Update from Dick Zeimer, DHS Class of 1948

Here's an update from DHS classmate Dick Zeimer. He and wife, Ferrell, moved to Vancouver, WA, in May.

For 31 years we lived in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California . I worked for Rocketdyne where I did structural analysis and tests of rocket engine components and for Atomics International where I did the same for nuclear reactor components. At Rocketdyne we built the rocket engines for the Atlas missiles, the engines for Apollo that put men on the moon, and for the Space Shuttle main engines.

In 1990 we moved to Deersville and ran the Mulberry Lane Bed and Breakfast for 13 years. During those years, and up to May of 2008, we were involved with many community projects. With the help of Bill Dudgeon and others, we started the Deersville Library. It had to be closed when the village sold the old church building where it was located. I got the Tappan-Moravian Trail Scenic Byway designated as a state Scenic Byway and arranged to have 1500 flowering trees planted along Route 250 at Tappan Lake . We were both active in the Deersville Community Players and the Deersville Improvement and Historic Preservation Society (DIHPS). We helped DIHPS get Deersville’s Main Street listed on the National Register of Historic Places as an Historic District. With the DCP I helped build sets for the live performances at the Community Hall and was their official photographer. I also served on the village council for several years.

Recently, I suggested to the Dennison Alumni Association that our High School building should be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With the help of Marilyn (McCarroll) Wilson and others, this was done and a plaque was installed on the building and an Historical Marker placed in front of the building.

With another couple from Deersville we updated “The History of the Village of Deersville , 1815-1952” which was written by Homer Poulson. We added the village activities and people since 1952 and included the story of Homer Poulson’s trip across the country in a Model T Ford in 1911 with his wife and two young daughters. He kept a good diary and took many photographs which are included. This was reprinted in 2007 and is available at the Deersville General Store or from Mary Jane Engler, PO Box 2 , Deersville , OH 44693 .

In May we finally retired again and moved to Vancouver , WA near our daughter Cheri and family. We live in Fairway Village and our back yard is the 8th fairway. I get to play golf with Cheri, her husband Rick, and grandson Grant. We are not volunteering for anything for the time being.

This is a late update from the front page of the Sept. 8 Harrison News Herald. Sen. Obama passed along Tappan Lake on his way to a gathering in Jefferson Co. and said …”and driving through here I saw that this is as pretty a piece of real estate as there is anywhere in the world.” If you would like to refresh your memory of how nice this area is, go to the Ohio Byways website and click on Tappan-Moravian Trail Scenic Byway and then on Other Points of Interest.

Click on the headline to visit the byway. Be sure to look at Dick's photos.