1995 Streber's New Chapter

Streber's Market, in New Vienna, Ohio, has been owned and operated by the Streber Family since 1931.  In 1995, they moved from their downtown location to a new building on SR-73 on the north side of town.  Following are some clippings and history about the family.  Thanks to Barbara Johnson Mee and Courtney Streber Hoak for some of the information.

In 1930 Gleason & Jane Turner Streber lived with Jane's parents in Liberty Township, Highland County.  The 1930 Census also states that they both worked in a grocery store, Gleason as manager and Jane as a Sales Lady [1].  Gleason was born in 1903, Jane in 1905.

The Streber family moved to the New Vienna area when Gleason became manager of a Kroger's market in New Vienna.   In 1929 Kroger's decided to focus on larger markets and the store in New Vienna was no longer associated with the Kroger Company.  According to the clipping scanned below, Gleason became an independent proprietor in 1932, associated with "Super Valu" distributor. He was the owner/operator of the store in New Vienna from 1931-1967 when he retired [2] and Bob took over the management of the store.

Gleason died of a heart attack in October 1974.  Jane, a long time Sunday School teacher at the Methodist Church, died in 1976.  Bob, Jane and Gleason's oldest son, managed the store after the retirement of his father in 1967.

When Robert Edwin "Bob" Streber was born on December 8, 1930, in Hillsboro, Ohio, his father, Gleason, was 27 and his mother, Mildred "Jane", was 25. He married Joellen Rulon on September 6, 1948, in Greenup County, Kentucky. He died on April 2, 2002, in New Vienna, Ohio, at the age of 71, and was buried there.  Both Bob and Joellen were 1948 graduates of New Vienna High School.  They were the parents of Robyn, Steven, Jeffrey, Gregory & Gretchen.  Joellen died in 1981 and Bob in 2002.  They have an impressive monument/memorial at the IOOF Cemetery in New Vienna [3].

Streber Family Memorial Monument - New Vienna IOOF Cemetery - Shows the Main St. Market location and the new store on SR-73

– – – – – – – – – –
[] U.S. Census Year: 1930; Census Place: Liberty, Highland, Ohio; Roll: 1823; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 14; Image: 278.0; FHL microfilm: 2341557
[2] Wilmington News-Journal 9 Oct 1974 p.2 Gleason Streber Obituary
[3] Find-A-Grave New Vienna IOOF Cemetery, Streber Family Memorial

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Bob Streber, left, rings the final sale, that of Lou Donohoo, right, for the old store.
Wilmington News-Journal, 28 March 1995 

Continuing story – Bob Streber, Streber's Market in New Vienna, jots down a memento, the store's last sales ticket at its old location, as he and his family close out one chapter in the family business and begin their start on another.

From one chapter to another

by Daniel Nixon, City Editor

NEW VIENNA –– The floor needs repair but the foundation is firm as Streber's Market prepares for some major changes.

For starters, second generation store owner Robert Streber marked the last sale in the old store recently as his two sons, Greg and Steve, put the finishing touches on the family's new 6,500-square-foot store on the north edge of town off SR-73.

Soon they will be opening their newly built combination convenience and grocery store.

On Saturday, the family closed permanently its downtown village grocery, in business there for over 60 years, as Streber, 64, looks to begin –– well, not exactly retirement.  "Semi-retirement," he said.

The store, formerly a Kroger's, had been managed by Streber's father, Gleason, for Kroger who had sent him to New Vienna.  Kroger closed it in the late 1920s as being in too small a town.

A few years later Xenia-based food distributor Eavey, later becoming Super Valu, approached Gleason about reopening the store, said Streber.  His father thought Eavey meant for him to just manage the store for them, said Streber.  No, they wanted him to be an independent proprietor.

That was in 1932, as the country slipped deeper into the Great Depression.

He didn't even have enough money for the cash register on opening day." said Streber.  The Eavey representative pulled $25 from his pocket as a loan for the till.  "It was really started on a shoestring," said Streber.

Other than a brief period farming, Streber's involvement with the store has been constant since 1950.

His late wife, Joellen, once chided him, "who are you married to, me or the store," said Streber grinning.  "I guess I was married to both."

Memories go back father: Falling asleep on the bread shelves at 2 years old with his mother, Jane.  "My first job was passing out handbills door-to-door when I was 5 for 25 cents a week," he said.

Streber's may sell food, but its stock-in-trade over the years has been people.

A lot of, lot of, lot of memories," said Streber, standing at the back of the long, narrow store as the last customers mad their way to the cash register.

The thing I enjoy the most is talking to the older people.  They can tell you a lot of things that happened in the town," he said.

