"I remember going to the Wyckoff store in Darrtown where they would have an open loaf of bread - you would pick two slices - go to the meat counter and get one or more slices of meat and maybe cheese.  They also had jars of mustard and ketchup. An easy lunch."

Recollections of Roger Wiley

Roger Wiley contributed the following in January 2021.

Roger Wiley contributed the following in July 2024 ... in response to this website's longevity survey.

"Ron was born in Dayton, Ohio, October, 1937.  So, as a family I believe we moved to Darrtown in 1938.

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We lived on Walnut Street.  Starting at Apple and Walnut, there was a house in the northwest corner.  Going north, the next lot was open.  Our house was next.  Then another house was next to ours.  The last house was on the northwest corner of Walnut and North Street.

Across Walnut Street from our house was a house where my grandparents lived (my dad’s parents).

The driveway to our garage was unique in that there was a giant tree on either side of the entrance to the driveway.  A driver had to be accurate when they turned in.

Our lot was deep, backing up to the farm behind us.  We had enough room for a large garden and two chicken houses. 

During World War II we raised thousands of chickens.  Each house could hold 500 chicks.  The chicks were kept in the houses until it was determined they could move outside into a large yard where they would “fatten up” on rye grass or other green growths.  When they had grown to the appropriate size, we would clean them and sell them.  After beheading them, our father was very adept at scalding the chicken.  Ron and I became skilled at removing the feathers.  Mom and dad would remove the “innards.”

The real event was after we let the chickens out to graze you could see them from the main highway.  On weekends people would stop and buy the chickens.  We would tie the legs together and the people would put them in the trunk of their car.

The attraction was that during the war there was rationing.  So, you had to have stamps to buy certain items.  You did not need stamps to buy the chickens from us.  People would sometimes buy as many as a dozen at a time.

There was speculation that a resident of Darrtown was a chicken thief.  (Fortunately, I don’t remember the name).  My dad let it be known in Darrtown that he would shoot first and ask questions later.  In addition, we had two dogs that did not take kindly to people coming on our property.

We had another, smaller chicken house for hens to lay eggs.  We always had fresh eggs and I don’t remember that we had enough to sell.

This smaller house was in a separate fenced yard.  Also in the yard was our “outhouse.”  So, we would open the gate to the yard and proceed to the “outhouse”, do our thing and proceed out.  In this chicken yard, we had a banty (sp?) rooster.  If you were not paying attention, he would fly at you and scratch your back.  It made the trip to the outhouse exciting.  I cured the rooster one day.  I had a small broom that I kept away from his sight.  I pretended to not be paying attention.  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him fly at me.  I caught him in full flight with my broom.  Problem solved.

In 1945 or 46, our dad bought a lot from Harry Teckman on Cherry Street.  Along with his dad (and limited help from Ron and myself), they constructed a house and garage.  We were at the northern end of Cherry Street.  And, the street stopped at our house, a dead end.  Many years later, it was opened to North Street when that street was constructed.

Along with others, we went to Collinsville elementary school.  Prior to my leaving sixth grade, the students went to Stewart or McGuffey, in Oxford.  Some of my friends from 6th grade were in the Seven Mile district.  So, I chose to go to Seven Mile for grades 7 through 12.  I believe I was the first from the west part of Milford Township to go to Seven Mile.  I would take a bus to Collinsville School, then board another bus for Seven Mile.

Darrtown was a fun place to grow up.  We would play base ball on the diamond behind the high school. In the fall, we played football on the property by the Methodist church.  Winter saw us play basketball at the corner of Cherry Street and Oxford Street.  A solid backboard and rim were mounted on a barn at that corner. The playing surface was cinder (or something similar.)  This meant it could rain and, in a short time, we could be playing basketball.  Many winter days, we would come home with very cold hands.

It was a treat to go to Wyckoff’s general store.  Our mom would send us to make purchases.  We also liked the selection of candy.

We had hand-me-down bikes.  Not the best, but OK to ride on the gravel streets of Darrtown. 

After graduation from high school, I drove to Miami University and enrolled.  Don’t remember much about enrolling. I met with an academic advisor and selected my courses.  I then went to Withrow Court where each department had a table. I would go to the appropriate table and get a class card for my courses.

During the fall of my senior year, I was offered a teaching job at Hanover School. In January, 1957 I embarked on my teaching career. I still needed to complete some courses for graduation. I took a night course and a Saturday course that spring semester. Then, I finished in the summer, graduating in August, 1957.

An interesting note.  One of the courses I needed for graduation was a required course in my major and it was offered during the week, conflicting with my teaching.  In December, when I was making plans to teach and complete my degree, I went to the professor of the course and explained my situation.

The professor told me to buy the book for the course.  There were questions at the end of each chapter.  He instructed me to answer each question, printing answers on cards.  When finished, I placed the cards in a box and placed the box on his desk.  I stopped by during summer school, the box was in the same position on his desk, with dust on it.  He “gave me” an A

Several years later, the professor moved to Northwestern University.  On a business trip to Chicago, I stopped by his office and thanked him for accommodating me.  We had a really good visit.

I was at Hanover through the 57-58 school year. I then accepted a position at a Van Wert County high school.  As a result, we moved from Darrtown, in August, 1958.

I lived in Darrtown 21 years."

Roger Wiley also contributed the following in July 2024 ... as part of the longevity survey.

"In elementary school (my best memory was second grade) when we pledged allegiance to the flag we would stand, place our right hand over our heart and recite, “I pledge allegiance.”  When we recited the phrase “to the flag” we would extend our right arm and point it to the flag with our palms up.

 I am not certain when this action was eliminated, but it was stopped since Hitler and his followers had his hand motion when saying, “Heil Hitler.”

Just another tidbit."