More on Fostoria

More on Fostoria 1942

From R/t June 29, 1942

Article by Gene Kinn

Local Birth Record (1942)

All Previous birth records were shattered in Fostoria in 1942 when 439 babies were born here, Health Commissioner A.A. DeVore revealed today when he made his annual report. The new record betters by 34 the mark established in 1941.

At the same time there was a marked decrease in the number of deaths. In 1942, there were 176 deaths compared to 205 in the previous year

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Cunninghams' Drug Store

One of Fostoria's oldest business firms, Cunningham's Drug Store, 133 S Main St., changed hands Saturday night when Harold Cunningham sold the store to W.E. Whitney.

the firm, operated in several locations, has carried the Cunningham name since 1888 when it was founded by the late Maj. George W. Cunningham and S.L. Ghaster, now a resident of Findlay.

Harold Cunningham said he will remain as an associate in the firm, but is relinquishing active ownership under his physician's orders.

Mr. Whitney has been a resident of Fostoria for three years/ A native of Lima, he has been engaged in the drug business for 18 years. He was graduated from the school of Pharmacy at Ohio Northern University and was formerly associated, with his brother, in the Whitney Drug store in Lima. During the past few years he has traveled for the Upjohn corporation.

The store will continue under the Cunningham name for the present, but eventually it will be changed to the Whitney Drug Store.

The Cunningham and Ghaster store was founded in the room now occupied by the Bazley Meat Market on North Main Street.(This area now a newly erected Fostoria Focus office building.--year 2002) Later it moved to the site occupied by the S.S. Kresge company and was conducted there for 25 years. At various times it was known as Cunningham and Beckman, Cunningham and Manecke, Cunningham and Myers and Cunningham and Pillars.

When Major Cunningham reported for duty in World War I he and E.R. Pillars sold the business to Glenn Eaton. After the war, Major Cunningham resumed business by purchasing the old Anderson Drug Store and called the firm Cunningham and Sons. The store moved to its present location 14 years ago.

Following the death of Major Cunninghan in 1931, Harold purchased the interest of his brother, George, and continued its operation under the Cunningham Drug Store name.

From R/t May 25, 2002

Article by Gene Kinn

Local Girls Suggestion to Joan Crawford (1942)

From a column by former Fostoria newspaper reporter Chub DeWolfe, in the Toledo Blade; Short Stories About Living Persons; The leading article in the December Ladies' Home Journal is about and by a movie star Joan Crawford. In the first paragraph she tells how, when she was sweet 16, another young lady wrote and told her that if she visited Chicago, to look her up, as the writer might be able to get Joan a job. And Joan profited by the suggestion. Well, you know where Joan is, but one is willing to bet you don't know where the girl is who told Joan about a job in Chicago...this column does. Her home town was Fostoria, she now lives in Fremont and she is capable inspector in a war plant in LaCarne, Ottawa County. Her name, at the time Joan speaks about, was Miss Catherine Emerine.

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Local Lad Prevents Serious Train (1942)

Jack Brubaker, 15, 409 Cleveland St., today was credited with preventing a serious train wreck on the B & O Railroad, when he discovered a piece of angle iron wedged between the rails on the Cleveland Street crossing.

Val Rhoad, B & O foreman, told police the angle iron, which probably dropped from a railroad car, could have caused serious problems had not the boy noticed it and reported it promptly.

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Area Women to be Hired (1942)

Marion C. Smith, manager of the United States Employment service of Fostoria, announced today that the War Industries of Fostoria will urgently need approximately 750 women in the near future, to take the places of men who will enter military service and to meet the increasing production demands.

Women are needed for machine operation, assembly work, inspecting and welding. Smith also stated that a large number of women must be trained in war training classes for the operation of engine lathes, turret lathers, milling machines, planers, shapers, drill pressing, reading blueprints, micrometers, calipers and gauges.

Those who can accept employment should contact the U.S. Employment service, 114 E North St., to discuss present job openings, on the job training and enrollment.

More on Fostoria 1942

R/t May 18, 2002

From Article by Gene Kinn

Fostoria Population (1942)

The population of Fostoria increased 5.2 percent between 1930 and 1940 and approximately 10 percent more in period 1940 to 1942 according to census information now available.

The city population in 1930 was 12,790; in 1940 13,453 and by conservative Census Bureau estimates, 15,000 in 1942.

(The population in the 2000 census was 13,931)

From R/t March 30, 2002
Article by Gene Kinn

Ballplayer Dies during Baseball Contest

John K (Kenny) Geyer, 23 of Risingsun, died of a heart attack while he was participating in an Ohio State League baseball game, between Fostoria and Fremont, at Fremont, yesterday afternoon (May 31) The young outfielder suddenly dropped to the ground as he was running from first to second base, in the third inning, and was dead before he reached the hospital.
The incident was witnessed by the player's wife and mother, who were in the stands at the time

Geyer was born in Risingsun and spent his entire life there. He attended Risingsun high school where he attained athletic prominence. He had been working as a Forman at the Auto-Lite plant since 1937.

