Growing Up in Williamsport, Ohio

Sylvia Wilkey
 
Sometime in the early fifties, one of my summer friends invited me to go swimming at Goldcliff Park in Circleville. Sylvia Wilkey was Rose Ellen Shonkweiler’s grandmother. Sylvia and her husband Harry had offered to take “Rosie” and George Jones, who was also related to her, to swim. Rosie was an only child and invited Janice O’Conner and me to go along. I never had living grandparents, so this was a real treat for me. We spent the afternoons romping and splashing in the water and the sun while Sylvia and Harry looked on to make sure we were safe. I couldn’t swim and still can’t today. George tried to teach me but I could never trust that he wouldn’t let me sink. One time on the way home, we stopped at a farm market where Sylvia bought a bushel of peaches. We each got one and ate them in the car with the juice running down to our elbows. We went swimming all summer long and it was a great summer of fun.
 
Sylvia went to the Christian Church, so she invited us to go there. I’m pretty sure that Rosie and George already did. Sylvia taught a children’s Sunday School class and was the church historian. She was also in charge of the Ladies’ Aid Society. 
 
Essentially, Sylvia was the church. Not a lot of people attended so she had to wear many hats. She was happy to have a youth group, which all of our friendships turned into. She made sure that we had holiday parties with games and food that she had made and everything that young people need.
 
The church was non-denominational with early historical roots in Williamsport. One couple had left a farm to the church which was never to be sold. All of the proceeds were to go to the church from its cultivation. Sylvia was in charge of that too. She had a few friends that helped her keep the church doors open. Sylvia had determined that if she were the only person there, that the doors would stay open. She and Hattie Wallace got together on certain days and the two of them recorded historical events in the life of the church. I think “Aunt Hattie’s Scrapbook” may have been one of the products of some of their meetings. 
 
I came to look at Sylvia as someone that I wanted to emulate. I am still trying to do that today.

©Marilyn Francis Ferguson 2020
Photography/graphics by Michele Ferguson Schuck