Thomas Rudisill "Rudy" 1916-1970 - Obituary

"While my Dad was not raised in New Vienna, he truly loved the community where he became a coach, teacher, and principal; and of course raised his family. I know he loved this town and the people in it. He chose to live there, work there and raise his family in New Vienna, and as his child I will be forever grateful that he did. I feel so blessed to have grown up where and how I did." --Barbara

Thomas W. Rudisill obituary - Press Gazette (Hillsboro, Ohio) Friday, Sept. 11, 1970.  Image courtesy of Mike Whited.

Transcription:

Thomas W. Rudisill

Thomas W. Rudisill, New Vienna Rt. 1, principal of the New Vienna Elementary School in the East Clinton School District, died at 6 P.M. Tuesday in Clinton Memorial Hospital, Wilmington, following a long illness.  His residence was on Powell Road in Highland County.  He was 63.  He was the son of Wylie Rudisill and Minnie Griffith Rudisill.

Born Nov. 22, 1916, he and his wife, Alice Fisher Rudisill, who survives, were married July 26, 1945, in West Virginia*.  Rudisill was a former New Vienna High School basketball coach.  After attending Winchester High School, he was graduated from Holbrook and Cedarville colleges in Ohio, and received his master's degree from the University of Wisconsin.

He was a veteran of World War II and a member of the New Vienna United Methodist Church, Dalton Lodge 578 F & A M of New Vienna, the New Vienna Lions Club and the Wilmington Athletic Officials Assn.

He is also survived by his son, Tom, at home; two daughters, Miss Linda Rudisill, Richmond, Calif., and Miss Barbara Rudisill, at home; one brother and one sister.

Funeral services will be at 2 P.M. Friday at the New Vienna United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Henry M. Lynd officiating and burial at the New Vienna IOOF Cemetery.  Masonic services will be at 9 P.M. Thursday at the Smith Funeral Home, New Vienna.

Friends may call at the funeral home Thursday afternoon and evening.   The body will lie in state at the church from 1 P.M. until time of services Friday.  Donations may be made to the New Vienna United Methodist Church Youth Fellowship.

*They were married in England according to family.  

Melba Fawley's favorite recipe

In the late 1960s and early 1970s the Wilmington News-Journal did a series of articles in which a local person was featured along with a favorite recipe.  Here's one starring Melba Fawley from August 1970.  The definition of "easy" has changed since 1970.  Transcription follows.

Melba Fawley - Wilmington Ohio News-Journal Clipping August 5, 1970 

Her Favorite Recipe

COOL LEMON PIE – Mrs. Stanley Fawley serves a cool lemon pie to summertime visitors. The tea service was sent from England from the Rev. Marvin Schamaun, past New Vienna Methodist Church pastor and his wife. The painting was done by daughter, "Peggy" when she was still in high school.

Mrs. Stanley L. Fawley of near New Vienna leads a busy life.  In addition to raising three talented children, Mrs. Fawley is a registered nurse at Clinton Memorial Hospital and she is active in community affairs.

Mrs. Fawley is submitting a summertime favorite, frozen lemon pie which, she says, "is the sort of little gooey you serve to all the women ... the men like it, too."  The recipe is easy, she added, but "unless you have a big mixing bowl, don't double it."

Mr. Fawley is a farmer and an active member of New Vienna Lions Club.  He also drives a school bus for the East Clinton Local School District.

Stanley Jr., the Fawleys' oldest son studied at Wilmington College after he graduated from East Clinton in 1966 until he received his bachelor's in 1969.  He is now, with his wife (the form Brenda Wood of Wilmington) living in New Haven, Conn., where he is studying at Yale Divinity School for the ministry.

Their daughter, Margaret Jo, is on the work-study program at Wilmington College since her graduation from East Clinton in 1969.  She's working as a ward-clerk and nurses aide at Clinton Memorial.  Peggy is interested in history and currently majoring in art and education.  She has been painting since her high school days.

The youngest Fawley, Marvin, graduated from East Clinton in June of 1970.  He will enter Wilmington College in the fall.  In high school he was active in 4-H and FFA.

