This and That

By Helen Kaverman, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Monday, April 14, 2008 (6 months ago)
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Sam Bonifas, right, gave a history lesson on Landeck Sunday at the CK of O Hall in the village. His father, Ralph Bonifas, left, Catherine Heitz and Andy Miller look over some of his materials.Landeck and area residents were treated to a program on Landeck History presented by Sam Bonifas at the CK of O Hall in the village.
The Sunday afternoon program was sponsored by members of the CK of O and the CL of C organizations. Bonifas is a former Landeck resident, now living and working near Columbus. He became interested in genealogy and history several years ago at a very young age. He has compiled family histories of both sides of his parents, Ralph Bonifas and the late Betty Schramm Bonifas. He spends many hours in the genealogy room at the Delphos Public Library, compiling the Landeck Log Book, which he has on the computer and his own printed copy. Some day he plans to have the book ready for sale but that might take two or three more years of research.
Bonifas began his program with a quiz on Landeck history, part of which follows below.
The answers can be found at the end of the quiz.
1. Landeck would be classified as which of the following?
A. Hamlet
B. Village
C. Town
D. City

2. The immediate area surrounding what would become Landeck was part of Van Wert Co. until?
A. 1840
B. 1848
C. 1852
D. 1860

3. Which of the following families was in the area when the church was established?
A. Bonifas
B. Etzkorn
C. Miller
D. Youngpeter

4. Who donated the property where the church sits presently?
A. Sebastian Ley
B. Joseph Schimmoeller
C. John Schaffer
D. Leonard Hiltner

5. When was the village of Landeck platted?
A. 1866
B. 1870
C. 1872
D. 1873

6. What was the unofficial first name of Landeck?
A. Bremville
B. Leyville
C. Seltzerville
D. Genglerville

7. What year did the village of Landeck get street lights?
A. 1923
B. 1936
C. 1941
D. 1949

8. The Landeck Rural Telephone Company was in existence from:
A. 1896-1906
B. 1906-1921
C. 1921-1936
D. 1936-1950

9. Where was the tavern known as the Blinking Owl located?
A. In Landeck
B. Just west of Landeck
C. On Landeck Rd. between Acadia and Southworth roads
D. On Kill Road near railroad

10. What notorious villain and his gang spent an evening at the Blinking Owl?
A. Al Capone
B. John Dillinger
C. Bugsy Seigel
D. John Gotti

11. In what year was Landeck Road improved from a one-lane road to a two-lane road?
A. 1930
B. 1936
C. 1940
D. 1948

12. Where was the Niemeyer baseball diamond located?
A. Behind school
B. Corner of Landeck and Sharf Roads
C. Corner of Acadia and Bloomlock Roads
D. Kill Road near railroad

13. Where was the Landeck Speedway located?
A. 1 1/2 miles west of Landeck
B. 1 1/2 miles east of Landeck
C. 1 1/2 miles north of Landeck
D. 1 1/2 miles south of Landeck

14. What was the name of the Landeck baseball team during the 1940’s?
A. Grays
B. Polar Bears
C. Cougars
D. Baseball Club

15. How many earthly remains are buried in the St. John Cemetery, Landeck?
A. About 450
B. About 60
C. About 750
D. About 900

Answers to the quiz:
1. B (a village does not have a church); 2. B - 1848; 3. D - Youngpeter; 4. A - Sebastian Ley; 5. D - 1873; 6. - Seltzerville (named after the first pastor); 7. C - 1941; 8. B - 1906-1921; 9. C - On Landeck Rd. between Acadia and Southworth; 10. B - John Dillinger; 11. A - 1930; 12. C - Corner of Acadia and Bloomlock; 13. A - 1 1/2 miles west of Landeck; 14. A - Grays; 15. D - About 900 (close to 875).

Sam went on to tell about the many fires to hit the Landeck area at one time or another. He also told about some of the unusual and untimely deaths in the Landeck area. One man was killed by a bull; two men were killed in a sawmill explosion; one man was killed by bad whiskey; and one 4-year-old girl was killed when thrown from a wagon, when the horse hit a stump in the road.
Next on the agenda was a very informative lecture on oil in the area of Van Wert and Allen counties. One of his hand-outs included a map of numbered oil and gas wells in the area. The map was provided by the Ohio Geological Survey.
Ohio has a rich history of oil and gas production that began around 150 years ago. The first well drilled in the state for the specific purpose of producing petroleum was located in Trumbull County in late 1859.
The commercial discovery of oil and gas in northwestern Ohio in 1884 initiated a 20 year oil and gas boom that was responsible for the growth of towns such as Findlay and Lima.
Timeline:
1885 — Oil was discovered in Lima, producing 125 barrels per day
Nov. 1885 — Delphos Oil Company organized
Feb. 1886 — Big gas well (Karg) in Findlay
Aug. 1886 — Standard Oil Company came on the scene in northwestern Ohio and the Production Price per Barrel for oil dropped drastically through March 1888 to 15 cents per barrel
Dec. 1887 — Big gas well three miles south of Delphos
Dec. 1888 — Sulphur Springs Oil well, south of Jennings Creek at Boy Scout Camp on Freund Road, west of Acadia Road
March 1889 — Nick Kill well south of Landeck, south of Freund Rd.
March 1890 — Oil prices started going up from 15 to 21 cents per barrel by Dec. 1899. The price hit $1.00 per barrel
Dec. 1900 — Landeck Oil Co. organized. Officers and directors: Mike Stippich, Hubert Youngpeter, John Kalt, Will Steinle.
1924 — Landeck Oil & Gas Co. organized. Officers and directors: B.L. Jauman, Jos. Freund, Hubert Youngpeter, John Suever, John Freund, S.G. Metzger
1937 — Old Oil Wells were pulled in the Venedocia area
1979/1980 — Jake Pohlman drilled for oil, at 1247 feet he got two barrels of oil and some gas
Most wells in the Landeck oil field were 1,200 to 1,800 feet deep, some have been drilled 3,247 feet.
In Ohio some wells were as shallow as 100 feet but some as deep as 11,000 feet.
Same added that the 2006 report of oil and gas by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources believes that only 10% of the oil in this area has been found.
In another item of discussion Sam said the Blinking Owl was built by the Hummer family in 1934. It became the Hummer in 1935, with Grand Opening on 19 May 1935. Carl Dienstberger orchestra provided the music. The Hummer became the Tavernelle. A fire on 17 March 1940 destroyed the building. This establishment was located on Landeck Road between Acadia and Southworth Roads.
Much discussion was held on the many topics that were covered. Landeck has a very interesting history and many interesting people have lived in the community over the yeas.

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