Preserving Galion, Inc.

Preserving Galion, Inc. The Facebook home of Galion's non-profit organization celebrating and preserving its built history. Our first project is the landmark Gill House.

Welcome to the Facebook home of Preserving Galion History, LLC, Galion's non-profit organization celebrating and preserving its built history. Our first project is the landmark Gill House on Historic West Main Street.

The final Galion mayor of the 20th century to be profiled here is D.O. Castle. Daniel Otho Castle was born on a farm one...
07/09/2025

The final Galion mayor of the 20th century to be profiled here is D.O. Castle. Daniel Otho Castle was born on a farm one mile west of Leesville on January 1845. At age 17, he enlisted in the 101st Ohio Volunteer Infantry and was wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga.

He returned to Leesville after the war and engaged in the mercantile business. In the 1870s he became a Justice of the Peace, then served 6 years as County Recorder until 1884 when his term ended and he moved to Galion. He served 3 years on city council until 1898 at which time he was elected Clerk of the Ohio Senate during the 73rd General Assembly.

Castle was then elected mayor of Galion and served from 1903 to 1906. He and his wife had 3 children. Castle passed away in November 1907.

In the May 1979 primary election, Paulette Ritchey, a one term 4th ward councilwoman, won a 3 way Democratic race betwee...
07/09/2025

In the May 1979 primary election, Paulette Ritchey, a one term 4th ward councilwoman, won a 3 way Democratic race between then current mayor Donald "Pete" Yunker, council president Albert Treisch, and herself to advance to the November general election. Her opponent in November was longtime Galion realtor Walter Kumm. By a razor thin margin of 39 votes out of 3,331 votes cast, Ritchey became the youngest person and first woman elected mayor of Galion. A recount of votes increased her margin of victory by an additional 8 votes.

Born in May, 1946 to longtime Galion businessman Charles D Ritchey and his wife Catharine, Ritchey graduated from Galion High School in 1964 before obtaining a degree from Georgetown University. She returned to Galion and became involved in the family businesses before entering politics.

Ritchey served a single 4 year term.

The general election held on November 5, 1975 featured a three way race. Incumbent Mayor Murral Longstreth ran as an Ind...
07/06/2025

The general election held on November 5, 1975 featured a three way race. Incumbent Mayor Murral Longstreth ran as an Independent against Republican challenger Donald Trumpler and Democrat 5 term city councilman Donald (Pete) Yunker. Yunker won the contest by an 82 vote margin.

Yunker was born in Galion in January 1927. He was a graduate of Galion High School and was a WWII veteran. Yunker worked many years at the North Electric prior to his election as mayor.

Yunker was defeated for a second term in a three way race in the Democratic primary held in May 1979 by eventual General election winner, Paulette Ritchey. He made a comeback in 1983 and was elected to a second term. He only served a portion of his term as he resigned as mayor in October 1985 to take a job with Ohio Department of Transportation citing the need to make a higher income as the mayor's job only paid $9,509 per year.

Yunker and his wife Lois had 3 children, Gary, Ronald, and Deb. He passed away in November 1999.

The general election in November 1967 for the mayoral race was a significant one. For the first time in the city's histo...
07/06/2025

The general election in November 1967 for the mayoral race was a significant one. For the first time in the city's history, the term for mayor was increased from two years to four. A political newcomer was challenging the incumbent Mayor Paul Wilhelm. The newcomer was longtime Galion businessman Murral A Longstreth, a Democrat. The election was decided by a 32 vote margin out of 3,566 votes cast.

Longstreth was born in September 1907 in Dunkirk, New York. His father was Homer Longstreth, son of Tom Longstreth who had founded what is now Galion's oldest operating business, Longstreth Memorials. Homer Longstreth spent 14 years in New York working as a stone cutter before returning to his hometown to take over the family business.

After graduating from Galion High School, Murral attended and graduated from Wittenburg University before returning to Galion and the family business. Longstreth was the second monument dealer to be elected mayor of Galion in the 1960s, preceded by Reynold J Sentieri.

Even though Longstreth had no prior experience in politics, he did a good job as mayor, evidenced by his re-election to a second four year term in 1971. He was a member of the Galion Masonic Lodge, past member of the Elks and Jaycees, and had been active in the Boy Scouts. He was also a founding director of the Buckeye State Bank and was serving as vice president of the bank upon his death in May 1982. He and his wife Lucy had three children, Phillip, Leland, and Becky.

In June of 1941, William Amann announced that he would be a Democratic candidate in the August primary for mayor of Gali...
07/04/2025

In June of 1941, William Amann announced that he would be a Democratic candidate in the August primary for mayor of Galion. He was unopposed and faced popular four term mayor Wilbert King in the November election that year. Amann beat King by 97 votes to begin his first of three 2 year terms.

Amann was born in April 1883 on the family farm located just outside the city on present day location of the Galion West Shopping Center. He worked as a molder for a number of years at the EM Freese Company.

Getting a start in politics in his early thirties, Amann served three terms as a Polk Township Trustee, then three terms as a Crawford County Commissioner.