Mr. and Mrs. Fawley, who have lived all but six months of their 23 years of married life at their farm near New Vienna (those six months were spent in Port William) have been active in the New Vienna United Methodist Church.  Mrs. Fawley is the past president of the Wilmington District Women's Society of Christian Service of the United Methodist Church.  In 1962 the Fawleys were named Family of the Year by the Wilmington District Methodist Church.

Mrs. Fawley is a member of the Farm Bureau Women's Committee of which she was county president in 1966-68 and the Clinton County Registered Nurses Association.

She says her "fun job" is working as the secretary of the board of trustees of Wesley Glen retirement home.  "I like to listen to the big businessmen talk about spending four and five million dollars," she notes.  The retirement home is located on Turkey Creek, a wooded area near Graceland Shopping Center in Worthington.

Asked if her training as a registered nurse helped her handle this job, she answered, "Not when they're talking about four and five million dollars!  At those times I mostly keep quiet, but there is a health center in connection with the retirement home.  My training helps me in matters concerning the health center.  I was one woman against 10 men trying to get them to put all electric beds in the health center, I felt pretty successful when half the beds they put in were electric."

She says that working on such a project is a good experience because it "gives you a lot better understanding of what goes into such a project."

FROZEN LEMON PIE
Filling:
3 egg yolks, well beaten
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 t grated lemon rind
1/3 t salt
1/2 cup sugar

Mix above ingredients in saucepan and cook over low-medium heat until slightly thickened.  Cool.

3 egg white, stiffly beaten
1/2 pint whipping cream, whipped (may use 3/4 cup chilled evaporated milk, whipped)

Fold in egg white and whipped cream.  Pour into chilled graham cracker shell and freeze.  This is better if made at least 24 hours before serving.  May be stored for several days in freezer.  May be garnished with a sprinkling of crushed graham crackers before freezing.

GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST
1 1/2 cup finely crushed graham crackers
1/3 [cup, presumably] melted butter (or margarine)

Mix gently and press firmly into a 9 inch pie plate.  Chill.

*****
Note: Stan Fawley Sr., died in 1979.  Melba later married Orville Harner whose first wife, Anna Louise died in 1978.  Melba was diagnosed with cancer in 1982 and passed away September 18, 1982.

NV Coaches 1951 - Glenn McElwee and Tom "Rudy" Rudisill

Tom "Rudy" Rudisill (1916-1970) and Glen McElwee (1918-1973), New Vienna coaches, March 1951.  Image Courtesy of Mike Whited.  Captioned: New Vienna coaches - Tom Rudisill and Glen McElwee are shown here outside the school in New Vienna.  The photograph is from March, 1951.  Rudisill is a member of the Clinton County Sports Hall of Fame.  He won 171 basketball games at New Vienna in 10 seasons.  McElwee was a junior high sports coach at New Vienna and equally as successful.  The photograph was submitted by Hugh Young, who played for both McElwee and Rudisill at New Vienna.

1942, 1952 July news from Hillsboro paper

New Vienna related news as reported in the Press Gazette (Hillsboro, Ohio) from July 1942, 1952

July 3, 1942 - Former Local Man to Enter Air Service - Glenn L. McElwee, son of Mrs. Mary and the late John L. McElwee of Singing Spring and coach at New Vienna High School, has enlisted in the Army Air Corps Reserve at Patterson Field and is awaiting his appointment as a flying cadet.  Mr. McElwee was registered at the Highland County Draft Board and was in Class c-A before enlisting at Lima.  He is 24 years old.  He graduated from Wilmington College in 1939.  At the present time he is working on the Pennsylvania Railroad.

July 31, 1942 - Marriage Announced - Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Nester of New Vienna, announced the marriage of their daughter Julia (NVHS 1939), to Robert Pond (NVHS 1933), son of Mrs. Ida Pond, of New Vienna, on June 29, 1942 in Dayton.  They will make their home in Dayton.

*****
July 4, 1952 - Church Announcements [Most church announcements are for churches in Highland County but this newspaper edition includes two from New Vienna.]

