April 10, 1980
Picture #1 The Bertha Wickerd home at its new location
The East Tiffin Street story hit the jackpot, as far as reader interest and additional information is concerned, as the following paragraphs disclose.
The last installment of the story prompted Mildred (Weiker) Campbell to telephone, In the story I said I didn’t know what happened to the Wickerd house. She informed me that J.B. Duffey, also a part of the Tiffin Street story, purchased the Wickerd property in about 1920 or 1921 and had it moved to a vacant lot on East Tiffin Street east of the railroad. He sold it to his daughter and son-in-law, Cree and Charles Yost, who loved there until 1939. Presently, the Everett Bonzo family lives there. It is number 438, next to the Carbon Co. parking lot.
Generally, the appearance is the same as I remember it when I was a boy, and from outward appearances it looks well maintained. It must be nearly 100 years old…strong evidence the old homes of yesteryear should be preserved.
WICKERD’S GREAT NIECE LIVES HERE
Another telephone call also related to the Wickerd story. It was from Mrs. Dale Krauss, 1735 N. Countyline St. She too opened the RT to “Potluck” that day and saw Bertha Wickerd’s picture, who was her great-aunt.
It was quite a surprise to see the picture, she said.
Still another surprise relating to the story will be told next week, along with photos.
CORRECTION
In the second installment of the East Tiffin Street story, which illustrated the Fruth house, once standing at the corner of Tiffin and Poplar, where Union 76 is now, I said the house was moved and now stands on North Countyline Street, two house north of The Eagles Club. That statement was in error. I misunderstood the information provided by Bob Fruth. After the story was published Bob corrected me and said the house is across the street, where Blanche Lacomte lived for many years before her death. It is number 150, back of the house at the corner of Culbertson and Countyline.
BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES FOR OTHER READERS
That story stirred memories for many readers, a few of which are included in today’s column:
Mrs. Ora Wade telephoned to say the series had brought back so many recollections from the time she was a girl. She confessed she couldn’t sleep that night thinking about all the names, places, etc., in the story which seemed to fit in with her life.
As a girl she rode the old TF&E to see a doctor in tiffin who treated her eye problem. And she remembered the carbarn in the story.
Dr. Miller, in one article, was her doctor.
She and her future husband Ora Wade, often hired a horse and buggy to “go courting” a custom I mentioned in the article. They also rode the street cars to Reeves Park and Findlay.
She recalled that she went to work for Ora Wade when he opened his law office above Peter Clothing Co., and later they were married.
Mrs. Wade also said she had attended the Fostoria Business College, which I mentioned in an article a year or more ago.
The George Shaffers (Toledo)… Frances and George wrtoe an appreciative letter. Frances furnished the photo of the Lindsey home and data about it.
We certainly are enjoying the articles, since most of my early life was at my grandparents home (the Lindseys). I do remember all the families on East Tiffin Street. George and I have such pleasant memories of the Haydens and Cupps. Wasn’t it the Haydens Ice Cream Parlor, and Cupps Candy Kitchen? Yes, they are correct, but Haydens also made and sold a complete line of candies.
George said his brother Bob, deceased, and he played on the Cadwallader brick pile, mentioned in one of the articles. He also remembered when the Cadwallader lot on Columbus Avenue was a football field and semi-pro football was played there. He thought Jim Thopre, the famous athlete, played there once.
READER WRITES ABOUT FHS FOOTBALL STORY
Enjoyed your articles about the football teams, said Georgianna Gair, Cape Coral, FL I sent the one story about Capt. Nate Hatfield to young Nate, who lives in Columbus.
Could you please send two clippings about the teams that appeared in paper Jan 31st about George Hatfield. Want the two grandchildren to have them. I remember seeing the trophy years ago (of the 1914 team under coach Trautman that won Ohio-Michigan Championship). I think George Hatfield’s wife, Selda Adrain, Michigan, still has it, I’ll ask her. It should go to the trophy case at FHS someday.
George Hatfield was Mr. Gair’s father.
FEEDBACK FROM SPROUT’S BOOK
Excerpts from Paul Sprout’s book about his boyhood here which have been appearing in this column have evidently awakened many memories in the minds of readers. Here are a few more comments from readers.
HAND DRAWN FIRE EQUIPMENT
A telephone call from LeRoy Rhoads prompted a question by him… “Don’t you remember when the fire vehicles were pulled by human hands, not horses? I replied that I knew about that era but have no personal recollection of having seem then in action.
In turn, I told Rhoads he surely didn’t remember seeing those days, because he can’t be that old. He said as a small boy he remembers seeing his grandfather, a fireman, in action helping pull the wagons.
THAT GAME OF BRISH
Ruth (Dennis) Barnes telephoned to reminisce about many things which one of the excerpts from Sprout’s book rekindled.
She said she had been talking to someone recently about the game of Brish which was described in the column, but she couldn’t remember the name, even though she and her sister Kathryn played it right along with the boys back then, when the Dennis family lived on East Center St.
Then too, she recalled some of the boys tat played in her neighborhood: Wilbur Huth, Paul Morris, Adolph Kinn, Joy Huss, Kinn’s home was actually on a farm south of town, but he stayed with the Hurfbauer family during school term so he could go to school in town.
She recalled the T&OC Freight Depot and switch siding nearby, and how the kids would climb on top of the boxcars parked there and run back and forth. Watermelons were shipped to that siding in boxcars with slatted sides. The melons were packed in straw. Now and then a melon or two would get broken accidentally (or was it on purpose) Anyway, the kids all got a piece.
THE ICE CREAM MAN
The ‘ice cream cone peddler’ was mentioned in a recent column. I said I thought his name might be Schreiner. Several readers recalled his correct name and either telephoned or stopped me to say it was John Eisenhard. He lived in the house on East South Street just west of the first alley off Main.