Category: Trella Diaries

The_Marion_Star_Fri__Aug_21__2009_

Friday, August 21, 2009
Lead story on front page of Marion Star – with photo of cover of James Robenalt’s book ‘The Harding Affair’ – That should sell copies! If anyone remembers Harding! Robenalt will speak on OSUM on Monday Aug 30.
This prompted me to reread Francis FFussell’s book ‘The Shadow of Blooming Grove’ since it was he who the lawyer Don Williamson shared the letters he had found 5 years earlier when cleaning out Carrie Phillips’ home. On Mt. Vernon Ave. where she died.
I felt the article raised questions & so I wrote an article asking them and using Russell’s book as a source. Sent it by email to David, Kathi, Mary Gruber & Stuart Koblentz who had seen an advance copy. He says the letters are political – not romantic ??!
Made pickled beets fro supper – also had a salad & pizza (leftovers)
David’s email back – wanted to be sure I wan’t trying to vindicate Harding -.
Call from Mrs. Downes of Fla (referred by John Boger) telling me of the family cemetery on the ____ farm on SR 95 west of SR 746 that is abandoned since Corinne moved away. Trying to place responsibility for restoring.

Thursday, August 20, 2009
1.4 in rain during night
84 AM
75 PM
1.2 in rain at 3:30 to 4:00
Email from Dave Matyac – he had 4 in. rain last night in mt. Gilead – 2 in. in his basement. Few Japanese Beetles. No Praying Mantis. Don Keil left beets & tomatoes on side porch. Cooked beets for supper & made a salad of baby lettuce & my lone sweet pepper.
Email from Kathi – Evidently she didn’t get my account of Neva Harri’s service – so I sent it again.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Dow Jones 9976
Leota Gates died Tues at Marion Manor
Picked up Jim Carpenter at 9:15. Drove past Claridon Prairie – He wan’t impressed. Loaded up the red cart with tree trimmings David cut. Deadheaded yellow marigolds along stone wall. He used hi weed whacker around trees, along edge of pond and near bridge. Hard work from 10:00 until 12:00. I mowed lower grass. He changed light bulb in vanity.
To Marion about 12:45 – He stopped at Meijer for 45 minutes & I stayed in car & roasted – 85 – to HH to unload 16 mm movie projector from Dan Erickson. To CVS pharmacy for Jim’s high blood pressure prescip – To Marion Cemetery & he watered geranium on Hemmerly graves.
Mike helped unload their groceries that filled the back seat & rear of my car. Home by 3:00 – took a nap. Called Jim O’Dell’s answering service for appointment to wash outside of windows.
Baked a pizza for supper – Tomato – Jim picked the strainer full.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Sunny
Rewrote article published in short lived ‘Good News’ in the 1990’s. Names and locations of Harding High School.
Mark Webb & 2 helpers back to work about 11:00 until 4:00 – connected a black flexible hose to the downspout by greenhouse & diverted thru ditch to discharge into grass instead of along gravel by steps. Removed kitchen picture window in order to remove & replace rotten wood. Painted wood sill of living room picture window. Use gallons of Oxy – to remove algae from vinyl siding & sealed against further algae – removed rotten wood around folding garage doors & replaced with new wood.
As I expected the $700 or so ‘estimate’ ended up being $1,800! And left the windows so streaked I’ll need Jim O’Dell to clean them.*
To MCHS Board meeting at 7:00. I deflected John Kalb’s request to come to Sept meeting to shame MCHS for not saving the Houghton Sulky bldg. Scott Spears will write the reasons the Ohio Preservation Office can’t save it.
No action on MCHS partnering with OHS to manage Harding Properties

[* this type of scam is popular among traveling itinerants who prey on older women living alone. All these repairs were temporary (except the drain by the greenhouse) and needed re-done 10 years later.The kitchen picture window rotted wood remains (as of 2024).]]

Monday, August 17, 2009
85 sunny
Attended Neva Burtch Harris funeral at Emmanuel Lutheran Church. Jackie & Jerry Ballenger family (6 kids & families) took up 4 rows. Cremation casket & about 5 floral tributes.
After service I was greeted by Bob Johnson, Brenda Dye (Marilee’s daughter), Jackie & Jerry. As he was leaving the parking lot a nice chat with Catherine & Jane Loudenslager. Didn’t go to Pleasant Hill Cemetery for burial.
At 2:00 Dave Claborn & Gary Iams arrived with brochures for fund raising for new science building on Ohio State University [Marion] Science Complex. $17 million project. 4 million still to raise. I’ll consider giving 2 of Howard’s HH bonds – need advice on cashing & tax liability for $7,500 deferred interest.
A Mark Webb? And crew stopped in a pickup with Tenn. licensed & offer to wash green fungus from siding & paint wood on picture windows. Also provide drainage from downspout by greenhouse. $200 – and caulk & use fungi remover & seal on all vinyl siding.
Called Gale about 2:00 thinking she was leaving on 3 day honeymoon tomorrow. Instead of asking – as I usually do -’Are you coming to Terradise for supper?’ I asked ‘What are your plans for this evening?’ Her reply – ‘Trella, I’m on my honeymoon!’

