Individual Details

Immigration

As noted on 1910 census

Occupation

Elite Ice Cream & Candy Company
 
Submitted by
Michael Revelos
2600 Arbor Pointe Dr.
Middletown, Ohio
 
The Revelos Brothers immigrated to America from Kosma, asmall village in Sparta, Greece. The family of six brothers and three sisterswere raised on a small farm and made a living herding sheep and growingvegetables. They read letters from relatives who told them that if they werewilling to work they could be very successful in this country. James was thefirst to make the move in 1903 and Nicholas in 1905 Charles in 1906 and John in1912 followed him. This team of brothers proceeded to make the American dreamcome true by applying themselves to the hard work and long hours that werenecessary to make it all possible.
 Initially, James soldflowers on the streets of New York for a relative who had provided a work visafor him. He soon made contact with relatives in Lima, Ohio, who offered him theopportunity to learn the candy and ice cream making business. James thenbrought Nicholas over and Charles followed with the financial support ofanother relative. The three of them then served their apprenticeship with thecandy maker in Lima. Several years later they moved to Xenia and opened aconfectionery and named it the “Candy Kitchen”(this name is still embedded inthe floor tiles today). After a successful year in business the partnersdecided to sell the store and move to Springfield, Ohio where they worked untilthey were able to come up with a plan for another enterprise.
 In 1909 they moved toMiddletown and opened the Elite Confectionery next to the Gordon Theater. Theimmediate acceptance of their ice cream and candy confections, by the citizensof Middletown, brought them the financial stability they needed. This successalso created a problem with Billy Gordon who asked them to vacate their leasein his building so that he could open up his own candy store. The brothers thenmade a decision to open up an Elites across the street in the Castell Buildingnext to the canal. Their grand opening celebration included a string quartetled by Nate Kunin, a local teacher of musical instruments. The store alsooffered an entertainment box with a mechanism that played a violin. Customerscould drop a coin in it to hear violin music while enjoying their favorite icecream sundae.
 James handled thedelivery of ice cream and candy orders from Middletown customers and wouldtravel as far away as Monroe in a horse and buggy. The horse’s name was Ben andafter awhile they developed a close bond with each other during their dailydeliveries. One day when James had to go out of town on business Mr. SteveComminos, an employee, was asked to make the deliveries. Ben, the horse, balkedand backed the buggy into the canal throwing Mr. Comminos into the water. Thehorse panicked and took off galloping back to the stable where he hit his headon a low timber beam in the doorway. According to James, no one could comeclose to Ben to help until he returned from his trip. When James went to seehim, Ben was so happy that “He even bent his head down so that I could examinethe cut”.
In 1912 they brought their brother John over to help andbecome a partner in the business. The era of men having mustaches was slowlycoming to an end and the brothers quickly adapted to the change by goingclean-shaven. During the transition period, this presented a small problembecause their ice cream was sold at the many summer picnics held at theBoathouse and Armco Park. It was Brother John’s job to set up a booth to selltheir ice cream at these very profitable events. In order to ‘retrofit’ himselfto look like most of the crowd, he started early in the spring to grow amustache. It was amazing how that made a difference in increased sales at theseevents
 They made manyfriendships with Middletown businessmen at the Castell location and severalstories of friendship and camaraderie took place. One of these businessmen wasMr. Sebald who was the owner of the Sebald Brewery located on the canal behindthem. Every week the candy store roasted fresh Spanish peanuts for theircustomers. The aroma from the roasting of peanuts always brought a knock on theback door and there would be an exchange of buckets of cold beer for smallpails of fresh peanuts. The candies they produced were dipped with Hershey’schocolate (both light and dark) and were made with a variety of cream centers.One of the most popular candies was called ‘Klondikes’ and it was in demandbecause it was affordable and chewy. The candy was composed of peanuts,caramel, cut into squares, then coated with dark chocolate.
 During the Middletownflood of 1913, the Middletown Signal reported that Armco donated $1,000.00 tothe flood victims. They also reported that the Revelos brothers donated thesame amount of money as well as milk and cream for the displaced families.Local citizens also made donations, which ranged from $1.00 to $10.00. Althoughthis does not appear to be a significant amount, the value of a dollar at thattime, was the equivalent of twenty dollars today.
 To protect themselvesfrom losing any future store leases, the brothers decided to invest in businessproperty on Central Avenue. In 1911 they purchased property owned by D.N.Gingerich and W.O. Barnitz, located at 1806 Central. It was a three-storybuilding with a restaurant located on the first floor and each of the other twofloors had seven sleeping rooms with one bathroom located at the back of eachlevel. In 1916 Ella Kate Barnitz sold them the property at 1802 Central andthey completed their purchases in that area by buying the property at 1804Central from Emma Montgomery in 1920.
