More on Fostoria

From Fostoria Focus

Sunday Nov. 12,2000

By L.C. Selwor

1900

In 1900 the Toledo, Fostoria and Findlay Railway Company was formed and the first part of the line was completed a year later connectiong Fostoria and Findlay. The TF&F(Toledo, Fostoria and Findlay) purchased ground between Fostoria and Findlay and formed - Reeves Park east of Arcadia. It to had a pavilion, similar to the one in Bascom, but much smaller, and it soon became a favorite dancing place for all the dapper young men and their dates.

The streetcar fair to Reeves Park was 25 cents.

1900--In March City Solicitor J. M.Bever purchased the Fostoria Academy grounds from the South Side Banking Co. of Cleveland for $10,000.

The academy was located in the west part of the city, facing Vine Street. The land was bounded by Vine, North, Lunt and Foster Streets and included four and one-half acres. Included in the purchase were several other lots and the two halls across Foster Street, which were used as dining and lodging halls when the academy was running.

The grounds were given to the academy trustees some 20 years earlier by the late C.W. Foster and the buildings erected thereon cost about $25,000.

Bever said that he would consider the proposition for starting another school there, if the proper parties could be secured to run it. He said the location would also be admirable for small manufacturing industries. If nothing materialized before long, he suggested he might dismantle the buildings and sell the lots.

A woman carrying a small handbag was seen walking rapidly along Main Street, looking into the curb, stopping suddenly, then stooping, grasping something, and moving on. A close inspection showed that she was gathering up cigar stubs, and that the bag she carried was two-thirds filled with the discarded tobacco ends. She was a stranger here, and when the reporter asked her to what use she planned to put her stock, she replied, "Me and the old man, we dries `em and then we smokes `em."

A. J. Smith placed the following notice in the local paper, "I wish to thank all my friends who assisted me in the death of my wife."

In March 1900 Fostoria City Concil, changed the name of the local burial grounds from Fostoria Cemetery to Fountain Cemetery

June 1900 from Gene Kinns articles--R/t March 22, 2000

Wanted -- One superintendent able to please his corps of teachers, the Board of Education and all the scholars. Must be a real smart man and willing to work for $1,600 a year. Address the Board of Educaation, Fostoria, Ohio

The board was not at all suprised last night to receive the resignation of Prof. J. S. Young as superintendent of the Fostoria public Schools. In his writter resignation, Prof. Young said he had considered the matter and had decided not to accept the position to which he had been elected on May 25th. He said his salary was inadequate. His resignation was accepted by the board.

Prof. Will Rhodes also tendered his resignation, and that too was accepted. Rhodes is to go to Findlay schools in the fall. He was elected to his place in Fostoria schools at $90 per month, but goes to Findlay at $100 per month.

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Certain circles of Fostorians were shocked Saturday night by two young women who ought of have known better. Not satisfied with gallivanting up one side of Main Street and down the other, making themselves conspicuous in various ways, they remained out until the crowds retired and then continued their orgies.

One of the women is married and her husband is a hard-working, industrious man, who is empoloyed at night. Instead of remaining at home and attending to household duties, this one prefers the company of other men.

On Saturday night the husband grew suspicious and left his work in search of his erring spouse. It is reported that he found her in a wine room and then there was a grand scattering of all concerned.

Today matters were brought to a climax by a separation, and a suit for divorce will no doubt be filed soon

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President W. C. Beckwith of the Kammerer Glass Company, is feeling his best today. This afternoon he showed a representative of this paper an order for $100,000 worth of pressed glassware which has just been received for Adams & Brothers, glass jobers of Chicago.

This contract will take the entire output of the local factory in the pressed ware line, a line which has not yet been manufactured at all by this prosperous Fostoria firm.

The Kammerer will shut down on July 1st for the regular four weeks' layoff and will begin work on the new line with the new fire.

The company also has orders on hand for $75,000 worth of blown ware besides and the President Beckwith is of the opinion that the stock of the company will have to be increased to take care of business.

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At a recent meeting of the Fostoria fire department, a committee of three was appointed for the purpose of looking up a suitable place for the department to go for a day's outing. It is the proposal of the boys to take an excursion for a day instead of attending the firemen's comvention in Napoleon. They will go the latter part of this month and will probably take in some lake resort, accompanied by their wives, sweethearts and friends. The idea is a good one and we hope it will be successfully carried out.

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A young Fostoria man almost fell dead with astonishement Saturday when his laundryman handed him a bill of $6.31 for work completed. A fellow who is so careless as to let a measly little laundry bill run to those proportions deserves to wear asbestos shirts and celluloid collars and cuffs.

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If Messrs, Schatzel, Rosendale, England and Caldwell did not oversleep this morning, they left a three o'clock to drive to the Sandusky River, three miles south of St. John's Dam, to spend the day fishing. A man must be an enthustastic sportsman to get a start like that.

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John Ballreich will leave Sunday night for Philadelphia and New York to attend the convention and purchase goods for his big store here.

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July 1900 from Gene Kinns articles-R/t April 3, 2000

Ouch

There was a bald-headed Fostorian, who is getting a new crop of luxuriant hair, through an accident which may prove fortunate. He is a railroad man and has been bald for years. Three weeks ago he had some work to do in the garden, and went out in the sun to accomplish it. He removed his hat, and worked for almost an hour, and as a result the top of his head was completely blistered.

There was a breaking out and the top of his head became very sore and the skin peeled off. When the wounds began to heal, it was found that a new growth of hair was coming too, and since that time the railroad man has been tending that crop of hair like it was a front lawn on a popular residential street.

