairy business. Improvements and methods from hand-milking a dozen or so cows to planning and developing different kinds of milking parlors made the Ety Farm a place where change became the norm. When something new came along they would decide which way or what system or plan they would adopt.
Early on both brothers attended a Surge Dairy School and they picked up ideas as to how to make significant improvements on their farm. A regular commuter driving by the farm was always treated to see something new or different. The very nature of the milk parlors, with its large windows was an invitation for everyone to "come see how we milk cows". With their growing herd the once 36,000 gallon underground manure tank would eventually be dwarfed by a 25 feet high, 82 feet diameter liquid manure tank that would hold nearly a million gallons. Managing manure was a top priority. Their two 20' x 60' silos were soon inadequate and more were built. Silos came along like "new tools" in a mechanic's shop. While visiting the farm once, Paul mentioned that Jane told him she wanted a house before they built another silo. Paul grinned and told me they put up at least two more silos before Jane got her house.
The complementarity of good management and good herdsmanship produced the desired results--good milk production. In short, Bob and Paul took care of their cows. Even in retirement, Paul said something that didn't really surprise me when he told me he still buys his eggs from a farmer instead of a supermarket. At his house they buy eggs for $2.00 a dozen when you can buy them at half that price; and the farmer in Paul explains, "...the lady we buy eggs from takes care of her chickens". That was good enough for him, besides Paul quickly added, the yolk in the farmer's eggs are orange-colored, not yellow! "They're good eggs!"
A HIGH POINT IN ETY DAIRY CAREER
When Bob & Paul Ety were setting records (with the help of their cows of course) they were in their middle thirties. Who can really tell what the real drive was behind these two young men? Was it simply making a real business from a very modest beginning of their father and his few cows? Perhaps this could have been a subtle impetus but probably the real reason or cause for their success was their work ethic. The only evidence of pride is a cautious grin on the faces of the two young men pictured below. Bragging is not a part of the Ety Dairy heritage. They just worked hard and you could say they proved the wisdom behind the acrostic of the word LUCK - Laboring Under Correct Knowledge. Yes, the harder they worked the luckier they got!
Their pinnacle of success was when they made headlines in farm news by the increase of 12,240 gallons (of milk) increase per year! The picture above shows what that many gallons of milk look like! That kind of success doesn't come from luck or talk. But years after the two Ety brothers achieved such notoriety life brought some tough times. Barely twenty years later Bob died. What now? What was once a two-man team was now nearly a solo. They did have hired men most of the time. Usually one full time and they had others they could call on when the crops were ready to be brought in. Bob and Carol's two boys helped with the farm because they lived there. By the time they quit milking, they had 300 cows, about 500 calves and heifers. The local dairy bottling distributor used to come every other day and get 8,000 to 9,000 gallons of milk. Sometimes they would have to pick it up every day.
Plans were already in the works to "quit the dairy" before Bob became ill with cancer and later died. So, it was only a matter of time until the farm would "wrap it all up" with plans to sell the land to a business developer and retire like most people do in life. Remember, with a large herd there has to be a use or plan to "do something" with manure; and they used this natural fertilizer on their land, it was that simple.
Today the ETY DAIRY FARM is just a memory. Where once cows were cared for, fed and milked, a modern huge shopping center exists. Corn and milk are no longer the produce from those fields. Fairfield County Township Road 201 has been named ETY ROAD for sometime now and it is a thoroughfare off US Route 33 to gain access to condos, apartments, automotive dealerships and brand-name stores that are household names. If Paul misses anything it is the work with cows and the land but life goes on, and once again change rules. For years this farmer's day started when the alarm clock went off every morning at 3:45 and ended when Paul walked through the door of their home around 10:00 that night. In spite of such a work load they raised three children and the work ethics of Paul and the parental principles of his wife run through the veins and genes of the Ety children to this day.
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