  The Revelos brothers contracted with B.D.Morgan, a local contractor, to build them a ‘state of the art’ candy and icecream making facility on this property. Upon completion of the new buildingthey closed the downtown store in the Castell Building and moved into their newlocation. The retail store was on the first floor, candy making on the secondfloor and ice cream making in the basement. In the back of the building therewas a manual elevator that had a system of ropes and pulleys used to movesupplies and product to each floor. Ammonia refrigerant was the latesttechnology they used in their ice cream production. Their hunter friends werequick to see the importance of this technology and often stored the results oftheir hunt in the freezer but also shared the bounty with the brothers. Uponcompletion of the new building they moved out of the Castell building downtown.This location at the ‘East End’ of Central was directly across from theP.Lorillard (Polar Bear) factory and a half block from the New York Centraltrain station.
  The business did very well at this locationand many of their loyal customers followed them. One of these customers was Mr.Charles Hook who became friends with the Revelos brothers. It was through thisfriendship that they were able to buy his Packard limousine for the business.Nicholas and John learned to drive the car at a time when there were very fewcars on the road. Most people used public transportation to get to theirdestinations in those days. The car had seating for eight people and the fourbrothers used the car, not only for business, but also to take their wives tosocial events in a comfortable car.
 The brothers boughtmilk, cream and fresh eggs from local farmers (notable among them was a Mr.Schirm and Mr. Mull). The citizens quickly accepted the rich ice cream theymade and the demand began surpassing their ability to produce it. In 1926 theypurchased another lot located behind their existing building from a MaryJosephine LaTourrette ‘an unmarried woman’. A new plant was built that was ableto meet the increasing demand of Elite ice cream. The plant also included asystem of pasteurizing raw milk deliveries from farmers who did not have thatcapability at the time. The many ‘visitors’ to the plant were given a glass anda spoon to scoop up the thick soft ice cream which was poured directly from themixer. The policeman, on the beat, and postman had excellent timing when itcame to the completion of each batch of ice cream.
 To insure additionalbusiness opportunities in the downtown area, in 1919 they purchased theproperty at 1236 Central & Clinton from George D. Coddington. At a laterdate, a single building with three storerooms was constructed at this location.The Gas & Electric Company took a long-term lease on two of the storeroomsand a new downtown Elites was opened in the other. The downtown store was notedfor its soda fountain of white marble with flowing brown swirls that createdthe counter and column back bar. This beautiful marble was originally in a sodafountain at the Chicago Worlds Fair of 1933. The counter and back bar waspurchased from the owner by the Revelos brothers, then disassembled andreassembled at the downtown Elites.
 It was their skillwith refrigeration that brought Budweiser representatives to their store afterthe end of Prohibition in 1933. They were looking for a Middletown distributorfor their beer in this area. The brothers felt that they had all that theycould handle with the ice cream business and turned them down. Budweiserapproached Mr. Reckman and Mr. Dickerson, good business friends, and theyaccepted the distributorship. With the discovery of Dry Ice in 1925 the companybought 15-20 ice cream carts to sell novelties in the parks and neighborhoodsof the city. Many young men in Middletown applied for work with these cartsbecause it provided them with income during the difficult years of thedepression.
 During this same timeframe they purchased the Delicia Restaurant next to Webers Café and proceededto close it down for remodeling. Again, they installed a beautiful sodafountain of green marble as well as booths attached to wood paneled walls. Thiswas the last project that they participated in. The Great Depression of the30’s created a slump in business for them and they had great difficultyrecovering from it. They sold off the downtown Elites to Mr. Spero Hagias (arelative) and the Delicia to Mr. Paul Regas in order to meet the mountingbills, mortgages and taxes on the property they had purchased over the years.
 In 1935 tragedystruck the partnership when Charles died from pneumonia at the age of 52,leaving a wife with four small children ranging in ages from 2 to 8. Six yearslater Nicholas died from a stroke at the age of 53 and he left a wife with fivechildren; the oldest was eleven years old and the youngest three. Thepartnership never recovered from these two brothers’ deaths and was dissolvedshortly thereafter. Family members continued the ice cream and candy businessin several locations and then closed down due to the changing economics of thetime. James died in 1966 at the age of 82 and John died in 1969 at the age of79.
 Looking back over theyears we realize how these four brothers became part of the Middletown story.The dating scene for many Middletown couples meant a movie and soda or sundaeat Elites. After high school football games behind Lincoln Grade Schooleverybody would dash down to Elites to beat the crowd to get their favorite icecream specialty. If you had your thick milk shake at the counter you were giventhe can with a spoon to get to the rest of the shake that refilled the glasshalf way. Chocolate Delight, Devils Delight, Lovers Delight, SweetheartsSundae, Die Quick, Mutt & Jeff, Battleship, Cherry Phosphates and Tin RoofSundae were some of the preferences enjoyed by customers. During World War IImany of our boys returning home would get out at the NYC train station, walkwith their duffel bags the half block to Elites, and get that thick chocolateshake they missed while in the army. Another story from a veteran at the DaytonVA Center told of two GI’s from this area meeting up in the same foxhole on IwoJima and talked about Elites ice cream and how great it would be to get back tohave a ‘shake’. During hard times of the depression there were many families inMiddletown who looked forward to the once a week treat of ice cream fromElites. There are many more stories that our older citizens can relate as tohow Elites was part of their lives while growing up in Middletown.
 
