Ghost Stories: ‘The wickedest man makes a decision’
Lead Summary
By
Steve Roush-
Ladies and gentlemen, in the year of our Lord 1874, John Calvin Van Pelt was very quickly earning the sobriquet of the “wickedest man in Ohio.”
Earlier, we talked about how the saloon keeper cursed and “baptized” the New Vienna temperance crusaders with beer slops after the women came into his establishment and prayed that Van Pelt might be baptized with the Holy Ghost. After a brief stint in the calaboose, he brazenly attended the temperance meetings and bickered with the ladies at a local church.
Later, it was written that Van Pelt “proved his indisputable claim to the title of the wickedest man in Ohio” by putting “a cap on the climax of his wickedness.”
One day, when the temperance ladies called at his saloon, as usual, he met them at the door and told them they might come in and pray on one condition.
So what was that condition? Glad you asked.
The condition was that the women allow Van Pelt to make every other prayer. In amazement, the women said yes, and the farce began.
After one lady had concluded the first prayer, Van Pelt began what was described as “a long and blasphemous harangue in the form of a prayer.” It was written that “it is to be regretted that no reporter was on the spot to preserve the curiosity to the world. He asked the Lord to have mercy on the women, whom he classed with the brutes, and to teach them wisdom and understanding. Woman, he said, first caused man to sin, and there was great need for prayer in their behalf. He said the Lord operated the first distillery; or, at least, made the first wine, and that he (Van Pelt) was but following the Lord’s example, etc., etc., etc.”
Before the services were ended, Van Pelt had made three long prayers of this description. The women were almost speechless with astonishment, half expecting that the “hardened wretch would be struck dumb on the spot.”
Yes, it could be argued that John Calvin Van Pelt was the “wickedest man in Ohio,” but he was also a businessman who was losing business in New Vienna.
On a day that was dark and drizzling, the temperance women stood guard all day long in front of Van Pelt’s saloon, the Dead Fall, changing at intervals. In the evening temperance meeting, the secretary read out the names of all who had entered the saloon during the day. A determination was evinced to fight it out on the line already begun.
The next morning, the ladies met promptly at 8 a.m. and proceeded to the Dead Fall Saloon. Van Pelt met them at the door and told them if they would go away and come again at 2 p.m., he would give them his “final decision.”
It was noised about that Van Pelt was finally going to surrender. At noon, the bells were set to ringing, and the boys went through the streets with hand bells, crying, “Everybody meet at Van Pelt’s saloon at two o’clock and hear his decision!”
People closed up their places of business and rushed from all part of the town toward the depot. An immense crowd of men and women assembled before the scene of so many prayers and songs. Each looked at the other and wondered what was going to happen next.
As we wait to hear Van Pelt’s decision, let’s pause for now, and we’ll continue next week.
Steve Roush is a vice president of an international media company and a columnist and contributing writer for The Highland County Press. He can be reached by email at roush_steve@msn.com.
Earlier, we talked about how the saloon keeper cursed and “baptized” the New Vienna temperance crusaders with beer slops after the women came into his establishment and prayed that Van Pelt might be baptized with the Holy Ghost. After a brief stint in the calaboose, he brazenly attended the temperance meetings and bickered with the ladies at a local church.
Later, it was written that Van Pelt “proved his indisputable claim to the title of the wickedest man in Ohio” by putting “a cap on the climax of his wickedness.”
One day, when the temperance ladies called at his saloon, as usual, he met them at the door and told them they might come in and pray on one condition.
So what was that condition? Glad you asked.
The condition was that the women allow Van Pelt to make every other prayer. In amazement, the women said yes, and the farce began.
After one lady had concluded the first prayer, Van Pelt began what was described as “a long and blasphemous harangue in the form of a prayer.” It was written that “it is to be regretted that no reporter was on the spot to preserve the curiosity to the world. He asked the Lord to have mercy on the women, whom he classed with the brutes, and to teach them wisdom and understanding. Woman, he said, first caused man to sin, and there was great need for prayer in their behalf. He said the Lord operated the first distillery; or, at least, made the first wine, and that he (Van Pelt) was but following the Lord’s example, etc., etc., etc.”
Before the services were ended, Van Pelt had made three long prayers of this description. The women were almost speechless with astonishment, half expecting that the “hardened wretch would be struck dumb on the spot.”
Yes, it could be argued that John Calvin Van Pelt was the “wickedest man in Ohio,” but he was also a businessman who was losing business in New Vienna.
On a day that was dark and drizzling, the temperance women stood guard all day long in front of Van Pelt’s saloon, the Dead Fall, changing at intervals. In the evening temperance meeting, the secretary read out the names of all who had entered the saloon during the day. A determination was evinced to fight it out on the line already begun.
The next morning, the ladies met promptly at 8 a.m. and proceeded to the Dead Fall Saloon. Van Pelt met them at the door and told them if they would go away and come again at 2 p.m., he would give them his “final decision.”
It was noised about that Van Pelt was finally going to surrender. At noon, the bells were set to ringing, and the boys went through the streets with hand bells, crying, “Everybody meet at Van Pelt’s saloon at two o’clock and hear his decision!”
People closed up their places of business and rushed from all part of the town toward the depot. An immense crowd of men and women assembled before the scene of so many prayers and songs. Each looked at the other and wondered what was going to happen next.
As we wait to hear Van Pelt’s decision, let’s pause for now, and we’ll continue next week.
Steve Roush is a vice president of an international media company and a columnist and contributing writer for The Highland County Press. He can be reached by email at roush_steve@msn.com.