In the News - 1960s & 1970s

     To many, the 1960s and 1970s represent a loss of innocence in our country, with the many societal changes through those years. There was a loss of innocence in Fairfax, too. 1964 was especially tough, when in less than six months we lost a 17-year-old boy who drowned in the Little Miami River, a toddler who was killed by another Fairfax child, two nine-year-olds who went missing and have yet to be found, and three young men who were killed in an auto accident on the Beechmont Levee.

     In the items that follow, we see a loss of innocence creep into our village, while the events of small-town life continue as always.

Who remembers Parkmoor? It was one of many restaurants that has served diners

at 6213 Wooster Pike. This site is currently home to Chipotle.

Cincinnati Post & Times-Star, April 18, 1960

The Messenger, May 5, 1960

Lou Snyder's Sohio was at the corner of Wooster Pike and Simpson, where Monro 

is currently located.

The Messenger, June 30, 1960

Cincinnati Post & Times-Star, July 27, 1960

Cincinnati Post & Times-Star, August 25, 1960

Cincinnati Post & Times-Star, September 4, 1961

Cincinnati Post & Times-Star, October 4, 1961

Cincinnati Post & Times Star, April 18, 1963

The Cummings were long-time Fairfax residents. Ches' Cafe operated in Fairfax

for decades in the building that now houses Mac's Pizza Pub.

Cincinnati Post & Times Star, June 29, 1967

The Messenger, January 25, 1968

The Messenger, March 14, 1968

The center, later renamed the Ronald G. Cribbet Recreation Center, is still

going strong.

Cincinnati Enquirer, July 19, 1968

The Messenger, August 22, 1968

Does anyone remember Clara Sallee? She lived on Simpson Avenue and worked at 

Fairfax Pharmacy, later Atwood's, for over 40 years!

The Messenger, October 3, 1968

Well, this was certainly a red-letter day in the Village of Fairfax!

Skyline was originally at the corner of Wooster and Lonsdale,

where Smitty's Cyclery is currently located.

The Messenger, November 21,  1968

Cincinnati Post & Times Star, March 25, 1969

The Messenger, April 6, 1970

James Finan served as chief of the Fairfax Police for 10 years and later

served on Fairfax Village Council.

Cincinnati Enquirer, June 13, 1970

Hmmm . . . I wonder if the intruder was ever caught.

Cincinnati Post & Times Star, February 19, 1971

Eastern Hills Journal, August 16, 1972

I loved the annual Halloween parties, though I never won a prize

with my store-bought costume with a hard plastic mask!

Eastern Hills Journal, November 15, 1972

Eastern Hills Journal, January 3, 1973

Eastern Hills Journal, April 4, 1973

I don't remember Fairfax and Mariemont having a joint Memorial Day celebration, but

apparently it happened for several years.

The Messenger, May 24, 1973

Eastern Hills Journal, August 1, 1973

Eastern Hills Journal, November 6, 1974

Fairfax held its Bicentennial parade in May 1976, but had the actual

celebration in September.

Cincinnati Post, May 18, 1976

The three photos above show some of festivities from the village's September

25, 1976 Bicentennial celebration.

Eastern Hills Journal, April 27, 1977

Eastern Hills Journal, July 13, 1977

Eastern Hills Journal, August 3, 1977

Eastern Hills Journal, September 28, 1977

Eastern Hills Journal, August 9, 1978

Eastern Hills Journal, May 23, 1979

Eastern Hills Journal, July 25, 1979

Eastern Hills Journal, September 19, 1979

    As I mentioned when I began the "In the News" series of articles, this will be my last monthly post on this blog. I hope you have learned more about the history of Fairfax, Ohio and perhaps seen a photo or mention of a parent, grandparent, friend, neighbor, or even yourself. I have enjoyed writing this blog and hope to compose future articles as resources become available.

    I have certainly learned a lot from working on this project. My biggest takeaway, though, is my new-found appreciation for the civic-minded individuals who had to struggle and sacrifice for what we have today. I hope that you are inspired by these stories to be a better neighbor and a better citizen. I know they have inspired me.

In the News - 1940s & 1950s

     Fairfax was in the news quite a bit in the 1940s and 1950s, between the active gambling scene, new Ford plant, and struggle to incorporate as a village. Through all of this, though, the day-to-day life of a small community continued. Here are a few of the other items that hit the local newspapers during these years.

On February 9, 1942, the federal government instituted "War Time," which was basically a 

year-round Daylight Saving Time that remained in effect until September 1945.

Cincinnati Enquirer, February 11, 1942

In May 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Office of Civil Defense for the 

protection of civilians in a war-related emergency. European towns and cities were targets of 

attacks and air raids and there were concerns that this could also happen in the United States. 

Men, women, children, and the elderly were encouraged to join. Volunteers could be 

designated as Drivers Corps, Fire Watchers, Auxiliary Police, Air Raid Wardens, or Nurses' 

Aide Corps, to name a few.

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 13, 1942

The Messenger was an excellent source for very local news. There were 

correspondents for each community in its coverage area. If you wanted to tell your

neighbors what was new with your family and friends, you would just contact

the Fairfax correspondent.

The Messenger, March 29, 1946

Leroy Shelley was the pharmacist/owner of Fairfax Pharmacy in those days. It was

located where Edibles-N-Such is now.

The Messenger, July 5, 1946

Sounds good! The Kream Kottage was located at the east side of the intersection

of Wooster Pike and Spring Street, which is currently a vacant lot.

The Messenger, November 8, 1946

The Messenger, November 29, 1946

This ad shows the first phase of the Audubon Park subdivision, which included

Meadowlark Lane, Oriole Court, and the western block of Grace Avenue.

Chickadee Court and Nightingale Drive and Court came several years later.

Cincinnati Enquirer, July 11, 1948

Cincinnati Post, July 15, 1952

The Messenger, February 20, 1953

Jess Tucker later turned his hobby into a business, opening Tucker Marine in

Cincinnati's East End in 1963.

The Messenger, July 17, 1953

I had no idea that there was once a church at the corner of Spring and Eleanor!

Cincinnati Post, January 6, 1955

SPOILER ALERT - John Dinkel won.

Cincinnati Times-Star, July 9, 1955

Cincinnati Enquirer, July 26, 1955

Cincinnati Times-Star, November 17, 1955

The Messenger, May 18, 1956

Dr. Jonas Salk's polio vaccine was licensed in April 1955.

Cincinnati Times-Star, August 31, 1956

The Messenger, November 5, 1956

The Messenger, September 5, 1957

Long before GoFundMe, Fairfax residents raised money to give a friend 

a proper funeral.

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 28, 1958

Cincinnati Post & Times-Star, April 17, 1959

Ralph Mitchell defeated John Dinkel in a landslide.

Cincinnati Enquirer, May 26, 1959

Ad for the additional construction in the Audubon Park subdivision. I don't think this particular

house was actually in Fairfax; I don't recall seeing any of these houses with a chimney.

Cincinnati Enquirer, August 23, 1959

Cincinnati Enquirer, October 22, 1959

The company is still located at Murray and Virginia (formerly Ruth) Avenues.

In August 2022, C.J. Krehbiel was rebranded to BR Printers.

Cincinnati Post & Times-Star, November 23, 1959