Unauthorized!

I've mentioned before that when I visit the Richfield Historical Society on Tuesday mornings, there are usually people from the village dropping in. And that because Richfield is a small town and most of the families have been there forever, most of the people turn out to have some connection with Crowell Hilaka.

What I haven't mentioned before is that most of the men of a certain age grin sheepishly - then admit to having having snuck in. Or at least trying to. No names to be revealed - just historic trends.

One elderly gentleman liked to sneak over at night while the Kirbys still lived there. He liked to stop the millwheel from turning with his bare hands and then see how long it would take to start up again. Another guy confessed that he and his buddies would ride their bikes over to the camp before there was a fence, creep up to a tent unit, and make scarey animal noises. They considered it a triumph if they could get the girls to scream. Then they'd peel out on their bikes before getting caught. (I told that guy that he owed us. He agreed.)

All that changed once the fence was up. Today's informant liked slipping into the tank proving grounds on a regular basis. But he made it a point to check through the fence to see if there were any girls in view. Sometimes the girls were already up at the fence already, and they would talk. This was in the late 1950's and early 60's. I have never been able to pinpoint WHEN the fence was installed. But by getting rough dates and correlating them with the degree of male sneakage, it had to have been put up between the mid 1940's to late 1950's. The fence is so unusually heavy-duty for a GS camp even now, let alone fifty years ago. My guess is that it went up when the proving grounds came in. I would not be suprised to find out that it was paid for by the proving ground people - either the military or GM - as a condition of being able to locate so close to a girls' camp. But that's just my theory.

Today's informant spoke at length about the tank testing operations: The proving grounds were located in what is now Rising Valley Park. The entrance was on Newton instead of Oviatt. The tanks were built at the GM plant in Cleveland (now the I-X Center) and tested in Richfield because of the hilly terrain. At one point the tanks went down a hill into a creek. The water got to six feet deep and the tanks had to go all the way under and emerge on the opposite hillside without stopping.

Addendum to the apple story: When I told my dad about Neal Fruit Farm, he said when he was a kid during the second world war, he and the other kids in Bedford would get taken on a YMCA bus down to Richfield to pick fruit during the summer and on weekends. All the men were at war and even migrant workers weren't enough. He wasn't at Neal's himself, but somewhere nearby. The amazing thing? Not that Dad picked fruit, but that my own FATHER turns out to be one of the folks with an old-time Richfield Connection!

Apple Trees and Civil War Soldiers

The part of our camp that we are allowed to use was once a fruit farm.   The Neals ( who built the fancy houses)  ran the Neal Fruit Farm as a sideline.  The Giant Eagle next store started out as the Neal's "Country Counter".  In the mid 1800's, well before the Neals, it was the Freeman Fruit Farm, one of the largest orchards in Ohio.  Mrs. Freeman was the daughter of Nathaniel Oviatt, one of the first pioneer settlers in the village.  

So.....how did it all start?  I was wondering if there may have been a connection with Johnny Appleseed  (yes, he was a real person).   But altho Johnny may have made some contribution,  he worked mostly in the Massillon area when he was in Ohio.  The Freeman fruit came came from somewhere else - probably right next door.  

The land that the camp's long drive crosses has had some interesting owners.  The first recorded owner (1834 tax map) was Isaac Welton, Revolutionary War veteran and fruit farmer.  It was his family that carried varieties of Connecticut apples by covered wagon to Richfield.   From these, their family grew what became known as the Richfield Nonesuch Apple and the Welton Pie Apple.  These varieties were well enough known to be described in a mid-nineteeth century English booklet on American apples.   

The Richfield Nonesuch was very much a local claim to fame.   But it was small and tart,  and fell out of favor with large growers. I was in the Richfield Historical Society last week reading about how interest in the Nonesuch revived from time to time.  And each time, a few cuttings  of the historic trees were carefully grafted and nourished.  I mentioned to Linda that it would be cool to see one.  "Oh, c'mon then," she said. "I'm just about to lock up and get some lunch".  I tagged along with her across the street and into the neighbor's yard.  There were trees loaded with every color of apple.  "This one" she pointed out a tree loaded with bright pink and yellow apples.  We both munched into the Richfield Nonesuch.  Historic Research: Delicious!  

