Ghosts of (Fostoria) Christmases Past
December 21, 1997, article one

It's Christmas 1997 and throughout Fostoria, families, churches, companies and organizations are observing the holiday season. But in the langsyne, previous generations of Fostorians were doing the same thing.

What do you suppose Fostoria was up to at Christmas 50 years ago? Or 75? Or 100?

According to The Daily Review-Dispatch, on Christmas Day 1897, downtown Fostoria was a very lively place. The Hays Hotel (north of Bill's) and the Hotel Sherwood on E. Center were certainly hopping.

The paper reported that one Fred Koss threw a bash for his friends at the Sherwood which served a meal so fine that on Monday, Dec. 27 the paper said, "The dinner was of such proportions and of such magnificent quality that his guests have not yet finished talking about it."

At the Hays, a pair of local landlords named Hamill and Beringer "added much to their reputation on Xmas day by furnishing the patrons of the Hays a dinner which has never been excelled by a hotel in this city."

Over 60 people, including a traveling comedy company, Postmaster T.D. Adams and postal employees and their wives feasted on "perfect" holiday cuisine. Special souvenir menus were printed for the occasion.

There was nothing merry about Christmas 1897 for the workers at the Isaac Harter Mill. In the evening of Christmas Eve, it seems a nut or bolt got caught between a pair of rolls in the third floor grinding room causing a spark. Fans sent the spark up to the fourth floor where it landed among combustible materials with disastrous effect.

By 5:30 Christmas morning, the terrible fire left the mill's several buildings, much of its machinery and 20,000 bushels of wheat in smoldering ruin. The damage was estimated a $165,000 and 85 employees were thrown out of work.

Thankfully, the Harter Mill was rebuilt. In fact, it still does business here in Fostoria. We know it as Mennel Milling.

A happier, quieter event took place at 3:30 Christmas afternoon in 1897 in the parsonage of the Church of the United Brethren. Rev. Hoffman united in joyous wedlock Lewis O. Sprout and Maud Good.

It was a small wedding with only family members present. After honeymooning in Cleveland and Toledo, Lewis and Maud returned to Fostoria where they resided for a time with the bride's parents on Leonard St. (A great name for a street, don't you think?).

On December 23, 1922, 75 years ago, the biggest of many big Uletide doings was the Fostoria Community Christmas Tree celebration at the International Order of Odd Fellows hall. Two hundred Fostoria children got to meet "Jolly Old Santa Claus" who passed out toys, apples, oranges, candy and popcorn.

The Fostoria Daily Review said, "After the children had all assembled and Christmas carols had been sung, a six piece orchestra with Helen Wade at the piano swung into the grand march and the children filed past the mammoth Christmas tree which was beautifully decorated and at which Santa presided with his presents. Santa passed out the presents to each child as they came by."

Early that morning, members of the Elks and various Sunday Schools delivered food baskets to needy families.

Roscoe Carle, postmaster, announced that the Post Office windows would be open from 7 - 9 a.m. Christmas Day.

Rice's store was advertising ukuleles for $2 back then. By gosh, I've always wondered where you could get a good Christmas ukulele cheap. They had ‘em in 1922. Why not today?!?!?!?

In 1947, a mere half century back, 1,000 people attended the National Carbon Co. Christmas party in the Fostoria High School auditorium on Dec. 19. Paul Spors Amusements of Toledo supplied six vaudeville acts. Now which do you think those folks enjoyed more - the human seal, the shadow-graph or the musical pots and pans?

On Christmas Eve 1947 the Review-Times reported that George Ecaterinis received what may still be Fostoria's most unusual Christmas card. Before he immigrated to America, George was a member of the royal guards for the King of Greece and later a member of Greek diplomatic service.

In 1947 he and his wife, Georgia (Tsantles), were the proprietors of the Hays Hotel. George decided it would be nice to send Christmas greetings to his former boss, King Paul. After all, he had participated in the king's wedding in 1938 as a member of the royal guards.

Well, King Paul was quite touched. He replied with an enlarged autographed photo of himself, the queen and the rest of his family and a letter wishing George prosperity in Fostoria, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Royal House in Athens.

One other very interesting event took place in Fostoria in the holiday season of 1947.

On Christmas Day, a married couple were honored at a reception in their W. Center Street home to mark their golden wedding anniversary.

Lots of family and friends attended. People came from Columbus; Circleville; Ashland, Kentucky; and Albany, NY. Gifts, floral arrangements and telegrams from well-wishers filled the house.

Who were these folks? Remember Mr. and Mrs. Sprout? Lewis and Maud who got married in the parsonage on Christmas Day 1897? You guessed it. On Christmas Day 1947, they celebrated 50 years together.

That's what you call having yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

And readers, all of you have a Merry Christmas, too. - L.Sk.