Here's a colorized postcard photo of the First Presbyterian Church. The postcard was mailed in 1919 and we assume the photo was earlier than that.
Here are some observations.
1 - Notice the horse and buggy on the right edge of the photo.
2 - Check out the catch basin in the street curb at the corner of the street.
3 - You can see the edge of a house across the street (east side of street) from the church
4 - Is that brick or a dirt Main Street?
Now, as you read the message on the back, notice the word "machine" for automobile.
A jewelry store in Ada? Not just any jewelry store a "leading jeweler." That's what E.H. Deselms said about his store that once upon a time was located on Main Street Ada. Here's a colorized post card advertising the business.
At the turn of an earlier century Flower Day was observed in the Disciple Church in Ada. Here's a photo of the worship service taken from the booklet "Ada and the ONU - The New and the Old.
Ah, the memories. Where was your locker? Who was your homeroom teacher? Here's a photo of what is becoming Ada's older generation's idea when they think of high school. This postcard is part of the Leland Crouse collection of Ada memoriabilia.
Mandolin Clubs, or small ensembles, were popular at the turn of the 1900s. The craze was also popular in Ada. Here's a photo of the ONU Mandolin Club. The instruments on the far left and far right resemble guitars. The instruments in the center are called "potato bug" mandolins, because of their shape.
If you took this photo today it would probably have to be taken in the football stadium. Here's a photo of the Ohio Northern University students, faculty and staff from 1909. The photo brings to mind several questions:
• How long did it take to pose the shot?
• How long did everyone have to stand perfectly still?
• What type of scaffold was used by the photographer (it was a rather large camera)
• Without a microphone, how did the photographer grab everyone's attention.