                                       *   *    *    *    *    *      *  

Back in the archive after lunch, Linda told me about some college undergrad coming in to research a couple of Civil War soldiers who were brothers.  Both died during the conflict, but one had kept a diary.  After his death, the family had the diary published.  The soldier's name was John Oviatt.  The name didn't ring a bell to me.  Not a surprise - considering that there were probably several hundred Ovaitt's in NE Ohio at the time.  But I poked through the introduction.    Lo, John's parents were Nathaniel & Julie - which made him the brother of Ruth Oviatt Freeman.   Yup, that's OUR girl!   

The Millwheel - 1972 - The Times, They Are A'Changin'

The 1970's were tough on Girl Scout identity.  

Millwheels through the 1950's & 60's had a jaunty tone.  The favorite topics were camping,  service projects, and the Dollaballoo. Leaders were almost always shown in full uniform - including the hat. 

Then bam!   1970. Cover articles start to worry about fundraising.   1971. Leaders begin to be shown out of uniform!!!!!!!!     1972.  Girl Scouts struggling to remain relevant.   A leadership conference includes these courses:  "Action Now - Ecology" ,  "Grassroots: Drugs and Sex" , "Women's Lib"   

The March 1972 issue has this headline :  "Suppose one of your girls said 'I am in real trouble' ?",  and gives sound advice on listening to and counseling girls with serious issues - including addiction and pregnancy.     

The same issue has an OK article about camp,  but the tone of the headline suggests that perhaps the old ways are .....well, maybe just a bit quaint, and perhaps even slightly embarrassing.      “ Why should Girl Scouts bother about camp? “ 

            " At camp there is time for making the winter day dreams come true. There is a chance to be independent:  and a chance to prove to yourself you’re as grown up as you think you are. New friends are there for the asking… maybe of a different religion or race, but still a sister Girl Scout. There are adventures to be found in the out of doors. There is no better place to learn the principles of conservation, the need for good housekeeping practices, and to try out the ideals of Girl Scouting. Camping can turn the dull hot summer into an exciting experience. Living out of doors is like wearing new shoes: the more you wear them, the more comforatble you feel.   Try it on for size.   From the smallest Brownie to the tallest leader there’s a place for you at camp. Remember, financial aid is available: check your camp folder for a campership application. "

Everything this writer says is true.  But do you notice that she is  working really hard to justify the value of camping?    We're not just talking  campfires and nature crafts here - we have positive race relations,  conservation,   proving you are grown up and independent.  Also the explanation that resident camp can be hard to get used to at first - like a pair of new shoes, but that it gets more comforatble.  

Does this sound familiar?   Doesn't it sound like us  - Trying to convince people that camp is worthwhile,  even in this time of radical social change ?

Yeah, I thought so, too.  The funny thing is that from the perspective of 40 years later,  we know that camping became wildly popular again in the 1980's & 90's .  Times change.   But the basics stay the same.

Lynn

 

History Research and a Hiking Destination

Fairview Cemetery in Richfield.

 

I knew there was another old cemetery in Richfield besides the one right near Crowell Hilaka.   Tonight Rob & I scoped it out and found several history hints.   

 

Fairview cemetery is on Rt 21 (Brecksville Rd).  From camp, drive or hike out the Broadview Rd entrance.  Turn Right (South ) to West Richfield center.  At Rt. 303 turn left (East) to Rt 21.  Turn Left (North).  The cemetery is a short way up on the left side.  The sign is not hugely obvious because it is set back on the hillside.  The first thing we noticed from the road was the row of white crosses. 

 

The second thing we noticed was that the front wall is the same kind of stonework as the Kirby House fireplace and exterior chimmney.  It has this half-rounded mortar that looks like a thick cord going around all the stones.  Very distinctive and probably the same guy did both.   We drove up the hill and parked at the windmill.  

 

Familiar names from Richfield history jumped out at me, although none were attached to any ghosts.  The oldest graves are at the top of a beautiful hill.  We found the common grave for the children of John and Mary Ann Brown next to a huge tree.  Since the family was still near destitute at the time, the neighbors must have pitched in to buy the headstone.  Walter & Mildred Kirby.  (Walter was our Mr. Kirby's brother and business partner.)   Several Oviatts.     Mason's father and some of his brothers.  The eccentric Lord Farnham.  

