Fostoria celebrates solar eclipse

FOSTORIA — As expected, Fostoria had its day in the sun – and, for a short time in the afternoon, without it. The anticipated influx of people to witness the total solar eclipse did indeed develop, but not to the bursting-at-the-seems level that some feared might alter the day's events in a negative way. "It's been good," Fostoria Police Chief Gabe Wedge said at 4:30 p.m., slightly more than an hour after the moon blocked the sun, the city went into total darkness for a short time and the sun then gradually reappeared. "We've had hardly any problems. A few people called, asking directions, or stopped us (in the streets) – that kind of deal. The town's been busy. The parks have been really busy with people viewing. It's been really good. Lots of traffic on (U.S. Route) 23, as expected. But other than that – so far, so good." Shortly after 3 p.m. was when totality took place. Hundreds of people had gobbled up – or created, as necessary – parking spaces at and around Iron Triangle Rail park, and they applauded, cheered and oohed and aahed went the sky went black. "It was amazing," Fostoria resident Ed Logsdon said shortly after daylight resumed. "I'd only seen a partial eclipse, in Denver when I was out there. It was a sliver. You could see sliver shadows on everything on the ground. But it didn't get dark like it did here. ... I was impressed." In contrast, it was the second go-around with a total eclipse for Tracy Baity of Fayetteville, North Carolina. She and her sister, Trisha Coleman of Columbus, came to Fostoria to visit their friend, Laurie Deerwester and see a repeat occurrence of something many people never encounter. The threesome, along with many others, established a viewing spot in Market Square Park downtown, with Baity setting up telescopic equipment well in advance. "When I was little, me and my dad used to sit on the trampoline and he got me interested in astronomy," she said. "I was looking at stars, constellations, the planets, stuff like that. In 2017, the last eclipse, me and my dad were going to go see it. My dad passed away. I went anyway (to South Carolina). And once you've seen the eclipse, it's a whole entire feeling. It's an experience. The darkness. The temperature drop. It made my hair stand up. I'm super excited." Anticipation was also being felt at Bowlero Lanes, where an 11 a.m.-to-11 p.m., party allowed for people to bowl, throw axes and play on a golf simulator and enjoy time in the arcade and the barroom. Front desk attendant Kyla Kleinmark said considerable preparation went into the event. "We have two of the owners here," said Kleinmark, whose father, Jeremy Kleinmark, is one of the establishment's owners. "We have the third owner coming down (from Michigan). We have some extra help from the other bowling alley, in Toledo. So, we have plenty of help." Back at the railpark, ahead of the eclipse, Logsdon used his stereo equipment to continually play Pink Floyd's 1973 hit song "The Dark Side of the Moon" until a moment before the sky became entirely dark. "I think it's worked out well," said Logsdon, a member of the Fostoria Community Arts Council who proposed the idea to Fostoria Railroad Preservation Society Ellen Gatrell last week. "People were worried I was going to have the music on right at totality. I had to tell them, 'No, (the song) ends right there.' "'The total eclipse of the sun' – that's the final verse of the song. I tried to get it as close as I could." Logsdon was foiled in his attempt to provide musical accompaniment as daylight reappeared. "I was looking for 'Here Comes the Sun,'" he said, referring to the Beatles' hit from 1969. "But I don't have it on my phone." The rail preservation society's Gatrell enjoyed the turnout and the atmosphere at the railpark. "I didn't know what to expect," she said. "I didn't. We had an eclipse in 2017, but it was nothing like this. And I knew there would be people here. But when the arts council decided to come and do what they're doing, with the music, it was, like, 'Boom!' That's wonderful because we can have something additional. "Look at it. Is there any rowdiness? Do you see trash? No. People pick up their trash. They're here for this reason and that's why it's so fun. The city of Fostoria has this wonderful park and we are using it."