Treasure Chest Thursday - NCR Blood Bank Card

              The NCR Blood Bank card I found in my father's old wallet

I know that it might sound strange to consider a "blood bank" card one of my treasures, but this one is special.  My father worked as a toolmaker at the NCR corporation in Dayton from the late 1950's until the company cut the majority of it's manufacturing workforce in the 1970's.  I found this card in an old wallet of my father's, along with a few miscellaneous receipts.  I love the fact that it depicts the old NCR logo, but most importantly, it gives my father's blood type and it states that he contributed to the NCR Blood Bank.  The funny thing is I can remember hearing the story of how he could never donate blood after this because he fainted during this first time.  So, this is a treasure for many reasons; not the least of which is the smile it brings to my face when I remember that story.

Military Monday - NCR Norris Men in the Service

The above article appeared in the monthly magazine that was published by The National Cash Register Company in Dayton.  It states:  "World Wars I and II - Top picture shows L.V. Norris, of Polishing-Plating Department, as a Corporal in World War I.  Above left: Pfc. Edgar M. Norris, son of L.V. Norris, enlisted in the Air Force in February, 1944 and is now a gunnery instructor of B-29's at Clovis, N.M. Right: Corp. Donald L. Norris, another son, is somewhere in Germany with a medical detachment.  He has been overseas since September, 1944 and has seen many of the father's old camping grounds.  The boys are brothers of Jeanne Norris, Telephone Exchange."

I have written previously about NCR and it's importance to my family and to my hometown.  Each month NCR distributed a magazine that detailed not only the business news, but also information about the employees and their families. I am lucky enough to have several of those books and newsletters in my collection.   I have always loved this particular article, which discusses my grandfather, two of my uncles, and my aunt who all worked at NCR along with both of my parents.  

Treasure Chest Thursday - Great Grandpa Routsong's letter

My Maternal Great Grandfather, Henry Mathias Routsong

I have written in the past about an incredible  history book about the Routsong family entitled "From Rauenzahner to Routson, A Family on the Move.", written by John Philip Dern and Marjorie Waidner.  It's one of my favorite family resource books and inside it is an item that the authors reference when writing about my great grandfather, Henry Routsong. They tell about a letter that addressed to Mrs. Mettie Harrington and that at the time of the writing of their book was in the possession  of his granddaughter, Harriett Routsong Nutt.  There were only a couple of sentences used in the book and I longed to read the entire letter.  I didn't know who in the family would have had possession of the letter by now so I just figured it was something I would never have the opportunity to see.  Until one day last year. 

My mother told me she had received a package in the mail from one of her cousins in response to a request we had made regarding information about her branch of the Routsong family.  I could hardly wait to get the envelope and start looking over all the paperwork.  At first, I was a little disappointed because most of what she had written, I already knew.  But then I saw a Xeroxed copy of a typed manuscript.  In the top left hand corner was written "This letter was written by my Grandfather Routsong.  Harriet Routsong Nutt" 

Jackpot!

Here in my hands was a transcription of the letter, referenced by Dern and Waidner, written by my great grandfather, Henry Routsong.  It was everything I had hoped it would be.   It read:

