fostoria was booming rail center years ago
Thursday, March 9, 1989

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Pix #1 - T. & O. C.. Depot, Fostoria, Ohio

Pix #2 – Fostoria Ohio Nickle Plate Depot

Pix #3 B & O Depot, Fostoria, Ohio

Pix #4 (I can't read it)

Pix #5 (I cant read it either)

'What happened to the five railroads that once seved Fostoria? How could the town have gotten along without them if they provided usch good freight and passenger service to this area?"

(Author's note: The series of articles about reailroads in Fostoria, which don Kinnaman originally suggested and authored, has turned out to be more lengthy than I expected. The first article brought responsed form readers, as did the second in the series. In fact, at this writing, it is not certain how many episodes will be required to tell the whole (and interesting ) story. Readers are urged to keep the historical and present daata coming. Should it be put in booklet form for posterity?)

The photos with today's article are proof of the headline for today's article. The photos came from Roy Dell's large collection of postcards, accumulated for many years.

The advantage of those reilroad lines of the past were twofold: (1) passenger service north, south, east and west making it possible to reach towns and metropolitan areas with ease. (2) Sshipment of all kinds of merchandise in and ojut of fostoria including out-of town daily newspapers and milk from farmers who had large herds of milk cows. Back in that era, Fostoria had several mild [sic] processors, producing bottled milk, cheese and butter.

What happeded to depots?

Only older readers who have resided in fostoria for most of their lives know the answer to that question. The following paragraphs present prief paragraphs about the five depots that served the six depots in fostoria.

The T& OC Depot was also the passenger station for The New York Central. T&OC was the abbreviation for Toledo and Ohio central. The depot Station was also the passenger station for the New York Central. The building still stands in the same location, between E. North and Mcdougal Streets in the eastern sector of fostoria.

The B & O station building is still in existence on S. Main St., but passenger trains like the one shown in the photo cease to exist many years ago. That railline handles a high volume of passengers as well as merchandise. The B & P became part of the Chesapeake a & Ohio (C & O) many years ago.

The hocking Valley depot still exists on sandlsky St., but its run—down condition is only a silent reminder of an era when many travelers went out of and arrived in Fostoria via that station. That railroad became part of the chesapeake & Ohio. Ken Smith was the last employee to headquarter in that building, serving as Yeardmaster.

The Nickel Plate Depot is the only railroad station of the past ino longer in existence. It was demolished many years ago. The building was located between S. Main and s. Union Streets. The author of Potluck rode early morning passenger trains on that line into Chicago many years ago, when employed by Fostoria Pressed Steel corp.

The Le & W. Depot still exists on W. North St., between Main and Wood streets. It is now used as headquarters for Camp Fire headquartes. That rail line always ran special excursion trains (in season) from as far wasst as Indiana and Illinois to Cedar Point at Sandusly, It was a popular trip for summer time.

Change, progress alsways at work.

What happened to the five railroads that once served fostoria/ How could the town hav egotten along without them if they provided such good freight and passenger service to this area/

It's the odl story of change and progeress which sometimes is challenged. It happened if fostoria just as it did everywhere.

But in more recent years the railroads have come up with a new idea – transporting loaded truck via flatbed trains which are then picked up in various metropolitan areas for distribution of the products. The U.S. mails are also getting some of that businiess, with carriers making delivery to places of business and resicences.

Heed god's word

God omnipresent and all is well.

What a profound realization it ius to know that god is everywhere present. We can rest in the assurance of the all-emcompassing power of god's love, for we are devinely protected.

When we know with an inner conviction that our world is a friendly place, we give our full attention to the tralm of christion ideas. We see the Christ light in all we meet. We feel the love of god harmonizing all aspects of our lives. Through prayer, we place our dear ones in the care and keeping of god. We release thoughts of harm and let the light of God surround us. Every cell of our bodies is aglow with the life of god. Our hearts bead with the rhythm of god's love.

God is the loving reator, and all is well. "God is with you in all that you do." (Genesis 21:22_ Excerp[ted from Daily Word.