 

Being fond of old cemeteries, we prowled around noticing things - the ground full of white violets, purple heal-all, and moss. We heard (but did not see) a large woodpecker nearby.  At the base of the far side of the hill, there is a headstone with a very large martini engraved on the back.    

 

Lynn

Questions

I have been reading through some of the old camp director reports from resident camp in the 1960's and 1970's.

I never went to resident camp,  so I don't know what some of these things are,  I am going to copy them to this list when I have time,   but in the meanwhile:  WHAT is a floating campfire ?   What is a floating lunch?   It sounds like they had a raft anchored in one of the lakes.   Was lunch there, or on a canoe?   What is a water carnival? 

One of the constant favorites seems to have been a hike from Crowell Hilaka to Whipp's Ledges.   Has anyone done this?    I want to try it sometime this spring.  anyone interested in hiking with me?  

Lynn

How Girls Can Help

As I am working on camp history displays for the open house this weekend, I keep thinking this: As fascinating as the historical research has become, the really important message is How Girls Can Benefit from Camp NOW.

It is so much better if girls at the different sites could say "Our troop camped here and we had a blast!!!!" than "the 93 acres of what has become known as "Camp Hilaka" were purchased as an extension of camp Jula Crowell in 1956 primarily to protect the northern shore of Lake Linnea" ( yawn).

People may be curious about the old houses, but it probably doesn't matter much if anyone knows whether they were bult in 1904 or 1924. A little mystery won't kill anyone. However, pointing out that the grand staircase at Amity is perfect for fashion shows and the staging of fairy tales, that can get the ideas rolling.

This may be a sacreligious thought from a historian, but we're not running a history museum on Sunday, we're trying to save a camp. So don't be afraid to help.

We can use more volunteers for the open house. No expertise required. There are some sites that have adult volunteers with a small display or two, but it would be helpul to have all the sites covered, if we could, and girl enthusiasm to ANY site is a very welcome addition!!!!!!

How did they get him home?

E-mail from Lynn to Dr. Alan Lee, an archeologist:

I was getting ready to write to you about a different puzzle concerning Mason Oviatt - so he dies in California in July 1850. They shipped his body home and he's buried in the West Richfield cemetery. Very sad, but not questionable.

I'm reading the history of Summit County by Samuel Lane from 1898. He was also a prospector of 1850. He left Akron the same month as Mason altho in a different party. He gives a great description of the very arduous journey. Lots of hopeful prospectors died along the way or at the destination - mostly cholera. They were buried along the trail or in California. Being shipped home was not an option.

Sure, Mason had the very rich Uncle Heman who may have financed it. But how the hell would they have arranged it? There were no railroads. There was no dry ice. They could have packed him in brine -- but even so -- who is going to drag a body in a heavy barrel in a wagon where there is barely enough room for survivial provisions? Not to be gruesome, but someone had to have worked a miracle to have arranged this. Does this make sense to you? What am I missing, here?

It opens up the possiblilty that there might be some record somewhere at the California end.

Lynn

Western Reserve Historical Society Library

Today I looked through a set of Oviatt family documents dated 1756 - 1876 at Western Reserve Historical Society library. They are on microfilm because the originals are stored in "the vault" somewhere. Included are:

• a draft of a resolution from the Congregational Church of Richfield 1846 condemning slavery
• The organizational charter of The Sabbath School May 9, 1847.
• A copy of the deed for the northwest quadrant of Richfield from Benjamin Tallmadge to the Oviatts;
• Either a short contract or a very elaborate receipt between John Brown and Heman Oviatt 1846
• A couple of short business letters from JB
• A description of the Richfield Town Reunion 1880

There is also a faded document that is pretty much impossible to read on the microfilm but the annotation says it is a "copy of JW Weld deposition in the case of Old John Brown".

I am up trying to decipher the handwriting from these bad copies of already fuzzy microfilms. I don't think there will be any stunning new revelations here. But I am glad to find our people in Richfield formulating their abolitionist stance:

"...Resolved - that there appears to us a strange inconsistency in the action of the Ecclesiastical body to which most of our ministers belong inasmuch as they declare slavery to be sinful and yet take no measures for disciplining ministers or members for this sin...... "

In other words, they are getting tired of just talking. They are especially angry about hypocrisy. They are moving towards doing something. This is 1846. Fourteen years before the start of the Civil War.

