It has been said that “History is a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies.” The Tippecanoe Historical Society, founded in 1979, has been adding life to years of our cherished community through originals each and every day.

It all began in 1979, when the Community Minded Women organization came together and firmly decided that it was their charge to help preserve, display, and interpret historical materials and articles for the Tipp community. By doing so, their hope was this would boost interest in our beloved community and create a desire to leave a legacy of curiosity of our hometown.

In 1985, with help from a variety of sources which included individuals, organizations, fund-raising and a major contribution from The Tipp City Foundation, the Tippecanoe Historical Society purchased a building on the corner of N. Third and Walnut. With assistance from Betty Eickoff and Sue Cook co-signing for a loan to purchase the building, this was the beginning of an effort to bring to the community Tipp City’s history. It wasn’t until April, 1991, that the doors to bygone eras of Tippecanoe were brought to life through articles, photos, and artifacts of our small midwestern community.

With 121 members strong, the Tippecanoe Historical Society is always looking for new members. Since its beginning, the Tippecanoe Historical Society has held informational meetings and community gatherings, where guest speakers tell tales of times past. Heather Bailey of the Tipp Foundation states, “in 2013, the Tippecanoe Historical Society Fund was created. This agency endowment acts as a highly flexible savings account for them accepting stock as easily as it accepts checks.” Bailey continues, “another benefit to the Tippecanoe Historical Society is that the Tipp Foundation works hard to maintain a community awareness aspect with their endeavors.” Additionally, the Tippecanoe Historical Society has sponsored field trips, assisted in local celebrations, conducted tours of Tipp City's historic district, and worked with age groups young and old to explore their quest and curiosity. For more than nine years, the Society has conducted oral history recordings of various topics by a number of panel members. They began with cassette tapes, later went to VHS tapes, and have now progressed to DVDs.  Other than the cassettes they are still being broadcast by KIT-TV and all are available at the museum. Another favorite for the community, which the Tippecanoe Historical Society has hosted for the past nine years through the help of many volunteers, is the "If Tombstones Could Talk" cemetery walk.  Unfortunately, it could not be held this year due to the COVID virus, but hopefully will resume in the spring.

To better understand the history of Tipp City, Susan Furlong has written two plays: "Tippecanoe – Our Story" and "Tippecanoe - Our Lives".  These performances highlighted the heritage in the building of a great community and were performed for the public in the high school's Theater of Performing Arts.  Susan has also written two history books depicting Tipp City. Aptly named, “Tippecanoe to Tipp City—The First 100 Years” and “Legendary Locals of Tippecanoe to Tipp City”, these books bring a vivid look into the life of our home town.

“The most gratifying part of the Tippecanoe Historical Society’s mission is the reaction when someone comes looking for information about their home, a relative or an event and we are able to provide much desired information”, mentioned Susie Spitler, president of the Tippecanoe Historical Society. Spitler highlights a recent example. “A fellow came in asking about an event many years ago. There was a family legend and this gentleman was looking for verification. We were able to find a copy of a newspaper article in the Grace Kinney files, but unfortunately, it proved the family legend was not correct.” Spitler continued, “we get a number of people who have purchased an older home and are seeking information about its history. Or the reward of watching the students we speak to as they listen to historical presentations and then answering the questions posed by their teachers. It is always rewarding when we pull out a file of pictures and bring history to life for them.”  

Spitler added, “recently we had the daughter of a 1952 graduate contact us.  Her mother is in the mid-stages of Alzheimer's.  She talks all the time about Tipp, but lives too far away to make the trip back. We were able to put together a packet of pictures, including her dad on a baseball team, the house where she grew up, and the grocery store where she once worked.  She said her mother laughed and smiled and shed tears as she, over and over, sorted through the pictures, reliving those precious memories of years gone by. These are just a few examples of why we exist and why we work so hard to preserve our history.”

The Tippecanoe Historical Society is working to preserve and chronicle a rich history that belongs to each of us. As you stroll through the downtown, take note of your surroundings as they have shaped the past and are building the future. You are part of Tipp City’s legacy and live it each time you partake of events offered by our beloved community and its vivid history…after all, they’re making more of it these days. Be a part of bringing the stories of yesterday to the community by joining the Tippecanoe Historical Society.

Susan Southard brought a piece of history to Tippecanoe High School in a presentation and discussion with students of her award-winning work, “Nagasaki: Life After Nuclear War.”

The work focuses on the experiences of five Japanese teenagers whose lives were changed tremendously Dec. 9, 1945, when an atomic bomb was detonated over their city.

Southard discussed the Pacific War and those lives in a presentation on her research and her 2016 Dayton Literacy Peace Prize award winning book in a virtual program Sept. 16 with high school students who began reading her work over the summer.

“Today, I would like to talk about memory and forgetting - what we remember and what we choose to forget,” said Southard.

Her interest in Japan was traced to a year she spent in the country as a high school exchange student.

