In a heartwarming journey back in time, a couple stumbled upon two vintage autograph books in an antique shop in Cambridge, Ohio, sparking an adventure to reunite them with their original owner in Akron. These charming keepsakes, one green and one red, were nestled among a collection of forgotten memorabilia, yet they seemed too precious to be left behind.

During a leisurely weekend trip, my wife, Susie, and I discovered these 4 ½-by-6-inch ribbon-bound volumes. Hidden amidst a jumble of curios and trinkets, the books were filled with whimsical, handwritten notes from a bygone era. The sweet and innocent verses captivated Susie, and despite not knowing their purpose, she couldn’t resist purchasing them for just $1 each. We placed them on a special shelf at home, occasionally leafing through the pages to enjoy the nostalgic verses.

Inside one cover, the name Rita Jean Kandel was inscribed, with most entries addressed to “Dear Rita.” Several autographs referenced “LHS,” a clue that remained elusive until we discovered a mention of Louisville High School. These signatures, collected in Stark County, had somehow traveled to Cambridge, leading us on a quest to return these Akron-Canton treasures.

Through diligent genealogy research and assistance from the Rodman Public Library in Alliance, Ohio, we pieced together the story. The books belonged to World War II veteran LeRoy G. Oyster’s wife, Rita J. Oyster, who survived him along with their children. The details aligned perfectly with the autograph books.

Reaching out to Carolyn Gabric, one of Rita’s daughters, I shared our discovery and offered to return the heirlooms. “Hello, Mr. Price,” Gabric replied the next day. “Yes, this was an unusual email.”

With anticipation, Susie and I traveled to Alliance to meet Carolyn Gabric and her mother, Rita J. Oyster, at the Bel Air Care Center. Mrs. Oyster, who has been residing there since 2010 following a stroke in 2005, greeted us with a smile as Susie handed her the cherished autograph books.

“Oh, my gosh!” Mrs. Oyster exclaimed. Gabric explained that the books were likely sold by accident about a decade ago during an auction, narrowly avoiding the loss of a box of irreplaceable family photos.

As we sat together, Mrs. Oyster shared stories from her childhood. Born on September 9, 1927, she grew up on an 80-acre farm near Louisville and attended Scenery Hall, a one-room school in Washington Township, Ohio, for her first eight grades. She graduated from Louisville High School in 1945.

“We had a fairly good class,” Mrs. Oyster reminisced. “We weren’t overly smart, but we were good. The teachers were always satisfied.” She fondly recalled collecting autographs from classmates at Scenery Hall and Louisville High School, often passing the books around during study hall.

Mrs. Oyster recognized several names in the books, including Rose Mary Heffelbower, Nellie Hostetler, and Clarence Bowersox. A solemn verse penned by Scenery Hall teacher Kathryn Weyand in 1939 brought back fond memories.

Family notes were also tucked within the pages. Her mother, Lettie Kandel, had written a heartfelt message in 1940. Gabric exclaimed, “You remembered it! Oh, that’s neat.”

At 20 years old, Rita Kandel married LeRoy Oyster, a fellow Louisville High School classmate, in 1947. Together, they built a family, and today, Mrs. Oyster is a proud mother of five, grandmother of 14, and great-grandmother of 18.

As Gabric read a special passage from the books, it sparked a warm memory for Mrs. Oyster. “We’re going to have a lot of fun looking at these,” Gabric said. “We’ll have a lot of laughs.”