Baseball, Ohio (Part 12)
Writer’s note: As the November 12, 1947, deadline date imposed by visiting Judge Earl Parker to announce his decision on the merger name for the former Twin Cities of Baltimore and Basil, anticipation rose to a fever pitch. In Part 12 we take a final look at how the community reached this point. March 6, 1947
Twin City News
TO THE CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY
During the past year there has been a great deal of erroneous and misleading information about a proposed change of name for the Village of Baltimore, Ohio...The name of this Village is now, and has been for 122 years, Baltimore. On January 1, 1946, the area and population of Baltimore was approximately doubled by the annexation of the Village of Basil and a few months later by the annexation of territory East of the Village from Liberty Township. Since the annexation became effective there has been a more or less consistent effort made by a group of citizens to change the name of the Village...The cart is being placed before the horse in attempting to select a new name at this time. The issue is simply this—-shall the name be changed or shall it not be changed. We believe the Citizens’ Committee feels that they are acting in the interests of a majority of the people when they ask that the name be changed. The interests of the citizens of this community is our interests also. As a step forward settling this matter we are now circulating petitions asking simply that the name Baltimore be retained.
Sincerely Yours, Retain The Name Baltimore Committee,
H.R. Johnson-Chairman, Calvin Daft-Secretary, Willis E. Wolfe-Treasurer April 24, 1947
Twin City News
(Advertisement) UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL Remember Those Words From History? Today we have a similar situation facing the people of this community. Can you imagine what would have happened in the recent war (WWII), had there not been unity among our land, sea and air forces? Folks, we have a job to do, so let’s all get together now and finish it. It’s a well known fact, that through unity any problem can be solved...At this writing there are over 600 legal signers on petitions for the name Baseball. Certainly this shows the name choice of a majority of the people of this community...Therefore, don’t be a shirker, forget your personal differences and when the petition is brought to you—-do your duty. Sign it now! And when the job is done you can sit back and proudly say to yourself a job well done.
(Writer’s note: “Shirker” was a term used to describe a Civil War soldier who ran away from battle.)
Baseball Booster Club
Correspondent Jim N. Reed