Smithsonian Project At Fallen Timbers Brings American History To Life
BY KAREN BERGER — MIRROR REPORTER
Holding up a beaver hat, Linda Dix asked, “Ever heard of the term ‘Mad Hatter’?”
The Fallen Timbers Middle School students nodded.
The term comes from the 19th-century process of using boiled mercury to create fur hats. Those who made and wore the hats often suffered from mercury poisoning– and often were driven insane, explained Dix, one of three interpreters from Seven Eagles Historical Center.
As frontier women, a trapper and a Native American, the interpreters shared details of daily life in early America with the fifth-graders during the school’s January 19 Smithsonian Experience.
Holding out her apron, Dix noted that it was kept wet to prevent catching fire while cooking, but was also used to mop up blood from meat, wipe runny noses and pick up hot cast-iron skillets.
“They didn’t have hand sanitizer. They didn’t know they were spreading diseases such as malaria, cholera and small pox,” she said.
Staying warm was one of the keys to survival. While Amanda Bitzinger placed a warm wool blanket on Larissa Payeff to demonstrate, in another room, trapper J.R. Dix – a.k.a. Red Bear – showed how bear, coyote and other skins kept off the chill.
“You have to keep your shoulders and spine warm. If you get pneumonia, there’s no cure for it,” said Red Bear, who brought “Betsy” the black bear and “Stinky” the skunk, among other pelts.
Pressing his foot down on a large bear trap, Red Bear explained that it took three men to set the trap, which exerts 700 pounds of force when set off.
“You have to carry it open,” he said. “What if you fall? It could snap shut on you. You’re not getting out of that one alive. This is why we have a saying, ‘All you can hope for is a quick death.’”
Because life was so fraught with danger, survival skills were taught from childhood, explained Martin Nagy, a.k.a. Lightfoot, a member of the Ottawa Tribe.
“There was no Target or Kroger. If you needed food, you had to hunt or fish. You’d be learning these things by watching, listening and making lots of mistakes,” Lightfoot said.
Lightfoot showed how a 2,000-pound buffalo’s jawbone made an excellent saw, and its shoulder blade was transformed into a shovel or a tomahawk.
Mrs. Bones, whom students might recognize as counselor Jennifer Atkinson-Minni, told students how careers in anthropology could be an everyday adventure.
Youth then dug into mini-archaeological sites and unearthed a variety of clues that led them to draw conclusions. One contained evidence of troops at Fort Meigs – an arrowhead, broken cup and musket balls.
The Smithsonian Experience also included a Ben Stiller-guided tour of the Smithsonian via video, games and a mini-museum.
The Smithsonian Institution was founded in 1846, 20 years after British scientist James Smithson earmarked his $500,000 estate to establish a site for learning and scientific research. Today, the Smithsonian consists of 19 museums, the National Zoo and nine research centers that contain 140 million artifacts.

Jeff Marty Selected Vice Mayor In City Of Waterville
BY NANCY GAGNET — MIRROR REPORTER
After confusion over the nomination of a vice mayor in Waterville, city council unanimously elected Jeff Marty to the position at its January 23 meeting.
Council member Barb Bruno nominated Marty for vice mayor.
“I am honored to serve and accept the position,” he said.
At the January 9 meeting, both Marty and Ann Cherry were nominated for vice mayor.
At that meeting, council members Cherry, Jim Valtin and Mike Metzger voted for Cherry, while Bruno and Lori Brodie voted for Marty. Marty and Tim Pedro did not cast a vote for vice mayor.
A day after the meeting, city administrator Jim Bagdonas informed members of council that a majority of council – or four votes – is needed to elect the vice mayor and therefore another vote would be required.
Cherry requested that she not be considered for the position.
“I’m not interested in the position and was surprised when I was nominated at the last meeting,” she said.
The vice mayor fills in when the mayor is absent and would also become mayor for the remainder of an unexpired term in the event that the office of mayor becomes vacant, Bagdonas said.
Council also approved the five-year capital budget.
Marty had asked that council remove an item in the budget that called for the hiring of a technician in the public works department.
In the budget, a technician and assistant driver were slated to replace four employees that had retired from the department.
According to Bagdonas, eliminating the position would affect a number of line items within the budget.
Instead of eliminating the position, an amendment was added stating that the position would not be filled until it is further discussed and approved by council.
Prior to the meeting, council also heard a presentation by the Lucas County Citizen Review regarding a proposed change in the structure of county government. The group also made a presentation to Maumee City Council on January 17.
Council also entered into executive session to discuss pending litigation.

The next meeting of Waterville City Council is on Monday, February 13 at 7:30 p.m. at Waterville Town Hall, 25 N. Second St.