October 11, 1979
Picture #1 – Anna G. Finch (Blessing) left, and Nellie Finch (Sertell) in a horse and buggy in front on the Weinandy home when it was owned by Burtis Finch. The photo is owned by Mrs. Robert Watson, Amsden, daughter of Anna.
Picture #2 – Weinandy home as it appeared many years ago
Picture #3 – Don Kinnaman with one of his students holding the first place award his students won for their display.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Inadvertently, the photo of the Weinandy Heritage Home, subject of last week’s article, failed to get inserted along with the rest of the illustrations of the home. Because that photo is important to identify the home and also because many readers are saving those articles, the photo appears with today’s column. With it is another photo which was mentioned in the article, but which was left out because of lack of space.
READERS FEEDBACK FOUNDRIES AND S.C. REGULATOR
Ralph Benard, Sycamore Street, Fostoria, wrote: “I enjoy your stories of early Fostoria. I note in Setp. 20 Review Times you mention S.C. Regulator. I lived in Risingsun and worked summers in Fostoria. In 1921 and 1922, while attending Findlay College I worked at S.C. Regulator. I operated a hand screw machine or hand turret lathe. Big “Bill” Stagger (later a policeman) worked there then and tested valves under hydraulic pressure”.
Benard also revealed that Orrin Hammer, named in that story, with another man built and patented a beet digging machine. Later, talking with Hammer about it, I learned that they demonstrated the machine in the beet fields and it did an excellent job; however none were ever sold. According to Hammer, after the patent rights had expired, a machinery manufacturer came out with a digger similar to his.
GIDEON JONES STORY
That story brought a letter from Don Kinnaman, Phoenix, Arizona, who is a descendent of the Jones’. The story stimulated his son, Gary to renew his interest in searching out all of his ancestors…the Jones’ Hatfields, Kinnamans and Davidsons.
Don also reported on the latest honor that has come to Alhambra High School, where he is instructor of Industrial Arts. The complete issue of PTI (Power Tool Instructor) published by Rockwell International, was devoted to Alhambra High. Many photos in the issue show students at work on various projects, using various tools. The accompanying photo shows Kinnaman and one of his students displaying their National First Place Award for 1978.
The Jones story also brought a letter from Florence (Kinnaman) Garner, former Fostorians, now living in Bryan. She reported that her sister Fern Kinnaman was born in the Jones’ house, they being her grandparents.
As a result of her name appearing in Potluck, she said she has heard from many RT readers.
CARBON CO. STORY
Mrs. Ralph Weimerskirch, College Avenue, reported that when visiting with her sister-in-law, Louella Weimerskirch, in the San Francisco area, she had a chance to see former Fostorians Bernice Dicken and Esther Fredericks, Dicken and Weimerskirch were in the photo of Carbon office girls. Fredericks had a beauty shop in Fostoria many years ago. They all got a “kick” out of the story and photos.
EGER HERITAGE HOME
Many readers reported enjoying that story, many of them being one-time students of Vera. Several reported remembering going to the Eger Potato Chip Factory after school to get the free broken chips. Dean Eger, Florida, Vera’s brother reported his appreciation of the story of the old home.
CITY’S OLDEST COBBLER
This letter from Virgil Connor, High Point, N.C., former Fostorian and old high school classmate of mine…in fact a distant cousin: “Your treatise on the “City’s oldest Cobbler” was very interesting and brought back a lot of memories. I well remember a pair of red high top button shoes that my older sister and I had. At that time my folks kept a few chickens and amongst them was a rooster who took an intense dislike to those shoes. He got out of the pen and took after us. He had been a pet before, but his life was short lived afterwards”.
Connor remembered many things around Fostoria as Telephone Office and a saloon where he delivered The Review; being allowed only inside the door to deliver and collect.
WAINWRIGHT STORIES AND HERITAGE HOMES
A letter from Marie (Livingston) Forrest, Lakewood, Ohio, an employee of The Review when it was in the Foster House on South Main Street, revealed that she was especially interested in the Wainwright articles, and the ones about Fostoria’s old Heritage Homes, which she kept. Marie sends many Potluck articles to Ruth O’Neal, Lakewood, and her brother Frank in Rocky River. Both are former Fostorians.