Then of course later John Brown went from being a stealth abolitionist and underground railroad conductor to actual fighting against slavery and leading a raid at Harper's Ferry. The juxtaposition of a deposition for his trial with his everyday business letters just makes me think. Average, ordinary people - going about their work - just trying to make a living - but at the same time, standing up for what's right. Not letting the status quo dictate to them.

This is something that girls should be able to read about when they come to Crowell Hilaka. This stuff all happened right there in Richfield - and especially because the whole camp was at one time Oviatt land.

I transcribed the letters below. Looks like a lawyer is coming after JB asking about the ownership of some land. And someone else hasn't paid a debt.

If anyone else want to look at the source material, it's microfilm 777 Oviatt Family Papers WRHS

Akron 28th [????] 1845

Darius Lyman Esq

[???]

The deed from Aaron Clark [ transfer ? ] to Augustus Baldwin [in the deed referred to? ] it is for land included in the Mortgage. Brown, & Thompson's addition to Franklin Village does not include all the land intended to secure Oviatt. The amount in Village & in farming land as near as I can tell I gave to Cap't Oviatt more than a year ago with the map I had, & I doubt not he has them yet. Without those [papers?] I could not be [????} about the number of acres in each. The addition includes some Lots sold before the date of the mortgage, & marked on the map. I lent to Capt. O. without it I cannot [?] them out. The addition includes ( I think) 2 of the reservations in my deed from Haymaker [?] one to himself and one to Mrs. Warner; I can think of no more that are incorporated in it. The addition was laid out on township lots eleven & twelve. The exact amount of land included in Village or left for farming I cannot well determine but I suppose the statement I made out for Esq Weld & gave to Capt O to be nearly correct

Respectfully Yours

John Brown

Springfield [ Mass ? ] 7th Sept 1848

Marvin Oviatt Esq

[draft?]

Yours of the 1st. inst returning my order on the McClellands is received. I do not wish this note given to Mr. Perkins but I would rather you would write to McClellands that unless they take care of their note immediately you will put it in a way of being collected. The prospect of sales is good & I think we shall begin to realise soon on wool but at present have not & we have to pay about $1000 per week for frieght bills.

Respectfully Yours, John Brown

Mom's Memories

Kathleen Bradley and I crawled through the swampy parts of camp in September, making a list of plants we recognized.   By the time we made it down to Cook's Cabin, we were pretty whipped.  I flopped down on a ridge in front of the cabin and found myself eye to eye with a miniature, spiny pink seed pod hanging under a leaf.  I pointed it out.  Kathleen has an encyclopedic knowlege of plants, and she identified it right away as "Heart's A-Burstin".  The tiny pod had already split, liberating even tinier red seeds.  It did indeed look like a valentine heart that had burst open.  It's also called strawberry flower, but I like the first name better. 

My mother-in-law, Ele, is a fan of wildflowers.  She taught me most of the ones I know.   A day or so after the hike I told her about our hike and asked her if she had ever heard of "Heart's- A- Burstin".  She hadn't.  But she was very interested in where we had found it.  "Sunny may have planted it"  she said. "Not the Sunny you know.   Her real name was Mary Hoyt.  She used to run resident camp.  One summer, she planted a wildflower garden between Cook's Cabin and the creek."   

I asked Mom to tell me more.  Mom had been volunteering at camp and was stationed in the Nature Hut - the little cottage just off the path between Kirby and Hilltop.   Between visits from girls, she was poking through a stack of old camp newspapers.  In one of them she found a poem written by her daughter Cindy.  It was unexpected, and made her happy.   

She said there used to be a campsite on the far side of the lower lake.   It was called "Innisfree",  after the poem by W .B. Yeats 

     

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.

"Innis" is Irish for "Island" . This particular campsite was isolated, beautiful, and high above the lake with the waterfall below.  One could imagine being on some misty Irish Island in a storybook time.  Naturally, the waterfall right below  was called "Innisfree Falls".  Logically enough - especially since it fits with the spirit of the poem,   listening to the sounds of the water.    

Mom later met another leader who had never heard of the poem, never heard of the old campsite, but had been on a hike one time and thought she heard it called "Industry Falls". So that's what she always called it, even though it totally made no sense.    
    

