45328
By Truman Scott 
October 25, 2011 

45328 is the zip code for Gettysburg, Ohio which lies halfway between Covington and Greenville, Ohio on US Highway 36. It is in Adams Township which is dry and thus, no alcohol is sold in the town. I went to school in Bradford which lies four miles east and my brother-in-law lived in Gettysburg his entire life (86 years). I have lived here since the spring of 2000. I was visiting my sister and her husband that spring, and we were in the front yard relaxing on the swing.  The stillness of the town caught my attention and that was when I told my family that I was coming home after 17 years in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Gettysburg was founded in 1808 and celebrated its bi-centennial anniversary in 2008. This small village consists of 190 households and has a population of 500. It has its own water system, and a population this small creates a unique dilemma.  When people don’t pay their water bills, the rest of the village has to take up the slack until the bill is paid.  I doubt those miscreants responsible for the lateness of their bill know or understand the burden they place on the other households when they are late paying their bill. 

One unique aspect of the village I particularly enjoy is the post office.   There is no mail delivery in Gettysburg, and so its residents, for a two dollar fee, are given a post office box.   The location of the post office is below the Masons’ meeting place.   If the post office had a checkerboard and potbelly stove, it could be a scene out of a Norman Rockwell painting.   

Another facet of the post office is that the postmasters know everyone in town and if one should forget his/her key, the postmaster will know the box number.  Once, I went in just after the office had closed, but the postmaster was still there but out of sight. I was chatting with a fellow villager, and I went to my mailbox and without missing a beat, the postmaster asked if I wanted to pick up my package which was too big for my mailbox.  From the sound of my voice, she knew it was I on the other side.   Anyone living in a bigger town or city would never get that kind of service! 

When Gettysburg is mentioned, anyone in the area will know of the town because of the Carpet House which does a booming business.  Norcold is another small industry located within the village corporation limits, and of course both businesses bring in some tax revenue for the village.  There is even a taxidermist in town who is also a Bradford  alum 

The central “hangout” in town is Lavy’s Convenience Store where, on any given morning, one can find the locals sitting around chatting, drinking coffee and reading the paper. Generally, I can get gas, pick up an extra loaf of bread, or a gallon of milk when supplies run low. 

It reminds me of a place we see during elections when news corporations seek out the grassroots’ thinking of small town America.   I even wrote to John Kerry, when he ran for president, and I asked him to consider coming to Gettysburg to stump, but I never heard from him, and obviously, Gettysburg was not on his radar. 

When Abraham Studebaker settled in the area, he named it Gettysburg because he was from Gettysburg, Pa, and he wanted to remember his home town.  Mr. Studebaker built a two story house just south of the river.  It is said that Mr. Studebaker and the Native Americans respected each other’s space, and they had peaceful coexistence of sorts with each keeping a wary eye on the other.  

Interestingly, the house had a large overhang to make it easier to defend against the Native Americans who had designs on his food and supplies.   One account says that two of them attacked his home after having too much alcohol to drink, and Mr. Studebaker actually killed one of the attackers. 

In the larger picture, Gettysburg was part of the Northwest Territory, and the county seat, Greenville, is well known for its treaty with the original inhabitants (The Treaty of Greenville).  The significance of this treaty is that it brought thirteen tribes together from as far away as Missouri, and peace broke out in the area at the time. 

Gettysburg is a unique village and a wonderful place to live.   It is quiet and peaceful, and I have observed deer in front of my home as they moved southwest toward the river and have seen them head northeast towards a woods not far away. 

In warmer weather before the leaves come or go, one can hear the traffic from Route 36.  However, during the spring and summer months, the leaves mute the sounds of traffic.  During these seasons too, the only other sound heard are the occasional airplanes on their takeoff and landing patterns at Dayton International.  Occasionally, the local motorcycle clubs will cut through town searching for the perfect ride on the back roads of Darke County thus briefly disturbing the usually quiet village. 

When I moved back in 2000, I wanted to be an active citizen and I asked my neighbor, the mayor at the time, what were the requirements to be on the village council?  He told me I had to live in town for one year, and exactly one year later he saw me out in the yard and asked if I still wanted to be a council member and I replied “You bet” and I was then put on the council to replace another member who could no longer fulfill his council obligation.  

In 2008, three other men and I ran for office and we were elected.  We even received a certificate from the state validating our election to office.  It has been quite rewarding to help bring about changes to the village such as a new sewer, an upgraded water system, and various street improvements.  I really enjoy bringing about changes for the betterment of our town through the democratic process. 

In short, Gettysburg is smaller than most small towns, but the folks are friendly, and there is little or no crime, taxes are relatively low, and one can walk each street in town safely anytime, night or day, and complete the walk within an hour depending on the pace one sets. 

I am happy to call it my home town.