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More memorablilia on city's glass era
Thursday, August 31, 1989

Pix #1 - Fostoria glass workers photographed in 1951 having served in that industry in their younger years. Back row, left to right: Cling Johmnson, Louie stiger, Al Bristo, "Wish" Sertel, Marty Mabus, Guy Kaiser. front row: ? Snyder, Herb England, Ray Coburn, John vanoni, Bob Fry, Sr. With the death of Bob Fry, Sr., Ray coburn is the only know survivor of the "glass days' in fostora.

Pix #2 - Bob Fry, Sr., photographed before this death.

All good things, including lengthy Potluck articles must have an ending. today's article was intended to be the last in the series, but with the ingfromation still available, is is evident that there must be a fifth one. And, I am sure there may be readers who will still have contributions to make. don't hesitate to call or write if you have something to tell.

I spent some omore time with Ray coburn after the third in the series was published, and he still had much to talk about "glass," the glass workers etc.

As a slidelight I should mention coburn is also sought by outner writers. He told me that recently a trade paper representative wated an audience, for information about the glass industry of years ago.

\tjhe group photo of glass workers, with today's collumn, taken in 1951 will interest readers especially older ones, and will be remembered by them.

The one photo of Bob Fry, Sr., with today's article was taken dirung his last years, when he was still residieng in fostoria. The photo was loaned by Bob Fry, Jr. who, with his wife, resides at 10282 W. louden TR 116.

Reader Feedback

Bob harley, former fostorai resident and employee of The Fostoria Daily Review, dropped me a note after receiving his copies of The Review Times and here with quoted: "Paul...glad to see your column is back. You have a good source of information in Ray coburn. I remember him when he frequented Vic Schyuh's print shop on East North Street. Regards -- Buckeye Bob."

Yes, I remember those days of the past, like Harley does, because I often got in on some of the ocnverstaions that were exchanged back then many years ago. I was working as one of the printers at The Review Times back then, and at the end of the work day at the newspaper would join whoever might be at Schuh's print shop, where many subjects about Fostoria were discussed pro and con.

Shcuh and Kru[[ worked at Review

Before Vic Schuh had his own print shop, he too was a printer at the Daily Review, and I worked with him. Schuh spent many years as a printer at The Review when it was located in the old Foster Home Building on south main Street. At that period in time, I was a carrier boy for The Daily Reivew and a helper in the bindery and amiling room.

When the newspaper moved to the present location on East Center St., I helped them move and ocntinued to work full time after graduation from Fostoria High School, continuing iwth them until I joined fostoria Press ed Steel in their sales and advertising department.

Heed God's word

"Seedk yo the Lord while he may be found' callye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the ;unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him." (Isaiah 55:6,7)

"for God so loved the oworld that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

'or are you too busy?

"And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him. I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it. I pray thee have me excused." (Like 14;18)

Too young?

"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come niot, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them." (Ecclesiastes 12:1)

Too smart?

"The fooll hath said in his heart. There is no God." (Psale 14:1)

Too smyg?

"They which when they have heard, go forth and are choked with cares and reiches and pleqasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection." (Luke 8:14)

Too late?

"It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27)

Glass industry history difficult to wind down
Thursday, September 7, 1989

Pix #1 - Vernon Glenn Ball. Again, I must thank Vernon Ball for his contributio9n to the :"Glass" series. some of the information Ray coburn had in his possession, an dmade availble, was originally written by Ball and published in tTHe Review Times in 1966.

Pix #2 - Ray coburn as he looks today, photographed by The Review Times photographer, exclusively for this article

Pix #3 - Mrs Lillie Babb. Babb's father was a glass worker in Fostoria during those early days. The only photo of him that was available was not suitable for reproduction.

(Author's NOte: I had planned to finish the series about "glass: with last week's article, but as I surveyed the amount of information availabel and the time required to collect and organize it, I was sure the serires had to be extended to tell the full sotry about the glass plants in this ar4ea in past years.

Glass worker was city maypr

Oldr residents of fostoria may recall that Ray coburn in his earlier years was a glass worekr, but later became Fsotoria's mayor. That episode is herewith reprinted fro The Ameircan Flint, official publication of glass workers, it being th April 1952 issue"

"The many friend of Ray R. Coburn, a memeber of the American Flint Glass Workes' Union, will be glasd to know that he has recieved the outstianding honor of being elected mayor of Fostoria. He is ther first Democrat to be electred in Twenty years, and the only glass worker to ever be elected to that office.