Though government regulations and changing times have made it more difficult to hire good, young help for the store, offering that first job has been another source of satisfaction over the years, he said.

"It allows them to earn some money when they're young, teaches them responsibility."  How many have worked there?  "Oh, I couldn't name them, "he said.

The two things the store has been blessed with, he said, have been loyal customers and good help.

"I guess the first thing you thank is the good Lord, my folks for starting it and my wife for sticking by while we developed."

Kroger Store in New Vienna Ohio c1928, Homer Williams, Mgr.  Image Courtesy of Hayward Crone via Mike Whited.  In 1931 Gleason Streber opened his own grocery in this location.  (Martha Knauff confirmed that the aproned man is Homer Williams, her father.  He became a manager of a Kroger's in Milford 1925 at the age of 21.  Whether this photo is actually of a New Vienna store is unconfirmed.)

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The following first appeared on Facebook, Barbara Johnson Mee provided the following three pictures and the post that follows.

Streber's Market, Main St., New Vienna, Ohio 1934.  Pictured left to right: Gleason Streber, Ed Turner, Martha Bernard, Jane Streber & Archie Rawlinson.

from Barbara Johnson Mee's Facebook post:
THEN AND NOW--------STREBER'S GROCERY
Streber's Market and Gas Station, located on Route 73 N. has its roots in New Vienna dating back 84 years ago. Gleason Streber, the man who started it all, was born in 1903, the son of Robert and Margaret Vanzant Streber. Gleason married Jane Turner Streber on Aug. 12, 1929. They had 4 children; Robert, Carey (Bo), John and Walter. In his early years Gleason worked for the Kroger's Co. and in 1931 opened his own grocery store in NV.

Thanks go to Courtney Streber Hoak, great granddaughter of Gleason Streber, for sharing the 1st photo and some information with me! In the photo Gleason and some of his staff are pictured outside of the original store which was located in the very center of NV. Courtney related to me that the photo was probably taken in 1934 according to the movie poster displayed in the window depicting a movie being shown in that year. Names written on the back of the photo were, L to R: Gleason Streber, Ed Turner, Martha Bernard, Jane Streber, and Archie Rawlinson.

Gleason, Jane and their family were the Strebers I knew when I lived in NV. What came as a surprise to me was that when the photo was taken, Martha Bernard, the lady who eventually opened a Beauty Shop in NV worked at the grocery back then. I had never heard that fact before seeing her in the photo and named on the back of the picture. (You learn something new everyday as is said). Martha eventually moved her Beauty Shop to her home located on Route 28 W.

In the 1960's Gleason retired to his farm located on Bernard Road and the Streber family continues to operate Streber's Market to this day.

2015 Former Streber's Market - Main St., New Vienna, Ohio

The 2nd photo, taken Oct. 2015, is of the space located in the very heart of NV where the original grocery was located. The building now sets empty, but my goodness, the memories it contains!
The 3rd photo is of the present day grocery and gas station which is located in the center of a field where the farm I once lived on was located. Back then I would never imagined the farm being gone or that Streber's Market would someday be located there.......Time changes everything!!!
Please add any additional information you may have about Streber's Market. Thank you.

2015 Streber's Market - this location on SR-73 on north edge of New Vienna opened in 1995.

St. Michael Catholic Church - History

Photocopy courtesy of Margaret Rachford Dean from an unknown source, c1994, thought to have been written by the priest at that time, Father Ron Cooper.  Transcription follows.

A HISTORICAL SKETCH

ST. MICHAEL CHURCH

NEW VIENNA, OHIO

The Village of New Vienna was laid out in 1827 by Mr. Thomas Hussey.  It is located in Clinton County beginning at the western boundary of Highland County.

The first Catholic pioneer in Clinton County settled near Cuba in 1807.  The first Mass was not said in the county until 1852.  This event took place in Wilmington, 10 miles north of New Vienna.  Father Thomas Blake said the first Mass in the home of Jerry Coakley on Sugartree Street.

Patrick Toohey was probably the first Catholic, who with his family settled in New Vienna in the winter of 1854.  The first Mass in the village was celebrated in Mr. Toohey's house in the spring of 1855 by visiting priests from Fayetteville, no doubt Father Thomas Daily and Father John B. O'Donoghue.  They continued to say Mass in his house until better accommodations were secured.

During this era there was a bitter prejudice against Catholics; however, those early Catholic settlers remained steadfast in their faith.  Today there is marked improvement in the feeling toward Catholics.

