Astronaut Neil Armstrong grew up in Wapakoneta, Ohio. While living in his childhood home, Neil built model airplanes in the dining room, constructed a basement wind tunnel, and even earned his pilot’s license at age 16. The house is filled with history.
And when news broke that the house was up for sale, a retired fighter pilot who grew up in nearby Dayton donated $400,000 of his own money to save and preserve the house.
Ken Schreiber, who now lives in Texas, was just nine years old when he watched Neil Armstrong take those famous first steps on the moon. And seeing that historic moment inspired Ken to become a pilot himself. Being able to preserve some of the history of his hero has allowed things to come full circle for Ken.
“I just thought somebody has got to step up to the plate,” he said. “It was almost like the ghost of Neil Armstrong was there. I could imagine him running up and down the stairs.”
Thanks to Ken’s donation the Auglaize County Historical Society will now restore the house to its 1940s appearance — and hope to open it to the public within the next three years.