1. Church of Christ in New Vienna, K. L. Washburn, Minister, has church news which includes "There were 212 present last Sunday." and "no evening service next Sunday as Mr. Washburn will deliver an address at the Butler Springs Christian Service Camp."  [Near Fort Hill, 18 miles SE of Hillsboro]
2. The Baptist Church, New Vienna, Ohio.  Harvey C. Black, pastor.  Church School 9:45 AM, Worship 10:45 AM.

July 8, 1952 - FOR SALE - Gary Tolle [NVHS 1953] offers a '41 Chevrolet 2-door Special Deluxe with radio and heater.  

July 11, 1952 - Death - Mrs. Sarah Clark, 92, formerly of New Vienna, died in Greenfield.  She was born in Highland County in 1860, the daughter of Nathan and Amy McDaniel Gilbert.  She was the great-aunt of Glenn Pierson, Jr. [1923-1959, NVHS '43, he died in mill vehicle accident].

July 18, 1952 - Maple Valley - of the 13 news items from Maple Valley four of them mention Shoemakers, two also mention New Vienna.

1. Charles Collier of New Vienna spent Monday night and Tuesday with Mary Martha Shoemaker.
2. Mr. O.M. Shoemaker, Grace and Ruth, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Shoemaker and Mary Martha spent Sunday afternoon with Mr. and Mrs. Elroid [Elroyd] Collier and Caroline [Carolyn] of New Vienna.  [Orva M. Shoemaker was Mabel Collier's father, her mother, Mary Kathleen Zile Shoemaker died in January 1952. ]

Early School History - Green Township, Clinton County Ohio

"The township may be proud of the general intelligence of her population." 
     –Clinton County History 1882 in section about Green Township.


A recent request for information on one-room schools in Clinton and Highland Counties allows me to pass this information on to you -- obviously there is a lot more that could be learned about these rural schools.  Vivan Rambo Deck, NVHS 1918, grandmother of Susan and Barbara, taught at a one-room school house before she was married.

Public School Buildings, New Vienna, Ohio

This School was built in 1878.  It was torn down in 1917.  

The above picture is from New Vienna High School Memory Book, 1881-1963, page 8

More information about this school building can be found in a previous post: "New Vienna School 1878-1917 postcard"

In March 1977 Homer Williams presented a report at the Clinton County Historical Society meeting which was to be recorded as a part of the Clinton County Retired Teachers' sponsored project on "History of Clinton County School."  In addition to the information below there is also mention of a "one room frame schoolhouse located on the site of the present Church of Christ."  The complete [presumably Wilmington News-Journal article from 1977] is transcribed here.  


A two page history of New Vienna Schools in the NVHS Memory Book is taken from material written by Homer and Josephine Williams, updated in 1998. Here's what it says about the first schools:

• About 1812, in the early history of our township, the first school house was built on the site of Hazel College, on Derivan Road near the Edgar Eaton farm, now [in 1988] owned by Don and Shirley McKamey.  It was built of logs with seats also made of logs with pegs on the under side for legs.
  
  The first township schoolhouse within the present limits of New Vienna was in the northern part of town near the Stephen Hussey property owned by Roy Dove in 1977.  Of two teachers employed at this school one was name Peggin and the other Savage. School was also held at some time either in the East Fork Meeting house, a log building constructed by the Friends in 1809, or in a building on the Henry Nordyke farm.
  
  Later a school building was contracted on the Henry Swingley land and located on what is now Levo Road where the road makes a right angle turn going east from the entrance off of SR-73, one half mile south of the Snow Hill Club.  At a later date this became subdistrict school No. 7.  It is believed to be the first public school in Green Township.  Thomas Swingley's father went to school there and the teacher was George Barrow, who was the Mayor of New Vienna in the 1850s.

Here's a bit more on old schools:

• Collection of photos and information about Old Ohio Schools – mostly "newer" old schools though.  Highland County; Clinton County
  
  
• A photo collection of 156 pictures of One Room Schools in Ohio - only two from Clinton County and they were from Wilson Township, but still interesting, a few from Highland County also.
  
  
• The 1982 Clinton County History book mentions some of the above info and adds "Before 1860 there was a sub-district school on the lot where the Catholic Church now stands [or previously stood on Nordyke Rd. – that would be the north side of town as mentioned above.]
  
