By Dorothy Heller

Clay Town Historian

You might have read the article in the Clay Insider about seven years ago when Ruth was 93. It was of her memories — from the square dances at the Euclid, where she met her husband, Leland, during WWII; her life on the farm, her children Ron and Donna, and her experiences in Clay, at Immanuel Church and at various jobs. I will be very glad to provide a copy of it to anyone interested (contact me at [email protected]). On Nov. 5, she celebrated her 100th birthday at Immanuel Church with a wonderful buffet prepared by the church women, cards, gifts and visits from friends young and old. She looked radiant. Following is from a handout all visitors received on the events of 100 years, the year Ruth was born, 1916.

• There were 48 stars on the American flag.
• Woodrow Wilson was the president of the United States.
• Republican Charles Whitman was the governor of New York.
• 1916 was the third year of World War I.
• A loaf of bread cost 7 cents.
• Most popular girl baby names were (1) Mary, (2) Helen, (3) Dorothy, (4) Margaret, (5) Ruth.
• The PGA was formed.
• Monet painted the Water Lilies series.
• The light switch was invented.
• Boston Red Sox won the World Series.
• The average price of a house was $5,000 and cars cost $400.
• Only 8 percent of homes had a telephone.
• Boy Scouts of America was formed.
• Coca-Cola introduced the current Coke formula.
• The first supermarket opened in Tennessee (Piggly Wiggly).
• The San Diego Zoo was founded.
• Albert Einstein completed his general theory of relativity, which included gravity.
• The National Park Service was formed.
• The population of the United States was 101,961,000.
• Walter Cronkite was born on Nov. 4, 1916.
• Women were allowed to attend boxing matches.
• Wrigley Field opened in Chicago.
• First observance of Native Indian Day.
• Daylight Savings Time was introduced.
• Mary Pickford became the first female movie star to get a million-dollar movie contract.
• Boeing aircraft flew for the first time.
• Hawaii National Park was formed.
• The following famous people were born in 1916:  Jackie Gleason, Dinah Shore, Gregory Peck, Olivia de Havilland, Ruth Lietz (Lewis) and Evelyn Jennings (my mother).

We know that other important events occurred in 1916 in our own family history, local town and church history, world and American history. The events listed here were what Ruth’s family selected for her.

Happy 100th, Ruth.