April 15, 1982
Picture #1 – E.L. Frase
Picture #2 – HAL Stout
Picture #3 – L.O. Kisabeth
Fostoria’s Kiwanis Club will be 54 years old July 11. On that date in 1928 they were chartered and celebrated the occasion with dinner and ceremonies at the Elks Club.
During those 54 years, Kiwanis has made its mark in the community by its many service projects.
Many of its members throughout the years have passed away or moved out of town, yet it is astounding that out of 35 charter members, two are still living, and one of those, L.O. Kisabeth, is still a member of the local club. The other living charter member is Frank “Hank” Laffey, now residing in Findlay.
Officers for the club on charter day were: E.L. Frase, president; J.C. Mann, first vice president; Clyde F. McNeal, second vice president; Hal E. Stout, secretary; F.A. Copley, treasurer; George W. Cunningham, district trustee; Clifford B. Shuman, sergeant-at-arms. The following were directors: Dr. D. Waltermire, L.A. Bishop, C.J. Klinepeter, Rev. E. C. Nance, Fred Fletcher, J. Ross Jones.
I could not locate a photo of the club during its first year, but the one accompanying today’s article was taken in about 1941 by club member Reid Homerick, and consequently he is not in the picture. The club had more members than appear in that photo, according to A. Bryan, Findlay, club secretary at that time, who told me about it recently. It seems that after a regular meeting, Homerick wanted to get a photo, and asked members to go to his studio. Those in the photo were all that showed up.
How did I come by the photo? Sometime ago, Lyndon Abbott, former Fostorian, provided the photo and wanted to identify the faces. His father, M.W. Abbott, is in the photo and was president that year. Between Al Bryan and myself we identified all but one.
The current club officers are: John Good, president; Roger Seibert, first vice president; Fred Matthews, second vice president; Claude Hummel, secretary; Jack Glenn, treasurer.
The 35 local men whose initiative and interest resulted in formation of the local club were: T.J. Brightwell (service laundry); L.A Bishop (sanitary dry cleaning); Harry H. Barnes (contractor); Everett Cory (insurance); D.C. Coon (sheet metal, roofs, furnaces); F.A. Copley (bicycles); G.W. Cunningham (drug store); Charles Duffey (car dealer) ; Fred Flechtner (meats); E.L. Frase (Fostoria Pressed Steel salesman); George L. Fink (plumbing); Duane E. Gear (grocer) ; W.B. Huth (Tri-County Savings & Loan); J. Ross Jones (Jones Bakery); C.J. Klinepeter (Commercial Press); L.O. Kisabeth ( Gray Printing sales manager); A.A. Karcher (superintendent Fostoria Pressed Steel); Harlow M. Keyes ( Keyes Tire); Frank K. Laffey (Auto Electric Service); Charles LaNier (insurance); Howard B. Munger (Bradley Automotive Products); Jay C. Mann (Mann Bros. Funeral Home); Clyde F. McNeil (Northern Ohio Maytag Co. ); Paul S. Newcomer ( Davis & Newcomer Elevator); Rev. E.C. Nancy (Church of Christ pastor); Dr. E.L. Overhold (physician); Loren C. Parks (Swint-Parks Hardware); B.H. Reissig (Reissig Bros. – Tires, Batteries); E.J. Sanders (insurance); A.M. Sheller (grocer); Clifford A. Shuman (barber); H.E. Stout (Fostoria Review city editor); R.J. Turner (Fostoria Lunch); Dr. D.D. Waltermire (osteopath); and Ralph K. Weaver ( farmer).
Your author recalls that when Fostoria observed the 100th anniversary of the agreement of Risdon and Rome to join, at which time John B. Rogers staged a historical pageant, the Kiwanis Club participated in it.
Usually, when the older members of any organization get together they can spin many years of “the old days.” I’ll bet the older Kiwanians could do just that too. Perhaps, come next July, the club will celebrate and prevail upon the “oldsters” to tell how they did it many years ago.
FEEDBACK OLD COFFEE BIN
Joan Brown, Marion, Ind., owner of the old coffee bin, featured in the Potluck article March 18, wrote:
“Dear Mr. Krupp, Your correspondence greeted us upon return from spring vacation. Your article is very good. We are pleased with the extra copies and you sent just the right number too. Thanks again for your interest, information and keepsakes. We want you to know how much we are enjoying Potluck.”
Author’s note: The Montgomery County Historical Society, Dayton, provided a correction for the name of the coffee wholesaler in Dayton. The correct name was “Canby, Ach & Canby.” The article did not have the correct spelling for the name.
HEED GOD’S WORD
In Jeremiah, chapter 23, versus l-6, the prophet prophesied what would happen to Israel and Judah, and the return of Christ.
“Woe be unto the pastors (shepherds) that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord. And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries wither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper (deal wisely ), and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”