After Hillsboro, 12 miles to the south, had a resident pastor in 1854, New Vienna was attended by the pastor of St. Mary's Church there.  In 1874 the Catholics began taking steps to build a church and for that purpose purchased the property where the old school house used to stand (present site of St. Michael) for $500.00.  It was in 1874 that St. Michael Church was established.  During the two following years Mass was celebrated in this house.

In the summer of 1876, Father John B. O'Donoghue, pastor of St. Mary's Church, Hillsboro, began construction of the present church building which is where the old school house stood.  In the same year the cornerstone was laid and the church dedicated by Archbishop John B. Purcell of Cincinnati.  The cost of the building was about $1,000.00  At this time there were about ten Catholic families in New Vienna.

In 1899 Father Bernard Feeney was appointed the first resident pastor of St. Benignus Parish in Greenfield, Ohio, and St. Michael Church was assigned to him as a Mission.  The pastors of St. Mary's in Hillsboro had taken care of the Catholics in New Vienna for 45 years.  However, Father Feeney remained for only a few months, and Father A.F. Sourd was appointed pastor of St. Benignus.  In addition to St. Michael, New Vienna, he also took care of St. Joseph Church, Frankfort [Ross County]; and St. Mary Church, Waverly.

In 1905 Mrs. Ada Pemberton established Sunday School classes and instructed the children from New Vienna.  During the pastorate of Father John M. Sailer, a statue of St. Michael was purchased, and electric lights were installed.  Catechism was taught at 7:30 a.m. on the fourth Sunday of each month, and a High Mass and Sermon followed at 8:30.  There was also a Mass offered on the second Tuesday of each moth at 8:00 a.m.  the Higgins family donated  beautiful ciborium in memory of the parents James and Mary Higgins, in 1906.  Mr. Higgins carved the beautiful frames still being used in our Stations of the Cross.

The Christmas Mass was dropped in 1831, and the Tuesday Mass followed in 1935.  From this time on, Mass was offered on the last Sunday of the month only, except during the pastorate of Father John Anthony and Father Leo Herlihy.  Father Edward Lawler resumed the monthly Sunday Masses and began the offering of an evening Mass on holy days, except Christmas.

The Church was papered in 1929, and a new carpet placed in the sanctuary; in the same year a new roof was put on the church.  In 1946 the church was completely renovated, inside and outside, during the pastorate of Father Edwin Dittman.  Brother Bertrand Bailey, O.P., who lived with Archbishop McNicholas and was brought to Cincinnati in 1925, built a vestibule onto the church and erected a celtic cross over the church.  He also painted the church and installed new electrical fixtures which are still being used.  The floors were refinished, a canopy erected over the altar, and red drapes placed behind the altar.  Archbishop McNicholas donated the crucifix that hung over the altar (it is now in the priests's sacristy).  Father Dittman replaced the old pot-belly stove which stood in the middle of the church with an oil heater located in the rear of the church near where the confessional now stands.  He also had the grounds landscaped and placed shrubbery around in front of the church.  Miss Margaret Higgins was most generous in her help to Father Dittman.  In 1947 the statues of the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph were purchased, as well as the new tabernacle which now rests on the altar.

During the pastorate of Father Edward Lawler a sign was erected toward the front of the church grounds giving the time of the Mass (he changed the time to 11:30 on the last Sunday of the month and 8:00 p.m. on holy days).  In 1957 he had the outside of the Church painted and the roof was also repaired.  The following year rubber cushions were installed on the kneelers and at the Communion rail.  The Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus from Hamilton donated the chalice we now use in honor of Msgr. McNary, former pastor of Holy Trinity Church, Middletown.

Except for the catechism classes conducted by Mrs. Ada Pemberton from 1905 to 1907, parents instructed their children.  In 1941 the children in New Vienna went to Hillsboro where they were instructed by the Ursuline Nuns from Brown County.  In 1943 they went to St. Columbkille, Wilmington, where they were taken care of until the fall of 1962.  For the first time in the 107 years of Catholicity in New Vienna, and the 86 years since the Church of St. Michael was erected, weekly catechism classes were conducted by two Sisters from Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters living at St. Colman Convent, Washington Court House.  During the month of June the Sisters conducted a daily summer school of religion five days a week.

Beginning with the first Sunday in June, 1962, Mass was offered each Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and continues on this schedule.  The holy day evening Mass remains at 8:00 p.m. and on the First Friday of each month.  Mass is offered on Christmas, and thanks to Mr. Anthony Peters we have a beautiful Crib.  Services are held during Lent consisting of the Rosary and Way of the Cross.  During Holy Week the Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday ceremonies are carried out; on Good Friday the Way of the Cross and sermon take place.  First Communion and May Crowning take place on Mother's Day.

