Longtime Waterville Resident Shares Memories In New Book
BY BECKY JACOBS — MIRROR REPORTER
M. David Myerholtz, longtime Waterville resident and former mayor, has just released a book of his childhood, adolescent and young adult life in Toe Jam Days.
If one is too young to understand the expression “toe jam,” it is explained in his delightful book.
Myerholtz’s first childhood memories are in Woodville where he shares life on the farm. However, the book concentrates mostly on his experiences living in Bowling Green after arriving there in 1949. He was 9 years old.
Growing up during the 1940s and 1950s, Myerholtz gives an account of a simpler time with a strong influence from his farm life.
As Myerholtz explains, his family was a product of the Great Depression and World War II, so his childhood could not help but be influenced by these events.
“Our past is who we are – and I hope you (the readers) enjoy my past,” he added.
He went on to explain that “writing about my past has helped me to better understand myself, who I am and how I came to be where I am in life.”
His life at home revolved around family members, including his parents and his siblings, Louise, Janet, Caroline, Ray, Dan and Art. His story involves each of them as they become involved in his life.
Myerholtz grew up financially poor in a large family but gained learning character and values.
He was the second oldest of the siblings, and there is a 12-year age difference between Myerholtz and the youngest.
He said he started working on the book after being asked many questions by a granddaughter who wanted to know about his past. It also became apparent to him that some of his siblings, due to the difference in ages, did not experience the same past as he had.
Told chronologically, the book reveals his antics with friends while introducing a close-knit but struggling family, which includes members of his extended family.
Many of the individual tales will allow readers to identify with their own memories from that time period. Perhaps some readers will remember using an outhouse rather than a bathroom within the house, and weekly baths taken in a round tub by the kitchen stove.
There was the delivery of ice for an ice box rather than having a refrigerator. Houses were heated by coal stoves and cooking was done on a wood cook stove in the kitchen.
It was normal to have a cellar under the house to keep canned goods and potatoes cool and ready to use. Much of this food was raised and preserved from the family garden.
During the war period food stamps were used and many foods were rationed. Due to the rationing of butter, Myerholtz remembers the coloring of oleo, a butter substitute. It was white, but included in the package was a plastic bag of yellow dye, which had to be added to the oleo to make it a buttery shade of yellow.
Myerholtz remembers that he and his sister Louise mixed the oleo and color with their hands.
Farm life experience includes tales of a nasty rooster which would attack. That rooster eventually pecked his sister Louise’s head one too many times – and that night the rooster became dinner.
Myerholtz learned everything about chickens including how to kill and to clean them. One story about chickens involved a lesson from his Grandma Myerholtz. She said if it is raining and chickens come out of the coop for a short time, it will not rain long, but if the chickens come out and keep looking for food it will rain all day.
Life on the farm was not all work. The children enjoyed games such as hide-and-seek, and made up other games using bales of hay. Myerholtz also included a story about his failed attempt to ride a pig.
The life story continues in Bowling Green where the family lived on Lime Street. He attended school at University School, located on the campus of Bowling Green State University.
Myerholtz shares his varied work experience, which began at a young age. Many times he would work two jobs, which allowed him some extra spending money and to purchase his first car.
His Pa taught him hands-on car repair as he learned how to overhaul motors and other mechanical feats.
The book tells of close friendships – and the pranks they played as teens.
How many people remember trying to sneak friends into a drive-in theater by hiding them in the trunk of the car? There are other tales that will no doubt bring a chuckle remembering times from the past.
During his senior year in high school. Myerholtz found that he enjoyed industrial arts, and later he went on to perfect skills learned in his life’s work.
Myerholtz was the first male in his family to graduate from high school. Other men in his family had quit school in order to work. In fact, it had been Myerholtz’s plan to quit at age 16, but his parents convinced him to stay in school.
In years to follow, he attended night school at both Stautzenberger College and The University of Toledo, then was employed at an engineering firm.
He married his wife, Nancy, by eloping at Trinity Lutheran Church in Monroe, Mich., on August 31, 1963.
The couple moved to Waterville in 1966, where they raised their three sons, Alan, Eric and Matthew.
Myerholtz became active in the community, serving on village council and then as village mayor. He was also active with the Boy Scouts and in Rotary. He and Nancy are active members of Waterville’s First Presbyterian Church.
In 2005 Myerholtz retired and since has become proficient as a watercolor artist. He and Nancy, who enjoyed camping throughout their marriage, now travel across the continental United States and Alaska in their RV.
The book may be ordered by calling Myerholtz at (419) 878-6906, or through Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. The cost is $18.00 plus shipping.
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SUBSCRIPTIONS | STORE | CONTACT | Post Date: January 5, 2012