The Paulding County Jail A Huge Snowy Owl
Sam Rivers, Indian Agent Chapter 3: Still Here at Gothenburg
By: Stan Jordan
Here we are at the Goatville Pony Express station. We have had rain, sleet and blowing snow since right after noon. We are alright, the express rider (Luke) came in around four hours late, nearly froze to death and covered with sleet and ice.
Jim took care of the rider’s horse and gear. The agent brought Luke in and laid him on the table. He didn’t move a bit. He wasn’t dead, but sort of stiff. Callie brought out a thick comforter, and Jim and I held it in front of the fire until it was very warm. We had stripped the rider of his clothes clean down to his long johns. Then we wrapped him up in the very warm comforter and laid him back on the table. People were rubbing each of his arms and feet to get circulation back. He soon sort of grunted and went off into a heavy sleep.
We just sat around and drank coffee waiting for Luke, the rider, to wake up, come to, or just make a noise. I guess it was about 3:00 a.m. when he started to stir a little. He moved his arms and legs and then opened his eyes and wet his lips and then he said, “I’m hungry.” That was good to hear.
We gave him all his clothes and they were dry and warm now. After he dressed he sat down at the table with all of us and he tore into a platter of hot beef stew over biscuits.
Jim made another pot of coffee and all of us sat around that big table. Even through it is very late we wanted to hear why Luke, the express rider, was late.
Luke said, “It was a nice morning when he headed west out of the Express station at Levington. About noon the sky started to look bad.” (That is just what Jim and the others noticed).
Luke said he stopped his horse long enough to rest and refresh himself. He said, “I guess a winter thunderstorm came along as out of the clouds came a crash of thunder that scared my horse and he ran off down the trail towards this place, thank goodness.
“Well, the first hour wasn’t too bad because the gravel on the road stuck up through the ice and traveling wasn’t to bad. After that walkaway got to be treacherous and not easy at all.
“Boy, was I glad when I could see my horse standing by the road up the trail a ways. He was very scitterly, he was still scared. It took me quite awhile to get up to him and take hold of the harness. I walked and held his halter for the rest of the trip. The freezing rain and cold wind was making my coat very heavy and miserable to walk on the ice. I thought I would collapse before I got to this station. I didn’t remember much of the last part. I do remember much of the last part. I do remember seeing the express station looming up in the darkness.
“I am so obliged to all of you folks for taking care of me. I don’t remember anything until I woke up laying on the table. That sure was an experience.”
It is still snowing outside.
Jim said, “Maybe we could be snowed in here for awhile, so maybe we should watch our supplies. Like only have two meals a day. Breakfast around 8:00 or 9:00 a.m. and then supper around 3:00 or 4:00 p.m., but we do have plenty of coffee.” All agreed that would be a good idea.
Jim and I went out in the storm and took care of the animals and Luke’s Pony Express horse also. We both commented on how the snow is piling up fast.
Jim had been bustling around in the kitchen, outdoors and back again and he said, “If it’s all right with you people I will get supper.”
He went out to the potato bin and he found six big nice potatoes and stated, “I will fix what cook’s call loaded baked potatoes.”
Jim put all six of the potatoes on the hearth as close to the fire as he could. He had gone to his wagon and got a piece of number nine wire about six feet long and bent it into a long u-shape and made a pair of tweezers to turn the potatoes by the fire so they would bake clean through.
Hazel, the station manager’s wife, had some dried venison, it looked like beef jerky and Jim took his skinning knife and cut it up as small as he could, like number six shot. Jim took each hot potato and cut from top to bottom length a ridge but left a little on each end so the melted butter wouldn’t run out. Every person got a plate with a cut potato on it and Jim set up a line of bowls with hot butter, dried venison, cheese (Callie had made cheese sandwiches for the trip and cut the cheese into small pieces for the potatoes), dill, sage, horseradish, salt and pepper and you filled the baked potato with whatever and how ever much you wanted. Hazel, from her garden, also had some onions chopped up in a bowl if you wanted some.
Everyone was plenty hungry and this huge potato along with Hazel’s hot biscuits and coffee, it was fit for a king, and all said so over and over. Jim made another pot of coffee and all sat around the big table and ate, talked and drank coffee until after dark.
Jim looked outside and when he returned he said, “It is still snowing, We are going to be here awhile.”
Next week: Still at Gothenburg Pony Express.
See ya!
The Paulding County Jail
By: Stan Jordan
Quick and to the point. On November 8th, we will vote on many things but one of the most important issues for us is the levy of 1.35 mills for the Paulding County jail.
We already have grounds, the building, a fine sheriff’s department and a lot of the jail is already furnished and ready for occupancy. I think it is good business to pass that levy and have our own Paulding County jail.
We had sixteen men and four women in the Putnam County jail and one in the Van Wert County jail, when I last looked into it for writing this. We spend nearly $400,000 yearly to house and transport our prisoners to Putnam County. That right there is more thank half of our income from the new tax levy of 1.35 mills. That levy will more then support the jail and all of those funds will stay here in Paulding County.
To me, it is just good business to pass that levy on election day and put the Paulding County jail into operation.
See Ya!
A Huge Snowy Owl
By: Stan Jordan
I was in the United Methodist Church parking lot last Sunday morning about 9:45 a.m. and up on top of the bell tower was a huge bird. At first I thought it was a young eagle because it was so big, but I know now that it wasn’t an immature eagle.
It sat there about a minute and I didn’t have a camera or my field glasses. Soon it just fell off to the right and sailed out of sight.
So here now, Monday morning at my desk, looking at my bird book. I know that what I saw was a huge Snowy Owl.
I didn’t know they were back in our area again. but this was Snowy Owl. It didn’t have any black on it like a young eagle, it was more white than anything.
I am still amazed at the sight of that bird, they are huge. I hope some else sees him. They are more native to Michigan than to here, but that isn’t very far away.
See Ya!
