SUNBURY — A visit to a cemetery often leads one on a fascinating research path. David Simmons will share his journey on such an adventure beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10, in the Myers Inn Museum. The Big Walnut Area Historical Society monthly meeting is open to the public and still free of charge.
The Dyer Family plot in the Galena Cemetery includes a marker for Jay Norton Dyer who died in 1919 at the young age of 21. His name is followed with this inscription: “Chief Q. M. U.S.N. R.F.” What can these official-looking abbreviations mean? The answer involves the tale of innovative turn-of-the century Galena-area farmers, the Galena school, agricultural schools in Mississippi, Ohio State University programming — including football, the far-ranging impact of World War I, and the early years of U.S. naval aviation.
Simmons was named editor emeritus by the Ohio History Connection in 2019 after retiring from three decades in the publications department and 10 years with the Ohio Historic Preservation Office, where he directed the process for listing properties on the National Register of Historic Places. The Darke County native received several writing awards from the Society for Industrial Archeology and serves as an officer with the Ohio Historic Bridge Association. Holding undergraduate and graduate degrees from Miami University, his first professional job was executive director of the Preble County Historical Society.
The Myers Inn Museum is located at 45 S. Columbus St., Sunbury.
Submitted by the Big Walnut Area Historical Society.
