It Happened in Crawford County: Long-time teacher looks back on her career

Mary Scott is the daughter of Sherman, who was a farmer in the Lykens area, and Ruth Arheit Oberlander. Sherman met Ruth when he took the interurban train from Chatfield to the Seven Mile House, a place to dance near Sandusky.

When Ruth married Sherman, she was a justice of the peace in Sandusky. Mary doesn’t have actual siblings, but when her Aunt Wilma died, "her dying wish" was to have her daughter, Kathy Propst, live with her Aunt Ruth Oberlander.

Mary Oberlander Scott started school at Lykens in 1950. In her senior year Lykens was forced to go to Holmes Liberty and eventually it led to the Wynford consolidation. Mary made news for the school newspaper when one of their lambs got on the school bus. The story was titled “Mary had a little lamb.” Mary worked on the school newspaper and also did concession stand work.

During her senior year at Holmes Liberty, she was part of the choir that went to state and came close to winning the contest. Mary enjoyed basketball games. They competed at the regionals, and she got to go with a friend Betty Miller Beidelschies. She enjoyed choir and American government, especially in her senior year. Ruth graduated with the class of 1962 at Holmes Liberty.

Bowing Green not in the cards, but Heidelberg was, later

During Mary’s senior year she was accepted at Bowling Green State University, but she couldn’t afford to go. Instead, she started working to get enough money to go to college. Over a two-year period she dressed turkeys, picked strawberries and worked at the phone company and Timken. Finally, she had enough money and enrolled at Heidelberg College. At that time, it was cheaper than OSU. She commuted, starting in 1964, and majored in social studies comprehensive secondary education to become a high school teacher, but that never happened.

Mary received a National Defense Scholarship, about $500 a year, toward her tuition, and she also had a job on campus through the Athletic Department at Heidelberg where she sold tickets, graded papers and did some office work. Eventually, it led to the teacher, John Himler, asking her to sell tickets at track meets at Bucyrus Middle School. Later, Don Cooper hired Mary to sell tickets at all of the Bucyrus High School athletic events.

Mary graduated in 1969 from Heidelberg. She already was married to Charles Scott and working summers at Freddie’s Restaurant, where they met. He worked at various places in Bucyrus, including Swan Rubber, Schmidt Security, Industrial Hose and as a bank courier for Second National before retiring from Walmart.

At one time, he also owned Tri-Star Trophy. Charles served in the Air Force in Libya for two years. Many people knew Scott as a bowler and helper with the youth leagues at Crawford and Suburban Lanes.

Teaching at Lincoln and Carlisle, active at church

Throughout her teaching career Mary taught at Lincoln School in Bucyrus and Carlisle. She taught fifth grade for about half of her 30 in education. Among the things they did was team teaching. Mary teamed with Mrs. Duplaga and Mrs. Reickenbach, with Mary teaching the reading and American history classes.

Mary has been a member of Good Hope Lutheran Church since the 1970s. Prior to that she was a member of St. John’s Baseline UCC Church. At Good Hope and St. John’s she sang in the choir, taught Sunday school, headed the Faith Circle and served on the Adult and Parish Education committees.

Currently, she serves on the Worship and Music committees. She also taught vacation Bible school, confirmation and first communion classes. She sends cards to shut-ins from the senior choir and was the church decorating chairman from 1999-2023. Mary had the help of co-workers Ivy Mead and Sandy Stuckey. Marilyn Smith was a big supporter, along with a crew of 30 members who helped to decorate three times a year.

Charles and Mary Scott have a son, Mark, who works for O’Reilly’s in Tiffin, and a grandchild, Cody Scott.

Go online for more of Mary Fox’s stories and photos on bucyrustelegraphforum.com. If you are interested in sharing a story, write Mary Fox, 931 Marion Road, Bucyrus, OH 44820 or email littlefoxfactory@columbus.rr.com.

This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Mary Scott, Bucyrus, and love of teaching in schools and at church