Cardington-Lincoln third-grade students heard the history of the Victory Shaft when three women, all members of the Morrow County Historical Society, spoke to them.
Retired teachers Phylis Miller, Janet Rhodebeck and Ellen McMurray told students of Dawn Ruehrmund, Morgan Gompf and Cindy Eyman.
McMurray shared the story of her two great uncles, Fred and Roy Corwin, who served overseas during World War I. They trained in Cardington under Capt. Virgil Peck with further training at Camp Perry before being sent overseas.
Both brothers were wounded in battle and Fred, 22 years old, succumbed to his wounds and was buried on foreign soil; but was later brought home and buried in Bryn Zion Cemetery. Roy went on to become Sheriff of Morrow County.
McMurray said she has their original letters sent to her great grandmother.
Miller told the history of the acquisition of the Victory Shaft. In 1918 during the Liberty Drive, Morrow County citizens purchased the most bonds and stamps per capita of any county in the United States. A plaque noting this accomplishment can be found on the door on the south side of the Morrow County Court House.
In 1919, Morrow County sold the most war stamps and bonds per capita of any of the 88 counties in Ohio. There were 2700 farms in Morrow County at that time. The official dedication was Dec. 4, 1919.
The women visited each of the county schools and Gilead Christian School and presented 1,000 commemorative wooden nickels to the students. These are compliments of Gompf Funeral Home.
Student Katie Townsend noted, “I learned some new important history.” Josie Hough said, “It was sad that Fred died in World War I.”
