More on Fostoria

More on Fostoria 1943

From R/t March 8, 2003

(Article by Gene Kinn)

Local Bankers Mechanical Toys

One of the Best on the Continent.

The following news item, written by reporter Harry Front, appeared in the local newspaper on December 29, 1943

It was our privilege to be the guest of Andrew Emereine, collector par excellence, who was showing us the various mechanical toys, now a rarity, the many toy banks and the assorted collection of weapons and bottles of which he prides himself so highly.

Mr. Emerine is one of the seven outstanding bank toy collectors on the continent, the other six are: John D. Meyer, Tyrone, PA..; Dr. W. G. Downs, Hartford, Conn.; F.W. Wieder, Berkeley, Calif.; Dr. A.F. Corby, William F. Ferguson of the Bank for Savings and Thorton C. Thayre, the Seaman's Bank for Savings, all of New York City.

Mr. Emerine, whose collection ranks second to that of Dr. Corby's was honored some months ago on a Canadian broadcast, when Claire Wallace featured him on the "They Tell Me" program, during the broadcast, she told of Mr. Emerine's collection of toy banks. The smallest is a two-inch top hat. One of the most cherished is the "Freedman Minstrel" who snatches the coin while he waves his hand and nods his head in approval.

It is believed that 95 percent of the toy banks are now in the hands of collectors. Some ranged in price from ten cents to seven and eight dollars.

The Emerine collection includes such rare specimens as Gen. U.S. Grant, the Bird in a Cage, the colored dancing group, an original "jitterbug" the Old Deacon, the colored village scene, the Maid Churner, the Wash Woman, the Acrobat, and many others.

Among his mechanical toys the Flower girl, with music box effects is outstanding. Then there is Prof. Pug Frog: the dentist, who receives a coin in his coat pocket, simulates extraction of a tooth, with the patient being dumped out of the chair; the Afghanistan Bank' little red Riding Hood, wherein the grandmother raises her mask revealing a wolf after the coin had been inserted, the Mikado, John Bull's Money Box, which was adopted by many English commercial banks as a means of raising funds for Belgian relief after World War l and which Mr. Emerine acquired in England; the Monkey and Coconut, the Bulldog, another rarity and many others.

Walking away from the bank and mechanical toy collection, we saw the antiques in weapons and musketry, There are many pieces, some exceptionally rare but the two which attracted this writer's attention were canes, of which we once attempted to make a collection.

One is a Chinese sword cane. By a simple twist of the head of the cane, one extracts a sharp and lethal sword. It is sharp as the cut on our thumb will indicate.

The other, somewhat larger is a gun cane. A Twist of the hand grasp, a slip of the ornamental and the gun is ready to be fired. Fortunately for us, it wasn't loaded when we experimented with it.

The collection of bottles, represents many rare specimens, antiques in the glass blower's art. Some are medicine bottles, others contained spirits which are so difficult to secure now in any kind of bottle.

Mr. Emerine would not place a dollars and cents value on his collection, adding that none of the items were for sale.

From R/t Feb.1, 2003

(Article by Gene Kinn)

Added to Undefeated Teams -- 1943 Redmen Football

Team members were from Class of 1944

Fostoria High School's Redmen, scoring twice with lighting thrusts, defeated their ancient gridiron rivals, Findlay High's Trojans, 14-0 here last night to rack up their eight strait victor for a perfect season and to nail the Buckeye League championship pennant.

Jackie Woodland Fostoria's big hard-driving fullback, scored both touchdowns and ran his total points to 96 for the season.

Dale Stoddard booted two points after the touchdowns to run his total points to 73 for the season.

Previous Fostoria High School perfect Redmen football teams were' 1902, ' 03, ' 06, ' 07, '11, '12, '14, '15, '20, '22, and '38.

From R/t Dec. 28, 2002

(Article by Gene Kinn)

G.I. Visits Parents from Troop Train.

John L. (Rusty) Thomasson, Fostoria sign painter, and Mrs. Lulu J. Mitchell, 243 Bannister Street, had a exceptionally pleasant experience Tuesday when they were able to see and talk with the son, Private George Thomasson, who passed through Fostoria on a troop train.

The Fostoria soldier, learning that the train would be held in the local yards for several minutes, hailed Park Stouffer, a National Carbon company employee and asked him to contact his parents.