  
• FIRST SCHOOL [in Green Township]  [From History of Clinton County, published by W.H. Beers and Co. 1916]  It is rather uncertain where the first school was located in this township, but popular opinion among the older inhabitants seems to point to the town of New Vienna. This house was built about the year 1812. Robert Peggin was first employed to keep this school, but he was a man of intemperance and lax morals and was soon released. James Savage was the next employee, but, morally, he was very little better, hence he was likewise released.[These teachers are mentioned in the Williams information above also.]
  
  
• [From 1882 History of Clinton County] Now there are nine subdistricts, one special and one village district. At first the schools seldom ran longer than three months in the year; now they average about eight months. The special district is at New Antioch, in the northwest part of the township; the village school in the southern part, at New Vienna. The special district has a good brick house, two stories, and two schools under the charge of Prof. -- Sewell and Miss Ratio Mitchell.
  This district was organized about eight years ago, or in 1874. James Dodd, a graduate of Bethany, W. Va., was the first Principal. Since he left, Profs. Laymon, L. D. Wysong and --- Sewell have taken charge o£ the work. The school has done good service, and is still prospering. The district has furnished many thoughtful men and women, and, several teachers, who have been eminently successful in schoolwork. It may be interesting to note a few facts in reference to some of the sub-districts of the township, showing population, term of schools, wages paid, etc. I shall have to transcribe a few things from the records of the Township Clerk:
  Report of District No. 1: -September 25, 1838. Our school commenced October 20, 1837, and expired April 20, 1838; the term of six months. There was $120 paid by subscription. No school tax. The number of pupils that attended school, fifty-eight. The branches taught-common reading, writing, arithmetic and geography. No building; no repairing We find on a settlement with the Treasurer, that there remains, after paying the Clerk for taking and returning the number of youths for 1837, $1.50, and leaves in his hand $17.86. After proposing to the meeting repairing schoolhouse, proceeded to business. -WILLIAM LUPTON, ABRAHAM FRASER, JOHN B. CLARK, BENJAMIN CLARK, Clerk, School Directors.
  The above is a verbatim copy of the report.
  
  Report of District No. 2:-September 21, 1838. The number of schools the past year is one for three months; the number of scholars in attendance, boys thirty-three, girls thirty; average attendance, thirty and a half. The branches taught were reading, writing, arithmetic and English grammar. The amount of public funds made use of this year was $15' the balance was raised by subscription. Amount raised by tax, none. We have received no school funds from the County Treasurer since the proportion of 1837. The balance remaining in the hands of the Treasurer is $38.85 1/2.  JOHN HODSON, Clerk.
  
  Such are mere samples of early reports of the public schools of the township. It will be seen that wages were low, time of schools short, attendance small, and, it may be added, qualifications of teachers very moderate at best. At present there are ninesubdistricts in the township; eight months, average length of schools; attendance, good; wages average $35 per month; teachers' qualifications, fair. The teachers in the subdistricts are generally energetic and worthy of the trust committed to them. Subdistrict schools, or as they are more generally styled, common schools, are doing more in promoting intelligence among the masses and giving permanency to our Republican institutions than are our graded schools. They develop more thought, more intellect, less form, less style than do the graded schools. This tendency of our graded schools to inculcate mere form and style, with little thought, is the bane of these schools, and must, sooner or later, if not abated, prove their disgrace, perhaps their destruction.* The township may be proud of the general intelligence of her population.

• Sub-district School Number 7 was on the curve on Levo Road; #6 was to the west of Snow Hill, #8 to the north of Snow Hill.  Other sub-district schools were located near The Achor Cemetery in SW Green Township, Bernard Road, Antioch Road and Derivan Road.

1952,1962 - May news from Hillsboro newspaper

New Vienna related news as reported in the Press Gazette (Hillsboro, Ohio) from May 1952 and 1962, which is published Tuesdays and Fridays and runs from 8-16 pages with more ads than in 1942, including full page grocery ads for Albers and Schaefer's.  In 1952, Korean War news is featured.  Subscriptions are $4/year.  H.E. Barnes, publisher.  In May 1962, single copies are 5¢.