During the fall of 1962 and through the spring of 1963, the whole interior of the church was remodeled.  The ceiling was lowered about 14 inches with acoustic tile blocks, wood panels (light above and dark below) covered the walls, and rubber tile was put on the floor.  Father Joseph V. Urbain, Pastor of St. Columban Church, Loveland, offered us the pews, Communion rail, sanctuary carpeting, credence table, large crucifix, confessional, sacristy cabinet, pamphlet rack, and bulletin board from his old church.  A generous benefactor in Greenfield donated a gas furnace and had it installed in the boys' sacristy.  The oil stove was taken away and Joe Derivan no longer had to haul the oil and light up each time Mass was offered!

A very charitable man from Dayton, 78-year-old Anthony J. Peters, came to live with Father Lay in Greenfield so that he could engineer the remodeling work simply 'for the love of God."  Tony had retired from his occupation as a stripe painter of horse-drawn wagons, and later on the older model automobiles, and he was quite handy as a carpenter.  He began his work of remodeling in the old church in Loveland - dismantling the pews and communion rail, the confessional and carpeting - then cutting the rail and pews to the correct size.  Our men transported these to New Vienna and were most helpful in the initial installation; Tony put the finishing touches to the job!  Lawrence Germann, Bob Dean, and Bill Baker painted the wood tim in Church and along the windows.  Two of our women, and a Quaker acquaintance, fixed the drapes.  Lou and Ed Chandler donated and poured the spacious concrete walk from the road to the Church after it had been prepared by Lawrence Germann, Harold Wallen, and Bill Baker.  The shrubbery in front of the church was donated and planted by Tom Brumley.  Everyone, child and adult alike, cooperated beautifully throughout we would be remiss if we didn't mention the numerous generous contributions by Mrs. Marjorie Sullivan.  The only part of the renovation done by a paid contractor was performed by Mr. Robert Birkhimer, Greenfield, at a very nominal cost.  Bob, his son Tom, and our own Harold Wallen put in the ceiling, the wood paneling, and the tile on the floor.  They did a beautiful job!  Indeed, St. Michael has obtained the blessing of God for us in New Vienna.  We look forward now to adding a room for catechists and two lavatories!

ADMINISTRATORS AND PASTORS
The Priest[s] listed between 1850 and 1874 ministered to Catholics in New Vienna from the neighboring parishes in Fayetteville and Hillsboro.

1850-1854 Father Thomas Daily
1854-1858 Father John B. O'Donoghue
1858 Father F.H. Marian (9 months)
1859-1860 Father Peter Perry

In 1874 St. Michael Parish was established.

1860-1880 Father Michael O'Donoghue
1880-1885 Father Michael Hays
1885-1887 Father William Miggeel
1887-1892 Father Lawrence M. Sullivan
1892-1893 Father Matthew P. O'Brien
1893 Father Joseph Shea (2 months)
1893-1899 Father Thomas Walsh
1899 Father Bernard Feeney (8 months)
1899-1904 Father Adolf F. Sourd
1904-1907 Father John F. Cogan
1907-1908 Father John M. Sailer
1908-1918 Father Joseph Michalowski
1918-1921 Father Francis Sieve
1921-1928 Father Henry Gramann
1928 Father Eugene Gerlach (8 months)
1928-1932 Father Urban J. Koehl
1932-1937 Father Alphonse Schumacher
1937-1945 Father Aloysius F. Leon
1945-1948 Father Edwin W. Dittman
1945-1948 Father Leo T. Hirlihy
1954-1956 Father John H. Antony
1956-1962 Father Edward F. Lawler
1962-1965 Father Francis B. Lay
1965-1969 Father Edwin Francis
1969-1982 Father Harold Bernard
1982-1985 Father Thomas Gavin
1985-1987 Father John Minic
1987-1993 Father James Brichetto
1993- ? Father Ron Cooper
 [? - 2003 Father Frank Klamput, M.D.]

[St. Michael's celebrated a final closing Mass on Sunday, September 14, 2003.  The parishioners voted to have the building demolished in order to preserve the memory of the building in a sacred and good condition.  The Archdiocese, owner of the property, then sold the lot at the corner of Nordyke Road and Second Ave.]

1993 Baileys celebrate 50th Anniversary - Sept. 19

Ann Bailey taught reading at East Clinton Schools from 1977 to 1991.  In 1993, she and her husband, Everett, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.  Ann passed away in 2011; Everett in 2003.  Read more about them in the following clipping which is (mostly) transcribed below.

