Information about this vintage recipe box:
Dates from the 1950′ to 1970s (can’t find exact decade) Tin Recipe Box, made by Ohio Art Company in Bryan, Ohio
The recipe box holds standard 3″ x 5″ index cards.
Colors are red, white & tan.
The design includes a grinder, coffee pots (a couple of different ones), hanging kitchen utensils, various fruits, pots and pans, and salt and pepper shakers.
Marked “Ohio Art Co. Made in USA, Bryan Ohio” on the bottom
The box measures approximately 5 1/8″ long x 3″ deep x 3 3/4″ tall.
The seller shared the following information with me:
These recipes came from Shelby Ohio Richland County (Shelby, Richland County, Ohio) estate of a veterinarian we cannot remember his name we are going to ask the auctioneer that done the sale and see if he has the family’s name and when we find out we will sure let you know.
I purchased this box from a lot sale on eBay
which contained 8 vintage recipe boxes made of wood and tin. Below are links to view the other vintage recipe boxes purchased within this recipe box lot.
Based on the clues in the box, I believe the owner was Merridelle Ruth DePUE Sowers who is the daughter in law to Goldie LEWIS Sowers.
Persons mentioned in this recipe box and their contributions to the recipe box are listed below. Information for each person was found using Ancestry.com.
As you can see, the owner of this box collected a lot of recipes from family and friends.
Adelaide OLSON Lanker
Mrs. Lanker was Adelaide Olson who was born in New York in 1919 and at some point in her life moved to Ohio, where she passed away in 2001.
I do not see a relation to the original owner of this box.
She was baptized at the Bethany Lutheran Church in New York in 1920. Her parents and older siblings were born in Norway and it appears she was the first Olson born in the United States.
I found records on Ancestry that show she was a Navy veteran during World War II!
- Crockpot Apple Butter
- Calico Beans
- Chicken Casserole
- Oyster Cracker Snacks
- Sweet Dill Pickles
- Taffy Dip
- Vegetable Pizza
Arlene ____
- Apple Dumpling
B Royer
- Peanut Butter Pie
- Zucchini Casserole
Betty Robertson
- Salad Dressing
Corrine Elizabeth GREER Coe
Corrine was born in 1918 in Ohio and passed away in 2002 in Ohio. She was the wife of James W. COE and the daughter of Harvey Carl GREER and Lelah C. NICHOLS.
- Pudding Cake
Connie Cahill
- Breakfast Casserole
- Glazed Pork Chops
Daryl ____
- Apple Slices
- Garlic Cheese Spread
David ____
I wonder if this is Reverend C. David Wright, husband of Mirian listed below. I have no other clues to who David could be.
- Fruit Pie
Doris Marie SCHWAB Hessler
At this time I do not see a relation to the box owner.
Doris was born in 1904 in Ohio and passed away in 1992 in Ohio. She was married to Clarence HESSLER and what the daughter of George SCHWAB and Olive May BORDNER.
- Strawberry Sherbet Freezer Jam
Dottie ____
- Apple-Walnut Cake
Eleanor Noel – Mans N. Jour
- Peanut Butter Pie
Elsie DAWSON Stockmaster
At this time I do not see a relation to the box owner.
Elsie was born in 1914 in Ohio and passed away in 2005 in Ohio. She was married to Theodore Frank STOCKMASTER and was the daughter of James Phillip DAWSON and Mabel Fern COX.
- Pecan Pie
Frances Shaffer
- Shink’s Pickles
Gail ___
- Kansas Cuke Salad
Goldie Rhee LEWIS Sower
She is the owner of Vintage Recipe Box 001 and the mother of Dr. Harry Lewis SOWERS, who married Merridele DePUE.
- Grape Butter
- Grape Juice
Hammer ?
- Rhubarb Cream Pie
Hazel ____
- Rhubarb Strudel
Helen Hines
- Coffee Cake
Jane _____
- Apple Cobbler
- Apple Crisp
Jean
I THINK this is Betty Jean RHINEHART. If so, she is the daughter of James Harold RINEHART and Mary Ada BROCKLESBY. James was the son of Silas C. RINEHART and Emma Della QUAY, who were Merridelle’s grandparents. This would actually make them cousins, and not niece / aunt. I will continue to search to see if I missed a Jean or if I am wrong about who the owner of the box actually was.
On the meatloaf recipe, there is a notation of (Sister) (Jean) which makes me question if there are two Jean’s (one a relative and one from church) or if they are the same person.
- Aunt Jean’s Pickled Egg and Beets
- As Good as Mashed Potatoes
- Chocolate Pie
- Gourmet Potatoes
- Lemon Pie
- Meatloaf
- Jean’s Open-Faced Peach Pie
- Jean’s Pie Crust
- Jean’s Pie Crust
- Salmon Casserole
- Sister Lizzie’s Shaker Sugar Pie
- Sugar Cookies
- Summer Squash Casserole
Jean Fulton
Jean Elizabeth HANSMANN Fulton is the wife of Joseph Fulton.
Jean was born in 1928 in Ohio and I have not found further information on Jean. I wonder if there is a connection to the family and this is who they call Aunt Jean or could she be Sister Jean.
Ham Salad for Sandwiches
Joseph “Joe” Fulton
I believe this is the Joe Fulton I found from Willard, Ohio and is not related to the original owners of this recipe box.
- Chicken Velvet Corn Soup (assuming since on same paper as Egg Drop Soup)
- Egg Drop Soup
- Grape Pie
- Pie Crust
- Potato Soup (Jewish) (assuming since on same paper as Egg Drop Soup)
- Split Pea Soup (Jewish) (assuming since on same paper as Egg Drop Soup)
Leah K___
- Freezer Strawberry Syrup
Marsha Adams
- Nauvoo County Pie Pastry
- Never Fail Pie Crust
Martha ____
- Martha’s Meringue
Mike Bell
- Sausage Breakfast Casserole
Mirian Wright
- Old Fashioned Cream Pie
Mrs. Van Buren
- Rhubarb Cake
Olive River
- Meatballs With Sour Cream Sauce
- Party Potatoes
Pat Flenner
- Zucchini Casserole
Pat Parton
- Apple Crisp
Patty ____
- Potato Soup
Below are the recipe found in Vintage Recipe Box 003:
Vintage Recipe Box 3 - White Tin Box
Breakfast Recipes
Appetizer Recipes
Condiment Recipes
Dinner Recipes
Casserole Recipes
Side Dish Recipes
Dessert Recipes
Soup Recipes
“Sister” Vintage Recipe Boxes
You can find gold and red recipe box made by Ohio Art Company on Etsy.
Tiffany
Friday 20th of September 2019
Oh my goodness! I knew Meridelle and many of the people mentioned from her recipe box from my church growing up. I just asked my mom for Arlene’s apple dumplings and was looking on Pinterest and came across this! What a small world! I am so excited right now!
Billie
Monday 23rd of September 2019
I love this and will be in touch to see if you can help me fill in some blanks we have. THIS IS SO COOL!