(Reminder: the Ada Historical Society charter membership drive is 5-6:30 p.m. on Monday, May 7, with a reception at the Railroad Depot. $10 individual, $15 family. All are invited to go to Viva Maria’s at 6:30 to continue the conversation over dinner.)
By Monty Siekerman
Wilson Sporting Goods makes Ada famous, but at one time the building was going to be the home of the College of Engineering. The Great Depression put a stop to that idea, which is probably a good thing because construction began this week on a $30 million new Engineering Building in the heart of campus.
By Monty Siekerman
The first ever Ada Historical Society dinner and membership drive will be held on Monday, May 7. Those who join that evening will be charter members of the organization.
There will be an open reception from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Railroad Depot.
“We look forward to meeting you and having an opportunity to introduce our group and goals,” said President Rhett Grant. “If you have an interesting piece of your history that you would like to share, bring your stories and photos as we would love to see and hear them.” There will be several historical displays to be viewed at the reception.
The Ada Family Center will have Sunday worship in McIntosh Center tomorrow, where they have met for the past four years. After that, they will meet at the Ada Theater for three weeks, then have a kickoff celebration at their new location, Center on Central. Worship time is 10:30 a.m.
The Ada Senior Citizens have scheduled two activities for May.
They will lunch at the Plaza Restaurant on Wednesday, May 9. Be at Community Health Professionals at 11:15 a.m. to carpool.
Madonna Lawrence will have the program entitled “Our Mothers” at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23 at Community Health Professionals . Members may bring pictures or articles that they wish to share.
By Monty Siekerman
Ada, like many small towns, once had a large, thriving lumber company.
In Ada it was first known as Root King Lumber, then King Lumber. It was located at the corner of Buckeye and Gilbert streets.
The Village of Ada now owns the property. The building is locally known as the Blue Building (blue siding has been applied) and is used for storage. The lumber yard area has been turned into a parking lot for the public and for the police vehicles and workers at the adjacent City Building.
By Monty Siekerman
Know where the Ice House Recycling is across the railroad tracks from Keith’s Hardware? It’s an old brick building in the rear with a new part added onto the front but has stood idle for decades. The weathered sign still says Ice House Recycling and Propane Fill Station.
The original building was put up by Storer Bros Co, which dealt in butter, eggs, and poultry from area farms. The company located along the railroad tracks so that the merchandise, kept cold with ice, could quickly be put on trains.