May 9, 1952 - Judith Achor (NVHS 1963) and her mother, Mrs. Donald Achor, were injured in an "odd mishap" when they were pinned between two automobiles in an accident while parking in front of the Clinton County Courthouse on May 6, 1952.

May 13, 1952 - Rocky Fork Lake declared "complete" despite the fact the present site does not meet state requirements.  The dam is almost completed with all of the concrete work finished.

May 27, 1952 p.1 of 8 - Funds Released to Finish Rocky Fork Lake Work - Lack of state funds
necessitated an emergency allotment of $131,000 to make necessary improvements before the lake is filled.  Still to be done is the raising of bridges on the county home road and one on the south side of the lake; construction of a bathing beach, wells, sanitary facilities, safety fences, boat docks, shelters and access roads.

May 1, 1962 p. 2 of 8 - AUCTION! Brick Building w/2 connecting warehouses, New Vienna, Ohio to be held Saturday, May 5, 1962.  Owner:  Goldie E. [Allen] Sayre [1894-1985].  Located on Main St., in the center of the downtown section.  "One of NV's best business locations ... a grocery store has been in this building for a number of years but it can be used for any type of retail business."

May 11, 1962 p. 4 of 22 - Engagement of Lou Ellen Bowles (NVHS 1960) announced by her parents Mr. and Mrs. Roy Bowles of New Vienna, to Roger Allen Wilson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Wilson of Wilmington.

May 18, 1962 p.4 of 22 - Bennington-Gross Wedding Vows.  Fannie Gross, daughter of Mr and Mrs. John Gross of Hillsboro was united in marriage with Robert Earl Bennington (NVHS 1957), son of Mr. and Mrs. Millard Howard, Bloomingburg.  Ralph Milburn was the best man.  After four years in the navy, Mr. Bennington is currently employed [in 1962] by Buckeye Molding.

1962 Senior Class New Vienna (Ohio) High School

This month is the 50th Class Reunion for the New Vienna Class of 1962 – the next to last class to graduate from New Vienna High School.  Twenty-six students are pictured in the 1962 Tiger Tales Yearbook.  Julia Ulrey is not pictured.  Class members include:  John and Karen Hughes Bernard, James "J.N." Carey, Jerry E. Davis, Judy Eaton DeLuca, Eugene Engle, Joyce Hakes, John W. Hughes, Thomas L. McMillan, Dennis Messimer, Paul Eddie Orebaugh, Paul Pinkerton, Donald Robbins, Charles Salisbury, Jo Ann Sheffield, Sue Shoemaker, Patricia Stethem, John B. Streber, Carolyn Strevel, Julia Ulrey, Jean Vance, Larry Vanzant, Steve Walls, David James Wiget, Thomas Wilkinson, Richard Wolfe.

John A. Bernard, J.N. Carey, Carolyn Ann Conyers.

Jerry E. Davis, Judy Eaton Deluca, Edwin Eugene Engle

Joyce Hakes, John William Hughes, Karen Hughes Bernard

Thomas L. McMillan, Dennis Messimer, Paul Eddie Orebaugh

Jo Ann Sheffield, Sue Shoemaker, John B. Streber

Paul Richard Pinkerton, Donald D. Robbins, Charles D. Salisbury

Pat Stethem, Carolyn Sue Strevel, Jean Vance

Larry Joseph Vanzant, Steve L. Walls, David James Wiget

Thomas A. Wilkinson, Richard Wolfe

Mary Hoskins & 1973 50th Class Reunion of the Clinton-Highland Normal School

Mary B. Hoskins was the first grade teacher in New Vienna pictured here with the first graders in 1918-1919.  She also was a teacher in the Clinton-Highland Normal (teachers) School in New Vienna which was renowned in the early 1900s.  In 1925 the Normal School was moved to Wilmington College and Mary also moved to Wilmington.

Mary was born in New Vienna in 1885.  Her grandfather, John Hoskins, was born in the New Vienna area in 1813 after the family migrated from North Carolina in the early 1800s.  According to the Wilmington College Alumni News of May 1950, page 2, she retired from Wilmington College in 1950 after serving as associate professor of education for 25 years, having taught more than 2000 prospective teachers.  She had a "total of 46 years of teaching experience, teaching in the intermediate grades at Martinsville for three years, the primary grades at New Vienna for 11 years, and in the old Clinton County normal school for five years before joining the Wilmington College faculty."

