The Former School of Piano Tuning

David O. Betz, a leading citizen of Ada, was the founder of the Northwestern Ohio School of Piano Tuning. The school was first established in his home of 402 S. Johnson Street in 1906. Betz sold pianos and trained students as technicians to repair pianos. Betz experienced early success and eventually formed a collaboration with Ohio Northern University in 1909. This collaboration allowed music students to enroll with Betz, however no record of university-level credits were given. The university’s catalog advertised the piano school until 1915. Betz was also not listed among the university’s faculty members. However, the piano school did issue diplomas to those who completed their courses. 

In 1912, Betz moved his school from his home to downtown Ada. The school, being at 226-228 North Main street, was originally a wood frame structure. This wooden building was sold and moved but Bezt owned the lot and he built the brick building that stands there today. After the construction of the new building Betz continued teaching classes and selling pianos, in addition to the pianos he also started selling gramophones. In the Ada telephone directories, during the year 1911 and 1912, there was a name change that was observed from The School of Piano Tuning to The Ada Music House, D.O. Betz Proprietor. During this time period The Ada Music House was described as Hardin County’s largest piano house. A three-course program was offered until 1914 for students to engage in at the school. The first course offered was the action regulating, repairing, voicing and tone regulation, stringing, polishing, and varnishing the pianos. The second course offered was about player piano mechanisms. The last course offered was about organ work. 

Along with the Ada store Betz also had another store in Crestline, Ohio until 1925. However, in 1925 Betz decided to concentrate his efforts on the Ada store. He relocated the store once again this time to 117 North Main street, where currently the Cole-Humphrey Insurance resides. The store also began selling recording, record players, and household appliances. With these new items being sold the store saw yet another name change, this time to D.O. Betz Music and Furniture House in 1926. In 1927 Betz started selling Atwater Kent radios and piano sales and repairs became a modest part of his business. This may have been due to the Depression forcing him to diversify in order to keep his business running. In March of 1933 Betz had purchased a new store at 115 North Main Street. An advertisement run about Betz new store claimed that Betz would be continuing his music, furniture, and sporting goods store. However, by the fall of 1948 Betz sold his store with the intent of starting a new store, selling only sporting goods, in the rear of his home. This was followed by the challenge of keeping his business running during WWII. Betz continued to be active in local matters, such as serving as Justice of the Peace, until his death in 1956. 

Siekerman, M. (2017, February 10). Piano Tuning School. Ada Icon. Retrieved November 15, 2020, from http://www.adaicon.com/news/201702/piano-tuning-school

Grant, R. (2017, March 2). Northwestern Ohio School of Piano Tuning. Ada, Ohio Historical Society.

Retrieved November 15, 2020, from http://www.adaohiohs.com