Year: 2018

Trussler Services: Sticking to It

Miami Businesses

Charley Doan was born in 1882. By 1900, he had opened up a tin shop, one of several that he would own during his lifetime. By 1927, Doan’s Radiator and Tin Shop was open at 18 SE A.

As the years went by, Doan set his eyes on retirement. On November 20, 1947, he sold out to Irvin “Red” Smith. Doan sought out a partner, nephew Charles Trussler, and opened Doan & Trussler Radiator & Tin Shop that year.

In 1954, the business changed its name to Trussler Sheet Metal. Phil Trussler started working for his father in the business as a teenager in the mid-50s. He graduated from Oklahoma State University School of Technical Training at Okmulgee in 1962 in Refrigeration, Heating & Air Conditioning. In 1974, he opened up his own business: Trussler Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning.

Flash forward to 2018. Trussler Service Company is still in business, having survived the post-Goodrich economic turmoil of Miami. Phil is 78 years old at the time of this article, and is still going strong.

Miami has survivors like Phil Trussler, and that’s essential as it slowly gets back on economic solid ground and begins returning to the prosperity of the Goodrich years. Here’s to you, Trussler Service.

Articles outlining the history of Doan’s Radiator and Tin Shop, which eventually became Trussler Service

Articles about Doan & Trussler Sheet Metal & Radiator

Phil Trussler and his parents, 1949

Trussler’s yearbook ad, 1963

 

 

Mark Peterson

Interesting Local Characters

Two-year-old Mark Peterson on his Arkansas sharecropper farm.

I was lucky enough to be raised in a home that was just across the alley from that most Americana of institutions: the neighborhood grocery store. From the time that I was allowed to go over there by myself, probably age 5, my mom would give me two nickels a day to spend. Those nickels would buy a handful of candy, or maybe a Shasta pop, or I could pool them and spring for a luxurious bottle of Coke.

The man running the store was a big teddy bear. That was my impression of him. A warm, friendly, loving individual who filled the air with old songs while he cut meat in the butcher area, stocked the shelves, or ran the register. He was tolerant of kids who read the comics without buying them. He’d even let them have the occasional piece of candy “on credit,” knowing that it would probably never be settled. His name was Mark Peterson, and it turns out he had a pretty darned interesting life.

1937 Wardogs team. Mark was #34, third from the left in row 2.

Mark was born in Booneville, Arkansas in 1919. His parents were sharecroppers, so it was lean living, the kind of living that builds character. Eventually, the family relocated to the mining boom town of Miami sometime after 1925.

There was a depression on, so Mark did what he could do for spare change. This included hanging around the Coleman rear entrance and scoring tips for handling performers’ luggage and equipment. He shook hands with Will Rogers as a result, and received a nice gratuity as well. He met other famous personalities, and his own easygoing, friendly style meant that he could talk to anyone, including the rich and famous.

Mark was a big kid who excelled in sports, becoming a member of the Wardogs football team.

The News-Record announces that Sergeant Peterson was taking a surgery course

World War II started soon after Mark got out of school, and he enlisted in 1941. Mark landed in Normandy with the First and Third Armies and went on to survive the Battle of the Bulge.  He found himself working as a medic. Among the injured soldiers he treated was the son-in-law of General George Patton, whom he ended up observing meeting with the soldier. He came home safe and sound to his own wife and child when the conflict was over.

Safeway in Miami robbed at gunpoint on March 18, 1956.

Mark went to work at the newly-opened Goodrich plant. But it wasn’t long before he got into retail store management. Safeway hired him, and he ended up managing stores in Tulsa, Pryor, Miami, and Picher.

His life remained interesting during those years. He was robbed at gunpoint five times in stores he managed. His wife never got used to that, and this caused her to wonder, when he wasn’t home on time, if he was tied up in the cooler yet again.

After leaving Safeway and returning permanently to Miami, Mark spent some time selling ads for KGLC radio. He also practiced the butcher trade over at Brandon’s Food Center when they were on NW 1st Street. In the early 60’s, he purchased Moonwink Grocery at NW J and 9th. Moonwink had opened in 1950, and it was actually a shopping center, with spaces for other businesses besides the grocery. I remember a barber by the name of Paul Buffington who was there. It was at Moonwink Grocery where I met the man who was such an influence on me.

The webmaster in his back yard in 1960, with Moonwink Grocery in the background

Moonwink had opened in 1950, and had changed hands a couple of times afterwards. It was a good match for Mark, who had spent more time in the grocery trade than any other over the years. He ran a booming business there until around 1972, when he sold out. By 1975, Moonwink was demolished. Two multi-family dwellings were put up in its place.

