It Happened in Crawford County: Virginia Meister and her labor of love

Virginia Meister opened the interview by reminding this writer she will be 93 years old just after the first of the year. She is a daughter of the late Jess and Minnie Magsig Riedel. Virginia was the youngest in her family, having one sister (Jeannette) and four brothers (Gerald, Wayne, Calmer and Daryl). Her family resided in New Washington where she attended school and graduated in 1949. She participated in Girls Athletic Association sports to include basketball, softball and track where she chose to run in her bare feet on the cinder track! Virginia fondly remembers twirling baton for the New Washington Town Band.

Jobs were not plentiful at the time, but Virginia found her first one at the New Washington Egg Auction, handling and packing eggs. She would hold the egg in her hand while passing it over a lightbulb to make sure it was first quality. New Washington has an extensive history in the egg business. A few years later she met Jim Meister, her future husband, at a Holmes Liberty basketball tournament game.

Jim was the son of Otto and Hulda Kurtz Meister. Jim graduated from Holmes Liberty in 1946, and he spent two years in the Army, serving stateside until discharge. Afterwards, Jim and Virginia married and set up housekeeping on a 100-acre farm east of Bucyrus. They milked cows on the farm and Jim went on to Rupert, Indiana, to learn how to be an auctioneer. The couple was active in Good Hope Lutheran Church, and they enjoyed baseball games, card clubs, picnics and hayrides.

Farm and home auctions were very popular at that time. Jim and Virginia were passionate about selling and collecting antiques. In preparation for a particular auction, Jim opened a fishing tackle box looking for fishing lures that can be very collectable. Instead, he found a lot of paper currency. The widow he was holding the auction for had no idea about the money. She was so grateful when Jim handed her the cash. She gave back $100 as a tip for the auction workers to go out for dinner.

As Jim and Virginia prepped for auctions, homes were noted to be in variable conditions. Some had stood empty for a time. Virginia has a vivid memory of opening a dresser drawer to find a dead mouse inside a lady’s scarf. The smell was unforgettable, and Virginia often wonders how their lungs survived the smell of such things!

Jim Gebhardt and Jim Meister auctioneered together for some 20 years. Gebhardt’s son, Lyle, and Jim’s wife, Evelyn, were also part of the team along with Virginia. At one auction in Bucyrus, Jim passed out and dropped to the ground while asking for bids; 911 was called and it was later determined he had experienced an allergic reaction to a bee sting. History repeated itself in Crestline and Jim then began to carry an allergy kit. Another auction in Crestline resulted in a tornado warning. The people ran for cover and later returned to finish the auction. Jim and Virginia met many people over the years at auctions, in particular a couple who came from California to Ohio for a month to purchase old farm items to take back home.

Virginia loves to cook, make cookies and produce homemade candy for family, friends and neighbors at Christmas. She is currently knitting hats after learning how to knit on a round needle about eight years ago. Her goal is 20 hats, and they will be placed on a special giving tree at Good Hope Lutheran Church with the hats to later be distributed to children in need by the Salvation Army. One knit hat requires 1,600 stitches. Knitting was challenging for Virginia earlier this year when she was healing from a wrist fracture. Virginia considers knitting these hats a labor of love.

Virginia has two children. Her daughter is Marlene (Chuck) Siefert, a retired nurse. Tim (Nancy) Meister is her son, and he continues to work as a farmer. Virginia has three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

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: Virginia Meister and her journey from auctions to knitting