                1911                          

                                                R.R. No. 2 Dayton, Ohio

                                       December the 29th

Mrs. Mettie Harrington.  I have pen in hand to acknowledge the receipt of a Posttel Card containing Christian or Christmas greetings wich please accept my hearty thanks.  It is an event that attracts the attention of the world that no other event does, and well it may, we are informed that it was "glory" "Peace" "Goodwill".  Those three clear notes rang out distinctly in that first Christmas song of the heavenly host over Bethlehem's fields.  There was the note of jubilant Praise, the note of divine human harmony, and the note of brotherly fellow feeling, the perfect blending of these three made that song the sweetest melody to which earth ever listened, and it is true today that there is no real Christmas for any life in which those same three notes are not dominant.  Now Mettie, I scarecely know where to commence to right I have so much to think about.  I will commence on Post cards greeting on the 24th of November I was 87 years of age and I was reminded of the fact by receiving about 90 post card greetings, and they all wished me many more anniversaries.  Well, I can't do more than thank my friends for thear kind remembrance of me, but the age that me and my wife has arrived at we cannot expect many more.  I am in my 88th year and my wife 86th year and if we live to March the 27th 1912 it will be the sixty first anniversary of our wedding.  We of corse can't get around like we did years that is past and gone.  May espeshelly, she scarcely gets over to the girls unlefs they come and take her over in a buggy, and she has not been to see Mrs. Bradford sence she has been living at your old home.  Speaking of your old home, Mrs. Bradford has caused quite a change in regard to Bildings, she had them so arranged that she got a barn, corn crib, a horse stable and corn stable all under one roof.  The size of the building is 40 by 60 feet.  I do not know what it cost her but I have no doubt that it cost not lefs then 2000 dollars.  It is a splendid Building.  I do not know wether I can write any thing more that will be interesting to you or not, but I will state that thrue the kindness of President Patterson of the Cash Register Co. we was inabled to visit the Building.  It is a wonder of wonders.  We was told that to go thrue the whole Building we have to walk 10 miles.  President Patterson paid us a visit on sunday the 12th of November and told us that he would send for us tuesday or wednesday morning.  May told him that she could not go, but he told her yes you can and you are got to go.  So on tuesday here comes a lady by the name of Mrs. Conover.  This lady has visited us time and again for 4 or 5 years on some busnefs for President Patterson.  Well May was ingaged in baking some cakes and she declared that she could not go but he old lady said yes you shall go. Your dauters are a going that is Elly and Libey, and you are got to go with them.  Of course it was an outtomobile to take us in and that a verry fine one belonging to the President.  Our treatment was of the verry best.  They gave us our dinner and a dinner that was good I assure you.  We were told that 500 girls and then many men were imployed in making registers and averedged 300 daily.  My opinion of the factory is that it might be imitated but it cannot be excelled.  I do not know whether I can write any thing more that will interest you or not, but I will state that Olie Barns had there dwelling repaired by the same carpenter that built Mrs. Bradford's Barn.

The repairing cost him about one thousand dollars.  It is a neat and comfortable cottage, much handeer than it was befer, she has her daughter home with her now.  She is teaching school at No. 12 school House.  I will now state that I was requested by President Patterson to give him the names of the first settlers of Vanburen township so far as I was able.  It was quite a task, but I gave him a good many names.  I believe that I am the oldest man in the township liveing at this time that was born in the township and spent my life here.  When I look back to my school days, my school mates I have but one besides my wife.  I will now close my letter by wishing you  Mettie, and your husband a happy Crismas and New Year Greeting, hoping at the same time that we may meet each other by and by.  May sends her well wishes to you Mettie, and says she would like to see you.  Give a call Mettie.  You and your husband.  Your at libery to do so, for you and your husband worked for what you injoy today.

Most respectfully your well wisher                                                     H.M. Routsong

In this letter, Great Grandpa Routsong refers to "President Patterson", who is John Patterson, who was president of the National Cash Register Company, which I have written about previously.  He also refers to "Mrs. Conover" who I believe to be Charlotte Reeve Conover, author and Dayton historian.  How exciting it is for me to know that my great grandfather not only met both of these people, but actually had dinner with them and collaborated with them on stories about Dayton history!

This letter is truly one of my treasures.  The only thing that could have made it better would have been to have the original in his handwriting, but I'm not complaining!

Memories of an NCR Baby

It was massive. A tribute to the man who created her and the employees who made her run. NCR was a much a part of Dayton as the Great Miami River. The National Cash Register Company had been originally The National Manufacturing Company, begun to market the first cash register. John Patterson, a businessman who knew a good thing when he saw it, bought the company and the patent and turned the company into what would become the model for companies the world over. Mr. Patterson became both famous and infamous for the way in which he ran his business, but his ideas for employee well-being were far ahead of their time. During the Great Flood of 1913, John Patterson was almost solely responsible for saving the city of Dayton because of his early warnings and massive rescue operation. So beloved was he that the citizens of the area created a monument of his likeness that overlooks the land he donated for a public golf course. If you grew up in Dayton from the turn of the century until the 1970's, chances are you, your parent, or your grandparent worked for The National Cash Register Company. In my case, it was both my parents and two of my grandparents.