Among facts lost in many discussions of the atomic bomb and its use was that most of the tens of thousands who died were civilians, Southard said. Among facts emphasized are that the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki helped bring the brutal war in the Pacific to an end, she said, adding, however, that for those affected, “the war never ended.”

Among the stories shared were of disfiguring injuries and life-long health issues caused to many who survived.  “My goal was to really bring them to life, as I knew them,” Southard said of the five featured in the book.

It may be easier to forget the painful history of the bombings and the people they killed and scarred, Southard said. “It is our responsibility to know and to remember this history,” she added.

The Southard program was sponsored in part by the Tipp City Foundation. “Creating a more worldly generation is the goal of this partnership between the library, schools and Dayton Literary Peace Prize,” said Heather Bailey of the foundation. Drew Witchterman, adult services librarian, was instrumental in arranging the program.

In addition to the virtual program and brief question and answer with students and Southard, the day included a breakout session of history students discussing the work with the author and a virtual podcast interview with WYSO, Southard and some THS students.

Among students involved in the THS program was Carli Federle, a junior who was among students who interviewed Southard.

“I really enjoyed her interview because it gave us a more insider look into the book and her process of writing it,” Federle said. “Previous to the book, I really did not know much about Nagasaki other than it was the second place the United States dropped an atomic bomb, I knew more about Hiroshima’s experience because it was more publicized (which I learned during the presentation).”

Luke Hoover, also a junior, also read a portion of the book as part of a summer reading assignment.

He said he would highly recommend the book.

“Mrs. Southard's writing style is very precise; she is extremely thorough not leaving a single detail out of her writings. Overall, the knowledge obtained has changed my viewpoint on how I approach history.,” Hoover said. “The story establishes a more personal connection between you, the reader, and the accounts of people who experienced such life changing experiences firsthand.”

This was the second year for the Dayton Literary Peace Price, Tipp City Library, Tipp City Exempted Village School, Tipp City Foundation and WYSO radio to collaborate on a program to bring a deeper level of learning to high school students.

The Tipp City Foundation is pleased to announce the unanimous appointment of Bill Wendel to the Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

Tipp City has been Bill Wendel’s home for over twenty years. During that time he and his wife, Heather, have raised two children and have renovated a home in downtown Tipp City.

Bill has been an active member in our community through serving as a scout leader and the Tipp City Library Board of Trustees. Bill also founded and runs the annual Tippapalooza music festival, which benefits a local charity every year. As Bill says, “The organizations I have been a part of do a great job enhancing our community. And there are many other organizations that support our community in other ways. The Tipp City Foundation touches all of these organizations in a way that enables Tipp to be greater than the sum of its parts.”

Bill’s hands-on involvement in the community as well as his innovative spirit will serve the Foundation well in its mission to promote local community endeavors and advance charitable giving through an unwavering commitment for future generations.

The Tipp City Foundation continues to welcome new board members. If you’d like to join Bill and make a difference through the Foundation, please contact Foundation President Dee Gillis at 937-528-2482 or info@tippfoundation.org.

The Tipp City Foundation held its quarterly meeting in mid-September. The socially-distanced meeting was the first face-to-face time the board has had in 2020. Until then, the business of the group had been managed virtually. Since the beginning of the year, nearly $100,000 has been awarded.

Grants requests were broad in nature. Health and safety grants lead the awards with a significant grant to support mental health care for our citizens. Bethel Local Schools made a creative request for teacher care packages. Ultimately, nine organizations were chosen to receive 10 awards serving a broad spectrum of needs.  Grants totaled $24,744.95.

The following is a list of recipients, award levels and the impact grants will make. The additional support that donor advisors gave through their grantmaking is included.

COVID RESPONSE
Bethel Local Schools, $1,000.00, reinforces the work of the Social Emotional Awareness Counselor as attention is turned towards teachers’ needs.  Wellness care packages will be given to staff as they navigate the stress of teaching in the time of COVID-19.

ARTS & CULTURE
Downtown Tipp City, $845.00, spruces up the exteriors of downtown properties identified by the Façade Improvement Program. This grant is awarded through the Urban Stewardship Fund, established in 2009.

Tipp City Public Library, $2,000.00, adds flair to the public alley between the Library and Coldwater Café by supporting a large mural installation. Tipp City native and muralist Atalie Gagnet begins the project in fall 2020.

ENVIRONMENT
Tipp City Parks Department, $3,060.00, plants tree species like Kentucky coffee, buckeye and northern catalpa in public parks and curb lawns. Look for their beautiful color each fall throughout the city. This grant was awarded from the Lucille L. Milner Trees for Tipp Fund, established in 1998 to provide for the planting of trees in Tipp City’s urban landscape.

RECREATION
Tipp City Enrichment Program, $336.00 and Award Swap, enhances the summer activities offered to the children who attend this extended care program. Portions of an earlier grant not fully used by another organization were reallocated to support this request.