Amann's biggest contribution to Galion began a few months into his first term. Up to that point, the city depended on a number of drilled wells around town for its municipal water supply. In 1942, the biggest consumer of water was the New York Central Railroad. The railroad had its own reservoir located adjacent to their rail line on the east side of Fairview Avenue. The railroad needed more water and there were three options, build a new reservoir and sell water to the city, or ask the city to build a new reservoir and buy water from the city, or do a joint venture with the city on a new reservoir.

Amann had the foresight to choose the second option, that being the city would build a reservoir. City council authorized him to enter into a contract to purchase the Hurley farm consisting of 100 acres for $10,000. The farm was located on the south side of County Line Road and three tenths of a mile west of then State Route 30 South. At the time there was an old stone quarry on the property.

Initially to be called the Hurley Reservoir, after construction began, city council voted to name it Amann Reservoir. At the end of his third term in 1947, Amann decided to retire from political life. He operated the Amann Drive In Market located at the present day location of Burger King on Bucyrus Road until 1953 when he sold the market to a Kroger grocery store manager Earl Miller.

Amann and his wife, the former Nettie Long had one daughter, Mildred who married W. Ivan Tuttle. The Tuttles operated the Galion airport located on Amann property north of Bucyrus Road, behind the old inter urban street car barns located at present day site of Pizza Hut.

Amann passed away in June 1958 . His legacy lives on with the Amann or Amanns Reservoir which continues today as Galion's primary water supply.

Francis C Schalip was on the ballot in November 1957 for a third consecutive two year term as mayor of Galion. Voters, h...
06/24/2025

Francis C Schalip was on the ballot in November 1957 for a third consecutive two year term as mayor of Galion. Voters, however, had other thoughts. By a slim 58 vote margin out of nearly 3,300 votes cast, he was defeated by Republican Edward H Jones. Jones was no stranger to Galion politics, having served three consecutive terms as city solicitor from 1952 -1957. Jones was defeated in his re-election bid ad mayor in November 1959 by Reynold J Sentieri.

Edward H Jones was born in Delaware, Ohio in September 1916, the son of a local doctor. He graduated in 1938 from Ohio Wesleyan University and was offered a job by Edgar Beall who was the president of the Commercial Savings Bank and the Tri County Savings & Loan in Galion. Beall was the father of his college roommate.

In March 1942, Jones enlisted in the US Army. After basic training and a tour of duty as an enlisted man , he applied for and was admitted to Officer Candidate School. He was assigned to the 70th Infantry Division as an artillery officer. He served in France and Germany until the end of WWII and was discharged as a Captain in March 1947. He enrolled in the Western Reserve University Law School and graduated in June 1949. After passing the Ohio Bar exam, he returned to Galion to open his own law office which he worked until his retirement in April 1989.

After his term as mayor ended, Jones was a member of the Galion Civil Service Commission from 1964 to 1981. He was also a long time board member of the Sara Beegle Day Care Center, board member of the Galion Automobile Club, and member of the Crawford County Bar Association.

Jones was married in July 1950 to the former June Dougherty. They had three sons and 4 daughters, one daughter passed away in infancy. Jones passed away in February 2006 at the age of 89.

Another two term Galion mayor was Francis C Schalip. He was born in August 1909 in Marysville and moved with his family ...
06/24/2025

Another two term Galion mayor was Francis C Schalip. He was born in August 1909 in Marysville and moved with his family in 1918 to Galion, graduating from GHS in 1927.

Schalip started his worklife at American Steel Grave Vault where he spent 12 years before moving over to the Thomas Hardware in 1939. He rose to vice president and general manager and spent 30 years with the firm.

He was elected president of Galion City Council in 1952 for two years. He served two consecutive terms as mayor from 1954 -1958. He was appointed councilman in 1961 and later that year appointed council president upon the death of William Amick and served until 1964. Appointed Safety Service Director in 1968 by Mayor Murral Longstreth, he served until 1970.

He was active in setting up the Civil Defense program during WWII. Schalip was also president of the local Salvation Army and Kiwanis club. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge and United Commercial Travelers. He and his wife had two children, John and Marcella. Schalip passed away in October 1975.

Another popular mayor who served Galion during the 2nd half of the 20th century was Reynold J Sentieri. Sentieri was the...
06/20/2025

Another popular mayor who served Galion during the 2nd half of the 20th century was Reynold J Sentieri. Sentieri was the second youngest mayor elected to his first term at age 42. He served two consecutive terms.

Born in Montpelier, VT in September 1917, he moved to Galion with his family at an early age. He assisted his father Alfred and later assumed ownership of Sentieri Monuments. Sentieri was a WWII veteran.

First elected to a councilman at large position where he served 2 terms. After being mayor, he served two terms on Galion City School board, and was also Galion postmaster, retiring in 1981.

Very active in Galion activities, he was a member of the Anerican Legion, Galion Masonic Lodge, Elks Lodge, charter member of Galion Lions, chairman of Galion Red Cross, chairman of Galion Cimmunity Foundation. Galion United Fund, and Galion Civil Service Commission.

He passed away in May 1997 in Florida. He was survived by his wife Margaret "Peggy", a longtime GHS English teacher and four sons.