Ray learned his trade as a glass workers in the Hot Metal Department. He geban at the age of nine years in 1902 with the Macbeth-Evans in Toledo as a carrying-in boy for his father, the late Hugh Coburn, who also was a memeber of the Flints for 65 years.

In his sarly years in Fostoria, Niles and Cleveland, and Totonto, Canada, he was a [ropgressive, outstanding trad unionist. He has held many offices in local unions and has attended convintions of the American Flint Glass Workers' Union of North America. later he was elected to memebership of the Executive Board in the Bulb Department.

Ray had had many years in city affairs, and because of his outstanding ability and his interest in the welfare of the people, they elected him for thier mayor.

Another photo with today's ar5icle is the font cover of "American Flint" April 1975 issur, showing employees at the Fostoria Glass Co., Moundsville, W. Va., the location of that factory after leaving Fostoria.

Boyhood neightbor calls about series

Soon after the Aug. 24 issue of The Review Times about the glass industry was delivered to readers, I had a call from Mrs. Lillie Babb, a resident on North Countyline St.

She had read one of the artiacle about "Glass," and said she didn't think I would remember her. I agreed until she told me she once lived on Taft boulevard as a young firl, and that her name then was Sturgiss.

Like a flash of lightening, I remembered as a very young boy we lived beside that family and myuchg came flashing throught my memory: My fall down an outside basement entraceto hour house, hitting my head and knocking me out, and how Mrs. Sturgiss, the mother of Mrs. Babb came running over to help reivie me. I guess I am no worse for that boyhood fall of nearly 80 yearys ago or am I?

During our conversation, Mrs Bab inquired if Wilbur Fransec was still living. I told her the last I knew he still lived in Bettsville, but my last contact with his was 4 or 5 years ago. I talked to him at hthat time, and I asked him if he remembered me. He looked at me for a few seconds, and then assked, "Are you Paul?"

Wilbur and I both attended Whittier School, wich at that time was located on crocker Street (west of Wood). I will make an effort ot learn if Wilbur Frances is still living and in bettsville,.

Heed God's word

In the showow of night you can draw on the light of god. In the glow of the dawn you can welcome the morn with God. Any time of the year you can banish all fear through God. So let's sprinkle our days iwth our thanks and our praise to god.

(By Barbara larriva. Extracted froom "From Darkness to Light: Salsiam Inspirational Books).

Glass factories article brought quick response
Thursday, August 17, 1989

Click

Pix #1 - This is an interior view of the Upper Glass plant ans was taken sometime btween 1914-1916. Photo provide d by Ray coburn.

Pix #2 - Photo of one group of workers employed at the Upper Glass works, in about 1914-9116. The photo was provided by bob Fry, rural route Fosotia, sone of Bob Fry (by the same name) who was employed there. NOne of the glass workers in the photo are known at this late date. Except Bob Fry, deceased, shown in the front row (seated) second from left.

Pix #3 - The Warren boys: Chester on left, Herman on right.

The Aug 10 edieditn of The Review Times scarce;y reach ed readers until two telephone calls reached me.The first call came form Clara Campbell, resideing at 130 W. Lytle St., Her message was that she das four broghters, all of whom were employed in the manyufactire of glass productd diruing the boompdays of that industry in fostoria many years ago. Two of the warren bays are shown in photo's in today's article.

those broghters were: Wesley, Albert, Herman,a ndchester, all now deceased. Ray Coburn in conbverstaion with this author said he remembered the Warren boys and they were all fellow workers of his.

Ball articles valuable tool

In Last weeks's POTLUCK, mention was made of the series of articles about the early dayus of the glass factories in fostoria, aothored by Vernon Ball, former Review Times staff writer in 1966.

Ray coburn, the only living glass worker form those early days,. confiremed the data in those articles was authentic and provides reference for today's article and other that may follow. I thank both coburn and ball for their participation in presenting this series of articles about Fopstoria's history.

