The Knoblaughs
Jean Snyder grew up in Crestline and graduated from Crestline High School. As an eleven year old, she went to Camp Sandusky where Dr. Shuman, a retired UCC minister, was the naturalist This camp was later known as Camp Pittenger and was operated by the YMCA. Jean developed an early interest in nature.
Her family wanted her to be a nurse but she insisted on attending Tiffin University where she received a two year associate degree in business. After graduation she went to work in the office of Basic, Inc. at Bettsville.
W. C. Knoblough was raised in Wheeling, W. Va. He early developed an interest in birds and became associated with one of the most famous bird clubs of the nation, the A.B. Brooks Bird Club of Olgebay Park in Wheeling.
W. C., always known as Knobby, obtained a ceramic engineering degree from Ohio State University and then went to work for Basic.
During the war when gasoline was scarce, an old school bus ran from Tiffin to the Basic plant at Bettsville. At the end of the work day when the workers returned to Tiffin, everyone compared the remains of their uneaten sack lunch. The men aboard were teasing Jean and trying to make her sick. Knobby leaned over to her and whispered, “I bet I can spoil your appetite for uneaten lunches.” This was followed by an invitation to dinner at a Tiffin restaurant. Many of their dates consisted of birding, photography and learning wild flowers. They were married two years later.
After living in Tiffin a few years, in l956, they bought about 50 acres of land with a very nice house near Morrison Lake. Jean worked for basic eight years and Knobby retired after 35 years there.
Jean was eager to learn more about the local plants and took a plant taxonomy course to Heidelberg’s Dr. A. G. McQuate. An active Nature Club was founded. Their large barn housed 200 to 300 bats and people were invited out to conduct a bat census at dusk as the bats left the barn.
After a fresh coat of paint was applied to the barn a few years ago, the bats disappeared. The bats rescued from the Shawhan Hotel were placed in her barn. Jean saw them later during a warm spell, but she doubts that they survived.
For forty years, Jean has been giving bird walks at Morrison Lake. This year, as before, they will begin this Saturday, April 18th at 7:30 AM. and will continue for the following five Saturdays at the same time. All are invited, but bring your own coffee. Jean probably has the largest bird feeding station in Seneca County.
The Knoblaughs have been very supportive of the Isaac Walton League, the Audobon Society and other conservation organizations. For many years Jean has been the organizer of the Christmas Bird Census. She is good friends with several Heidelberg students who are interested in nature and birding. Jean has donated 47.65 acres of her farm to the Ohio Division of Wildlife. The acreage will be planted in warm season grasses, managed as a grassland restoration area and be named Knobby’s Prairie Wildlife Area in honor of her late husband.
Several years ago, she donated 39 acres to the Division of Wildlife which borders the 320 acre swamp just south of Bloomville on Route l9.
This will be known as the Silver Creek Marsh Wildlife Area. It is just north of the Garlo property.
This Sunday, April 19th, for those that are interested in a hike, I will be leading a walk through the trail in the St. Francis Woods. We will meet at the front parking lot on St. Francis Avenue at 3 PM. All are welcome
-- Percy