1993 Baileys (Ann & Everett) renew wedding vows on 50th Anniv. 

Wilmington (Ohio) News-Journal Sept. 15

Baileys to renew wedding vows on 50th anniversary

Georgia Ann Gabbert Bailey and Everett Lafayette Bailey of Wilmington will renew their wedding vows on Sept. 19, 1993, at the Butlerville United Methodist Church in Butlerville, on Rt. 143, 20 miles southwest of Wilmington, during the 10:30 a.m. service.  The couple requests no gifts other than the presence of their family and friends joining their celebration.

Everett Bailey married Ann Gabbert on Sept. 19. 1943.  The couple was married by Rev. Hoke Dickinson in Portsmouth.

Mr. Bailey opened, managed, or owned numerous grocery stores throughout Centerville, Leesburg and Blanchester, finding himself in the general offices of the Kroger Co. in Cincinnati for 13 years where he worked until his retirement in 1991.  In 1980 he was licensed as a local pastor by the Methodist Church and given a charge at Butlerville, where he has pastored since.

Mrs. Bailey was co-owner of the Leesburg Supermarket and enrolled at Chatfield College in 1972, later completing her bachelor's degree in elementary education at Wilmington College and her master's degree at Xavier University in Cincinnati, enabling her to teach reading at East Clinton Schools for 14 years.  She also retired in 1991.

Since their "retirement" Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have filled their time with trips to Europe and Israel; church work; hospital visitation; and the grandparenting of eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

1993 Gene Williams, Scoutmaster

In 1993 Gene Williams was honored for his service to the Boy Scouts of New Vienna.   Transcription of the Friday, March 19, 1993 clipping from the Wilmington News-Journal follows.

1993 Gene Williams, Scoutmaster - Clipping from WNJ March 19, 1993

Retired Scoutmaster Williams honored

Eugene P. Williams, New Vienna, was honored recently with a retirement program and reception conducted at the New Vienna United Methodist Church and hosted by Boy Scout Troop 97 chartered to Dalton Lodge F&AM No 57, New Vienna.  Williams served as Scoutmaster of Troop 97 for 30 years and plans to continue service as assistant scoutmaster.

Service by Williams to the Boys Scouts includes guiding 17 Scouts to the Eagle rank:  leading six troop expeditions to the Philmont Scout Ranch, Cimarron, New Mexico; taking the Scouts each summer to Camp Birch, Clifton; and participating on numerous committees of the former Anthony Wayne District and now Robert E. Hadley District (serving Clinton County) and the Tecumseh Council (serving Logan, Champaign, Clark, Green[e] and Clinton counties.  

Scouting awards received during those years include Brotherhood membership in the Order of the Arrow (the Boy Scout honor camping society), the Cross & Flame Award from the New Vienna United Methodist Church (a Methodist award for service to youth), the Robert E. Hadley District Award of Merit (the highest award conferred by a Boy Scout district for outstanding service to youth of the local civic community), and the Silver Beaver Award (the highest award bestowed by a Boy Scout council for exceptional service to youth).

Tributes to Williams were delivered from Eagle Scout Mark A. Bland, Eagle Class of '88; Arnold H. Hill, current Scoutmaster of Troop 97; and David T. Sipe, Scoutmaster of Troop 149 chartered to the Martinsville Lions Club.  Troop 97 Assistant Scoutmaster Margaret F. Hill had prepared personally and presented to Williams in appreciation from all the parents for his years of serving as Scoutmaster to their sons an oval framed Boy Scout emblem on counted cross-stitch.  And Scouting para-professional, Troop 97 committee member Ronald L. Pirman, presented from the friends of Williams a 1910 original edition of the Boy Scout handbook set in a cherry display case and a Boy Scout scholarship fund in Williams' name.  The fund is designated for Troop 97 Boy Scout leadership training.

Commendations and special recognitions received came from Gov. George V. Voinovich, the Ohio State Senate, U.S. Congressman Ted Strickland, and B.S.A. Chief Scout Executive Jere B. Ratcliffe.  Ohio State Sen. Cooper Snyder personally presented the Senate resolution.

Organist Wilman Croghand [Wilma Croghan] and vocalist Jim Butler provided music selections for the program.  Tecumseh Council Scout Executive William V. Deany delivered the invocation, and Troop 97 Senior Patrol Leader Adam Hill led the participants in the "Pledge of Allegiance."

Williams, in remarks concluding the program, noted that "A scoutmaster's minute is supposed to be a short inspirational talk . . . but this is my inspiration (pointing to the assembled Boy Scouts from his troop) . . . If you live up to all of those (the twelve points of the Boy Scout Law), can you help but love one another and your fellow man around you?"

A reception honoring Williams and his wife Hilda followed in the church social hall.