Owner Bites Bartender

T.J. Dolan who has been working as bartender for D.D. Barrick, the West North Street saloonist who succeeded C C. Hollenaugh, has resigned.

Barrick claimed this morning that Dolan talked politics to the exclusion of waiting on the customers with a thirst. Barrick took Dolan to the task about this and a fight ensued. Barrick hit Dolan on the head with an ax, or something like that, and raised quite a welt. Then he sank his teeth deep into Dolan's neck and wound up by pulling a gun on Dolan, who seems to be a pretty nice sort of fellow. He swore out a warrant for Barrick immediately after the affair and at eleven o'clock, a trip was made before the mayor.

Barrick pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him and was fined $10 and cost, a total of $14.60 Dolan's neck is in pretty bad shape, though it is not thought anything serious will result.

Andrew Emerine's son the Photographer

The Bulb and Button, the new photographic magazine of Cleveland says:

Mr. Andrew Emerine, Jr. of Fostoria, Ohio is one of the earnest and enthusiastic amateurs of the state, having dabbled more or less in the art of picture-taking for five years.

Mr. Emerine is a teller of the First National Bank of Fostoria, but manages to devote an occasional hour or Sunday to his camera, and as a result, his work may be found in every state of the union, some of his pictures having sold at ten to fifteen dollars each.

Emerine has diplomas from Pittsburgh Photographic Salon, Detroit Camera Club Salon, Toronto Camera Club Salon, as well as many other exhibitions.

His work has been published by Cosmopolitan, Leslie's, Ladies Home Journal, and most all eastern photographic magazines.

Treacherous Crossing

The treacherous angling crossing of the B & O railway, with the highway east of Bascom, has added the names of three more persons to its list of victims.

On Saturday night, B & O westbound passenger train No. 47, which was bowling along at a fifty-mile clip, struck a wagon and team of horses, driven by Andrew Kuhn, killing the horses instantly, demolishing the wagon, and killing Kuhn, killing Will Wilson, of Tiffin, who was riding on the pilot of the engine, and dangerously wounding Charles Motz and slightly wounding Roy Fonconnon, both of whom were also riding on the pilot.

Big Local Production

Never before in the history of home talent plays has such an interest been evinced, as shown in the production of "The Carnival of Nations," to be produced at the Andes' Theater, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings of this week, for the benefit of Trinity Episcopal church.

Over two hundred young ladies and gentleman have been practicing for two weeks, to make themselves perfect in the various dances, poses, choruses and specialties, and Prof. Agostini has the different classes drilled almost to perfection.

More on Fostoria

Last Century

From R/t April 20, 2000

(By Gene Kinn)

Religious Shortage;

The Old "bloody fifth ward," in Fostoria was noted for having all the hotels, most of the saloons, and not a single church. The religious shortage is to be corrected this fall by the Reformed Congregation, which will erect a $4000 edifice on the corner of Poplar and South Streets.(now the Footlighters Theater)

Dope fiends;

"You would be surprised to know how many `dope fiends` there are in Fostoria," remarked a leading physician recently. "People you would not suspect, have become addicted to the morphine habit and are slaves to the drug. A score wouldn't cover the dopers here now."

City Debt;

At a meeting of the Fostoria City Council, semi-annual interest of $16,750 was paid on the city debt, and $2,000 was paid on the principal. The debt is now about $614,000 and at the rate it is being paid off, we citizens of youthful years and unmarried state will confer a burden on our great-greatchildren by allowing them to assist in paying for the luxuries we are now enjoying. But think of our fine 24-inch sewer down Main Street and our new Sewage plant.

Unwanted Visitors;

Four Dagos and two Monks are making life miserable for Fostorians today. The mayor and city officials would be conferring a great favor by making this class of visitors get out of town as rapidly as possible, They are a public nuisance.

Easy Smoke;

The following ad appeared in the Fostoria Review-Dispatch in September, 1900.

When you want a free, easy smoking, satisfying cigar, try the "Fostorian" and don't be persuaded to try something "equally as good."The Fostoria is for sale by Esherlman & Harbaugh; Campbell & Sons; Cunningham & Myers: A.J. Cadwell and A.C. Dumont.

Island Club;

W. C. Beckwith and E. W. Allen returned home from their visit to the Middle Bass Club on Middle Bass Island. Mr. Allen is an enthusiast in the club now and says that he had no idea there was such a excellent retreat within a short distance of Fostoria. The upshot of it all was that both gentleman become members. Fostoria now has three memberships in the club; these two and ex-Governor Charles Foster. Mr. Allen is talking of purchasing a yacht and building a summer cottage on the island.

From R/t May 8,2000 Gene Kinns Article

Fostoria population in 1900 was 7,730 a gain of 660 since the 1890 census.

Mister can you spare a nickel:

A great many people who were on Main Street Saturday evening, probably noticed a man with two wooden legs, walking about the street, accosting men as they stood conversing on the sidewalk, and attempting to sell them two lead pencils for a nickel.

A reporter happened to see the man's tactics and determined to follow him up and see what the result would be. Of the 140 people whom he tackled during the evening 84 gave up a nickel each. A great many did not take the pencils, so that was clear gain. As the pencils were of the very cheapest kind, the expense of carrying on the "business" was very small indeed.

The men who gave to him were mainly day laborers earning from $1.25 to $2.50 per day and they gave out of the kindness of their hearts. That was alright, but the fact is that the man was making more money in an evening than these givers had made all day.(5 X 84=$4.20)

After the rain chased his customers away, the man retired to a saloon, where he ordered whiskey--the 15-cent kind by the way --- and after gettting two of those under his vest, he went to a restaurant and got away with a hot oyster stew and all the things that go with it.