September 17, 1981
Picture #1 – First National Bank building, demolished in 1948.
The photograph at the top of today’s article is the third segment of the original taken in 1925. When it is combined with the other two parts, readers will have a valuable historical picture. In the rest of this article I will try to fill in the names and events to match the photo.
My recollections go back to the time of the photo and before that a few years, but that section of Main Street is much older.
Referring to the photo, it shows what appears to be one building, but it was actually three, with three storefronts. The first one on the left extended as far as the three windows on the second floor and it was No. 110. I will call that building No. 1. I have no idea when that building was built or the original owner, but when the photo was taken it was owned by John Lockhart, and occupied by Fostoria Candyland.
Before Pappas had The Candy Works it was owned by Steve Stavropolous, who came to Fostoria shortly after 1900. He in turn wrote to Jim Pappas, a relative living in New York state, telling him there was great opportunities in Fostoria and invited him to come here and work for him, which he did.
Some readers will recall that at one time Nick Lekas, Tony Pavlokas and Jim Pappas were all associated in the confectionary business in Fostoria.
Fostoria Candy Works was at 110 N. Main Street until 1929.
The second floor of the building at No. 110 was taken by J.J. “Jack” Overton, photographer, who specialized in portraits.
BUILDING COLLAPSED
That building collapsed in 1948, when The Kresge Co., building was being constructed, to replace the old ones on that site. The story is told, that when the contractors started excavating for the new building they went deeper than the one next and did not provide substantial bracing to support it. So, the walls came tumbling down, and Jack Overton who was in his studio at the time, came with them, but he survived.
Others who occupied the Lockhart building in later years were Isaly Dairy from 1934-1957 and Clothes Closet, 1961-1977. George Pappas told me there was also a meat shop there for a short time, but he could not recall the name. Audio Emporium has been in the building since 1978. The building is owned by Don Hanson and the business by Ron, Don and William Hanson.
Building No.2 had one storefront, with a bay window on the second floor. The third building likewise, had one storefront with a second floor. It extended to the Emerine Building on the corner. I know nothing about the age of those buildings or who owned them, but it any readers know and will communicate with me, I will appreciate it for the record. The storefronts in those buildings were No. 106 and 106 1/2 and No. 108 and 108 1/2. A stairway which can be seen in the photo, provided access to the upstairs.
POPULAR DRUG STORE
Glenn H. Eaton’s Drug Store occupied No. 106 from about 1913 to 1938. Eaton was w well-known businessman, and his store was a popular place for high school kids to hangout, your author being one of them. I knew Eaton from earlier days when I sold out-of-town papers for which he was the local agent. He was also an avid golfer, and spent considerable time on the Country Club course. Later, Eaton moved his store across the street where the Chamber of Commerce is today. With a Soda fountain in his new store, it was still a popular place.
At 106 1/2, George Jenney, attorney, had an office for many years, as did J.M. Myers, wholesale hay dealer, Associated with Myers were his sons, Floyd and Morrel, the latter being the only one living. Also, at one time, Bill Ellis, tailor was up there.
At 108, the George L. Newson Co. ladies ready to wear, had a store at 108 1/2 there was the G.R. Hopkins Co., – credit clothing with C.E. Brewer manager.
In later years, the S.S. Kresge Co., leased the two buildings were 106 and 108 were, until the new Kresge building was built in 1948, occupying all the space of 106 and 108, also the Emerine building on the corner.
Where the j. Miller & Co. is now located is where 106 and 108 were then.
EMERINE BUILDING
The Emerine Building was built in 1892, by Andrew Emerine, Sr. It housed the First National Bank of which Emerine was president.
In addition to the space occupied by the bank on the corner, the building has two first floor business rooms on Main Street, as well as office space on the second floor, and a third floor area, occupied by KOP Lodge (Knights of Pythia).
The business rooms on Main Street were 102 and 104.
Some of those occupying 102 were C.E. Moore, confectionary; Mogles Restaurant; Dr. James L. Carter, optometrist; Frank Kiebel, ladies hosiery; Hoover’s-Ladies Ready to Wear; Uhlman – Wilson; Brown’s Shoes; Mary Stewart, hosiery, and H.S. Butterfield, optometrist.
Cummins and Harvey-Haderdashers occupied 104, Floyd “Snub” Cummins and H.H. Harvey the proprietors. Later that store became known at The Style Shop with Cummins and Asbury Co., the proprietors. Others in that location were H.E. Kimball, shoes; W.R. Stump New Agency; Boyher and Hyte, barbers; Fred’s Recreation; Burson & Coffman, barbers.
KROGER AND OTHERS
Still later, the Kroger Co. took over both 102 and 104 as a supermarket.
Business places in the basement of the Emerine building were J.C. Longacre, plumbing; McClead Bros., sheetmetal and spouting; W.H. Oliver, barber; W.R. Sprague, barber; Ralph Haines, plumbing; L.O. Sprout, bicycles; McBride Signs and at another time Fostoria Credit Bureau headed by Charles Lorah.
Second floor offices were occupied by Dr. O.O. Cole, dentist; Dr. J.H. Norris M.D.; Dr. Meryl Prudden, D.O.; Hart & Co., electrical supplies; C.A. Strauch, attorney; Dr. Charles Hess, D.O. and Elizabeth Hill, manicurist.
There may be names of merchants and others whose names should have been included in this series of articles which I have missed, and if that be so I will be pleased to hear from anyone who can contribute.
FIRST NATIONAL MOVED
The First National Bank moved from the Emerine Building into the former Union National Bank building at Main and Tiffin streets in 1933, where Tri- County is today. Then in 1937, the Ohio Savings Loan took over the bank’s previous quarters.
In 1948, the Emerine Building was demolished. Built of quarried Indiana sandstone, the Emerine Building was so sturdily constructed that the demolition team had a difficult time dismantling it, according to an item that appeared in The Review Times, then.
Your author still hears older Fostorians remarking it was a mistake to demolish such a good building…a landmark, which predated the building of the second Fostoria building at Tiffin and Main streets. That’s the way towns and cities change through the years.
When the new Kresge building was completed and occupied, The Review Times published a special edition to commemorate the event.
PICK FACES/NAMES
In the first segment of this story about Main Street, I said that no effort would be made to identify members of the Everyman’s Bible Class, in relation to their position in the photo, but would name those that could be identified.
Here’s the list of those which Nina Keiser and I could identify. Readers may find other…relatives, friends, neighbors. Good Luck.
Robert Francis, Donald Shale, Fred Walters, Joseph Shaffer, Jess Kisabeth, Charlie Stultz, Louis Stagger, Charles Cover, N.N. Richards, Roy Hartley, Perry Smothers, Joy Shuman, Clark Richard, Tom Newell, Ray Youngblood, Frank Kimes, Eddie Mall, Everet Smith, Carl Muir.
Park Richards, Tom Duffy, C.A. Eger, Harry Richards, W.R. Sprague, Paul Shaffer, Elmer Harris, Henry Eger, W.J. Rainey, Ray Clark, “Dad” Kelly, Oscar Rafferty, Wesley Keiser, Jess Brown, Ray Blinn, Sam Winterhalter, Charles Babb, James Gise, Walker Hartsook.
Carl Lindsey, Ernest Weisinger, Earl Berry, C.H. Footit, Rev. E.C. Miley, Clark Richards, Juanita Sprague, A.R. Keiser, C.W. Springer.