From R/t March 30, 2002
Article by Gene Kinn

The Reverend Raymond G. Kirsch, president of De Sales College, Toledo, arrived in Fostoria today (July 11942) to assume his duties as pastor of St. Wendelin's catholic church parish.
Father Kirsch succeeds the Venerable Rev. Ambrose A Weber, who served as pastor here for more than 36 years.
A reception will be given tomorrow evening at St. Wendelin's high school auditorium to welcome the new pastor to the parish and community, Mayor Cliff B. Shuman will give the civic welcome and H. L. Ford of the public schools will give a welcome for the schools systems. Cyril Scharf will give a talk in behalf of the parishioners.
The new pastor was born in Gibsonburg, Ohio Dec.1, 1894, received his degree from St. John's College in Toledo in 1915, entered St. Mary's Seminary in Cincinnati and was ordained in Toledo May 29, 1920.
After taking post-graduate work at Catholic University in Washington, Father Kirsch returned to the Toledo diocese and was made assistant superintendent of schools. In 1924 he was named principal of Toledo Central Catholic High where he served until his appointment last year as president of DeSales College.
Father Kirsch's parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Kirsch, are members of St. Michael's parish in Gibsonburg,Ohio.

More on Fostoria (1942)
From R/t March 23, 2002
Article by Gene Kinn

Ohio state baseball league feature;
Fostoria Red Flares

The six-club Ohio state baseball league opens its season tomorrow with the local Fostoria Red Flares meeting the Findlay Oilers at League Park, Findlay, starting at 3 P.m.

Officials of the various clubs have expressed the hope they will be able to provide the same caliber of baseball as prevailed in the class D professional loop, which was disbanded recently. A 40-game schedule is planned, using a split season with championship playoff.

The locals, under the management of Harry Aldrich, will probably take the field as follows: Steven and Gee: catchers; Henry pitcher; Beeson, first base; T. Lucadello, second base Haman third base; Rader, shortstop; Geyer, left field' Fittro, center field and Shroeder, right field. Kamper will serve as utility man.

From R/t March 2, 2002

Article by Gene Kinn

Junior Table Tennis at YMCA

John Haldeman became the Junior table tennis champion of the city by downing Abie Shiff at the local Y.M.C.A. Shiff Teamed with Jack Perkins to whip Haldeman and K. Speelman for the doubles title.

Shiff seemed well on his way to victory when he took the first two games in the best-of-five series, after topping Janet O'Brien and Myer Shiff in the early rounds

Haldeman had beaten Speelman and Perkins, but John caught on to Abie's style, forcing Shiff to play the slower, cutting game at which Haldeman is so adept.

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New Civic Nic-Nac Opens

A new Civic Nic-Nac opened here on April 9, 1942, long and well-known for its fine foods delicatessen, ice cream and baked goods, was ready to serve patrons again in new enlarged and re-decorated quarters.

Coming to Fostoria in 1934, as a distributor of Ray's Bakery products, Sam Dever open a small store at 322 N. Main St. The popularity of the place continued and besides enlarging the distribution point in the rear of the building. Mr. Dever has constructed a more modern completely improved place, including 320 and 322 N. Main. Dever said that he planned to continue as a distributor for Ray's Bakery, specializing in wedding cakes, birthday cakes and party pieces of all kinds, for all occasions.

Professional "Redbirds" Baseball to end in Fostoria

From R/t Feb. 16, 2002

Article by Gene Kinn

The Ohio State Baseball League will operate with four teams this coming season (1942) It has been announced by president Joe Donnelly, Mansfield has definitely dropped out, and , as things stand now Fostoria will be the other team to drop out and complete the paring of the circuit.

According to a statement issued today by Fred Morgan, for the local "Redbirds" (Who were affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals) baseball association.

Fostoria will have no team in the league unless something unexpected turns up in the way of an affiliation with a major league club.

The association will not operate without some outside backing, and that backing is not forthcoming, as far as Morgan can see. For some time, it was thought that a deal was nearly closed with the Detroit Tigers, but that has not materialized. Latest reports show that the Bengals are now negotiating with Fremont. (Which had been affiliated with the New York Club)

Other teams have posted their guarantees and are in the fold- Fremont, Lima, and Tiffin Findlay is a highly uncertain quantity.

Local Enright Greenhouse

Timothy J. Enright Greenhouse on the corner of Sycamore and Union was started in 1913

Mr. Enright operated it until his death in March 14, 1942 .

Mr. Enright came to Fostoria in 1903 and was employed at the Sackett Greenhouse until 1913 when he opened his own business..

Writers Note;

The Greenhouse was sold later to Payne Brothers. (Now operated by a son named Browning or "Butch")

When Fostoria Softball association was without a playing field in the late '40's.to mid "50's" The Brothers (Clyde & Claude Twins) offered a vacant lot behind and beside the Greenhouse at the end of Banister St. which had been used to dump underpass diggings. Needless to say a lot of work had to be done. (Area now occupied by Fostoria Heating and Plumbing.) Building a ball field near a greenhouse!!!! This of course was an unlikely place for a ball field. Glass houses and balls don't mix well.