Mark Peterson with his wife and sons at his 50th wedding anniversary celebration

I’m glad I’d moved away by then. That would have been a sad thing to see.

Mark ran for Ottawa county clerk in 1972, and the well-loved candidate won. He served until 1981. After that, he worked in the District Attorney’s office until he retired.

He passed away on April 4, 2008, at the age of 88. He was surrounded by friends and family, and it was the end of a life well lived.

The last time I saw Mark was about 1970. We had returned to town from where we had moved in SW Missouri. We were at the Gibson’s store, and I spotted him from a distance and ran up to him. He shook my hand like an adult (I was ten), and we had a nice little conversation. Having researched his life with the help of his son Robert, I can say that Mark Peterson typified an interesting local Miami character, and anyone who was lucky enough to know him personally will testify that he was one of the warmest, friendliest individuals to ever call this wonderful town home.

Miami’s Teen Town

Miami Social Activities

What to do with all of those teenagers on a Friday night? Miami decided right after the end of WWII to provide some city-sanctioned entertainment and recreation. It was called Teen Town, and it started off at the Sacred Heart Catholic church. But by 1947, it had relocated to the VFW Hall across the street from the Coleman.

Teen Town starts up at the VFW hall, June 22, 1947

The next year, the American legion volunteered to host the Friday night fun.

American Legion to host Teen Town in 1948

By 1956, the event had turned into the most popular place for a kid to be on a Friday night. They needed more adult volunteers!

Teen Town issues a call for volunteers, 1956

The first mention of a live band in the News-Record was on October 12, 1956.

A live band at Teen Town! October, 1956

There were dance competitions, including this one from 1959.

Richard Wright and Helen Swift win 1959 Sweetheart Couple at Teen Town

In 1957, the Youth Center at the new Civic Center was rechristened the Mutt Hut. Eventually, Teen Town at the American Legion hall would move over to the Mutt Hut as a fun teen spot on both Friday and Saturday nights. Teen Town stopped being mentioned in the paper after 1960, so presumably that was the end of it. But the Mutt Hut continued on, and thus Miami had a proud reputation as a town that looked after the recreational needs of its youth.

The Coming and Going of Crane Company

Miami Businesses

It all started in early 1954. The abandoned Spartan School of Aeronautics, used to train WWII pilots, was about to be put back to work.

1954 article announcing the launch of Miami Products, Inc.

First National Bank proudly proclaimed the new industry and provider of jobs in a large News-Record advert.

First National Bank announces Miami Products, Inc.

In March, 1955, employees voted to go union, with the United Steel Workers. The plant immediately closed until further notice. President L.K. Newell claimed that the plant had been operating at a loss since its opening, and that it couldn’t afford to pay a unionized staff.

Miami Products lays off workforce immediately after they vote to go union

But, it wasn’t long until workers were called back. The company received a spanking from the National Labor Board for firing eleven workers involved in organizing the union in the fall of 1954. The workers were hired back with back pay the next year.

Things settled down after that, and the company expanded into production of “blitz cans,” large containers used as motorboat gas containers and also as receptacles for drinking water. Then, on July 1, 1960, a startling announcement was made:

July 1, 1960: Crane buys Miami Products – Click to expand

Crane immediately increased the facilities’ size and set up new equipment.

Crane expands Miami location and plans December launch, October, 1960. Click to expand.

Crane Open House flyer, 1961

Crane plant operations, 1961

Crane plant operations, 1961

Crane plant operations, 1961

All went well for six years. The plant and the workforce prospered. Then in January 1966, a decision was made by the workers with profound effects.

Crane workers vote in a new union, January, 1966

On April 6, 1966, the Teamster-led workers went on strike. The strike drug on, and things got ugly at the picket line. As the negotiations continued to fizzle, a September meeting was held by the NLRB to determine if the plant was treating the striking workers unfairly. The decision was rendered in favor of Crane. Crane strikers were restrained by the National labor Board the next month over threats of violence.

Crane strikers are restrained, October 1966

Crane began moving equipment out of the plant, and on December 28, announced that the Miami location would be closed permanently.

Thus ends the twelve-year saga of the manufacturing facility on SE 22nd. Who knows what might have happened had the workers stayed with the more docile United Steelworkers? But they were clearly unhappy with wages, so they acted, as they had the right to do.

Today, the location is inhabited by Westco Home Furnishings Home Office and Distribution Center, a much-appreciated business and employer in a town that’s endured some tough times.