- Lynn

Ruth Freeman's Identity

......so far on " Camp Stories Not Suitable For Children" ...........   Milton R. Freeman is well known as the prosperous farmer who owned vast orchards including what is now the northern one third of Crowell Hilaka. Descendants of the neighboring farmer (in the middle third) have raised the suspicion that a couple of the children of a certain generation look a lot more like Mr. Freeman than their own illustrious ancestor. And it has only recently come to light that Mrs. Freeman's name was Ruth. According to her 1862 diary, Ruth was an extremly hardworking farm wife.

Today's installment:  Ruth's True Identity Revealed!

Not only was Ruth an Oviatt; she was one of the daughters of the land's previous owner - Nathaniel Oviatt. In my mind, this changes the whole perspective. It's not some bold adventurer, seeking his fortune, buying some land , and marrying a local girl to raise apples together. Now it's more like some guy comes along, finds out that the beautiful princess is heir to the kingdom, and marries her so that he can take over.

Well, OK. Maybe not that dramatic. Maybe Milton was a nice guy after all who just happened to fall in love with the daughter of a major landholder. I don't think they inherited - I think I have a deed upstairs showing that some money changed hands.

Not scandalous enough for you? In 1856, the owner of a large chunk of the middle (I'd guess from about Wonken Tonken up to the Adirondack Unit) was "R. Gargett". I showed this to Linda Fleming at the Richfield Historical Society, and she popped out with: "Oh yes - the Gargett's. They were part of that big murder story. - It was very famous. The last man to be hung in Summit County." To which I said, "They weren't murdered in camp, were they?" (You can see what my priorities are here.) She hastened to assure me that it was elsewhere in Richfield, and she isn't even sure how closely related these Gargetts are to those Gargetts. The Gargetts were the murderees, not the murderer. The murderer was, I believe, a doctor from Michigan named Hunter. He was was courting one of the Gargett daughters. When she soured on him, he couldn't handle it. But I will leave the details for someone else to google.

Lynn

Now we know how the mill worked!

New Treasures:   

the 1936 promotional flier to raise the money for Cleveland council to buy the West Richfield property for a camp.   It's called "3,000 girls depend on you!" and proceeds to list all the reasons why this is the perfect location.  Sunny Baddour had scored this from ebay many moons ago, and she lent me a copy.

A copy of the the application to register the mill on the National Register of Historic places.  It does not include technical diagrams. HOWEVER there is an 8 x10 close-up of the axle mechanism.  I stared at it for a million years and figured out that it doesn't look normal.  I showed it to Rob who figured out where the ball bearings would be & how that would work!!!!!!!  

They are enclosed in a sort of a donut that goes around the axle.  I thought all loose, Rob thinks maybe sitting in a groove.  Either way, the axle is actually resting on the ball bearings.  Since ball bearing are not a stable surface, anything sitting on them will roll off.  But the thing that it rolls off onto is the next ball bearing in the line and the line is enclosed by the donut.  So the axle doesn't slide off.  It just turns.  That's what made it turn so easily.   

PROGRAM - TIE IN:  Do I think girls are going to get excited over ball bearings?   Hell, no.  How will we demonstrate it so it makes sense?  We play games.  Ever see people log roll someone else?  I did - on stage - it was the coolest thing

Here's the demo:  first,  take a an 80 pound sack and drag it across the grass.   Heavy, isn't it?   Easier way?   Let's take this girl right here.  Now honey, we're going to drag you across the grass. That don't sound too fun, does it?   OK, let's get your troop mates to help.  The rest of you, you are all the ball bearings.  Your job is to roll.  Yeah, go ahead & roll down that hill for practice.  I'll wait.    

   

Now , if you were all the ball bearings in the millwheel,  you wouldn't be all rolling around loose.   You'd be in a line. [stage direction;  help girls lie down side by side ]   Ok now all turn together  [ they do it ]  now all together to move your friend.   [Axle girl gets to fly over all her friends & I can guarantee that they will all want to take turns trying it. } 

Follow it up with a quick synopsis of the physics, and that's enough formal education for the day.  Don't pile too much in at once---- leave 'em beggin for more

  

OK - back to the application - the person leading the NRHP registration effort was Clare Dowdall  (thank you, Clare, wherever you are)  Much typewritten correspondence.    In the margin of one of these, she scrawled a little note, " I'm sure you don't want us to mention the "ghost" but it might make it more interesting - Clare".  That's the only thing she says about it.  Too bad.   (Dammit,  Clare, we DO want to know about the ghost!)  

