Horse shoe pitching once popular sport
Thursday, December 8, 1988

Click

Pix #1 - Members of the Fostoria Horseshoe Club were: Front row - left to right: Al Daleski, C. Allison, John Saxton, H.A. Whitmore, Bob Whitman, K. Allison (secretary), N. Fletcher. Second row - Dwight Yates, W. K. Kunkelman, Art Dillon. A. Allison, (asst. Mgr.), Wes Martin, Harry Roth. Top row - C. L. Kunkelman (Mgr.), Charles Yates, (Pres.), K. Kunkelman.

What happened to that once popular sport of pitching horse-shoes? Many years ago, when this author was a lad, there were many teams, some consisting of men and some of boys.

The men pitched with shoes used on full grown horses, and the younger set often used the smaller, lighter weight shoes used on ponies.

Many readers will recall the "clang" of the shoes as they hit the stakes at which they were aimed and often found their mark as a "ringer."

It was a great game of fun and skill that often was played in the evenings until it became too dark unless there was artificial light to permit the game to continue.

Horse-shoe pitching was usually a pastime often included at family reunions and other outdoor gatherings. Many older adult readers will recall their participation in the game.

Judy Allison provided data

How did this article happen to be written? As is often the case, a reader remembers something in the past and calls it to my attention. In this case it was Mrs. Arthur (Judy) Allison reside at 1045 N. Countyline St. Judy, whom I have known for a long time brought to my attention an article that appeared the The Fostoria Daily Review (predecessor to The Review Times) in 1934, when the Fostoria Horseshoe club finished that season with an undefeated slate and a string of twenty one consecutive victories.

In that last evening's game of the season they easily defeated Clyde 799 to 389, to take their eighteenth straight league win and to gain undisputed possession of the championship of the Northern Ohio Horseshoe League, Fostoria tossed 351 single ringers and 32 doubles.

In league play that season Fostoria won two games from each of the following teams: Tiffin, Green Springs, Fremont, Monroeville, Fremont-Lynn, Clyde, Republic, Fort Seneca and Millersville. In non-league competition Fostoria defeated Findlay twice and won one match from Wayne.

Made 2 records in 1934 season

Two records were established by the local tossers in league competition during the 1934 season. At Green Springs, they put up a new mark by tossing 456 single ringers and at Fremont, they made another new record by tossing 93 double ringers.

Reader Feedback

The Potluck article of Nov. 17 about Dave and Deanne Carpenter's house at 4917 North U.S. Rt. 23 was well received.

Betty Morgan, daughter of Harry Yonker, who was part of the Hull family, and spent many happy years in the house, wrote from their Florida (winter) home:

"Dear Paul: Received your letter and want to thank you very much for sending along the column. You might know, I cried when I read it. Dad would have been so pleased. I know I am most happy that I have been able to meet you, and if it had not been for you, I wouldn't have met two very nice folks, the Carpenters, and to visit them in "Grandpa Hull's house." Perhaps it was all meant to be this way.

"I truly thank you for making all this possible. We will visit you when we get back north in the spring."

*****

Larry Henry, 1733 N. Union St., telephoned to say he enjoyed the article about the Carpenter house, and went on to say his parents were good friends of residents of that house at one time. Henry recalls conversations he heard from his parents about the old house and those who lived there.

Henry will have a chance to share some of that information in a second article about the Carpenter house, along with photos if the interior of the house.

*****

Lillian Smith of E. Center St., telephoned, all excited about the Carpenter house article. It happens that she has been collecting historical data about the Hull Family, original owner of the Carpenter house, from records in Tiffin. Her data with the Potluck photos in an upcoming article would make a good combination. How about it?

*****

The most recent Potluck article "Former City Resident Recalls Music Activities", brought a telephone call from Maxine Kisabeth, 1313 S. Drive. She was surprised to read about Frank O'Neal, believing he was no longer living. Once a friend of his, she was glad to learn that O'Neal is alive, and with his address she will now re-establish a long ago friendship.

Heed God's Word

Pat Robertson of Christian Broadcasting Network, writing in a Touchpoint newsletter said: "Read the book of Exodus in the Bible and you will see striking parallels to what is going on in America today."

"The Israelites had come to Egypt as honored guests ... as the family of Joseph, the prime minister. But once Joseph was gone, things began to change.

Robertson pointed out that the founders of America, and for many years those who followed in their footsteps were devout Christians ... readers of God's word ... raising families steeped in His Holy Word. Eventually, when the founding fathers were gone those early traditions weakened and finally faded away.

"Today, laws have been passed that limit the free exercise of religion. Billions of dollars are spent every year on educational programs that have expunged all reference to God's name from out history.

"Today a million and a half babies created by God in his own image have been slaughtered by abortion in the name of freedom.

As Pat Robertson says ... "God listens to those cries of His people today, just as he did in Bible times. After awhile it will reach a point, just like it did in Egypt and God will say "That's it. I'm going to deliver my people."

Be faithful to God and He will be faithful.