Historical Photos

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PIX #1 - Remains of the famous Roman Forum.

Pix #2 - Picture of pretty lady.

PIX #3 - Picture of stamp from Miami Stamp Company.

The artwork with today's article will be recognized by Bible students and historians as the remains of the Roman Forum, which dates back in history more than 2,000 years when Christianity was being born.

Generally referred to as the Roman Forum, in the Bible it was named Appii Forum (Acts 28:15). It was located at Appius, a town about 40 miles south of Rome. A Bible concordance describes it as "market place of Appius," located on the Appian Way.

The Appian Way was the most famous of the ancient Roman roads extending from Rome to (modern) Brindisi. It was begun in 312 B.C. by Appius Claudius Cae- cus, and completed in 244 B.C. Long stretches of the road are said to still be in good condition.

It was at the forum that the intellectuals of that day and that area gathered to discuss the important topics of that era. It would perhaps be ludicrous to compare such gatherings with the old-fashioned grocery store of 100 years ago in this country where many matters were settled...at least in the minds of the participants.

Bible scholars will recall that the Apostle Paul, after his conversion on the way to Damascus, had been arrested and imprisoned several times for preaching Christ. But because of his Roman citizenship he had escaped sentence and was on his way to Rome to plead his case before Caesar.

The ship in which Paul and others were traveling was shipwrecked on the island of Malta where they stayed for three months having been befriended by natives there. At the end of that time they departed in another ship that had winter- ed at the island, finally ending the journey to Puteoli where they found brethren. They tarried with the brethren for several days and then headed for Rome.

It was at the Appii Forum and the three taverns that Paul met other brothers (in Christ). Acts 28:15 says, "And from thence when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as the Appii forum, and the three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God and took courage."

Readers would find chapters 27 and 28 in Acts interesting to read.

There is a modern-day aspect to this story about the Appii Forum and Paul.

Tbe artwork illustrates this article was done by Robert Wilks and Randy Pyle, two centurion church planters currently working in Rome with Christ's Mission outreach program. As they go about their daily work of serving, discipling, enlarging the body of Christ like Paul, their predecessor 2,000 years ago, they too can "thank God and take courage."

READER FEEDBACK K. SMITH RECALLS MIAMI STAMP CO.

Ken Smith Sr., 758 Maple St., a regular "Potluck" reader, sent me an envelope from his varied collection of memorabilia. This envelope carried the return address as shown by the accompanying illustration.

Later we talked about it. Ken asked if I knew about the Miami Stamp Co. I recalled the name from many years ago but did not know, as he did, that Robert Wagner was the owner of the company.

Wagner was the money-order clerk in the post office when it was located on West Tiffin Street where the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post is now. Wagner was acknowledged to be the fastest writer of money orders the local post office ever had.

According to Smith, the Miami Stamp Co. was first located in the Wagner home on the southeast corner of Main and High Streets, but later moved to an office in the building where Society Bank is now. Smith recalls that after Wagner's death his stamp business was taken over by Ray Hartsook, a fulltime employee of The Fostoria Times. Hartsook is now deceased.

Local stamp collectors of that era will probably remember Wagner's business. Wagner's father had Wagner Clothing Co., located for many years where Mose Lamfrom took over, and now Gary's is there.

ANYONE KNOW THIS PRETTY LADY?

Sometime within the last 12 months this column published a photo of a woman who presumably was a Fostorian many years ago since the photo was taken in the Gribble Studio here. Evidently no one recognized the lady as I had no tele- phone calls.

Now I have in my possession a photo of a very nice-looking woman who also must resided here since the photo was taken at the James Ball Studio.

Both Ball and Gribble had studios here at about the same time...turn of the century and a little later.

This latest, shown in today's column, was given to me by Lulu Rothgeb, 714 N. Vine St. The photo came to her through her son, William, a ticket agent for Eastern Airlines in Atlanta, Ga.

The proprietor of a used furniture shop in the Atlanta area gave the photo to William since he knew he came from Fostoria. The photo was part of used fur- niture and other possessions the store had purchased. The photo is in excell- ent condition.

It is a shame when people die that relatives and/or friends do not see that such possessions are preserved and put in the hands of the family.

If anyone knows the person telephone the author.