Tipp City Parks Department, $1,754.00, rallies man’s best friends at the popular dog park in Kyle Park, as they romp on new exercise equipment.  A jump bar, A-frame unit and stairways will be added to the play space.

SOCIAL SERVICES
Needy Basket of Southern Miami County, $3,500.00 and Award Swap,helps meet an expanding demand during the Holiday season. Baskets containing ingredients for a traditional Holiday meal will be distributed to an estimated 230 families. Partial dollars for this award represent the reallocation of a grant awarded earlier in the year that was not able to be used fully by another organization.  Additional support from the Dave Drake Family Fund and the Robinson-Walters Family Fund advisors rounds out support of this grant for a total of $5,500.00.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Miami Valley Region, $1,000.00,aids families as they grapple with their child’s illness during their stay at Dayton Children’s Hospital. Last year, 34 families from the Bethel/Tipp City community benefitted from their support. Services include a bite to eat, a place to do laundry, and a private spot for a quick shower…all while staying close to their hospitalized child.

HEALTH & SAFETY
New Creations Counseling Center, Inc., $8,000.00, assists with counseling and psychiatric services for those with financial need. In the next year, this organization anticipates it will see 460 patients from the Tipp City, Bethel Township and Monroe Township communities over the course of over 2,300 sessions.  Additional support from Robinson-Walters Family Fund advisors rounds out this request for a total of $10,000.00.

Tipp City Fire and Emergency Services, $3,249.95, equips emergency vehicles with immobilization devices called Reeves Sleeves, which will be used to aid patients who have experienced trauma. This grant is awarded, in part, through the Safety First Fund, established by Chief Steve Kessler in 2017. Additional support from the Dave Drake Family Fund advisors rounds out this request for a total of $3,749.95.

The deadline for 4Q grant submissions is December 1. Jim Ranft is available for your grant-related questions at 937-528-2482. Applications are available online at www.tippfoundation.org.

Tipp library collaborates with Brunner Literacy Center to bring tutoring to adults
-Program made possible through a grant from Tipp City Foundation

An added service to the Tipp City area community is making its introduction thanks to the Brunner Literacy Center, the Tipp City Public Library and the Tipp City Foundation.

The Brunner Literacy Center, based in Trotwood, is collaborating with the library to bring literacy tutoring for adults to area residents at the local library.

The project was made possible through a grant from the foundation.

Tutors now are being recruited locally to work with students learning English, said Ashley Lackovich, executive director, Brunner Learning Center.

“We provide free, individualized, one-on-one tutoring to any adult in need of our services. Our tutors are volunteers, and we provide training and support for them so that they can best meet the needs of their students. Tutors and students meet as often as they like, with most meeting one to two times a week,” Lackovich said.

Tutors should be adults 19 or older who are ready to support another adult on an educational journey. The Brunner Learning Center will provide free tutor orientation and guidance.

The Tipp City collaboration was suggested after Brunner Learning Center representatives noticed last winter that two students and their tutors were meeting at the Tipp City library.

“Given that this is relatively far from our site in Trotwood, we wanted to think about ways to better meet the needs of adults in Tipp City. We reached out to several Tipp City community members who are friends of the Brunner Literacy Center, and through them learned about the rich immigrant community,” Lackovich said.

After talking with the library, the literacy center decided to apply for a grant through the Tipp City Foundation to expand services. “Thanks to the generosity of the Tipp City Foundation and the collaboration of the Tipp City Library, we're getting ready to support adults in the Tipp City community with literacy tutoring,” she said.

The library is a natural place for adults from the Upper Miami Valley with literacy needs and their tutors to meet, said Lisa Santucci, library director.

They will use library meeting space as well as the outdoor seating in the alley for their session. A Plexiglas screen was purchased by the library for safety use between a tutor and a client.

“This is a new relationship and one which I hope grows,” Santucci said. “I hope to be able to learn about adults in the area that need assistance and know that I can call upon Brunner.”

Anyone with questions or interested in the program is asked to contact Santucci at 937-667-3826 (ext. 201), email -  director@tippcitylibrary.org or Lackovich at 937-567-9600, email – alackovich@brunnerliteracy.org.

Grants Awarded by Tipp City Teen Leadership participants:

Brukner Nature Center for nature story time supplies for Tipp City preschoolers

CASA/GAL of Miami County for Caring Tree children’s Christmas gifts

Child Care Choices for Zoom host platform costs

Downtown Tipp City Partnership for signage

Give Medical Ministry for bathroom safety equipment

Miami County Dental Clinic for Traveling Smiles portable dental program for children

Tipp City Public Library for public art mural in alley

Tipp Monroe Community Services for Community Relief Program

Tipp Monroe Community Services for Lunch on Us free summer food program

Troy Miami County Library for Imagination library books for children in Tipp City and Bethel