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Pix #1 - The date President Roosevelt came to Fostoria and addressed the large crowd shown in this photo is unknown. However, for any doubters, I can assure them that the arrow is pointing to Roosevelt...a magnifying glass erased any doubt. The Inset magnified view, left, is not very good, but it also substantiates the president's identification.

Teddy Roosevelt's visit here remains an unsolved "mystery." At least that's my view after spending hours looking through microfilm at Kaubisch Memorial Public Library to discover when he visited Fostoria to address citizens for support and votes.

The photo used with today's article was sent to me by former Fostorian Don Kinnaman, now a Phoenix resident. In his note to me and written on the back of the photo is the message: "Taken during President Roosevelt's first visit to Fostoria."

Don told me the photo had been among Kinnaman family memorabilia. He said his aunt Fern, who will be remembered by many readers, was on the fringe of the crowd, standing in the back seat of the open touring car, with an "X" on the top of her hat.

Looking at the unusual and well-preserved photo many times, my continued thought was..." how can I learn the date Roosevelt made that visit to Fostor- ia?'' A few senior citizens around town with whom I talked were unable to help.

"Teddy Roosevelt served as vice president under President McKinley, who was elected to his first term in 1897. It was during September of the first year of McKinley's second term that he was shot, and later died. Roosevelt suc- ceeded him and then went on to be elected president for four more years.

Roosevelt chose William Howard Taft as his secretary of war, and by 1907 had decided that he should be his successor. Taft was elected to the presidency in 1909. His four years as president were unpleasant for Taft. When Taft was renominated by the Republican party in 1912, Roosevelt bolted the party to lead the Progressives into a third party, often referred to as the Bull Moose Party. Roosevelt's action split the Republicans and Woodrow Wilson, Democrat, was elected.

I related the two previous paragraphs to let readers know that those periods time were researched on microfilm. Had the films revealed the sought-for data this story would end somewhat differently.

MAY 15, 1912 NOT THE DAY

In the collision course that Taft and Roosevlet pursued in 1912 as opponents for the presidency, the microfilm did reveal that on May 15 (Wednesday), Taft and Roosevelt both were campaigning for votes in Fostoria, but the photo used with today's story was not taken then. Why? Because Taft talked in front of The Daily Review (predecessor to The Review Times), then located on South Main Street, where the Municipal Building is now.

Roosevelt was aboard a special B&O train stopped at the South Main Street crossing for him to talk 10 minutes. An item in the Daily Review said sever- al thousand people were on hand to greet Roosevelt.

I was only 7 years old when the above incidents took place, but I can remem- ber, vividly standing on the fringe of the crowd, on the sidewalk about in front of where Fruth Hardware is now; when I saw President Taft. I was at- tracted to, and baffled by the large crowd, but the speech meant nothing to me then. The photograph of that event was carried in a Potluck article sev- eral years ago.

The "mystery" about the photo is not that it doesn't concern a visit to Fos- toria by Roosevelt...but when. It would seem to me that such an event would have rated a first-page headline.

ONE "ANSWER TO THE MYSTERY"

On the other hand, consider reasoning why the story may not have appeared: Roosevelt did split the Republican Party, nd in so doing may have earned the enmity of the (Republican) publisher of The Daily Review, which may be the reason Taft spoke in front of the Review Building.

The photo with today's article was taken in front of The Times, the Democrat paper...and as can be seen drew a large crowd. Fostoria, with its five rail- roads and strong interest on politics back then always brought out large crowds.

PHOTO PROVIDES INTERESTING DATA

Aside from the above paragraphs, the photo contains interesting information. Size of the crowd! Variety of modes of transportation then...streetcars, early vintage autos, horses, wagons, buggies!

In the background is the Poley Block, with apparently the whole first floor occupied by Kohn's Store; next to it is Brumley's New and Second Hand Goods; Porter's Dye Works; Porter's house; Dicken Studio; and Presbyterian Church in far background.

Before taking over the triangular-shaped building at Perry and Main, Roscoe Carle, the owner and publisher of The Times and Democrat, published in the building at Poplar and McDougal that originally was The Armory.

Times Square, where the throng of people gathered to hear and see Roosevelt, was an important part of Fostoria business district for many years.

If any readers' have reference material that will pinpoint the date of Roosevelt's visit here, please let me know.

READER FEEDBACK WHO ELSE RECALLS THIS?

Cloyd Lott, 408 Glenview Dr., a regular Potluck reader, stopped me in a store recently to briefly tell me he remembers when Co and D drilled on the vacated grounds of the Fostoria Academy, located between North Street and College Avenue, west of Vine Street.

That's a long time ago!

A disastrous fire destroyed the Academy in 1904, and although it was a highly successful and growing institution, it was never rebuilt.

The only remains of the academy are the two frame houses on Foster Street that served as dormitoies. Those houses, on the north side of Foster Street have been residences for many years. The girls dorm was at 616-618; the boys at 632-634.

Potluck articles about the Fostoria Academy were published June 15 and June 29, 1978.

Lott believes it was about 1917 when Company D drilled on the old college grounds. He says he was about 7 years old then. He recalls that the drill sessions always drew kids from the surrounding neighborhoods. Those living close like Lott, at Lunt and North, would provide tubs of drinking water for the tired, hot sldiers on their rest periods.

Thanks, Cloyd, for sharing your memory with readers.