Source:
Greek Ancestry In Middletown, Ohio
Last updated  10/29/2012
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohgaim/EliteCandyCo.htm

Census

1910 Federal Census
Lemon Township, Middletown, Butler, Ohio
Enumerated April 23, 1910
Lines 8-10
Revelos, James, head, male, white, age 24, single, born in Greece; parents born in Greece; immigrated 1902, Alien, can speak English, occupation: candymaker, own store; able to read and write.
Revelos, Charley, brother, male, white, age 27, single, born in Greece; parents born in Greece; immigrated 1908, Alien, can speak English, occupation: salesman, confectionary; able to read and write.
Revelos, Nicholas, brother, male, white, age 22, single, born in Greece; parents born in Greece; immigrated 1906, Alien, can speak English, occupation: salesman, confectionary; able to read and write.

1910 United States Federal Census
Year: 1910; Census Place: Middletown Ward 1, Butler, Ohio; Roll: T624_1155;Page: 14A; Enumeration District: 0028;FHL microfilm: 1375168
Description
Enumeration District : 0028; Description:Middletown City, Ward 1 (part), Precinct A
Source Information
Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
Original data: Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). 

Draft Registration

World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
Order # 5803
James G. Revelos
706 E. Third Street, Middl, Butler, Ohio
Age: 34 years; Date of birth: October 26 1884
White
Alien; citizen of Greece
Present Occupation: Chief Manager, Confectioner; Elite Confectionary, 706 E. Third St., Midd., Butler, Ohio
Nearest Relative: Zaharos G. Revelos, Vrondamos, Sparta, Greece
Short; stout, gray eyes, black hair
Date of Registration: Sept. 12, 1918
Local Board, County of Butler, Ohio

Source Citation:
"United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-26461-28030-39?cc=1968530 : accessed 17 March 2016), Ohio > Butler County; P-Z > image 669 of 3951; citing NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

Source Citation
Registration State: Ohio; Registration County: Butler; Roll: 1819748
Description
Draft Card : R
Source Information
Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.
Original data: United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm.