My maternal grandmother told the story of how she and her friend were riding on a transom car after work at NCR when my grandfather, still in his Army uniform, was introduced to her. He said he told himself that she was the woman he was going to marry; and he did! My father was a toolmaker and my mother was working as a typist in the parts inspection department (her boss was Pete Rose's uncle!). Dad's boss told him that he had seen a "cute blonde" downstairs and asked him if he would like to do some extra work in that department. He did. Dad told me once that when he went down to see her he thought "Wow!" A few months later, they were married and they had 42 years together before my father passed away. So, NCR was in the blood of our family. After mom and dad were married, he joined the Air Force and spent time in Japan, Texas, Mississippi, and Columbus, but he decided to come back to NCR.

During the 50's and 60's, NCR was THE place to work in Dayton. Growing up with NCR was wonderful for kids. Old River Park, created for the employees and their families was a haven for those needing a place to relax and have fun. A huge pool, miniature golf course, giant chess and checkers games, canoes to row on the Miami River, picnic grounds, band concerts, and movies were just a few of the items available in the park. Every year there was a special Christmas program (YES. A CHRISTMAS program, not a holiday program.) at the NCR Auditorium. We were treated to various types of entertainers, topped off with a visit from Santa and each of us received one of those little mesh stockings filled with candy. Once a year, we were treated to the "Toolmaker's Picnic". I assume that every job classification had a picnic, but I thought we were special. Each child was even given a special ticket that entitled them to pick out the "toy" of their choice in one of the special "stone" shelters in the park. NCR. It was wonderful; until about 1971.

I have several NCR magazines covering the time period of the 1960's to the early 1970's. Looking at them now, we should have seen it coming, but I don't think anyone did. The union certainly didn't. Times were changing quickly. Mechanical cash registers were on the way out and the microchip was taking over the world. The company began to try to make changes and the union fought back. Then, they went on strike. 8,500 people walked out on NCR.

I was only nine years old at the time, but I can still remember mom and dad turning on the news to see what was going to happen. I can still see the worry and tears. The strike went on for several months, but, like most strikes, it was eventually settled. I'm not sure what, if anything, was gained. Even so, after strike was over, things were never the same. Little by little, NCR began to lay people off. They just weren't needed anymore. The world was still changing. The factory was getting older. Now, there were empty buildings that weren't needed so they began to tear them down, one by one. Even the gorgeous architecture of the auditorium was not spared the wrecking ball. By the 1980's, the NCR property was a shell of it's once grand stature. Company presidents came and went, logos came and went. The University of Dayton bought a few of the company's buildings. The Dayton Daily News moved into a portion of another one. But, the NCR National Headquarters was still here, sitting on a small hill, behind an iron gate.

Then, another new company president, who decided he didn't want to be a part of the city that gave birth to the business that employs him, took the final step in 2009 and moved NCR away from Dayton and the state of Ohio entirely. Not with a bang, but with a whimper, the company that John Patterson and the citizens of Dayton built, moved away.

Thankfully, Dayton History has become the steward of Old River Park, hoping to restore it to it's former glory and The University of Dayton will assume ownership of the national headquarters building. Cox Ohio Media has taken over the building that houses the Dayton Daily News and plans to move their television and radio stations to the building as well.

To those persons living in the city who have no knowlege of Dayton history, it probably means nothing more than just an article in the newspaper or a clip on the news, but to those of us who grew up as "NCR babies", it's a loss we can feel to our souls. NCR may have left us physically, but the spirit of NCR will always live on in our hearts and in this city.