Thanksgiving, 1899 Style, for Fostorians
November 24, 1999

Thanksgiving is an American original. It was first observed in 1621 by the Plymouth Colony Pilgrims for the harvest following a bitter winter.

George Washington proclaimed it a national holiday in 1789. One hundred-ten years later, Fostorians were observing it in fine style.

So, for the benefit of all you modern-day area Pilgrims, here, according to the Daily Review-Dispatch, is how Fostorians kept the Thanksgiving holiday Nov. 30, 1899.

Of course the city's churches were in full swing preparing for the turn of the calendar to 1900. The Thanksgiving sermon at the Church of Christ was entitled "Facing the Twentieth Century."

The young ladies of St. Wendelin High School held a social in the Knights of St. John's Hall. They served a turkey lunch with cake and lemonade.

There was "a fine musical program" and a "Progressive pedro," a card game, I believe. Prizes were awarded and admission was 10 cents.

The Methodist Church at Fremont and Main (Governor's Manor) hosted an interfaith service. Rev. H.G. Hutchins of the Presbyterian Church gave the sermon, "The Solidarity of the Race, or the Communion of Human Interests and Responsibilities," which "was greatly appreciated."

The ladies of the United Brethren Church gathered at the Odd Fellows Hall and took 50 turkeys, 75 chickens and 180 pies and fashioned a Thanksgiving luncheon for 1,000 people.

Tickets were sold with proceeds benefitting the church's organ fund. The Carbon Works and Harter Mill (Mennel) bought many of the tickets and distributed them to their employees.

A number of local businesses were open. The Tiffin, Fostoria and Eastern inter-urban railway offered round trip fares of 25 cents to make it easier for families and friends in the two towns to share the holiday.

Yager's Saloon at 109 E. North St. gave a free turkey lunch to anyone courageous enough to belly ut to the bar and order a Tom and Jerry.

Nobody was shorting themselves on Wednesday night's meal to make room for the big Turkey Day dinner.

The "Culinary Goddesses" were hosted by Mrs. George Augustine and Miss Emma Mickey. Thanksgiving dinner was served. Each lady took home one of the "unique" menu cards as a souvenir.

Not to be outdone, the "Round Dozen" cooking club had a Wednesday Thanksgiving feast of their own at the home of Mrs. Philip Peter. Mrs. A.E. Mergenthaler was co-host. The ladies engaged the services of two young ladies, Flo Kissling and Cleo Peter as "serving girls"

As if church services weren't enough, one local clergyman, Rev. I.N. Kalb, pulled double duty on Thanksgiving. He married Carrie Halteman and Thomas Harr at 5 p.m. in the Halteman residence at 605 N. Union after which everyone sat down to a five course turkey dinner.

The bride wore a blue dress trimmed with white duchess satin, ribbons and lace. It was reported the groom wore the "usual black."

Heaven forbid we forget the local physicians. The 5 year old son of Sig Mayer spent part of Thanksgiving playing in a barn, fell from the hay loft and broke his arm. Doc Bell came to the rescue, treated the fracture and reported, "the little fellow will soon be ready to climb again."

Football was a Thanksgiving tradition in 1899 just like it is today, except folks had to go watch it in person at Victor Field which, I believe, was located on Columbus Avenue.

Fifteen hundred fans turned out to see the Thanksgiving Day tussle between the Red and Black of FHS and Oberlin.

Alas! The visitors prevailed 12-10.

That didn't prevent the players and coaches from both teams gathering in the dining room of the Sherwood Hotel for a little post-game chow and a rehash of the afternoon's contest.

Finally, Whitey Stahl and Will Brooks spent Thanksgiving nursing the bruises they collected during their fistfight the night before. It seems Whitey borrowed Will's bird dog to go hunting.

When Whitey failed to return the pooch at the appointed time, Will's disposition took a glumward turn.

When Will caught up with Whitey, he opened the discussion with a right hand to Whitey's mug. Whitey, equally skilled in the art of debate, flattened Will with a rhetorical counter-punch. The "conversation" lasted for quite a time and provided their friends with much entertainment.

So there it is. Thanksgiving in Fostoria 100 years ago.

The ownership and staff of the Focus (Don, Judy, Siobhan, Linda, Karla, Cheri, Brian, Mike, John, Marcie, Rick, Farrah and good old Leonard) would like to take this opportunity to wish all of Fostoria a Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope you all enjoy the holiday as much as Will and Whitey did.