In 1954 the ball field was opened, by a group of local volunteers, ballplayers and donations from industries and businesses, mainly the Payne Bros. who furnished they equipment, bought all the gas needed to run it, and would not take a cent in payment from the Softball organization. Who did not have the funds at that time to make payment anyway. As I recall there was less that $500 in the Softball treasure when the lights, underground cable, bleachers and the poles

were moved from the previous Wire Mill field South of the B & O track and east of Vine St. (Wire Mill was expanding at that time and needed the space for employee parking)

Being so close to the Glass in the Greenhouse the association agree to pay the brothers for any broke windows that happened during a scheduled game. They again would not hear of it.

In turn they said they would take care of any damage, not only that, would pay the batter that broke the glass $1.00. I can't recall they payed out anything-- as the out field fences was several yards form the Greenhouse.

On opening night of course Claude & Clyde were at the game, as they were at all home games. They called one of the ballplayers over to the fence and asked if he would hit a home run for them. That player was lucky enough to do it and again was called over to the fence after he crossed home plate. They shook his hand and said "PAID IN FULL" Hard to beat citizens of that caliber, They will always be remembered by many older Fostoria ballplayers. Many younger players will never know that because of Claude and Clyde they were a big part of the ball fields that our youngsters are playing on at Meadowlark Park in the South end of Fostoria today (2002)

` Much of the equipment from Payne field was donated to Meadowlark Park when it opened and has been greatly updated since. Medowlark is one of the finest and most used summer recreation parks in the area.

Written by Bill.Cline

From R/t Feb. 9, 2002

Article by Gene Kinn

Fostoria Employment in 1942

With more than 5,000 persons employed in Fostoria basic industries, all of which are working entirely, or in part, on defense contracts, payrolls in the city of Fostoria are at the highest level in History.

Employment figures compiled by Marion Smith, manager of the United States Employment Service, 114 E North St. revealed the National Carbon Company has the largest number of workers, with 1,700 on the payroll at the present time (March 1942)

Practically all of Fostiria's industrial plants are working at capacity and at least one concern will triple its number of employees providing it is successful in present negotiations for war contracts. Three other plants also contemplate expansion in the near future.

One local concern, working entirely on war contracts, has an estimated weekly payroll of $18,000. Many of the persons employed at the plant are working a total of 70 or more hours, on a 7-day schedule.

Employment figures for other plants show Fostoria Screw Company with 458 workers; Seneca Wire and Manufacturing, 350; Fostoria Pressed Steel, 105; Bersted Manufacturing, 361; Atlas Crankshaft Inc. 70; Electric Auto Lite foundry, 305; Electric Auto Lite spark plug division 645; American Railway Signal, 25; and Fostoria Machine and Tool, 31

America's Selective Service Lottery

From R/t Feb, 9, 2002

Article by Gene Kinn

Roland Kirk, 1036 Cory St. chief operator of the Western Union relay station in Fostoria was "number one man" in the national selective service lottery, so far as this city was concerned.

Kirk's serial number, 441, was the first of the 1,300 Fostoria draft board numbers pulled from the famous fish bowl in Washington, D. C. last night. Kirk, who was 41 years of age March 8, is married and has four children.

The second Fostoria order number went to James Tsantles, 116 1/2 S Main, who was 20 years of age last July 14. Fostoria's third man, Lawrence Molter, 324 S. Main St. is a WW I veteran and has two sons in WW ll service.

Charles Johnson, 633 N. Countyline St. , was listed seventh by the Handcock County Board; Virgil Bond, 203 1/2 N. Countyline was 12th and Anthony Peluso, 441 W. Tiffin St. was 17th

From R/t Jan. 19, 2002

Article by Gene Kinn

Civil War Veteran Dies

Nathan A. Cadwallader, who celebrated his 103rd birthday February 10, passed away this morning (Feb. 17, 1942) at Indianapolis, Ind., where he had resided for the past several years with his cousin, Mrs. John Gebhardt and family.

Mr. Cadwallader was said to be the oldest Mason in the United States. The Tiffin native spent much of his early life in Fostoria and visit here frequently until the past two years. He also spent much time at the winter home of his brother, the late Ira Cadwellander.

He was a Civil War veteran, a member of the 55th, regiment, O.V.I., and attended the reunions each year.

While working in a railroad office in Fostoria, after the war, he became acquainted with

Thomas Edison and once loaned the inventor a quarter with which to buy food.

After the war, he went to Faribault, Minn. and entered the real estate business. He remained there for 71 years before going to Indianapolis seven years ago.

Godsend

From R/t Jan. 5, 2002

Article by Gene Kinn

The B & O pump station at Godsend East of Bloomdale, and approximately four miles West of Fostoria, has been abandoned. A work gang is tearing down the two steel tanks, the brick water softener plant and the brick engine room and boiler house.

The pump station was established soon after the railroad was built. Water was secured from a spring and three reservoirs.

Trains have not taken water at Godsend for several years. The two wooden water tanks were taken down in November, 1919.

Before the days of the pipe line, a side track was put in and oil from the Perry Township Fields was shipped out in tank cars.

Godsend has been a favorite place for fishing and swimming during the summer, for many years. (Also was good frog hunting with the many Lilly pads on the water)