The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 45

Sunday, July 1 5, 1 984 THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER METRO C-5 Detectors Revive Treasure Hunting Mayor Of Evendale Burned By Gas Oven After calling the Reading Fire Department, Vonderhaar attempted to move the oven, causing its liquid propane gas canister to fall and break away from its line. Randy Fischesser, a Reading Fire Department said the burning grease came In contact with the leaking propane gas as he pulled into the lot, causing flames to shoot 18-20 feet into the air. Evendale Mayor Gerald Vonderhaar was admitted to University Hospital with first-and second-degree burns Saturday morning after an outdoor gas oven exploded while he was cooking. Vonderhaar, 10461 Wyscarver Evendale, was roasting a pig in the parking lot of Vond-erhaar's Market, 19 Pleasant Reading, when grease from the pig caught fire. We have more to offer at KICHLER'S c.

4J 1 If I fA ti4 ''ii iW Wi Jil-ll Hllllf Mill 1 paying entry fees of $40, with most of the funds reinvested as buried coins and prize tokens for detectors to find. "We buried about 20,000 coins, valued at about $16,000," Wray $5 gold piece was the biggest single prize someone could find." WRAY, WHO has been in the business 16 years, likes to search in old towns and drained lakes where he has uncovered numerous gold rings. "My greatest find was a 1914-D penny, valued at about $150," he said. Wray and Beel (who won a $300 detector during the Indiana hunt) are enthusiasts of the sport, but they also are dealers for various brands of detectors. They believe the hobby is increasing in popularity.

This was confirmed by Pat Bryan, spokesman for the Wilson-Neuman in Delphos, Ohio. The company sells several thousand detectors a year. "When we went Into business nine years ago, metal detecting was popular primarily In Florida," said Mrs. Bryan. "In the last five or six years, it's caught on all over." Barbara Budrus, 1902 Wellington Rd.

in Butler County, became interested In treasure hunts three years ago when her husband, Steve, bought a detector. "We were hunting Indian artifacts and sort of branched Off," she said. "My husband found a diamond ring in a park, but I found a rusty can opener. I'm a lousy detecter, but I enjoy it." MRS. BUDRUS enjoys finds like the World War I lead soldier she dug up in a grassy area near a cemetery by the former Bundy Apartments in Middletown.

"An old man told me that was a favorite place for children in the apartments to play," she said. "I liked it for the historical value." Another of her sentimental treasurers is a silver heart with a key design on it. Words on it read: "Whoever Has The Key To This, Has The Key To My Heart." Beel, who lives at 3576 Shaker Hunter, in Warren County, said some club members are very dedicated and research possible finds through newspaper files, word of mouth and family diaries. "I know one guy who searched out a chest of gold. He had permis-sion to dig on some property in Monroe.

But at the last minute, the guy backed out on him," Beel 20 Off STOCK FABRIC 25 Off REUPHOLSTERY 25 Off TOP TREATMENTS 25 Off VEROSOL SHADES 40 Off 1" MINI BLINDS Where else can you decorate with these Savings! Shop in either store or Call for FREE Shop at Home Service: BY IRENE WRIGHT Enquirer Reporter MIDDLETOWN Herbert Kel-ley, 68, has unearthed 42,000 pennies In his treasure hunts over the past decade. He also has dug up thousands of dollars in dimes, silver and half dollars, and an untold amount of Jewelry. The retired Armco employee has found his avocation. He's one of the growing number of people who pace the earth, hands clasped to a metal rod, seeking out hidden pulses of burled precious metals. Kelly's four metal detectors are among his closest companions.

He enjoys the search and the exercise. Springfield Township policeman Bob Price and Indiana camp owner Kenny Wray favor organized treasure hunts. Barbara Budrus of Butler County prefers the historical aspect of metal detecting, while Middletown firefighter Charles Beel wants to emphasize rules for proper searches. BEEL, 3576 Shaker started the Middletown Area Treasure Hunters Club last June. "The digging is one of the main reasons," Beel said.

"We want people to go Into areas and leave It as good, if not better, than when they went in. Preferably better. Some people go into an area, dig a big hole, and leave it." Kelley, one of the club members, combines metal detecting with camping. "There are always places you want to go. Places where people think there isn't anything, and there'll be money," said Kelley, who resides on Ohio 122 west of Middletown.

"I'm retired. When you're my age, you need something that interests you. Otherwise, you're hurting. With metal detecting, you can go out and kill a lot of time, and get a lot of exercise." Kelley recalled one of his most pleasing finds, although he didn't benefit financially. He was searching the ground near the former Blue Ball School on old Ohio 25 In Warren County.

At an alert from his metal detector, he uncovered a silver identification bracelet. It had a man's name on it. "I LOOKED him up in the telephone book, and he came and got the bracelet," Kelley explained. "He lost It 28 years ago when he was a student at Blue Ball School. His mom and dad gave it to him, and one of them was dead.

He cherished It." While Kelley likes to search with maybe one other person or by himself, Wray likes large crowds. Last weekend, he had about 350 people gathered at his Wray's Camp Ground at Freetown, for what he considers the largest organized annual treasure hunt in the eastern United States. The crowd swelled to about 600 Interested people. Last year, people attended from 29 states. "These treasure hunts are a circuit that a lot of the same competitors follow," Wray explained.

