The Ney Saloon

The first mention found of a saloon in Ney was in 1889 when the Defiance County Republican reported on August 30 that "there was strong talk of a saloon starting up in Ney."

In 1891, the Farmers' Convention was held in Ney and the Defiance Democrat reported: "The water was excellent and there was plenty of it.  The delegates had to be contented with that alone, for it is said there are no saloons in Ney."  

But, eventually, Ney did get their saloon.

This photo is labeled 1899 and shows the inside of the Ney Saloon.  

 The two young boys and dog were not identified, but the men were, but if listed in order or not is unknown.  The men: Charly Weber, Weston Welker, Ed Kibble, John Maisch, Johnie Kibble, Charles Hehr.  An arrow pointed to Johnie Kibble as the man in front of the bar by the stool.
It appeared a gas light was above the bar.
Who owned the bar at this time?  It seemed to change hands frequently.

Among the owners were Weston W. Welker, Ed Kibble, John Hehr and H. M. Kelley.  At various times, there may have been two saloons in the village.

This undated photograph is labeled on the back: "Old Saloon - outside"

The back of the photo identified the man on the left as Frank Dunkle and the man with the apron as John Hehr.  By enlarging the photo, one can discern a barber's pole on the small addition on the left side, so that likely was the barber.  On the far right of the building is a sign, "Sherwin Williams Paint," so that side may have been a hardware or store of some sort.  But in the middle, beside the right side window by the double doors, is a Diehl Beer sign.  Aha, the saloon in the center. The shadow of a seated man may be seen in the right side window.

The papers actively reported an altercation in one Ney Saloon in late September and early October, 1900.

And later...
"John Small, who assaulted Wm. Lantz with a chair in a Ney Saloon, Sept. 10th, was fined $10 and cost by Judge J. H. Hockman Tuesday.  He will stand committed until fine and cost, amounting to $30, are paid."

On January 17, 1901 : "H.M. Kelly, the saloonist, has sold his Bryan saloon and will move to Ney.  Later editions of the newspaper indicated that the plan may have fallen through.

The presence of the saloon in Ney was very controversial.  What rules did they have to follow?  In the Defiance Crescent-News on May 5, 1902:

"Weston W. Welker, the Ney saloonist, recently convicted of violating the ordinance regulating the saloons of that village, has taken the matter into the common pleas and on account of alleged error in the proceedings before the Mayor of Ney, with the hope of having his conviction reversed.  Baker and Phelps, attorney for Welker."

In 1905, James Herzter purchased a saloon in Ney, and Ed Kibble ran a saloon in 1907.
"Ed Kibble is running a saloon in Ney and has now bought the M. E. church which was sold to the highest bidder.  He says he will turn it into an ax handle factory."
Defiance Weekly Express, July 12, 1907)

In 1913, one paper reported four saloons in Sherwood and two in Ney.  The state kept increasing their license/tax costs in order to force them out, but it didn't seem to work.  Ney voted by a slim margin to maintain their saloon(s) in 1914, reported the Defiance Crescent News.

Please comment and tell us what you know about the old saloon or saloons in Ney.