Marriage

Marriage year estimated 2 years prior to birth of son George

Census

1920 US Census, Middletown City, Butler, Ohio
Enumerated January 9, 1920
702 East Third Street
Line 54
Revelos, James, Head, owns home, free of mortgage; male, white, age 35, immigrated 1902, first papers filed, able to read and write, born in Greece; mother tongue: Greek; parents born in Greece; can speak English; occupation: proprietor, confectionary
Revelos, Nicholas, brother, male, white, age 37, single, immigrated 1906, alien, able to read and write, born in Greece; mother tongue: Greek; parents born in Greece; can speak English; occupation: clerk, confectionary
Revelos, Charles, brother, male, white, age 39, single, immigrated 1907, alien, able to read and write, born in Greece; mother tongue: Greek; parents born in Greece; can speak English; occupation: clerk, confectionary
Revelos, John, brother, male, white, age 31, single, immigrated 1912, alien, able to read and write, born in Greece; mother tongue: Greek; parents born in Greece; can speak English; occupation: clerk, confectionary
Revelos, Bill, brother, male, white, age 41, married, immigrated 1915, alien; able to read and write, born in Greece; mother tongue: Greek; parents born in Greece; can speak English; occupation: clerk, confectionary
Boarders:
Manos, Steve
Comencos, Stratus
Balabanos, Thomas
Balabanos, James

Living in house next door at 706 East Third Street:
Revelos, Theodore, roomer, male, white, age 35, single, immigrated 1912; alien; able to read and write, born in Greece; mother tongue: Greek; parents born in Greece; can speak English; occupation: clerk, confectionary

"United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-22942-12202-11?cc=1488411 : accessed 17 March 2016), Ohio, Butler; Middletown Ward 3; ED 57; image 14 of 34; citing NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

Census

1930 US Census
Lemon Township, Middletown City, Butler, Ohio
Enumerated April 5, 1930
114 Harrison; Lines 10-14
Revlos, James, head, owns home value $6,500; male, white, age 45, married, age at first marriage: 35, not in school; can read and write; born in Greece; p arents born in Greece; race: Greek; immigrated 1903, naturalized, occupation: confectioner, owns candy store
Revlos, Angelia, wife, female, white, age 30, married, age at first marriage 20; not in school; can read and write; born in Greece; p arents born in Greece; race: Greek; immigrated 1916, naturalized, occupation: none
Revlos, George, son, male, white, age 7, single, in school, born in Ohio, parents born in Greece
Revlos, Dorothy, daughter, female, white, age 4-4/12, single, not in school, born in Ohio, parents born in Greece

"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-22785-2503-94?cc=1810731 : accessed 19 March 2016), Ohio; Butler; Middletownt; ED 37; image 11 of 64; citing NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002).

Census

1940 US Census
Middletown, Butler, Ohio
Enumerated May 24, 1940, ED 9-64
114 Harrison Street
Lines 1-7
Reveles, James, head, male, white, age 54, married, not in school, finished 8th grade, born in Greece, naturalized, lived in same house in 1935, worked 60 hrs, manager, ice cream store
Reveles, Angela (informant), wife, female, white, age 39, married, not in school, finished 5th grade, born in Greece, naturalized, lived in same house in 1935, housewife
Reveles, George, son, male, white, age 17, single, in school, finished 3 yrs high school, born in Ohio, lived in same house in 1935
Reveles, Dorothy, daughter, female, white, age 14, single, in school, finished 8th grade, born in Ohio, lived in same house in 1935
Reveles, Charles, son, male, white, age 7, single, in school, no grade listed, born in Ohio, lived in same house in 1935
Reveles, Martha, daughter, female, white, age 4, single, not in school, born in Ohio, lived in same house in 1935
Reveles, Mary, daughter, female, white, age 4, single, not in school, born in Ohio, lived in same house in 1935

