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Seneca County Historical Society

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Seneca County Historical Society

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08/30/2026

Then and Now – Today, we’re comparing views of the building at 162 S. Washington Street in Tiffin, Ohio. The top photo was taken in the early 1980’s before the downtown streetscape project was going to start. On the left was the old Gibson Restaurant and the City Loan was on the right. The bottom photo is showing this building in the process of going through a major renovation to make it into the “Empire” boutique hotel. The windows are all boarded up to allow work to continue on the inside. We’re also seeing a concrete barrier on the street allowing for sidewalk access in front of the building. Once again, we’re very eager to see this awesome architectural building when it’s completed.

08/29/2026

Then and Now – Today, we’re comparing views of the Foster Block in Fostoria, Ohio. The top image is from the 1874 Seneca County (Ohio) Atlas and it’s labeled: “FOSTER’S BLOCK – Fostoria, Seneca Co. Ohio”. There are also notations on the bottom left indicating where the residence of C. W. Foster is located, and on the bottom right where the residence of Hon. Chas. Foster is located.

According to the 1874 Atlas, C. W. Foster was born in Brookfield, Mass in November, 1800. In 1827, he married Miss Laura Crocker, moved to a town called Rome in Seneca County and immediately opened a store of goods. The rival town of Risdon adjoined the town of Rome. The Fosters gave birth to their son, Charles Foster in 1828 and both Charles W. Foster and his son, Hon. Charles Foster, worked to grow the two towns. Due to their enterprise and foresight, the two towns of Risdon and Rome consolidated in 1852 into one town – Fostoria. The Hon. Charles Foster went on to be a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1871 to 1879. He was elected governor in 1879 and reelected to a second term in 1881. He also served as President Benjamin Harrison’s secretary of the treasury from 1891 to 1893.

The bottom photo is how the Foster Block looks today. The current Foster Building is being renovated with new businesses on the ground floor and condos being offered in the upper floors.

08/28/2026

Then and Now – Today, we’re comparing views along the west side of Benner Street in Tiffin, Ohio. The top vintage photo is a view of the Wagner Bottling Works. The business was started in 1876 by Adam Wagner and he first operated out of a small building south of W. Market Street along Benner Street. By 1890, the brothers Christian and Anthony Wagner took over the business and in 1901 they built the new bottling plant, seen in today’s photo. In 1919, they started bottling Coca-Cola in this plant until Wagner’s moved to their new plant at 435 W. Market St. This old bottling plant on Benner Street was demolished years ago, and the bottom photo is how this area looks today.

08/27/2026

Then and Now – We recently posted a “then and now” comparison of the work being done to the back of the old Columbian High School in Tiffin, Ohio. This castle-like structure is being saved and transformed into some private residences. There are major renovations needed where the old auditorium was demolished and was just “chopped off” the main part of the building leaving an ugly scar. However, there’s also major work being done all around the building including the replacement of all of the windows and other various repairs.

We found a great old vintage photo (on top) showing this school building from the 1890’s. It’s such a nice summertime image with the trees, the children along the sidewalk and some buggies parked on the street. To the left of the school we can see the old “Church of Christ” building that was demolished years ago. The bottom photo is how this view looks today. The church is gone, but the all-important school building is still standing tall with better days ahead.

08/26/2026

Then and Now – Today, we’re comparing views at a home at 6910-SR67 in Melmore, Ohio. This home is on the west side of the road, right next to where the intersection of SR 67 and SR 100 split and go in different directions. The top photo is from a glass plate negative probably dating in the early 1900’s. We understand that at one time this was known as the St. Charles Hotel, but we don’t have any more info than that. The bottom current photo is how this view looks today. We can see that there’s been an addition made to the south side of the home along with a fireplace chimney. Otherwise, this house looks a lot like it did 120 years ago.

08/25/2026

Groman’s Grocery Store – Yesterday, we posted a view from the early 1980’s of three buildings on E. Market Street right before their demolition. There were comments regarding Groman’s Grocery Store with that post, so with today’s post we’re offering a little more information. Today’s images show these buildings from a different angle and the top photo was taken in the late 1950’s. The tall white building in the middle was the Groman Grocery and you can see his sign hanging out in the front of the store. The bottom photo was taken in 1958 and we’re seeing Ted Groman standing in front of his grocery store entrance.

Ted Groman and his brother Martin purchased a grocery store in 1912 for $365. That store was previously owned and operated by Price J. Wilson for 49 years. By 1917, they went broke, but Ted pushed on by himself, assuming all of the debts. The T. R. Groman Grocery always stressed high quality products for a reasonable price. It was common for the smell of fresh coffee to find its way out the door enticing customers to stop in. Groman carried fresh seafood, vegetables and meats including New Riegel bologna. Fruits and produce were displayed in baskets within easy reach of the customer… and those mischievous boys hungry for an apple! Ted Groman’s store was located at 58 East Market Street and he retired after almost 48 years of hard and honest work.

08/24/2026

Then and Now – Today, we’re comparing views looking at the south side of E. Market Street next to the alley and between S. Monroe and S. Washington Streets in Tiffin, Ohio. The top photo was taken in the early 1980’s and we’re seeing three buildings which were 62, 60 and 58 E. Market Street. These buildings sat vacant from 1979 until 1983. Bollinger's Hobby Shop was at 60 & 62 E. Market St. during 1978. Before 1978, Sanford Office Supply was located at 60 E. Market. Hilda's Restaurant was located at 62 E. Market before 1974. On the far right was the old Advertiser Tribune building. These three buildings along with the Advertiser Tribune building and the YMCA were all demolished in 1983. The bottom photo is how this view looks today and this area is currently the home of the Croghan Colonial Bank.

08/23/2026

Then and Now – Today, we’re comparing views looking south on S. Washington Street in Tiffin, Ohio near the E. Market Street intersection. The top photo was possibly taken around 1970 and we can see Ralph’s Shoes and the American Finance storefronts in the photo next to the First National Bank on the left. There was a Sherwin Williams store next to American Finance, but it looks like the store is empty and they’ve moved out to Westgate by then. The bottom photo is how this view looks now. The First National Bank that was on the left is now the Seneca County Auditor/Recorder Office, and all of those buildings next to it on the right have been demolished to make a parking lot.

08/22/2026

Then and Now – We love seeing the progress that’s happening to the old Columbian High School building on the corner of E. Market and Jefferson Streets in Tiffin, Ohio. Today, we’re comparing views looking towards the north that were taken 94 years apart. The top vintage photo was taken in August 1932 and we’re seeing the addition of the gym and auditorium to the original school building. This new addition was used by the high school until the new Columbian High School on S. Monroe Street was dedicated in 1961. Then East Junior High was here until 2003. This addition was later demolished, but original 1894 portion of the building was saved and for many years it was threatened with demolition. Fortunately, there’s new life being breathed into this historic structure and the bottom photo is showing some new masonry work that’s been completed over that last week. Can’t wait to see it all done!

08/21/2026

Then and Now – Today, we’re comparing views looking south across the Sandusky River from Water Street in Tiffin, Ohio. The top photo is a view of The Economy Motor Company factory that was located on the corner of Riverside Drive and S. Washington Street. The Economy Motor Company made a variety of vehicles from around 1914 until 1923. Years later, this building was used by the Gordon Lumber Company, but it was later demolished in the late 1980’s. The bottom photo is how this view looks today. Please note that the top photo was improved using an AI program because the original photo was in such poor condition. We can assure you that the printing and font style that appears on the side of the building in the improved AI photo is visually correct.

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