It’s that time of year again when I feel drawn to write a little post about Ada, Ohio.
Ada is many things.
It is a palindrome.
It is a village.
It is home to Ohio Northern University where Chris and I met and graduated.
It has a population of just under 6000.
It has a set of train tracks that divides the downtown in two pretty equal halves.
It has the charm of a small town complete with small town festivals complete with the local high school marching band sharing their talents.
It is where my grandparents retired and had a house for many years on Johnson Street just down from the fraternity house where Chris lived.
It has a cemetery where my grandparents and my Daddy are buried.
And…
It has the Wilson Football factory where the footballs that are used for the upcoming Super Bowl are made.
Ada’s claim to fame gets highlighted every year at this time and far be it from me to let this opportunity pass without giving a shout out to the cutters, the stampers, the sewers, the turners, the lacers, the molders, the inspectors and the packagers. Each of these people doing these jobs in this small town factory but their mark on each and every ball that comes down the line.
There is pride in this factory. A lot of pride. Small midwesterner pride that makes that person stand just a little bit taller when his/her job is done and the ball is passed to the next station.
On game day I can imagine that all of the employees of this plant gather around in their homes, in bars or restaurants to watch those balls that they created be put into action. Even if they have no love of either of the teams that make it to the big show down I have to think that each one feels like it is their baby out there being kicked, punted and passed around on that field.
So as you enjoy your nachos and wings on Sunday think about Ada, Ohio and the good people who make the day just a little bit better.
Thank you, good people of Ada, for your continued love of the game and dedication to making those balls be perfect.
22 Comments
Leave a commentThat was interesting! I never knew where footballs came from. Way up in the UP there’s a town that makes flooring for basketball courts. It’s a tiny town too, maybe even smaller than Ada, and they’re very proud that their floors are in basketball courts all over.
Well I am glad I posted it today then. It is a fun little factoid, isn’ t it? Thanks for stopping by. And that is very cool about the town that makes basketball court flooring. Another great small town story.
Yay for Ada! They’re super! I’m glad you recognized these great folks!
Gotta give a shout out to a great little town!
Love this!
Thanks so much, Val!
Another nugget of knowledge found within the wide confines of your experience. Thank you for the knowledge and happy super bowling to ya’. May the odds be ever in your flavor.
I am such a source of knowledge, right? Hahaha. But it is fun to highlight them because they take great pride in their work and in their products. That is not always the case these days so they deserve it.
What fun to learn this about footballs and to celebrate the good folks of Ada. Thank you for sharing this, Beth Ann.
Did you know there’s an Ada in Minnesota, too?
You are very welcome. Everyone needed to know a little football trivia, right? There are quite a few towns called Ada in various states and I did not know that Minnesota had one. Will had etc look that one up.
It has never occurred to me to wonder where the footballs are made. But it’s nice to know now. A great little tidbit!
Well it is not THE most important thing to know but it seemed timely to write a bit about it. And now you can amaze your friends at your Super Bowl party and tell them a little tidbit.
You know, I spent four years in Ada, knew about the factory, but never visited, and don’t even know where it was located. What a missed opportunity! Great post!
You will have to put it on your bucket list for when you retire. Go to the football factory in Ada should top the list. I suspect we all had other things on our minds when we were there at ONU. 🙂 Love you, Mark!
Yay Ohio! I did not know this.
Claim to fame, right? Have to give them a shout out when I can.
Well, you do learn something every day. I never knew this. Ada is a special little town with a nice little claim to fame just like Punxsutawney, PA (near my hometown) is for that weather prognosticating groundhog. No one’s too happy with him right now though. 😉
I love how small towns have certain things that make them “famous” for a day. And yes—Phil did not make many people happy this year, did he? But honestly—it is supposed to still be winter so I guess we need to accept that.
Yay!! Ohio!!! So glad that you did a post on this!
My fact for the day! I should have known it already!
Loved Ada. ONU has a special place in my heart.
It’s a great place with a lot of great memories!