She also includes the name of the guy who built the mill:  "Mr. Pardee".  "The spokes and rim are made of cypress and the buckets are made of oak."

Signing off for now to read some more - just had to share because I'm excited!   

Lynn

Lynn,
> Excellent info! Thanks for including Sunny and me on your information list.
> Two other thoughts for possible info sources:
> Joe Prioreschi (sp) was incharge of all the camps  for awhile. He might be
> a good source of info.
> I think he likes the camps, too.
> Peg Gaggini did much of the research on the camps when we were working on
> "A Promise Kept".  She might be able to supply info or suggest where to
> look in the book papers to find info.
>
> I like your thoughts about an activity to help girls understand ball
> bearings. Your description sounds  like maybe ball were used to make what
> is now called a roller bearing.  Girls shape fits rollers. One would need
> to explain that balls were actually used when the mill wheel was built.
> Was a patent obtained on the idea of  increasing mill wheel efficiency by
> the use of this type of bearing?
> How about relating this activity dealing with ball and roller bearings to
> the STEM programs?  STEM is the current "in" terminology. Maybe money is
> available to do STEM activities. STEM means science, technology,
> engineering, and mathematics.
> I'm glad we spent some time on gathering this info.
> Luise
>

ah - I had not hear the term roller bearing before,  but it makes sense.
I know there are lots of ways to expand that concept,  either taking it in
the direction of industrial pieces/parts OR  the concept of taking what one
knows and tweaking it to apply to a new situation.    IS STEM actually a
specific program ,  or just a handy grouping of subjects?  Yeah - I
should have used that terminology in the property report.   I feel like I
could write a fat sequel with just the material that we found on
Tuesday!!!!!

If there was a patent on the mechanism Kirby used for the mill,  it was not
taken out by Kirby.   Rob & I hit the patent records when you suggested that
before.  We found tons of cool stuff - bt not that.  [Little known fact
that I don't feel I can announce publicly at this time:   Kirby's very
first patent was a vibrator. ]    Which begs the question- why not?   He
had patents on all kinds of everything.  Hypotheses [is that how you spell
the plural of hypothesis? ]  He may thought of it as an individual
solution, but not  commercially viable.  OR he may have designed it jointly
with the millwright -  Mr Pardee.   Maybe Pardee has a patent.   - something
I intend to check.

One of Mason Oviatt's relatives - not sure exact relationship- lived in
Richfield & had a bobsled factory& patented the design.   That's an
interesting story.  I sent it to the general FoCH group.  copied below

About 1878, the Oviatt Manufacturing Company was organized and suitable
buildings erected, south of the depot, for the purpose of manufacturing the
patented inventions of Mr Solomon  E. Oviatt, formerly of Richfield  -
Oviatt's thresher and separator, common sense wagon,  independent runner
sled, etc.   But though promising for a year or two, either from lack of
adequate capital, proper enterprise, or judicious management, the company
came to financial grief and the business was abandoned."       -page 840,
Fifty Years Later ,  by  Lane

More invention patents from our peoples!    Yowza.     Charles Brush lived
in Richfield, too.  What IS it with this place and inventors?    Maybe it's
something in the water.

After reading the info in Lane's book at the Historical Society,  I popped
over to Akron to take a look at the patents.
The first three inventions were from the years shortly before setting up in
Akron.  But the bobsled patent was from a while earlier - 1863.  It is well
known in Richfield history that Salmon Oviatt  (or Solomon)  had a bobsled
factory in town.   Evidently he was pretty successful, but then as his
repertoire expanded, he made the move to the big city.

While hunting up those patents, I accidently came across another one -  a
type of cook pot lid invented by Luman B. Oviatt of Brooklyn Village,
Cuyahoga County.   Here's the eerie part :   When the Lake Erie Girl Scout
council sold Camp Margart Bates, the title transfer lists all the previous owners

of the land.   The oldest deed transfer was from December 8, 1869.

......................... to Luman Oviatt

Lynn