Year: 1940; Census Place: Middletown, Butler, Ohio; Roll: T627_3035; Page: 27A;Enumeration District: 9-64
Description
Enumeration District : 9-64; Description:MIDDLETOWN CITY WARD 3 BOUNDED BY (N) FLEMMING RD, CLEVELAND, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO & ST. LOUIS RAILWAY [BIG FOUR], SHAFOR, FLEMMING RD; (E) BELLEMONTE; (S) CENTRAL AV; (W) CLEVELAND, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO & ST. LOUIS RAILWAY [BIG FOUR], CHARLES; ALSO CENTRAL HOSPITAL
Source Information
Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls.

Draft Registration

World War II Draft Registration Card
Serial Number U0579
James George Revelos
114 Harrison St., Middletown, Butler, Ohio
Telephone: 2-7236
Age: 57
Place of Birth, Sparta, Greece
Date of Birth: Oct. 26, 1885
Name and Address of Person who will always know your address: Angela Revelos, 114 Harrison Ave., Middletown, Ohio
Employer: self
Place of Employment: 1804 Central Ave., Middletown, Butler, Ohio
White,
5'4"
162 pounds
Brown eyes, gray hair, ruddy complexion
Date of Registration: April 26, 1942
Local Board #4 for Butler County, 101 N. Broad St., Middletown, Ohio

Source Information
Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
Original data: United States, Selective Service System. Selective Service Registration Cards, World War II: Fourth Registration. Records of the Selective Service System, Record Group Number 147. National Archives and Records Administration. 

Burial

FindAGrave
James Revelos

Birth: Oct. 26, 1883, Greece
Death: Dec. 6, 1966
Middletown
Butler County
Ohio, USA
 
Family links: 
 Spouse:
  Angela Belitsos Revelos (1899 - 1946)*
  Children:
  Dorothy Revelos (1926 - 1993)*
 
*Calculated relationship

 
Burial:
Woodside Cemetery 
Middletown
Butler County
Ohio, USA
Plot: Sec. 19 Lot: 127_A sp 2
 
Created by: SMH
Record added: Feb 10, 2012 
Find A Grave Memorial# 84761626

Death

Funeral Record Book, Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Middletown, Butler, Ohio
Page 7, Year: 1966; Line 134
Dimitrios Revelos, of Greece, age 83; widowed, of Middletown, Ohio; died 1966 Dec 6; buried 1966 Dec 9 at Woodside Cemetery, Middletown

Digital image in Revelos file.
Copy obtained from Website: Greek Ancestry In Middletown, Ohio 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohgaim/Church%20Registry.htm

***
See article about Elite Ice Cream under "occupation" category: "James died in 1966 at the age of 82 and John died in 1969 at the age of 79."

U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Name: James Revelos
SSN: 289-05-7965
Last Residence: 45042 Middletown, Butler, Ohio, USA
BORN: 26 Oct 1885
Died: Dec 1966
State (Year) SSN issued: Ohio (Before 1951)
Source Citation Number: 289-05-7965; Issue State: Ohio; Issue Date: Before 1951
Source Information
Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011.
Original data: Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration.

Ohio Deaths, 1908-1932, 1938-2007
Name: James G Revelos
Birth Date: 1883
Gender: Male
Race: White
Residence Place: Middletown, Butler, Ohio, United States
Death Date: 6 Dec 1966
Hospital of Death: Middletown Hospital
Death Place: Middletown (Pt), Butler, Ohio, USA
Certificate: 89906
Age at Death: 83
Certifier: Physician
Autopsy: Yes, used for certification
Marital Status: Widowed

Source Citation
Certificate: 89906; Volume: 18675
Source Information
Ancestry.com and Ohio Department of Health. Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1932, 1938-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.

***

Burial

Burial date from Church Funeral Book (see death)

Residence

Name: George J Revelos
Birth Date: 25 Dec 1922
Phone Number: 423-5491
Address: 11415 Karen Dr, Middletown, OH, 45042 (1995)
[4415 Karen Dr, Middletown, OH, 45042-3811 (1993)]