*****
In an article in the Hillsboro (Ohio) Press Gazette, is an account of the 50th Class Reunion of the Clinton-Highland County Normal Class of 1923.  Found on page 5 in the Social Events section, the original can be found here.  Transcription follows with my notes [in italicized brackets].

50th Class Reunion Held on July 8

The Clinton-Highland County Normal Class of 1923 held its 50th Anniversary reunion on July 8 at Lions Club on Rt. 28, west, New Vienna.

Harold Gleadell [Leesburg, 1896-1997] gave the invocation before the bounteous 1PM picnic dinner. Many pictures were taken to add to the group's collection of the past. Each member told of their varied activities during the 50 years. all have retired from teaching with many years of service.

There were 21 members of the class with eight in attendance at the reunion. Letters were read from Mr. and Mrs. Everett Roush [Sardinia, 1902-1992], Nellie Deck [Roush, 1904-1994], Sardinia, Mrs. Hattie Ralston Walls [1904-1983], Wilmington and Mrs. Mabel Grove Ritchie [1904-1985], Hillsboro. Two classmates are deceased, Harold Roberds (1905-1945) and Wiley Manker (1972), and the instructor, Miss Mary B. Hoskins (1969).

Those attending the reunion were Mr. and Mrs. Harold Winkle [1902-1981] (Bessie Kuhn [1904-1991]), Fairborn; Mr. and Mrs. William Granger (Helen Brown), Springfield; Mr. and Mrs. Harold Gleadell, Leesburg; Mr. and Mrs. Myron Johnson, Lynchburg; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Waits [1898-1984] (Gertrude Moon [1905-2003]), New Vienna; Mrs. Martha Jones Woodmansee [1903-1984], Highland; Mrs. Leora Rhodes Spindler [1905-1999], Mrs. Madge Chaney Griffith [1902-1982] and Earl A Rhodes, Hillsboro.

The class will meet again in 1975.

Mrs. Penn's 6th Grade 1961-62

These students would have become part of the East Clinton Class of 1968. Mary Etta Penn, born in 1915, passed away in 1996.

Front Row: Tommy Suttles, Harold Wallen, Mickey Wilkinson, Craig Wiget, Greg Prickett, Roddy Strupper, Dickey Curtis, Junior Milburn. Second Row: Rick Orebaugh, Donna Jean Williams, Lorraine Hull, Cleo Hazelbaker, Jacky Dean, Marsha Purtee, Barbara Rudisill Gildea, Cecil Lightner. Third Row: Arnold Collins, Carol Salisbury Webster, Gloria Miller, Karen Thompson, Susan Penn, Teresa Davidson, Libbie Rupp, Beth Harper, Mrs. Everett (Mary Etta Slaughter) Penn.  Top Row: Debbie Gibson, David Myers, Debra Brumley Carey, Billy Dayton, Peggy Fawley, Roy Rogers, Elaine Harner, Danny Ferguson, Mike Wharton, Robyn Minzler. Not Pictured: Sandra Behling, Bobby Cluxton, Georgia Campbell, Cynthia Irwin.

1962 - Mrs. King's 5th Grade

These students would have been part of the East Clinton High School class of 1969. In this picture they will forever be fifth graders.

Mrs. King's 5th Grade 1961-62.  First Row: Dana Storer, Sharon Hurst, Debbie Wolfe, Connie Conyers, Mike Williams, Larry Akers, Garry Akers.  Second Row: Butch Scott, Carol Smith, Mike Watson, David Custis, Jerry Curtis, Eddy Eaton.  Third Row: Linda Penn, Ricky Drake, Jennifer Gano, Mrs. William King, Carolyn Simbro, Logan Lawson, Robyn Streber.  Fourth Row: Mary Pat Clear, Douglas Prickett, Faye McVey, Larry Priest, Pamela Thompson, Clara Tolle, Roberta Uible, Donna Lightner.  Not Pictured:  Benny Achor, Michael Marshall, Barbara Deck, Larry Mongold.