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PROMOTING THE FUTURE OF CHECKERS AND DRAUGHTS, BY GLORIFYING ITS PAST !!

                            
   
 
                                              SITE EDITORS
Jay Hinnershitz        Liam Stephens       Ken Lovell
 
 

What is it....?!?!

Greetings All !!

Welcome to the Online Museum Of Checkers History!! 

   You may be asking yourself what exactly is the OMOCH ?

   Please allow us to give you a little background…

   First, it should be known that there are several different forms of the game played throughout the world.

   The focus of this particular site is centered on the form of the game known as "Checkers" in America (English Draughts in Europe and other parts of the world), with the rules as outlined on the link below....

 

http://www.usacheckers.com/rulesofcheckers.php

 

   Second, it must be noted that this site is devoted to the preservation of the history of this form of the game, meaning the people, places and things from the game's past, and is not "tutorial" based. Also, we are not promoting "current events". There are several other excellent sites that serve these purposes. Please see the "LINKS" page.

  Third, it should be understood that this site is under perpetual care, and is constantly being updated with exhibits, information, corrections, etc. It is far from being a "finished" product. The Editors are aware that there are several "holes" within the content of the site....in due time, and to the best of our ability, these "holes" will be filled. 

   NOW, with that being stated....  

    The world of Checkers/Draughts suffered a tremendous loss with the destruction of the International Checker Hall Of Fame on September 29, 2007, due to a devastating fire.      

    Fortunately, there were no personal injuries as a result of this devastating event.

    Unfortunately, the building itself was completely lost, along with the incredible collection of Checkers and Draughts artifacts that were housed within its walls.

  

INTERIOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL CHECKER HALL OF FAME

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   The questions began immediately as to to what was lost, and, what was left…?

   Not from the ICHF, but, what was left in private collections from around the world.

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   After the news of the loss hit the media, the forum of the American Checker Federation lit up with remembrances, and personal feelings regarding the subject.

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Kim Willis

  One in particular struck me...

 I am so saddened about the Checker Hall of Fame fire.  I have been thinking about the things which were lost and cannot be replaced. But, if each of us has something of the past, why do we not collect them up and start new ? This might take years to build...but if each of us were to donate 1 piece of history, 1 book like Alex's Sixth etc.,etc., we could do it in time. Each donation would have his or her name placed where it was donated for all to see. The history of Checkers in some has been forgotten. I do not want to see this happen just because of a fire. Some of you have been there to see it. Pictures of the Checker Hall of Fame could also be placed in as a remembrance.
It’s just an idea...
Kim Willis”

   Kim is a well respected American player/organizer, and I felt this was a brilliant idea...but, who would have the time , and the space available to co-ordinate such a project ?

    Prior to the ICHF fire, I (Jay Hinnershitz)made several posts onto the American Checker Federation forum boards, mostly with photos and text pertaining to the history of certain books within my collection, and I received a very good response to these postings, and several fellow ACF forumites began to post some of their own items.

   It became quite clear that Checkers/Draughts players are, indeed, interested in preserving the history of the game. And, with the popularity of my posts on the ACF Forum, it was clear that they enjoyed seeing rare and historic items, be it in person, or online.

 

   I then began to communicate with Mr. Liam Stephens, and bounced the idea of a website devoted to the history of the game.

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Liam Stephens

“ Jay, 
Your proposal to have a website devoted to the history of the game is something very close to my heart. I certainly hope you will do it and if I can contribute any material I would be delighted to do so.”

   I then contacted the Patriarch of the game in America , Mr. Richard Fortman, and asked his opinion of this idea....

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Richard Fortman
"Hello Jay,
 Your proposed website sounds very interesting. Should you go ahead with this, I would be willing to serve as an information source, to answer questions on the game's history to the best of my knowledge.
 Let me hear from you as this project developes .
With best regards,
 Richard Fortman"
 
 
  Richard "Dick" Fortman passed away on November 8, 2008 at the age of 93, in Springfield, IL.  His contributions to Checkers/Draughts during his lifetime are enough to fill volumes. We at the OMOCH are very proud of, and thankful for, his support of this site. The name Fortman will forever be linked to this game, and held in the very highest esteem....RIP Dick. You will be missed, and never forgotten.
 
 
 
 
 
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OBJECTIVE
 
   WHAT WE HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS SITE IS TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO ALL CHECKERS/DRAUGHTS PLAYERS THE WORLD  OVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE SOME OF THE INTERESTING CHECKERS/DRAUGHTS ARTIFACTS THAT ARE HIDDEN AWAY IN PRIVATE COLLECTIONS.
   WE WILL DO THIS BY ASKING FOR SUBMISSIONS FROM ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN SHARING ANY OF THE ITEMS IN THEIR COLLECTION ON-LINE.
   THIS WEBSITE WILL PROVIDE THE STAGE WITH WHICH TO PRESENT THE ITEM, AND THE WORLD WILL BE THE AUDIENCE.
    IF YOU WERE TO SEND US SOME IMAGES, WE WILL FORMAT THEM ACCORDINGLY FOR POSTING. IF YOU HAVE SOME HISTORICAL DATA TO GO ALONG WITH THE IMAGE OF THE ITEM, THAT WOULD BE POSTED WITH IT.         
  IF THE ITEM NEEDS SOME RESEARCHING, WE WILL DO WHATEVER WE CAN, AND THEN PRESENT THE FINDINGS WITH THE POSTING.
     IN THIS WAY, CONTRIBUTORS CAN DISPLAY THEIR ITEMS, AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEM BEING LOST, DAMAGED OR STOLEN. THE ITEMS CAN BE DISPLAYED WORLDWIDE, AND NEVER HAVE TO LEAVE THE OWNERS PREMESIS !!!  
 

