Moreland Memories

Some months ago, longtime Moreland residents Ruth Clark of Millersburg Road south of Moreland, and Ed Sherck, now of Wooster, met for a morning of coffee and reminiscing at the home of David Bricker, Franklin Township Fiscal Officer. Ruth, 89, is a retired Franklin Township school teacher, and Ed, 86, is retired from the construction, oil and gas, and land development business.

As childhood friends growing up in Moreland, Ruth and Ed shared a number of memories of mischief, community life, and hard work, many of which took place in the center Moreland – the Moreland Store.

Ruth’s parents, Margaret and Leo Lowe, owned the store, located at the southeast corner of the State Rt. 83 and Moreland Road intersection, now owned by Phil and Caren Starr. The store operated out the family’s home, so Ruth grew up with neighbors in her house every day. Her home was the gathering place for many in the community, including Ed and the aunt and uncle with whom Ed spent his summers.

The Moreland Store was the hub of news and gossip. It was one of the first places to have a telephone, where folks picked up their mail, and the hot spot for the men to meet on Saturday nights to gather around the radio and listen to boxing matches or hoe down music. The store carried socks, shoes, overalls, bandanas, straw hats, and ball caps for the men. Women could purchase a number of food items.

Ruth’s parents would also stock up a Huckster Wagon. Pulled by horses, the wagon was loaded with everything a farm wife would need. Flour, sugar, beans, and other supplies would be delivered to the store in 100 pound bags made from pretty, patterned cotton fabric. Ruth’s mother would bag the supplies in smaller bags to load the wagon.

When the band of gypsies that periodically wandered through the area was near, the store was alerted. Ruth said her mother would lock the door to keep the gypsy women out, for their skirts had sewn in “stash spots” to hide shoplifted merchandise. The gypsies would camp between Munson and Clark Roads in an area known as The Bird Spring.

As children, Ruth and Ed spent much of their time playing outside, and as Ruth explained, “Got into BIG trouble!”. Ed spent most of his childhood summers with his Uncle Walter and Aunt Zella. Uncle Walter raised chickens and was a major egg supplier to the Cleveland markets. One day Ruth and Ed spent several hours flying kites directly over the chickens. They delighted in watching the chickens run around frightened and flustered from the kites. They did not realize that SCARED CHICKENS DON’T LAY EGGS! Needless to say, Ed’s uncle was not happy with them, and they didn’t fly kites there anymore.

A tradition they both enjoyed as young adults was participating in old time bellings. A belling was a good natured “initiation” ritual for newly married couples. Neighbors would approach the home of the newlyweds sounding every kind of noisemaker imaginable: clackers, guns, a long woodcutting saw struck with a hammer, and of course, bells. The ruckus would continue until the couple came outside, then they would be put in a hog crate and carted around the neighborhood. The couple was expected to treat the belling party to snacks and desserts afterwards.

Ruth and Ed are proud of their Moreland heritage. Growing up in this area, they were fortunate to know the people familiar to most of us only because of the roads bearing their family’s name: Kimber, Messner, Munson, Tolbert, James, Hoy, McCoy, and others. Franklin Township also recognizes Ruth’s and Ed’s family names, and you can think about them the next time you travel on Clark Road and Sherck Boulevard.