Sunday, October 31, 1999
Paying tribute to man's best friend
By Jill Wright
Staff Writer
Baby Ginter, (1921-1932), was reburied yesterday, 67 years later, at Valentine Village.
Baby Ginter was the beloved dog of wealthy Tiffin resident, Frank Callahan. The dog was a five-pound, black pomeranian. Baby Ginter was Callahan's constant companion for 11 years until it became sick in 1932 and suffered a fatal heart attack.
Friends of Callahan, knowing the pain the animal's death would cause Callahan, bought a white casket for Baby Ginter. Despite their act of kindness, Callahan felt that his beloved pet deserved more.
Callahan went to the Dwight Bently funeral home in Tiffin and bought Baby Ginter a bronze casket with copper detail. The casket was displayed at the ceremony yesterday.
Callahan paid $400 for the casket and $600 for additional funeral arrangements. The animal was honored with calling hours and a funeral that gained nationwide attention.
Senator Vest's Tribute to a Dog, read at the original funeral of Baby Ginter, was reread at the reburial. According to Vest, "One absolutely unselfish friend ... is a man's dog."
Even so, Callahan was publicly attacked for spending $1,000 in the midst of a the Great Depression to bury a dog.
The dog was originally buried in the side yard of Callahan's estate, 528 W. Market St. Baby Ginter's grave was marked with a granite tombstone. When Callahan died in 1947, he left an endowment in his will, intended to pay for the upkeep of Baby Ginter's grave.
Although the endowment ran out years ago, the grave continued to be cared for by the people who purchased the estate.
Recently, the property was purchased as the site of a new Rite Aid drug store. As soon as they heard the news, Tricia Valentine and Lisa Swickard approached Rite Aid officials about saving Baby Ginter. Valentine wanted the dog for Valentine Village, a museum owned by her father.
After three months of negotiation, Rite Aid agreed to pay for digging up the animal and transporting it to Valentine Village.
Yesterday at Valentine Village, a crowd gathered to celebrate Baby Ginter's life and Frank Callahan's love for his dog.
"After spending 500 hours working at the vault, it's difficult to put [Baby Ginter] back in the ground," Valentine said.
In attendance Saturday were three sisters: Ruth Dunlap from Lykens, Evelyne Eyer, Sycamore, and Dorthy Roby, Tiffin, who were present at the original burial of Baby Ginter in 1932.
Other honored guests included look-alikes of Callahan's friends: Babe Ruth, Florence Harding, widow of President Warren G. Harding, and owners of the Hope diamond.
Callahan's wishes of having a Christian funeral for his beloved friend fell short in 1932, because he was unable to find a minister willing to participate in the ceremonies. However, Callahan's wish came true yesterday when the Rev. Dennis Henkle, a Methodist minister from Lorain, agreed to officiate the funeral of Callahan's pet.
Baby Ginter was to be buried at Valentine Village yesterday following the ceremonies. The dog's grave will be permanently on display at the museum complex in Melmore.
Edward Valentine founded Valentine Village "just for the fun of it."
There is no charge for admission at the village and, according to Edward Valentine, the village is open "any time I am home, and that's quite often."