Document text
- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us April 18, 2005 Essentially Ashland Geppetto’s: The early years Some favorites from the longtime Ashland eatery have been shipped across oceans for fans abroad Lance Pugh I had just finished lunch and was reading the Chronicle while sipping on a cup of coffee. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted familiar friends: Ron, Kathleen, Jay and Joanie, all working at tasks while engaged with light-hearted banter. The mood was upbeat and it was family. It was what brought most of us to Ashland. It was our life. On Feb. 22, 1977 Ashland made a turn for the better. Ron Roth and Kathleen MacMichael opened up Geppetto’s in the former location of Vito’s Pizza (later to relocate on Granite Street where now Il Giardino, Bento Express, Brunner & White Real Estate and Big Town Hero reside) and later the Sherwood Forest. Ron and Kathleen’s invention included the genius of Joanie McGowan, who oversaw much of everything. Sue Jaffe was the first to be hired. Bill Esser was brought on as head prep cook and baker, with the focus on fresh French rolls. Everything had to be fresh, not the No. 10 cans of delight that stood behind most of the other restaurants at that time. Lithia Grocery would become Tommy’s in two years and Greenleaf was still eight years and a twinkle away in Daniel Greenblatt’s eye. Pollo Geppetto, my personal favorite, was served regularly from 1978 until 2000. It may still be special ordered, much to my satisfaction. Ron Roth (left) and Brian May are hard, at work in the Geppetto's concession at Mt. Ashland in 1981. Submitted photos During the winters of 1978-1982 Geppetto’s operated the food concession at Mt. Ashland, offering mouth-watering treats to the hearty souls who chose to duel with the challenging slopes. I used to have lunch there once a week, then slap on the boards and proceed to park my body into the bark. Later, sitting at Mahogony Ridge (AKA the bar) I would relive my death-defying drop down the cliffs, which were euphemistically called the Intermediate Runs. Anywhere else it would be termed attempted suicide. An integral part of the team jumped on board in 1978: Jay Holden. He had been doing construction work for Karsten Ariens, who then owned the Mark Anthony Hotel, now renamed the Ashland Springs Hotel. Karsten eventually went under, in no small part due to two significant actions by the city. I will mention only one. The city shut off the power to the building late on a Friday, a half-hour before a buyer from British Columbia arrived to inspect the property, checkbook in hand. I know this because I personally pleaded with the highest city official to let it slide until Monday. I met with the buyer and Karsten at 5:30 p.m., with three flashlights in hand, knowing that the City has little mercy in such matters. No power, no deal and the city’s largest building began a long slide, taking with it much of our feeble economy at the time. Funny how such a heartless act can undo so much positive effort at economic development. The Original Dancing Wontons dazzle onlookers in the 1981 July 4 parade. Jay had met Karsten through Swami T, who later partnered up with Sid Ainsworth for a deal or two. Joanie asked if Jay was willing to wear an apron for the summer … and he still is waiting on his very pleased and devoted customers. We all now notice the abundant display of baskets on the walls. They were originally were a gift from Sandy Roark, who Ron and Kathleen had met while working at Callahan’s, just a short walk from their house. Kathleen got a little manic over the baskets and soon everyone was bringing one by. I think that they must have a small barn filled with them. In any event, they were originally hung to conceal the swords and shields that adorned the corkboard from the days of the Sherwood Forest. The famous wontons were an inspiration, again, from Kathleen. They are made by hand and some 150,000 of the tasty tidbits are unleashed every year. No matter what I order I make sure that the wontons are served. It is a flavorful habit. At Cindi Warzyn’s request, Bajr put together the first Eggplant Burger, something that happened first in Ashland. Many have been ordered to go, with the most distant being flown to Chicago. This distance record was outdone by two pieces of Geppetto’s New York Cheesecake being delivered to Indonesia. Loyalty to Geppetto’s has no geographical boundaries. In 1980, the Dancing Wontons paraded through town on the Fourth of July, this the brainchild of Joanie. In the initial configuration Kathleen, Sylva Medeiros, Linda King, Nancy Gonzales, Julie Schull and Joanie performed down the boulevard. Like the edible wontons, the dancing variety is a visual treat, not to be missed when served hot on a morning in July. After the Dancing Wontons passed through Ashland’s main track and were warmly digested by thousands of onlookers, I sat back on the curb and closed my eyes and reflected up on the three small planes that opened up the parade, these led by Elmont George, who ran the franchise at the Ashland Airport. Half the town was in the parade while the other half looked on and cheered. I lacked the vision to foresee that in the next parade I would be dressed up as Miss Piggy and driving a mobile hot tub, Wetward Ho, designed to look like a Conestoga wagon. Sometimes I miss the Big Picture, but I never miss a chance for some wontons and Pollo Geppetto, which you can still enjoy if you order it a day in advance. Future columns will focus on many downtown businesses that have helped make Ashland unique. Send your favorite remembrances to: lance@jour nalist.com. Drop by my blog and help me figure things out: http://essentiallyashland.blogspot.com/ DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Free Musick Downloads Slippers Women's & Men's Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks heloc Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weightloss Products Memory Foam Mattress tcg student loan consolidation home equity loans teleconferencing W2 Forms Tatoos student loans African Safari Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems diamonds Currancy Exchange Online Casinos Community Student Loans Tatoo Poker Games Homeschooling Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams