The Old Townie: Settling into Oxford
When columnist Steve Schnabl looks back on his time in Oxford so far, what he remembers most are its people.
Oxford is about family and neighbors to me.
When my wife and I moved to Brookview Court in 1985, I commuted to Mt. Auburn in Cincinnati. Our real estate agent, Betty Wills, had already become a friend as she worked with us, and after we arrived, she introduced us to Donna Thacker, whose family lived across Brookview on the corner. Soon we met Dick and Pat next door; Audrey and Mark across the street; and Joan next to them.
Wife had moved here in 1970 with her first husband, whom I’ll call “First,” located on University Ave in the Mile Square. While ferrying their kids (my “Steps”) around a lot before we moved back to O-town, I hung out with some of Wife’s former neighbors and the parents of Steps’ friends: Reiss’s; Dainoff’s; Mr. McFarland and his porch full of repairable-but-never-moving TV’s and appliances; Romano’s; Momeyer’s; Beck’s; Mr. Jordan; and the McGrew’s.
My route was north on Bishop, west on Withrow, and south on University to the Steps’ driveway. Although a small frat house was around the corner on Withrow, the neighborhood was still predominantly townie family homeowners and renters.
At some point, the one-way street directions changed, with University Ave heading northbound. First and Steps had already moved away, as did the others. The neighborhood and much of the Mile Square changed to mostly student rentals.
Kroger, Starbucks and Talawanda basketball games became the places that I would reconnect with those original acquaintances and meet more.
I did our grocery shopping and often rented our videos at Kroger. Baggers, stockers, pharmacy staff and cashiers became my acquaintances, supplemented by a neighbor or Talawanda connection here and there. On one dreary morning commute to Cincinnati, I counted 67 Kroger employees that I knew by first name … Donnalu, Ed, Margie, Brenda, Zelma, Marilyn #1/ Marilyn #2, Dallas, Susie, Sharon and Scott are a few, all now retired.
Our two home moves brought two new and enjoyable sets of neighbors.
Coming to work at the Oxford Senior Center for the last seven years of my career gave me the chance to meet and know a very dedicated set of coworkers.
Getting to know the faces, names and backstories of the Center’s participants and board members really enriched my sense of being a true member of the Oxford community myself. I learned more about area farming, the small communities like Reily Township, families with roots much farther back than mine in Oxford, and people from different states who had come here to retire either to be near Miami or grandkids.
Oxford Seniors also provided me with my way to experience the best of Miami students. Student interns placed through the Scripps Gerontology Center, Social Work and Social Entrepreneurship programs were bright, creative and eager for real-work experiences. Miami volunteers helped in many ways, including the annual RASKALS yard service event, the Masters Games (like Senior Olympics), and the Soul Celebration during African American history month. A very large crowd participated in last spring’s March for Meals that recognized Meals on Wheels of Greater Oxford.
Many of the people I’ve met in my 40 years in Oxford have now gone. Despite that, I reminisce about them, and I continue to expand my Oxford contacts and experiences.
Steve Schnabl moved to Oxford in 1985. He retired in 2023 from Oxford Seniors after a 40-year career directing nonprofits.