Mr. Thomasson, whose sign shop is at 125 E. Tiffin Street, borrowed the Ruhl Motor company service truck, called for Mrs. Mitchell at her home, and with the aid of railroad men, made their way through the yards to see their son.

From R/t Nov. 16, 2002

(Article by Gene Kinn)

FHS Machine Shop questionable for 1943-44 year

Fostoria high school's modern machine ship, fitted with $35,000 worth of fine equipment, may not operate during the coming school year, in spite of the fact that 25 senior boys have indicated their desires to take the course offered in that department. that was the report given by Superintendent H.L. Ford to members of the Board of Education Monday night.

Ford said that Kermit Jones, head of the department, has received his notice to appear for his final physical examination on Aug. 28, and if he is accepted by the armed forces, the machine shop undoubtedly will not be operated during the 1943-44 school year.

Edward Dow, who has taught related subjects in the machine shop department, also is subject to a draft call and efforts on the part of the school to obtain a deferment have failed. However, Dow has been working for the Electric Auto Lite company during the summer and that firm has been successful in obtaining a temporary deferment for him. In all probability he will continue his employment there until he is called for duty.

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Big Bill Edward's, former Fostoria high, Detroit Lions coach in U.S. Navy

Big Bill Edward's, former Fostoria High and Detroit Lions football coach, now a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, once again is teaching a Fostroria boy how to play football.

Edward's, who along with Lt. Charley Gehringer, former Detroit Tiger second baseman, is in charge of athletics at the U.S. Navy Pre-Flight School, St. Mary's College, California, has Navy Aviation Cadet Bruce Currie, son of Mrs. Mabel Currie of Fostoria , in his squad.

From R/t Nov. 2, 2002

(Article by Gene Kinn)

Coach "Ike" Trubey takes Position in Elyria

Dwight "Ike" Trubey, Fostoria high school football coach for past seven years, resigned today (July 29, 1943 to accept a position as head football coach and physical education teacher at Elyria high school.

Trubey, who severed in Fostoria high school longer than any other football coach in the 45-year history of the sport here, will move to Elyria as soon as housing accommodations can be secured.

Fostoria high grid teams, under the guidance of Trubey, won 42 games, tied 4 and lost 20 and scored 953 points to the opponents' 512 during the past seven years.

The highlight of Trubey's coaching in Fostoria was in 1938 when his team captained by Billy Munsey, swept through 10 games for an undefeated season.

The resignation of Trubey makes it necessary to completely revise the coaching staff here. Dale Herbert, assistant football coach and head basketball coach, received his orders yesterday to report August 15, 1943 for duty as an ensign in the U.S. Navy.

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Thomas E. Bender, 36 former Ashland college athlete, who established an outstanding record at Logan, Ohio, where his grid teams lost only five games in five years, has been named the new Fostoria high school football coach, Bender succeeds Dwight W. "Ike" Trubey, who resigned last week after seven years at the helm of the FHS Redmen.

Coach Bender will come to Fostoria Wednesday and Trubey will introduce the new mentor to the boys he will work with this fall.

The new FHS coach, a native of Loudonville, has had 13 years experience in Ohio scholastic and coaching circles. He received his first job from H. L. Ford, Fostoria superintendent, when Ford was head of the Mt. Gilead school system. Bender remained at Mt. Gilead seven years before going to Logan in the South-Central part of Ohio. After five years there, he accepted a position at Shelby.

Coach Bender, is married and has a 10-year old daughter, has taken graduate work at Ohio State University and will teach boys' physical education in addition to coaching football.

Racing against time in his efforts to fill teaching staff vacancies before the August 1, 1943 deadline for teaching contract negotiations, Superintendent Ford also hired four other teachers Saturday. One of them Richard Downs, who succeeded Jerd Bayless at Gallipolls three years ago, when Bayless came to Fostoria. Downs has been named the new band and orchestra director and instrumental instructor, He was graduated from Ohio State University.

From R/t Oct. 26, 2002

(Articles by Gene Kinn)

Home Town Pilot "buzzes" Parents Home in Fostoria

(1943)

First Pilot Lt. John J. Davis Jr. son of Mr. and Mrs. John J. Davis Sr., Palmer Street, gave his family and hundreds of Fostorians a pack of thrills late Monday afternoon when he "buzzed" the town in a huge Flying Fortress, the "Hell from Heaven."

