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PIX #1 - From Dell's collection, the front cover from the TF&F official trolley guide for 1909.

PIX #2 - Prominent people usually rated passes on trains and street cars back then. This is a pass issued to the president of the M&K Railroad.

PIX #3 - This conductor's badge, worn on his hat, is part of Dell's collection.

PIX #4 - Two switch-locks and original keys used on the TF&F. One lock has the date of 1912 stamped on the back.

PIX #5 - Reeves Park, Arcadia, an amusement spot for all ages, could be reached by riding the TF&F. Baseball, dancing, roller skating, picnicing, slides and swings for kiddies made it a popular place for reunions.

Readers of Potluck know that I have relied on Ray Dell many times to provide photos from his collection for this column. Unknown to many readers is that Ray collects other items too...including pamphlets, key, locks, lanterns and a variety of other antiques.

Dell, a subscriber and reader of the Key, Lock and Lantern magazine, submitted an article for publication some time ago and it was accepted and published. It dealt with objects from his collection Toledo, Fostoria & Findlay Railway (TF&F).

The group of photos with today's article tell the story picroially...all of them being from Dell;s collection. Longtime readers of Potluck will recall that a series of articles about the three interurban lines which served Fostoria was published back in 1977 and included the history of the TF&F along with the Tiffin, Fostoria & Easter (TF&E) and Fostoria & Fremont (F&F).

Since Dell's published article and the items shown from his collection dealt with the TF&F I present here a brief history of that electric interurban as Ray presented it.

TF&F BORN IN 1909

"The TF&F was organized in 1900 and in 1901 completed the first part of its line, connecting Findlay and Fostoria, a distance of 15 miles. By 1906 it had advanced to Toledo. A branch line went to Bowling Green".

"A park was constructed by the company at Arcadis, midway between Fostoria and Findlay, and called Reeve's Park, named after the pesident of the line. the park was abandoned sometime after the line went out of business".

CARS LEFT TOWN EVERY HOUR

"It was much easier to get from town to town in those days than it is today. The first car would leave Fostoria for Toledo at 6:15 a.m. After that one would leave each hour until the last one at 12:05 a.m. One-way fare to Toledo was 65 cents, round trip was $1.20 (in 1909)".

"The motormen and conductors were very accommodating and would stop to discharge or pickup passengers almost anywhere. I can remember as a small boy going mushroom hunting with a neighbor man. The car would leave us off a few miles out in the country and pick us up later".

"For a number of years, the line had the unique distinction of having the only double deck car in the U.S".

"The automobile caused the line to keep losing business and then the Depression came and that spelled the end of the Toledo, Fostoria & Findlay Ry. It went out of business in 1931".

The collection of memorabilia by Ray Dell, illustrated in this article is only one of his collections. He has many other interesting items, too numerous to list, but including souvenir silverware, irons, signs and books.

Perhaps another time, Ray will permit me to present another article about his collections and how he came by them.

READER FEEDBACK ONE OF MANY REPLYS TO AMSDEN SERIES

The following letter came from Terri L. Findley, Seneca CR #3:

"Dear Mr. Krupp: I would like to tell you how much I have enjoyed your articles on Amsden. I attend church in Amsden where my husband and I were married 11 years ago. After moving into the county I have gotten to know many of its residents, which as you have stated are all many distant relations to one another".

"I am now serving the township, Jackson, as the clerk and the holder of the Zion Lutheran Cemetery deed book. After going through the book, which has listed the first date of lots sold as May 26, 1898, to Mrs. Sara Yochum, a 30 foot lot, sold at $11".

"Many long time residents of the township were purchasers of lots. In those days Charles Ash was the Justice of the Peace and signed many of the early documents. Many of the early names are: Goods, Fosters and Shultzs, to name a few. We are still selling lots in the cemetery".

"If you would be interested in looking over the deed books, contact me".

"I am also a distant relative by marriage to Mr. Ray Remusat from Toledo".

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Since receiving the letter above, I learned from Howard Dicken, 866 Eastwood Dr., that he had an ancestor who was buried in the Zion Cemetery without a marker, and he wondered if there were old records of the early graves. I was able to refer Howard to Mrs. Findley. Howard, who observed his 94th birthday No. 10, is anxious to locate the grave and place a marker.

OLD PLANK ROAD DREW RESPONSES

Chet Kieffer, a regular Potluck reader, told me he had often heard of the Plank Road, but never had seen anything in print about it until the recent article. He considered it very interesting and informative as did others.

Harley receives The Review Times at his home in Detroit area so he will see this and other Feedback items.

READERS LIKED SAMMY CROFT STORY

I was glad for a positive response to the Sammy Croft story. It was the type of article I have wanted to present for a long time but have been hesitant. It is the type of story that often contains humor, pathos, pomposity, and other characteristics about people and must be treated tactfully and respectfully.

Several readers told me they enjoyed the article even though not knowing Samuel F. Croft.

Chet Kieffer asked me if I knew something special about Sammy which I had not included. My reply was "What?" He said, "You forgot to mention the extra large diamond ring he wore". I was told that it was missing when they discovered Sammy dead.

ANOTHER OLD CADDY FOUND

In Potluck about caddies 65 years ago, the article names only two of them still liveing - John Lee and Walter Fruth. Another one has been discovered.

John Lee, named in the article, and Mrs. Kissling, Amsden, both told me that Albert Knox, Bricker Street, is also a survivor of that group.

In preparing the article I had understood that Knox was deceased. Sorry!.

GERALD WINDAU RECALLED HIGH ST.

Gerald Windau, 627 Foster St., telephoned to say he enjoyed the mentions about East High Street and the people who lived there.

When he was a boy his family lived at 301 E. High st. He said he played with Palmer, son of Dr. Overhold, a neighbor.

Windau also recalled that Bob Harley always had a tent on the front lawn in the summer and sold cold soft drinks...the profits went into Bob's educational fund.