Carg gas well started industy

The greatest sindle event to bring north western Ohio and specifically Fostoria into prominence was the Garg gas well, near findlay in 1887. the well roared ans burned with a flame over 100 feet high that could be seen and heard for a radium of 10 miles, and seemed to burn and burn with a never-enignd stop. In a period of mire thatn a year, the Lake Erie & western Railraod rean excursions and people cam to see this marvelous sight. That was the geginning of the gas-glass days in fostoria, a big chapter in the life of this city when free gas brought many glass manufacturing plants to our tiwn.

Who they were

Fsotoria Glass co., present site of Seneca Wire; Mosiac Glass co. 410 E. North St.; Butler Glass co. across from Longfellow School, Sandusky Street;Nuickel Plate Galass co., McDougal Street At railroad crossing; Fostoria Lamp & Shade, in west part of fostoria; Seneca Glass co., south and east of Harter Mill; Mamburg, crocker and the caliseum Glass companies were all located south on the Hocking valley railroad.

Ther largest and most representative of those manufactureres was Seneca Glass Co., and occupied a space of more thatn two an a half acres at their site.

Partial list of workers

with the material loaned to be by Ray coburn, the only known local survirvor of thos employed in the glass factories in fostoria, there was included the following list of employees for the yuears between 1900-1910:

James goggins, Franck Culligan, Mike McMann, Ed Boyle, Hugh coburen, Sr., Hugh coburn, Jr., Ray R. Coburn, George Coburn, Robert Frt, Sr., Frank Dieterly, Gene Sussang, Ferdinand (4() Frisch, Rollie Kimmel, Henry Bouboule, S., Bill Sheeran,, Ott Drpli, Henry Boubloule, Jr., Louis Peltier, Joe Slosser, Andy Slosser, bobby Krouse, Henry Krouse, Oscar Croff, a. Croff, Charle Vitt, Frank vitt, ed vitte, Gus Vitt, Abe Sherlock, Fred Sherlock, charlie Sherlock, Tim Kay.

Louis Vandon=i, John Vadoni, Sam McNab, Jr., Billy McIntyre, Tommy Griffin, Marty Griffin, Marty magus, Carl McPete, Tom cummings, Phillip Degan, Phillip Shannon, Wiskey Wilsom, Jerome Huth, Benny Huth, curtis Hall, Vincent Huth, Herb England, Clint Johnson, frank Stinehurst,, Jake Shoaston, Burt Ruth, Harry Dermur, clarence Ruth, Charlie Rught, jack Riser, namon boyles, Harry Allan, charlie Warrington, George Gephart, Beorge Koplin, Harry cook, Albert Vagel, Sr.

Harry Strugis, Harry Smurthwasy, Paul Mall, George Hunt, Rollie Harris, Russ Ptttinger, George Smith, Tom Burk, Bruce McINtyre, Flossy Hamilton, Bill Robinson, John walsh, Floyd Hampshire, Frank Henick, Pete Henick, Duce Bormuth, charlie Kessler, Richard Kessler, Marion Harler, Bill Walshg, Morris walssh, Les Bermenstopher, Al frankhart, Joe O'Malley, Judd Huston, tony Myers, Charlie Doyle, Pat Merrick, Sr., Red Landeaster, Geroge Fink, Fred Fink, Geroge Denamel.

fred Demmel, Sr., Fred Demmel, Jr., Bill Demmel, T. Demmel, Joe Sertel , Sr., Danny Sertel, Buck Sertel, Wish Sertel, Charlie Sertel, Fred Bonnel, John Durnseky, Al Bristol, Art Worley, Skeet McCracken, Ed Sivermour, Deedle Dum Richardson, John O'conners, Howard Murphy, Gene Ellison, Jake Schnitzler, Joe Schnitzler, Frank Mall, Al Krupp, Alfred Storm, Bill Priest, robert corwin, Louie Stiger, Ralph Hyte, Herman Warren, Chet Warren, George Gatton.

Floyd Wagner, Joe Bigler, Pete West, claude Vitt, charlie Heck, John Hamomond, Andy Fitzsimmons, Joe Sweeny, Bingo Dildine, Geroge Simpson, Ott Smith, Ed McCloskey, Herry Yenser, Jake Yenser, F. McCloskey, Jim Brown, Bill Mompher, Jack McHale, ross Coogen, Spot Coy and Ralph coy.

More photos related to the glass era in Fostoria will be included in future articles.