In the "good old days" of W.P.A., Saint Marys had missed out on a swimming pool. Those who had protested then on the basis of our beaches at the lake and the swimmin' holes in the canal were now traveling to New Bremen and Wapakoneta to swim in their beautiful and crystal clean waters. Saint Marys now has its own pool, larger and more complete than the older W.P.A. structures.

The old "town hall," built in 1867 with bricks made locally by Shipley and Garrett and the scene of the Great Mikado's performance, was no longer adequate for modern fire equipment. A new Safety Building has been added to house both Fire and Police Departments. A completely new City Service Garage has been completed on North Chestnut Street to take care of street and water maintenance. As Saint Marians continue to chip in that "little old one per cent" income tax, the cities streets are being rebuilt on a more permanent basis.

The Municipal Electric Light Plant has expanded to meet every anticipated need although every addition was thought by many to be too large. Greater efficiencies in equipment and management have kept rates in line in spite of greatly increased costs.

The United States Post Office Department finally got around to building an office on a lot they had bought forty years before. For over thirty years, the Post Office had been downtown on the island between the river and canal. Here thev

had leased quarters from the Community Welfare Association with rental payments going to maintain the beautiful Memorial Park. When the Post Office moved into its new quarters on Chestnut Street, the City of Saint Marys took over the building as a new City Hall. This is the new civic center. Here are now located the Utility Offices, Mayor, Auditor, Treasurer, Service Director, Tax Commissioners Offices as well as the City Engineering Department, District Court and City Council Chambers.

As the 1960's drew to a close, Saint Marys saw several changes in its industrial life. When the Woolen Mills closed, the Saint Marys Cotton Mills came in as a reprocessor of cotton goods. Their business has thrived to the point of employing a night shift a goodly part of the time. To carry out the tradition of Saint Marys as a home of fine woolen blankets, several skilled craftsmen of the Saint Marys Woolen Mills have established the Luxury Blanket co. specializing in weaving a new line of products. The paper mill, properly known as the Weston Paper Company, was closed down recently. Rumors of new tenants for their excellent location are currently abroad. Something may develop in this problem within the very near future.

At the same time, other factories are enjoying continued rapid growth. The Saint Marys Foundry Company has tripled its capacity and installed some of the newest processes for gray iron casting and steel casting. The ParkerEIannifin Company has assigned more of its work to its local plant. Goodyear has extended its operations in molded rubber, extruded rubber and pliofilm and is again building another multi-million dollar addition to its operation in Saint Marys. Recreational facilities at the Grand Lake Saint Marys are constantly being improved to accommodate the thousands of boaters, campers and sportsmen who flock to this beautiful body of water.

As Saint Marys approaches the threshhold of its 150th anniversary, it is impossible to express what its earliest settlers would say if they could be here today. What would old Charlie Murray, who insisted that "Transportation-you gotta have,' say of a train of 140 cars carrying more freight than the entire canal boat fleet. What would he say of the network of concrete highways that puts Cincinnati only an hour and a half away ! What thoughts would cross the mind of Lt. John Armstrong? As Saint Marys was being established as a town, this veteran of the War of 1812 was clearing a forest. The home farm of John Armstrong would stay in the family for over a century and a half. The Lieutenant shouldering his axe at twilight, trodding wearily homeward as the full moon rose, could hardly dream that his very own great great great grandson would be the first man to walk on the surface of that moon.

The truth is that Neil Armstrong lived in Saint Marys, Ohio, longer than he has lived in any one place in his life. Although actually born at his grandmother's home southeast of here, the famous astronaut was brought by his