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SITE EDITORS
Jay Hinnershitz Liam Stephens
Ken Lovell
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
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.
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.
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.
“ 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....
"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.
 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 !!!
We have also put forth an effort to make this a site of historical information.
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.
ABOVE, A 2008
PHOTO OF FORMER ACF MAIL PLAY DIRECTOR EARL HANGEN (LEFT) IN
A FRIENDLY CROSS BOARD GAME WITH JAY HINNERSHITZ.
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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 !!!
Z
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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.
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