A Few More Reflections on
Fostoria's Business History

Well, it's time to reflect once more on the commerce and trade of days gone by. Recently, the Focus ran a piece, Ghosts of Businesses Past, that highlighted profiles of Fostoria businesses that appeared in the January 1897 issue of The Railway Reflector, a publication of the Columbus, Hocking Valley and Toledo Railway.

The Reflector talked about more businesses than could fit in a single article. So here are some other firms that plied their trades and wares when our ancestors were living and working here.

How can anyone get along without a good pair of shoes? Fostorians in 1897 bought them at A.L.Beach's at 117 N. Main. Mr. Beach came to Fostoria in 1889 from Medina where he also had a shoe store. He ran a shoe factory from 1861-77.

Capt. Z.T. Houseman was one of the town's prominent physicians. A wayward soul, old Z was born in Huntington, Ind. and later moved his practice to Fort Wayne. He gave up medicine to become a railroad land agent in Austin, Texas.

He resumed his meical practice in nearby Bairdstown and after 15 years moved to Fostoria. He kept himself on the road, though, by enlisting as assistant surgeon in the Kenton regiment of the Ohio National Guard.

Another local medical man was Robert W. Hale, Jr. The elder Hale practiced medicine in Fostoria from 1856 until his death in 1896. Hale Jr. received his medical degree in 1889 and practiced with his father for seven years.

Dr. Hale kept Fostoria (dare I say it?) Hale and hearty at 108 W. Center.

Francis Stewart was a young school teacher when the Civil War closed the book on his career. He enlisted in the 49th Ohi Volunteer Infantry. By war's end, Stewart was a captain.

He returned to civilian life looking for different opportunities. In 1866, he opened Stewart Hardware in Fostoria at 202 S. Main. He specialized in galvanized iron and tin and copper work. The store's motto was "Fair dealing and low prices."

Charles Olmsted was born in Fremont in 1830. At age 27, he came to Fostoria.

Charles was something of an entrepreneur. He opened a dry goods store, sold his share of the business and became a grain dealer. In 1890, he put together a team of investors, raised $50,000 and opened the Mechanics' Savings Bank Co. at 123 S. Main with himself as president. He must have been pretty good with a buck because he served as city treasurer for 20 years.

Carr & Fischer (that's Mahlon and William) were only in the furniture business for one year when the Reflector said, "The proprietors are courteous and obliging and justly deserve their immense patronage."

That immense patronage accounted for the fact that Carr & Fischer occupied two floors (40x100 feet and 66x100 feet) at 114 W. Center.

Lots of folks will remember Peter's Clothing, a men's store. It opened its doors to fashion conscious men as the Red Star clothing store in 1879. For a time it was known as Peter & Fruth.

Then Peter's sons, Philip and John, bought the entire business and it became known as Peter Brothers. For a time, they operated a second store in North Baltimore. The Reflector said John and Philip were "broad gauged, energetic businessmen" tending to men's fashion needs at 128 S. Main.

F.E. and C.O. Robbins operated Robbins Bros. & Co. at 100 S. Main. F.E. was a jeweler and C.O. was an optician. But both were trying to put a sparkle in someone's eye.

It also took a good eye to be a good photographer and M.B. Waldo established a studio for that purpose. Waldo took the photographs used in the Reflector.

M.B. was pretty photogenic himself with his luxuriant, white handlebar mustache as wide as his ears.

Now it wouldn't do to leave this subject without mentioning where folks went for a little jollity, to meet friends and to unwind a bit. Frank Engstrom ran the Earl Hotel on East Tiffin St.

The hotel saloon was owned by two gentlemen named Berringer and Histe. Histe bought out Berringer and the bar became known as "Judge's Place" since Charlie Histe, in spite of the complete absence of any legal background, was known around town as "The Judge."

So all in all, I'd say life in Fostoria in 1897 was pretty good. But I wouldn't want to foist my personal opinion on the readership. You'll all have to judge for yourselves.