Legacy Hall tells Fostoria school history

Fostoria has a definite affinity for history, and it shows in a number of spots around the city. The latest location is Legacy Hall at Fostoria Junior/Senior High School. The area that formerly was the commons, at the south end of the building, now contains artifacts, video monitors and a variety of displays that serve to tell the story of and illustrate the Fostoria City Schools district history. The area formed when the new building, which opened for the winter semester in 2020, was constructed in such a way that the competition gymnasium and the Performing Arts Center were left intact. And when public events take place, visitors are encouraged to take in the display area, which not only has some museum-like qualities but a casualness offered by flexible furniture - in the school colors of black and red, of course. "That's what it's here for," Fostoria City Schools Superintendent Andrew Sprang said, noting that former district treasurer Sue Lehmann did most of the design work for the hall. "We want people to see things. Obviously, we want to respect the things that are here because they're important to the history of the district. But it's great to show them off." When the district was pitching the project of constructing its new facilities to voters, it made it clear that it would honor the history of the former buildings. "The idea behind (Legacy Hall) is to pay tribute to the history of the district because without the history of the district, we don't have the beautiful facilities that the community and the state have awarded us now," Sprang said. "We want it to be kind of a lasting legacy, to pay tribute to things that have happened through time." Among the artifacts on display is a large bell that once sat in front of Emerson Junior High School. A video monitor in the hall allows for virtual tours of the now-demolished buildings and the new school. The fine arts, athletics and the military are also recognized in different ways. The honoring of veterans is continually being updated on a video monitor with the addition of the names of alumni who have gone on to serve in the armed forces. "We're still actively asking for that information to be sent in," Sprang said. The fine arts section includes displays of past and current Redmen Pride Marching Band uniforms. "Our vision as a district is 'inspire, succeed, leave a legacy,' so we want not only to pay tribute to our past, but we also want our kids who are here now to understand that they are contributing to the history of our district," Sprang said. Athletics uniforms of the past and present are displayed, with a video monitor scrolling the accomplishments of all of the district's all-Ohio performers. Currently, special among the athletics is a display featuring the accomplishments of Redmen football during coach Dick Kidwell's 20 years at the helm. Kidwell's teams won two Division II state championships and twice ended up as state runners-up. Sprang said the display now featuring Kidwell will be rotational, with other achievements being recognized there over time. In addition to public viewing, the area can be used for events such as luncheons that have already been conducted by the Fostoria Kiwanis Club and the United Way of Fostoria. "We just kind of wanted to make it a welcoming thing," Sprang said. "Obviously, we've got the competition gym and our Performing Arts Center, so there's a lot of traffic through this area, which is awesome because it gives people the opportunity to reminisce and think about what the district has been in the past, but then they're also coming out at that point to see what our present is and what our future is going to be."