May 13, 1982
Picture #1 – Pictured from left to right, standing, Norman Gibat; his son, George; sitting Kathleen (Howard), Norman’s wife; Cherie (Bloodworth), George’s wife.
Several weeks ago, Norman Gibat, an old friend and neighbor, sent me a raffle ticket which he found between the walls of his property at 741 N. Countyline St. when doing some remodeling.
The ticket was used by Fruth Hardware back in 1936 for a weekly drawing. Holders of the tickets were required to watch Fruth’s window where the numbers were posted. The holder of a ticket with a number coinciding with the drawing had to claim the prize by noon the next day.
Norman jokingly added a note in his letter to me, “We thought you might need this car”.
It is always a mystery how such memorabilia finds its way between walls.
Norman Gibat, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gustaf Gibat, grew up on West Jackson Street, close to the old Pelton quarry. That area has changed much since I lived at 727 N. Countyline St., close to the Gibats.
Against the advice of elders and teachers, Norman quit school in his junior year at Fostoria High School, but that didn’t deter him from pursuing his education. Later, he finished his high school subjects and received his diploma. He attended Capital University for one semester; two years at Bowling Green in pre-engineering; three years at Ohio State in engineering; one year at Oklahoma City University. During those years he earned a major in mathematics and a minor in electrical engineering. From 1947 – 1953, Norman was in the Marine Corps.
In 1973, Norman returned to Fostoria to establish a business. He bought the First property next to the L-K Restaurant and the Knisely property next to that. He already owned the Gibat house where he lived with the family as a boy.
His first move was to go into the printing business and he established Popular Topics Press. From that he broadened out into the purchase, rebuilding and resale of used printing equipment.
The next move was to get into the new and fast-moving computer business, selling computers and setting up computer systems for business and industry.
Today, his enterprises are under the name of Noguska Industries. All of the three enterprises are a family affair. Norman’s youngest son, George Gustaf, and wife Cherie, attend Bowling Green part-time and participate in the business. His son is in charge of all machinery repair and rebuilding. Cherie runs the printing shop, and Kathleen, Norman’s wife is involved in the computer programs phase of the business.
Norman took your author on a tour of their properties and facilities, all of which are gradually being revamped and modernized. We finally came upon their library which grew out of a hobby of collecting used books wherever he and his wife could find them, book stores, sales, flea markets and the Salvation Army.
Their book collection consists of hundreds of volumes, covering a variety of subjects: historical, technical, reference, classics and more.
The Norman Gibat family and their business are a valuable addition to Fostoria.
This short article about the Gibat demonstrates how a little note from readers, or a telephone call develops interesting reading for The Review Times readers.
FEEDBACK ODE TO SHEELY
A letter reached me after publication of that article from a former Fostorian now living in Tiffin, and a regular reader of The Review Times and Potluck.
I’m sure some readers will remember Mrs. Russell Stahl, who before marriage was Ethel Stevens, and also recall things she mentions in her “recollections”.
Dear Mr. Krupp: “I look forward every week to your column. Having been born and raised in Fostoria, I can relate to some of its history”.
“First my family lived on Woodland Avenue, adjacent to the Sheely farm. My older brother and I took turns every night, getting milk at the Sheely’s”.
“The first radio I ever listened to was one Wilbur Sheely put together, one earphone. I recall “Dude” the brown and white dog, as big around as long. Also will never forget Mrs. Sheely’s sugar cookies, still have the recipe she gave my mother”.
“If we happened to be there when the bees were swarming, we would bang on pans to settle them”.
“Before I went to school, I had to have an operation. My mom and aunt held me on the kitchen table while Dr. Reycraft operated. When I woke up Mrs. Sheely and Wilbur were sitting by my bed”.
“Also have a 1904 Methodist Cookbook that belonged to my mother. It has a recipe in it for fig cake, signed by Miss Edna Hatfield, she was my teacher at Crocker Street”.
“We lived on the wrong side of the tracks and had to crawl under or over trains so we would not be late for school”.
“I also have a 9 1/2 X 7 1/2 picture of “Geno” Wilson with my father and others, taken by Mr. Weaver. If Jenny (Mrs. Wilson) is still around she may know the others. My brother thinks they were paving Maple Street in front of the Weaver’s home.
“Also have a picture of Fraver’s (lumber) large wagon and team, with the men who worked there, including my father”.
“From there my father worked at Atlas Cooperage Co. on Findlay Street, run by Ralph Morris, or R.E. as he was called. Only have one picture of that. He drove a wine colored “Morgan”.
“When steel hoops came in he sold his home on North Main Street to Mose Lamfron and moved to Los Angeles. He and my father corresponded for years”.
“My mother played the organ (pump) at the Baptist Church on South Wood Street. We also had an organ at home and hymns were the only songs we knew. These are memories you don’t forget”.
“Also came in contact with the “look out” man when the bank was being held up, had a front row sear, but that is another story, and this already too long, so will close”.
Mrs. Russell Stahl
KIWANIS STORY
The group photo and names in that article brought many telephone calls to my house.
Pat Danner, 345 Perry St., informed me that Dale Herbert, shown in the photo, is still living, she thought in the Maumee area. Later a call from Ray Peter, East Tiffin Street, informed me that Dale now lives in Fostoria.
Others telephoned to say that Guilford Kettler is still living in the Amsden area. Those telephoning me were: Mrs. John Naugle, 1006 S. Main St.; Charles Hoehner, 10013 CR 60; and Mrs. Jacob Lind, 432 N. Town St.
When Les Kisabeth returned from Florida, he telephoned to say that Stultz, shown in the Kiwanis photo was “Bill” nor “Harry”, Les said he and Bill were schoolmates.
Thank you readers for your loyalty and help.
POST OFFICE STORY
I should have been more careful in my compilation of names and post office employees in the first installment of that story.
I missed the name of Virgil Rees, who was the clerk in the post office for 41 years.
If readers know of other names I missed, I will appreciate them.
Clifford Myers, 324 Elm St., had something to say about the post office story too.
The picture of the post office in the first article, when it was on West Tiffin Street, brought back recollections when he worked there at the same time O. Brubaker did. He said they both trucked mail to and from the trains and they also had Star Routes.
Myers was also glad to see the photo in the second article, showing the building which occupied the area where the post office is now. He worked there when the Fostoria Machine Tool was located in that building, recalling that Otto Gutkneckt and John Turner also worked there too.
Myers also recalled that in another part of that same building, the Auto-Lite had their wiring harness division.