Paul Willhelm was a very popular one term mayor who served from 1966 to 1968. Wilhelm was first elected to 2nd ward coun...
06/20/2025

Paul Willhelm was a very popular one term mayor who served from 1966 to 1968. Wilhelm was first elected to 2nd ward councilman and resigned to accept appointment by Mayor Edward H Jones as safety service director in 1958. In 1960, in an unusual move, newly elected Democratic mayor Reynold Sentieri appointed Willhelm (Republican) to another term as safety service director thru Sentieri's two terms ending in 1963.

Willhelm was elected mayor and served one term. In a re-election bid in November 1967, he was defeated by Galion businessman Murral Longstreth in a race so close it resulted in a recount. He was defeated a second time for his final bid for mayor by Longstreth.

Willhelm was born in Edison, Ohio in December 1906. He moved with his family to Galion where he graduated from Galion High School. He went on to become a licensed funeral director and embalmer.

Very active in the community, he belonged to the Masons, Elks, Moose, and Eagles lodges, as well as American Legion, VFW, and United Commercial Travelers. His first wife Elsie died in 1962, and he married his second wife Kate in 1964.

He passed away in May 1973. His obituary said he was a jovial, energetic, conscientious man. Numerous other city officials concurred.

Next up is the story of a Galion mayor who served a single term from 1901-1903. He may have been forgotten in Galion his...
06/16/2025

Next up is the story of a Galion mayor who served a single term from 1901-1903. He may have been forgotten in Galion history, but he probably had the most interesting life story.

George Mather was born in Derbyshire, England in 1832. He was educated as a civil engineer and followed that profession in Wales until he came to this country in 1852, landing in Cincinnati. He worked for several railroads until 1858 when he was licensed to preach while attending Ohio Wesleyan in Delaware. He was elected chair of science and mathematics during his studies there. In 1862, he accepted the pastorate of the Methodist church in Grand Rapids (Ohio). While serving his church there, he was also elected superintendent of schools for 2 years.

From 1876-1879, he was presiding elder of the Cleveland district (Methodist church) and of the Wooster district from 1893-1898. He and his family first came to Galion in 1888 when he was appointed pastor of the First Methodist Church serving until 1893. After his term in Wooster ended, they returned to Galion and First Methodist until 1900 when he resigned his pastorate due to failing health. He was then elected mayor and served his two year term from May 1, 1901 to May 1, 1903. He passed away 6 days later on May 7, 1903.

He and his wife had two children. Their son Arthur moved to Seattle, WA and their daughter Mary, was a Latin teacher at Galion High School from 1904 to 1939. She never married and passed away in January 1958.

Today, we take a look at a two term Galion mayor, F. William Biehl. Known as Billy to nearly everyone in town, he was bo...
06/16/2025

Today, we take a look at a two term Galion mayor, F. William Biehl. Known as Billy to nearly everyone in town, he was born in Galion January 14, 1873. He was married on Dec 23, 1896 to Grace Wagner. Grace's father, Dr Samuel Wagner was one of Galion's first dentists. As a young man living in Frederick, MD, Dr Wagner and a friend took an all night buggy ride to Gettysburg, PA and heard President Lincoln give a short talk now known as the Gettysburg Address.

Billy started working at the age of 14 for the Erie Railroad as a telegraph operator. He was a train dispatcher by 1912 when the Erie moved its division headquarters to Marion. Rather than to leave Galion, he left the railroad and got into the insurance and bond business. In 1918, he joined in partnership with his boyhood friend H. Jay Bachelder. The firm known as Bachelder & Biehl survived into the 1960s.

Biehl was elected to two terms as mayor, serving from 1915-1919. He was also chairman of Galion's Centennial committee in 1931. In September 1926 he became secretary of the Home Savings & Loan Company (now 1st Federal) and was also on the board of First National Bank up until the time of his death on August 5, 1941.

Billy and his wife Grace had one child, Frederick Wagner Biehl who was a graduate of Galion High School and the United States Naval Academy. In his later years, the younger Mr Biehl was a prolific writer of Letters to the Editor printed in the Galion Inquirer under the name of F W Biehl.

The Galion mayor who served the shortest term in Galion history was Albert E Treisch. Mr Treisch served his term as mayo...
06/14/2025

The Galion mayor who served the shortest term in Galion history was Albert E Treisch. Mr Treisch served his term as mayor for 72 days. He took office on October 21, 1985 and served thru December 31, 1985. On January 1, 1986, Galion changed to charter form of government, eliminating the office of mayor. Mr Treisch had been serving as city council president since March 1983 when Mayor Donald "Pete" Yunker resigned, elevating Treisch to the office of mayor.

Treisch was no stranger to city politics. He served two terms as council at large and also as council president from 1970-1972. During the administration of Mayor Murral Longstreth, he was safety service director from 1972-1974.

Al Treisch was a Galion native and worked a number of years at Bob's Newsstand. In his younger years, he was a Golden Gloves bantamweight boxer and also raced go carts in the late 50s/early 60s. He passed away on September 10, 2009.

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