Marti Snyderwine, grand daughter of Evangeline Hoagland Snyderwine wrote on the passing of Evangeline:
It is mind boggling to me to imagine living to 104. So many cultural and technological changes have occurred since 1902. Does anyone remember the typewriter, do kids really know where bread comes from or how it is made? I remember grandma's home made bread and cinnamon rolls. She also liked to bake cake with a meringue icing that could withstand a category 3 hurricane. Certainly her formidable will helped her navigate the great depression, the food business, and the Boy Scouts of America, and life. I often wonder how people learn things especially the motivation to earn a living and eat well. I don't remember any formal classes on this, however the school of hard knocks is always open. Somewhow I find a way to accomplish both, to usually land on my feet. Well, maybe some of my skills originated with my namesake. I love learning and playing with numbers. Trying to estimate how much money I need to earn and save to live until 125 is both challenging and fun for me. Being able to take anger and resentment and create opportunities, I imagine Evangeline did this consistently.
Many other people in my life, such as you and Mom, also modeled a love of learning and service to others period. I hope you find some comfort in celebrating Evangeline's life. When I see flowers, Coho Salmon, and fresh vegetables, I remember grandma. Love Marti

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Evangeline Hoagland Snyderwine

First born child of Jesse Major and Minnie Spory Hoagland. Early years lived with her parents and Grandparents Jesse and Sara Blanck Hoagland at Keel Ridge, about five miles east of Sharon on what is now US Highway 62. It was called Keel Ridge because the farm sat on top of a rock formation that suggested an upside boat. Evangeline learned many things from her Grandmother Sara, especially flower gardening. Van loved gardening.She new names of countless flowers and trees which she relentlessly passed on to her children.

Her father Jesse Major owned a shop that made wood parts, like window sashs and door frames. His business also operated a feed and farm materials. It prospered before and after World War I. When Evangeline finished eight grades of public school, she wanted to be a school teacher. Her father would have none of it. He sent her to Sharon Commercial where she learned bookkeeping, office skills such as typing, shorthand, filing. When she graduated she went to work for her father and soon developed into being a bookkeeper, office manager,cashier.A friend talked her into a double date,and met Leo Snyderwine.Then developed a romance and marriage. When her father learned of this he hit the roof. At that time he was a member of the Ku Klux Clan. He and his peers hated Jews, Catholics, African Americans. Leo told of his driving out to pick up Van for a date and the Klan blocked the road and tried to jump up onto the running board. Leo could see what was happening and gunned his car and plowed through. When Leo and Van became engaged there was an effort to thwart the marriage. In the front of the mill there was a woodburing stove and neighbors gathered around and gossiped. One of them C B Allen, a prominent land owner said to Van "i'll give you a new Huppmobile if you dont marry that dutchman"

Van wasn't buying. You have to realize that she was an outcast in her family. On July 23 1924 she left home (I'm sure Leo picked her up) she went to stay the night with her brother and sister in law Martin and Dorothy Hess. The next day they were married on the back steps of th rectory by pastor August Hoeing.

I'll pause here and expound on the relationship with her family after the marriage. There was absolutely no contact for about 13 years. She had 7 siblings, she was the oldest and a surrogate mother. Not one of those siblings came to see her or contact her. She was a key member of the family. During this time her father sold the business to his brother in law Mr. Gaugh and moved to Conneaut Lake fifty miles away. It's interesting to note that when Leo and Van went to buy a new house for about $4000 Van contributed over $2000

About 1937 Van called her mother with a desire to visit. She and her family, Leo,Bob and Peggy travelled to Conneaut Lake. Her father was frosty. Minnie and the children were hospitable. This began a long series of visits, reumions that lasted into the 1950's. I give Leo and Van especially lots of credit for not being bitter.

In the mid 1920's all of Mercer County prospered. Leo had a good a good job working for Armco a steel mill making sheet steel for cars and appliances.

Van became a great cook and housekeeper. Bob was born in 1925 and Peggy in 1926.Van's favorite newspaper was the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. They ran recipe contests and she one at least one prize.

There was a problem with steel making in Sharon centered on the Shenago River. Steelmaking requires vast amounts of water and the source was the river. In the summer it tended to dry up. In winter and spring it flooded. Armco started looking for a better site. They picked Gary Indiana, on the shore of Lake Michigan. This solved the water problem and saved on transportation. They no longer had to carry the ore to Conneaut and Ashtabula, unload into trains and climb the escarpment and then on to Sharon.

Then in 1929 the country went into a deep economic depression. Mills closed. Most families lost their jobs and homes.

Leo asked Van "what do we do now"?. She said "let's start a little business".

They hit on the idea of Leo going out into the country with chicken crates and buying live chickens. They then butchered the chickens, dressed them perfectly and Leo would sell them door to door. I can still smell the wet chicken feathers.One summer Leo borrowed a truck and went to Marietta Ohio to buy tomatoes. When they got back to Sharon the tomatoes were ripe. so ripe the only thing to do was to sell them door to door. This went well enough to prompt them to enter into a partnership with Leo's sister Gertrude and her husband Rudy.

They leased a corner lot at State and Spencer from Mr. Scraggs and built a fruit stand. The typical design, no windows, just drop down panels. They did well and took steps to make it a year round building. They also bought an ice house. I remember when the ice house arrived on a flat bed truck. I thought "how are they going to get it off the truck and onto the foundation.?" I marvelled at how a crew from Bobby's Riggers used railroad jacks and timbers to do the job.
More about the store in other posts.