Historical Photos

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Pix #1 - Give-away advertisement by C.M. Siegchrist

Pix #2 - Two scenes from program "Hoity Toity" at Opera House

Pix #3 - Photo of unidentified person

Pix #4 - Illustration in booklet "Little Red Riding Hood"

Countless attics in homes all across America hold all kinds of relics and memorabilia from the past. Readers are aware of that fact, and so am I, since some of the "finds" are often called to my attention, some of which never get in print.

Steve Neller, 234 W. Center Street, a reader of Potluck telephoned me quite some time ago, and invited me to look at some of the items he found in the attic of his home which he purchased sometime earlier.

After Neller had gone through the box of items he had salvaged...all of which had collected dirt and stains for many years, he gave me some of the items, a small portion of which I will mention in today's article, along with a few illustrations.

FROM OPERA HOUSE IN ANDES BLOCK

Older Fostorians know about the Opera House on the third (Top) floor of the Andes Block at Main and Center Streets. It was once a popular entertainment center for this area, attracting stage productions out of New York.

One of the relics from Neller's attic was a program for a show staged by Weber and Fields, a great musical success. "Hoity Toity" The program booklet contained a number of scenes from the production, two of which are illustrated in today's article.

A CHILD'S BOOK "LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD"

With all the changes in lifestyles and the trend in lifestyle activities in this 20th century, it is doubtful if parents do much reading to younger children, as they did in the past. Today, children look to television for their entertainment...(too much so...and regrettably).

"Little Red Riding Hood" was always one of the stories in children's books, back then, and some family who lived at 234 W. Center St. must have left it in the attic there.

Older readers may recall how Little Red Riding Hood was sent by her mother to deliver some goodies to her grandmother, living a distance away...how she failed to follow her mother's instuction for getting there and took another route, where she encountered a wolf. But the wolf was killed by a hunter who happened to be nearby.

Little Red Riding Hood was saved, but the wolf had already devoured the grandmother.

One of the illustrations from the book is included today.

C.M. SIEGCHRIST, JEWELER, WATCHMAKER AND OPTICIAN

Back about the turn of the century, Fostoria had a number of jewelry houses, with most also being watchmakers and some also fitted eye glasses.

Siegchrist was located at 110 N. Main St. and also at other locations in the business district.

With other illustrations is one showing a wooden plaque which had a thermometer attached to it...a handout item for customers who patronized Siegchrist's store.

FAMILY PHOTO OFTEN FORGOTTEN IN ATTICS

In my job of contacting people about articles for this column, I find so many times people have family photos of ancestors, many of which they cannot identify. What a shame and how unfortunate that later generations cannot see what their forbearers looked like.

One of the illustrations with today's article is one that Neller found in his attic...a very pretty lady with a hairdo not so much different than today's. She was surely some part of a family that once lived there, but failed to remember that the photo was in the attic. She may have been a mother, a daughter, or a sweetheart.

Could it be that someone reading this column could identify the photo...and let me know. I recall that several years ago a photo taken by a local photographer was found by a collector in California and sent back here, since the picture showed the photographers name and location. The picture appeared in this column, but no one knew.

MUCH OTHER STUFF IN LOCAL ATTICS

Other material among the batch found in Neller's attic included a printed advertisement listing "Find Me A Wife" presented at Reeves Park in 1906, and sponsored by Fostoria Lodge No. 86 K of P.

Merchants at that time were: W.D. Andes, Barbershop; Schlatter Bros. Meat Market; C.H. Redfern Bicycle Shop at 117 E. North; Dicken Photographer, 120 Perry St., Volkmor and Company Shoes, corner of Main and Center; Carr's Furniture Store, West Center Street, A.J. Vogel, Tailor, West Center Street, Hindmon's Grocery, 121 N. Main St., Fred J. Miller, Livery Stable, East Tiffin Street, Doe's Laundry, West Center Street, The Runnells Shoe Store, 136 E. Center St., Peter Shreiner Restaurant, Corner of South and Main, Might Bros., Coal Company, 235 N. Main. The American House Hotel, East Tiffin Street...and many more to numerous to list.

HARDEN CRAMER ONCE LIVED AT 234 W. CENTER ST.

A yellowed and brittle copy of The American Issue, published at Westerville, was also found in the attic, with a delivery address fro him at 234, pegging him as once a resident there.

There are many interesting items from Neller's attic which will be presented another time.