The Downtown Lowdown: From New York to Tipp City and the Legacy of Captain Elijah Miles Part Three

By Abbi Heckel

The conversation with local Ron Re continues in Part Three of this special three-part series of The Downtown Lowdown.

In the final installment, Ron shares more about his own incredible journey. Before becoming a longtime Tipp City police officer, Ron worked as a police officer at the 1964–1965 New York World’s Fair, where he met his wife, Sue Ann. He later moved to Ohio and went on to serve more than 30 years with the Tipp City Police Department.

Ron also shares stories from the early days of Tipp City’s police department, including the department’s transition from a largely volunteer force to a full-time police department. He recalls his first experiences working in Tipp City, the differences between policing in New York and Ohio, and how local residents, including the men who gathered downtown and the barbershop regulars, helped him learn the stories and history of the community.

The episode then returns to the historic home at the corner of Fourth and Main Streets, once the home of Captain Elijah Miles. Built in 1888, the magnificent Victorian home stood for exactly 100 years before being destroyed by fire in 1988. Ron shares more about the home, its carriage house, and the history of the property.

The episode concludes with a deeper look at Captain Miles himself and why he was so beloved by the community. A Civil War veteran, Captain Miles was the first person from the area to enlist in the Union Army in 1861. He served in numerous major battles and participated in Sherman’s March to the Sea. After the war, he continued to serve Tipp City in numerous roles, including postmaster, bank cashier, president of the Board of Education, secretary of the Monroe Building and Loan Association, cemetery association secretary, church treasurer, and a longtime member of the Masons.

He even personally helped care for the pool at City Park.

With a lifetime of military and community service behind him, Captain Miles became one of the most respected figures in Tipp City history, making the parade held in his honor after his death a fitting tribute to a remarkable life.

The series closes with a reminder of the importance of preserving local history and listening to the stories of the people who lived it. Ron’s stories offer a glimpse into a Tipp City that may look different today, but whose sense of community and history still lives on.

The Downtown Lowdown is brought to you by the Downtown Tipp City Partnership and powered by the Tipp City Foundation, investing in what makes our community thrive.