Lieutenant Davis, enroute from the west coast to the east coast for overseas duty, wired his wife, the former Miss Kathryn Rinehart, that he would fly low over their home and a few moments after she received the message, the big four-motored plane roared down over the south part of the city at tree level.

Lt. Davis, a former employee of the Seneca Wire and Manufacturing company, has been in the service for 15 months and had been stationed at Madris, Ore.

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Findlay Fremont Bus Line in Fostoria

(1943)

H.O. Howbert, Findlay, owner of the Findlay-Fremont bus line, has closed a deal for the purchase of the Ruhl garage building, 120-122 E Tiffin St. from Andrew Emerine. The Ruhl firm will continue occupancy of the building until at least Nov. 1, 1943.

Donald Bucher, 825 W. Center St., local manager of the bus line, who left today to enter the U.S. Army, said the line plans to move its maintenance department to Fostoria, and that William Messenger of Findlay, superintendent of maintenance for the firm, will be in charge. Two full-time mechanics, who keep the busses in running order, will move to Fostoria in the near future.

The Findlay-Fremont line, with Fostoria as the hub, operates bus service to Kenton, Fremont and Toledo.

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Harrolds Funeral Plans Move

(1943)

The sale of the Mrs. Roscoe Carle residence, 301 W. Tiffin St., to E. W. Harrold and Captain Duane E. Harrold, Fostoria funeral directors was announced Wednesday.

The Harrolds plan to move their funeral home from 134 W Tiffin St., to the spacious and beautiful house located on the southwest corner of Tiffin and Union Streets some time in the near future.

The residence was built by the late E.W. Allen, president of the Allen Motor Car Company.

From R/t Sept. 14, 2002

Article (In part) by Gene Kinn

Jackie Woodland Victorious

Champions in six weight divisions were decided last night (April 7, 1943) in the finals of the fostoria high school boxing tournament at the school gymnasium. All of the bouts were action packed and a large crowd attended the session.

Jackie Woodland, All-buckeye league fullback, (Later starred at defense in Bowling Green football, he played briefly with Cleveland Browns, and now a retired high school principal.) won the "main event" on the card, in the light heavyweight championship.

Woodland, who recently won the school wrestling championship, in the same weight division, defeated Clyde "Bones" Hammer, football team end and basketball team center.

In other bouts, Don "Mase" Feisel, leading scorer on the 1942-43 basketball team, defeated Bob Imber, captain of the 1942 football team. In the middleweight division: Mel Bennett defeated Berlin Burgacher Jr., in the lightweight division, Jack Perkins defeated H. Barcus in the featherweight division and Elwood Lee defeated Jackie McClellan in the bantamweight division, The tournament was staged by Dale Herbert, high school physical education director.

From R/T Sept. 7, 2002

Article by Gene Kinn

Junior "Nite Club" for Teenagers

Fostoria teenagers, desiring a place to dance and spent their spare time, have taken matters into their own hands and there is every indication today that they are "getting someplace"

Trustees of the Y.M.C.A. have provided a room for the junior "nite club" and the youngsters have set out to get the money to furnish it, decorate it and maintain it as a place to gather after school and in the evenings for wholesome recreation.

Joe Kirk, Don Feisel, Larry Bassinger and Frank Kelly lll recently approached Mayor C.B. Shuman and asked his help in raising $300 for the project. The mayor announced today that with little or no urging several Fostoria groups have contributed money for the project with additional contributions to be made to him or the general secretary of the Y.

The "nite club", which will be named through a contest conducted by the Fostoria High School Red and Black Illustrated Journal, already is in operation in the large room on the west side of the main floor. At present, it is equipped only with a jute box and old furniture.

If the youngsters fund-raising campaign is successful, the walls and windows will be decorated, several booths will be installed and a soda bar will be placed on one end of the dance floor.

From R/t Aug. 31, 2002

Article by Gene Kinn

State Theater Manager Held-up

The State Theater, where hundreds of make-believe dramas have unfolded on the silver screen, was the scene of a real life thriller last night (March 28, 1943) when armed robbers bound and gagged J. Forbes Alcock, manager of the theater, and escaped with Sunday's receipts and other money totaling $718.12.

Alcock, who managed to loosen the adhesive tape from his hands within three minutes after the men left him on the floor of his office, notified the police immediately, but officers were unable to find any trace of the men. The loot included $64 in war saving stamps and $9 in Alcocks billfold.

It was believed three men participated in the hold-up. Alcock was able to give police descriptions of the two who were in his office.