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8 GU I D E to Y E L L OW S P R I NG S | 2O22 – 2O23 mond, he and friends — he was an amateur builder. He told me that white people in Richmond, once they built the house, told them it was too good for them, and they made him sell it.” McGruder said he had to contextualize the implications of his interview subjects’ expe - riences to his research assistant, Mary Evans, explaining that the gentle way they relayed the story belied the danger, and warning not to be fooled by the Ross’ “Hoosier niceness.” “[They are] the nicest couple you ever want to meet — I had to remind her that the Klan was based in Indiana. That was their headquar - ters, and may still be, for all I know,” McGruder said. Former village resident Janmichael Graine lived on Omar Circle in the 1960s and ’70s, from third grade to 10th grade, when he and his brother moved to live with their uncle following the deaths of their parents. A decorated Army veteran now living on the east coast, Graine said his father, Dennison Graine, and longtime villager George Britton were 1958 Howard University graduates and engineers, and were both recruited by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Graine told the News about the difficulties that Britton and his wife, Evelyn, had in finding housing, describing a racist experience when they were looking for a realtor. “Mr. and Mrs. Britton were looking for a home in Huber Heights,” Graine said. “As they sat waiting for their turn to meet the realtor, one yelled ‘Oh no, we let that kind in?’ to another realtor — of course, saying it so they could hear it. Mr. Britton just said to Evelyn, ‘Come on, let’s go.’” McGruder surmised what Omar Circle may have meant to the founding neighbors who experienced so much discrimination. “I think Omar Circle meant for [the Ross’] and other couples [that] here they could spread their wings and build a house they could afford — it’s not like they were overspend - ing,” he said. “Almost every family was a two-income family, because Black women worked mostly — they were trying to live like everyone else. Like white people expect, and take for granted that they can do.” At least during the early phase of construction, build - ing was a community effort and likened to “old fashioned barn-raisings” in the reunion booklet. “A number of the initial families there, each one of them had a skill set,” Graine said. “Someone knew how to do brick masonry. And some - one knew how to do plumb - ing, and they each helped one another. Michelle Mason’s father, Gabby [known for his barbecue restaurant], he did the brickwork, Mr. Bill Ross laid tile, Mr. Robinson did the electrical work.” According to McGruder, many of the neighbors would stay at each other’s homes on the weekends until their houses were completed. “After work, they’d go do a little work on the house and then they traveled all the way back to Richmond,” he said. “And then sometimes they might work on the weekends and stay over at somebody’s house while they were there. So, it was a sense of community for those young homeowners.” According to Graine, there was also a strict neighborhood covenant: homeowner’s asso - ciation rules that the neigh - bors had to abide by. Some of the rules included homes not exceeding one and a half stories, or buildings having exterior cement or cinder block. No livestock or poultry were permitted either. A UNIQUE NEIGHBORHOOD McGruder cited three things to consider about Omar Circle. REHABILITATION ASSISTED & INDEPENDENT LIVING EXTENDED CARE FACILITY AND OUT-PATIENT THERAPY Call for a Tour Today! 937-767-7363 150 E. Herman St., Yellow Springs, OH 45387 www.friendshealthcare.org OVER 40 YEARS! INDEPENDENT LIVING HOMES • Two and Three Bedroom Homes • Maintenance-Free Living SHORT TERM REHAB • Post Hospital Therapy • Out-Patient Therapy • 16 Large Private Rooms with Bath and Shower ASSISTED LIVING • Four apartment sizes, including LARGE one bedrooms • Medication Administration