Organized hunts involve people The Cincinnati EnquirerJ.D. Scott CHARLES BEEL, who avidly searches for treasure with metal detectors, with some of the money and jewelry he has found. 241-7662 Discount does not apply to prior orders Angela, 10, often Join hunts. "I'd thought about a club for a couple of years, hoping someone would start one," said Beel, who Is president of the Middletown Area Treasure Hunters Club. "No one did, so I started it myself." The 15 club members, with 28 on a mailing list, pay $12 annual dues and meet at 7:30 p.m.

every Monday at the Old No. 2 Fire Station on Crawford Street. Hunt July 28-29 at St. Francis Seminary ground, Mill Road. He Is expecting about 150 participants from as far away as 1,500 miles.

Beel, who attends many of the area hunts, said he thinks metal detecting is a good family recreation. His wife, Bonnie, often Joins him unless she's busy their their 3-year-old son, Tlmmy. Their other children, Charles 13, and KICHLER'S 114 W. 7th St. KENWOOD MALL Open Daily to 5:30 Open Daily 10 to 9 Mon.

Thurs. to 6:30 Sun. 12 to 5 All draperies made in our own workroom ESTABLISHED 1926 said. "As far as I know, it's probably still there." BOB PRICE of Mount Healthy lucked out when he found $847 in silver coins in a "post fence safe" in Indiana. "Back during the Depression, people used to hide their money by putting it under a fence post," Price said.

"The owner died and the farm was abandoned. I was detecting there and accidentally found the money." Price, 53, is a Springfield Township policeman and owner of the Treasurer Hunter Supplies store, 7418 Hamilton Mount Healthy. He will sponsor his seventh annual Trl-State Treasure The! oXMaxx Council's Vote Stalls St. Bernard Museum simmier clearance is going on right now All summer clearance is priced from 40-70 ess than department store and specialty store regular prices. BY STEVE HOFFMAN Enquirer Reporter Romllda Berling of St.

Bernard describes her fellow residents as "quiet, conservative people who usually let things go." But, the president of the St. Bernard-Ludlow Grove Historical Society found out they can react to an issue when they want to. They did recently when the question of a proposed industrial museum came up. When 10 of St. Bernard homeowners responded by questionnaire that they were in favor of the museum, Mrs.

Berling figured she had sufficient support to push the project. Plans now Include erecting a one-level, below-ground building on a lot at Clay Street and Girl Scout Lane at the entrance to Ross Avenue Park. It would be a concrete covered structure, 40 feet by 90 feet The city donated the lot last year. EVENTUALLY, THE historical society hopes to move the old Chesapeake Ohio Railroad station on Railroad Avenue on top of that covered foundation. The railroad has agreed to eventually donate it when it no longer needs it for storage.

The project is now stalled in city council. The society wants council to sell its present quarters at 16 E. Ross Ave. a wood-frame home owned by the city and built in about 1900 and use the proceeds to help build the new museum. Five favorable votes are needed in council to sell the home.

In a recent vote, four councllmen were in favor, two opposed it and one abstained. John Schwallie, one of the dissenters, said, "I don't feel the city should subsidize any private soci-ety anymore than we have already." Fred Engel said, "I couldn't see giving them (the society) any money until they prove they can get started doing something and they haven't proven anything yet." Frank G. Nieseh who abstained, declined comment but said, "The situation has been blown out of proportion." Engel wants to let St. Bernard voters decide the issue. When council's committee of the whole meets July 26, it may agree to put the question, whether the city should fund the museum, on the ballot.

"THE REST of council has been exceedingly co-operative," Berling said, including Mayor Charles VonderMeulen and Safety Service Director Jack Hausfeld, the former mayor. Berling said the Initial basement-building will cost an estimated $150,000 and she believes local Industry will provide more than $50,000 of it. Five companies have already made pledges. Her group has already met with 37 industries and a number of St. Bernard merchants.

"All have agreed to co-operate," she said. "A number of industries have asked us, 'How much is the city Berling said. In her opinion, the finished museum will be "an asset," drawing students and tourists to see antique machines used by local Industries. "Where around here can people go to see these things?" The society doesn't want a tax levy or bond Issue to fund the museum. "Hopefully, if we stimulate enough Interest, we won't need all of that," referring to an estimated $100,000 from the city.

Already, Procter Gamble Co. has donated an old Prescott steam engine. A printer gave an old linotype machine. Size prohibits the storage of either in the Ross Avenue building. "We have to store exhibits all over," Berling said.

The initial museum building also would have rooms for municipal offices and meeting rooms. The historical group was formed for the city's 1978 centennial and now has 80 members. Berling, an accountant, has been president for four years. in i I THE MAXIMUM FOR THE MINIMUM CINCINNATI 7890 Beechmont Avenue, just east of Beechmont Mall Western Village Shopping Center, Glenway and Werk SPRINGDALE: Princeton Plaza, Princeton Pike, Tri County Shopping Area Store Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10AM-10PM, Sunday, 12-6PM 135 T.J MAXX STORES LOCATED IN ALABAMA. COLORADO.

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