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PIX #1 - Ohio Power Co. office building

PIX #2 - Center of photo - Heat and Lighting Co.

PIX #3 - Way the area appears today

PIX #4 - Koss, Parker and German Lumber Co.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Throughout the years sonce Potluck was introduced, it has been my practive to devote part or all of the column nearest Christmas to a subject fitting of the season. It was for that reason that the third and last installment of the West North Street seried did not appear last week, but is in today's column.

I have been unable to locate a suitable photo showing the building that once stood at the southwest corner of North and Wood Street, where today's story starts. The Allen Motor Co. used the building for certain assembly operations. If a reader has a good photo of that corner, please contact me.

Photo No. 1 with today's article shows the Ohio Power Co., office building. At about the turn of the century that site was occupied by this town's Heat and Light Company building, where electicity was generated. A photo of that building showing a maintenance crew standing beside a horse-drawn vehicle, was on file at Kaubisch Memorial Library, but apparently it was borrowed by someone and never returned.

PHOTO SHOWS CITY'S HEAT-LIGHT PLANT

Through the courtesy of Ohio Power division office in Tiffin, we are able to include a photo taken in 1913, showing the transmission towers erected by them at about that time. In the center of the photo (2) can be seen the Heat and Light building. At that time the lumber company, which can be seen in the background had become the Fostoria Lumber Co.

I was recently informed the equipment used to generate eletricity blew up, destroying itself and causing severe damage to the building. After that Fostoria purchased electricity from Ohio Power and then later Ohio Power became the direct supplier of power to the city.

The Ohio Power office in Fostoria is part of the Tiffin Division, of which there are seven in Ohio. all are part of the American Electric Power System. Their Communicator Program offers talks, films and videotapes about energy for presentation at clubs, schools, etc.

NO LONGER A LUMBER COMPANY ON W. NORTH

Moving westward on North Street refer to Photo No. 3, showing the way that area appears today. The building on the right was most recently occupied by PK Lumber Co., but they suspended business locally, moving all their stock elsewhere.

That site has been used by lumber companies for nearly 100 years. One of those was Koss, Parker and German Lumber Co., shown in Photo #4. Later, Parker disassociated himself and it was known as Koss & German. Still later, it changed ownership and was known as Fostoria Lumber Co. for many years.

In about 1929 or '30, when it was known as Fostoria Lumber Co., the property was completely destroyed by fire. The only portion of it saved was the triangular shaped building showin in both Photos 3 and 4. A new building was constucted by Fostoria Lumber Co. and was used PK. It still remains today.

AUTHOR REMEMBERS THESE PEOPLE

Reminiscing a little about personalities etc.: Mr. Koss lived on North Poplar Street between East North and McDougal. He and his wife had two children, Fred and Louise, both playmates of mine as kids.

Mr. German was the father of Rudolph and Herbert, both fine musicians under Jack wainwright. The German family lived on West Tiffin near Union. The last word I had was that Rudolph was the only one of the boys alive; he resides in California.

When the lumber company building burned, the heat from the fire was so intense that standing at the corner by the Hoyt See Co. watching was uncomfortable. That fire was one of the town's most disastrous.

OLD BUT REVAMPED BUILDING STILL USED

Today, the triangular shaped building is owned by William Weinandy, U.S. 23 South, and is occupied by North Street Styling Shop, managed by Jane Weinandy. the building was completely renovated when purchased and modernized beautifully.

The LE&W Railway, which ran past of the building now owned by Weinandy, reminds me of a conversation I had with William Jaeger, a well-known Fostorian of many years ago. He said, "Some day the LE&W will quit business and when the rail bed is removed it will become another fine street through our city...a good thoroughfare from west to east".

OLD FOSTORIA MISS OPPORTUNITY?

Jaeger was partially correct, but the street never materialized. Fostoria lost a good opportunity by not seizing the idea.

What will become of the PK building? I wonder if the Fostoria Economic Development Corporation is looking into the matter.

As, most readers know, West North carried Ohio 113 as far as Vine Street then onto Van Buren and west past the cemeteries. North Street also leads to reservior Nos. 2 and 3.

A series on East North Street will follow soon.