Sunday, August 16, 2009
94 hottest day this year. Only 4 days above 90
David, Karen, Susannah with Linda & Caitlyn Preminger (Karen’s sister and niece) arrived about 10:30. They had hiked the TNP trail first. David conducted tours & Karen & I chatted on patio. She entered 65 classes (food & clothing) at Ohio State Fair & took 45 prizes. Money Premiums much reduced from the 70’s – 80’s – 90’s. They were headed for East Haarbor & overnight at Super 8 in Port Clinton.
David fixed the problem of an ad blocking my computer screenbut it took ome doing ‘ Don’t check on any free coupon offers!’
Lazed rest of day – email from Kathi for newspaper – Solve financial crisis by using stimulus money to giving all over 50 1 million dollars taht they must spend for new car & retire. Solves unemployment & jump starts auto industry! Seems plausible to me!
About 8:00 I pulled hose out of housing. Watered porch & deck planters.

Saturday, August 15, 2009
85 sunny
Royce cleaning – Grandson has a celiac disease & in in hospital.
My computer has a block of info in center of screen that I can’t get rid of!
I cleaned the bottom of the sliding door to deck & the glass table.
At Resource Center 1:00 to 4:00. Man searching for info on Electric Plant in La Rue that his ancestor McNutt owned. In Slanser Lumber Co. Bldg. in LaRue – verification in 1907 Marion Co. history.
I went through Sawyer files again – Key to unlock file cabinet was by my computer. Sorted Harding material from Sawy file. No photo of Clouds over harding Memorial.
Computer wouldn’t print.
Home by 4:30 – Left overs for supper.

Friday, August 14, 2009
Erma Hutchman’s funeral
Down Jones 9321
David arrived about 1:00.[AM] Didn’t have his key & I finally hear noise so got up & let him in.
After bfst we rode in golf cart & he pruned lots of low branches that prevented mowing. Also the wisteria vine on the deck.
To Denzer-Hotinger-Snyder Funeral Home by 10:45. Room only ½ full. Rev Reed’s service interpreted the 23rd Psalm in a moving way. Erma’s family (and Judy Lockwood) illed the first three rows. Internment at Marion Cemetery (David & I only ones there not family (except Pastor Reed)
Took 2 gallon water & David watered and weeded the Hemmerly planting.
To First Presbyterian Church for nice lunch. Remembering events there as Erma’s guest.
TO Rita Erickson’s house where Dan has just moved from Mansfield. He donated a 16 mm movie project that will let us see the many reels of film from Marion Power Shovel.
Will come to HH & getty it working. I cam home by 2:30 & David headed to Cinci from Marion where he has a 6:00 PM gig.
Emails from Kathi about Pat Estgerline West’s move to N.H. to live with David Eastman. Downloaded MCHS reports – why do they print out in 6 point?!?

Thursday, August 13, 2009
Emails and played computer solitaire.
At 5:00 at Denzer-Snyder Funeral Home for calling horus for Erma – talked to ‘young Bill’ – Lovely mixed pastel basket blanket that Ann said Erma had planned. She didn’t look like the Erma I’ve know for 62 years.
Displayed were scrapbooks Debby compiled in 1968 – they are kept in a safe. I enjoyed the Lockwood one – Erma & Carroll’ baby pictures – home near Broadway – I knew Bill was Erma’s high school teacher waited until the night she graduated to ask for a date – But here was the note he sent her to ‘look in the bird’s nest by the front walk’. And then note she found there ‘Good for six driving lessons.’

Wednesday, August 12, 2009
82 sunny
Felt much better after a good night’s sleep.
Glen& Melissa picked up Jim Carpenter in Hemmerly’s parking lot – his transportation to Terradise. Showed Glaen & Melissa the new hardscaping – Jim weeded. Signed the VA papers to have their $500 rent paid to me.
Hauled load of weeds & dumped in former wood pile. When I came back across road Ranny Williams had pulled in. Had great chat – Sat in gazebo & on patio while Jim weeded.
After he left Jim planted the coleus cuttings in bed beside step to river. Need more topsoil in there. Cleared grass & weeds from that corner. Then tackled the vegetation under the rail fence east of mail box. Another full load to burning pile.
Email from David – will be up tomorrow evening after gig at Cactus Pwear for overnight & to attend Erma’s funeral.
Nice note from Gary Iams thanking for my hospitality.