On the morning of Dec. 28, 1964, when I was a wee lad living in suburban Cleveland, I rushed to the newspaper box to grab that day’s copy of the Plain Dealer.
The enormous banner headline read:
“BROWNS CAPTURE CROWN, 27-0.”
When I stuck that paper in a dresser drawer a few days later, I never imagined that 47 years later — and counting — I wouldn’t have anything even remotely similar to stack on top of it.
To my surprise, the souvenir has remained in reasonably good shape after all these years and all of my moves. But to folks who are serious about newspaper collecting, a publication from 1964 might as well have been printed last week.
A group in Worcester, Mass., isn’t interested in anything that doesn’t predate 1877.
The American Antiquarian Society is one of the oldest historical societies in America. It has more than 2 million original issues of newspapers, and houses them on seven miles of shelving in climate-controlled rooms.
Unlike most historical societies, its focus is national rather than regional. Among its holdings: copies of a temperance newspaper called the Akron Buzzard, which existed in 1844 and 1845.
But the society doesn’t have a lot of newspapers from Ohio, and its curator of newspapers and periodicals, Vincent Golden, is hoping to rectify that. Golden asked me to ask you whether you have any Ohio papers from 1876 or earlier that you’d be willing to donate.
Normally, I’d prefer to promote a local group, but the Summit County Historical Society doesn’t have the space, nor does it take any special steps to preserve these types of things. And the American Antiquarian Society is absolutely first-rate.
If you have something you’d like to contribute, contact Golden at 508-471-2148 or vgolden@mwa.org.
Charity work
One of my best friends is the president of a hospital in another part of the state, so I know how hard those guys work, and how much pressure they’re under.
But I literally LOL’d while reading our recent story about the salaries paid to the top hospital executives in Akron.
We quoted a spokeswoman for the Ohio Hospital Association as saying the local execs could do much better if they worked in for-profit industries.
“A million dollars certainly is a decent package, but it’s not the highest thing that these people could command,” she said.
“We’re blessed that there are people who want to work for a nonprofit that has a mission of serving its community, and they’re not just in it for the money.”
What a monumental sacrifice! Willing to work for a mere $1 million a year!
Look out, Mother Teresa.
Emerging identity
Thank goodness the Canton Repository covers the Stark County courts like a blanket.
The Rep reports that a Jackson Township man named Happy Love Seran, 55, has filed a motion to change his legal name to Happy Love Christian.
His reasoning, as noted on his application: “To be creative because I am changing the older I get.”
Mind you, this perpetually euphoric fellow has had his current name only since February. Before that, he spent five years as Happy Mark Seran.
Clearly, he does not suffer from seasonal affective disorder.
Words to live by
A couple of recent column items dealt with fortune-cookie sayings that clearly lost something in the translation. Maggie Oliver of Akron volunteers another head-scratcher.
“I’ve kept my favorite fortune from a House of Hunan cookie in my jewelry box. It’s very hopeful: ‘The rubber bands are heading in the right direction.’
“It has gotten me through several tough times!”
Double play
Did you catch the date printed at the top of the front page on Thanksgiving morning? It read Nov. 27, 2012.
We not only give you the news of the day, we give you the news of the future.
Bob Dyer can be reached at 330-996-3580 or bdyer@thebeaconjournal.com.