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Ken Lovell

   We have also put forth an effort to make this a site of historical information.
   This is being done with the inclusion onto the site of the "CHECKERS/DRAUGHTS TIMELINE" , along with the "LISTS" page, and the "TOURNAMENT CROSSTABLES" page.
   Our goal is to make these timelines, lists and crosstables the most complete ever produced , anywhere, on the game. We are including rare photos and articles, many of which have never been reproduced online before.......and we could use your help !!
   We (the editors) have worked as closely to "eyeball-to-eyeball" as is possible for people thousands of miles and oceans apart.
   But, if you would like to volunteer some time to assist with this, we would be most appreciative !! If you decide to help, your name would be listed on the homepage "CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS SITE" panel, so everyone who visits will know that you assisted with this project !
  We  also have a FORUM,  http://omoch.freeforums.org/  where you can visit to discuss the game's history and/or the items you see on these pages, or anyhting else checkers/draughts related. 
  
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Summer 2008
   ABOVE, A 2008 PHOTO OF FORMER ACF MAIL PLAY DIRECTOR EARL HANGEN (LEFT) IN A FRIENDLY CROSS BOARD GAME WITH JAY HINNERSHITZ. 

THIS SITE IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY  EARL  HANGEN, WHO SERVED AS THE AMERICAN CHECKER FEDERATION MAIL PLAY DIRECTOR FOR 25 YEARS. EARL WAS KNOWN BY CHECKERS/DRAUGHTS PLAYERS ALL OVER THE WORLD DUE TO HIS CONTACTS MADE WHILE PERFORMING HIS ACF MAIL PLAY DIRECTOR DUTIES.
 
 

CLICK ON THE PHOTO BELOW TO SEE A TRIBUTE TO EARL HANGEN

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FORMER ACF MAIL PLAY DIRECTOR EARL HANGEN

  BELOW, ALEX MOISEYEV (LEFT) AND RON KING AT THEIR 3-MOVE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH IN 2003. THE IMAGE WAS FOUND POSTED ON THE WORLD DRAUGHTS FORUM.
  THESE TWO HAVE CONTESTED THREE 3-MOVE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES, AND ONE FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH FOR A TOTAL OF 4 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES BETWEEN THEM WITH MOISEYEV WINNING TWO, AND TWO OF THEM BEING DRAWN. THESE ARE TWO OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PLAYERS EVER, AND THEY BOTH LIVE IN THE SAME ERA... ONE OF THE GREATEST RIVALRIES IN THE HISTORY OF THE GAME !!! 
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CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS SITE

JAY HINNERSHITZ JR. & SR.

EARL HANGEN
 
LIAM STEPHENS
 
BOB MURR
 
LINDUS EDWARDS
 
RICHARD FORTMAN

TOMMY CANNING
 
RICHARD BECKWITH
 
JR SMITH
 
CHRIS REEKIE
 
DAVID HARWOOD
 
JOHN READE
 
KEN LOVELL
 
DAVID KOTIN
 
ERIC VAN LAER
 
BOB NEWELL
 
ANDY LANSET
 
CARA McCORMICK
 
DAVE BEADELL
 
WENDY SCOTT
 
ALAN MILLHONE
 
VINCENT KELLY
 
MIKE CHOATE
 
HUBERT MARTIN
 
RUTH WOOD
 
MARY JANE ENROS
 
STEPHEN WRIGHT
 
INGO ZACHOS
 
BERNARD COLL
 
MICHAEL (CAROL) DEAN
 
KEITH BRANNEN
 
VICTOR BURROUGHS
 
IAN SHEARER
 
NICK McBRIDE
 
JASON YEO
 
LLOYD AUKER
 
JIM O'BRIEN
 
MICHAEL SMITH
 
ANNE RUHR
 
BILL SALOT
 
JILL REED
 
JEFF WILLIAMS
 
RAHIM ALI
 
ALAN VAVROCH
 
SLAVA GORIN
 
VICKY HOLLOW
 
RICHARD PASK

ERIC ZIMMERMAN

HUGH DEVLIN

STEVE SPICER

ALL WHO CONTRIBUTE AN ITEM TO BE EXHIBITED, OR ANY OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS, WILL HAVE THEIR NAME LISTED HERE ON THE CONTRIBUTORS PANEL. 

THE ONLINE MUSEUM OF CHECKERS HISTORY IS A VOLUNTARILY RUN ENDEAVOR. ALL DISPLAYS AND EXHIBITS ON THIS SITE WERE DONATIONS MADE TO THE SITE IN THE NAME OF PRESERVING CHECKERS/DRAUGHTS HISTORY.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE ???