This year marks the 40th anniversary of the “summer of love,” that mass migration to San Francisco of young people with flowers in their hair. Although it didn’t last very long, it inspired songs and lore, and that eternal question, “Where were you during the summer of love?”To celebrate the anniversary and continue its short tradition of goofy events, the Corner Cone will be holding wedding ceremonies on Saturday, June 23, for those who want either to get married for the first time, or to renew their marriage vows. Performing the ceremonies on the deck, or under an arch in a corner of the patio, will be part owner Bob Swaney and his friend George Steberel, both ordained ministers in the Universal Life Church, which has its international headquarters in Modesto, California.
“The nice thing about owning this place is I can think of something crazy and just do it,” Swaney said in a recent interview. “There are no committees involved.”
Swaney, who got his ordination certificate online, said he got the idea for the weddings about a month ago. According to him, he is licensed by the State of Ohio to perform marriages.
“The license cost me 10 bucks,” he said.
Ceremonies will start at 2:00 p.m. and run until there are no more vow-takers. He is hoping that participants will arrive with flowers in their hair.
Those who are planning on being married for the first time will be required to present a valid marriage license. According to the Greene County Website, applicants must be over the age of 18 years to apply without parental consent. There is no waiting period. The fee is $45.00. Applications are made at the Probate Court, 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Monday – Friday.
Among those who intend to renew their vows at the Corner Cone are Marie Hertzler and Brian Maughan, who were just married last September, after moving to Yellow Springs in August, so Hertzler could take a teaching position at Wright State.
According to Maughan, a sculptor, he was actually living in San Francisco during the summer of 1967. However, he said, he was not part of the wave of transients.
Locals Paula and Jerry Womacks were in San Francisco during the 60s, but in a recent interview Jerry said he couldn’t remember if they were actually there during the summer of love.
“If you can remember where you were, you probably weren’t there,” Womacks said.
Other off-beat events that Swaney has instituted at the Corner Cone are the Thoughtful Jesters on Wednesday nights and Thursday night “no-mic” nights. Last summer he held a contest to rename the business from the Dairy Bar. For Halloween there were free s'mores and ice cream, and photos of the kids in their costumes. Swaney, who with his wife Susan Rogers-Swaney, and their partner and business manager, Jennifer Foley, bought the building last year, would like villagers to think of the patios at the Corner Cone as “community space,” he said, to be used for public meetings or to set up information tables.
Some serious changes have taken place both on the menu and in the infrastructure since Swaney took over. Vanilla and chocolate soft ice cream flavors have been expanded to 10, along with an assortment of shakes and other drinks. With the addition of a grill, they are now serving burgers, hotdogs, fries, grilled fish, steamed veggies and garden burgers.
The kitchen is completely new as are the patios on both the north and south side of the building. Tables, comfortable chairs, umbrellas, and even a fire-pit are among the creature comforts that have been added to the outdoor dining areas.
What’s next for the Corner Cone? Bike rentals will be starting soon. And the possibility of weekend brunch looms on the horizon. Bagels anyone?
As for more season-themed activities, “How about the ‘Fall of Disappointed Dreams,’ or the ‘Winter of Discontent,’” Swaney said.
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