Ask Our History Detective
Do you have a Toledo history question? Are you researching your Old West End home? Email our history detective at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . We can help!
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I read an article in the Toledo Blade about Acklin Ave. being lined with wood. I live on Scottwood Ave. and wondered if the streets there ending in “wood” was originally streets lined with wood instead of bricks.
Thanks.
Beth
Hi Beth,
We found these articles regarding your inquiry which appeared in our local paper in 1961 and 1994. Just follow this links and you will find your answer.
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Dear History Detective,
I am not sure if this would fit in your history category, but I would like to find
out about old school pictures from Glenwood Elementary...specific years 1958-1965.
I tried the Board of Education, they recommended I call the school directly. I did that
and the principal told me that all the school archives were moved with the recently built
new school and she didn’t know where to. When I went there of course it was the OLD building, then approximately 1962-63 a new building was built. Since the newest building, all archives were moved, but moved to where ?
Any info would be appreciated.
Thank you
Shirley
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I somehow stumbled on your site and spent hours reading your responses to inquiries about my hometown, Toledo. I moved away from Toledo when I was a teenager, but still consider it home.
I have two questions:
1. I attended St. Agnes (Catholic school near Willys Parkway), as did my mother and aunt. My grandfather's family donated a stained glass window to the sanctuary when it was being built. I always tried to sit near that window when I attended Mass. Do you know if I could purchase that window from the Catholic Church or from a salvage company?
2. My grandfather, Lawrence A. Cumiskey, was a police officer in Toledo. (Born August 27, 1920) He also served in the army during WWII and stormed the beach at Normandy. I've been trying to conduct genealogy research on his family but can't get back beyond his grandfather. Do you have any information about the Cumiskeys of Toledo?
Thank you for any help you can give me.
Leah Marie Brown
I have two questions:
1. I attended St. Agnes (Catholic school near Willys Parkway), as did my mother and aunt. My grandfather's family donated a stained glass window to the sanctuary when it was being built. I always tried to sit near that window when I attended Mass. Do you know if I could purchase that window from the Catholic Church or from a salvage company?
2. My grandfather, Lawrence A. Cumiskey, was a police officer in Toledo. (Born August 27, 1920) He also served in the army during WWII and stormed the beach at Normandy. I've been trying to conduct genealogy research on his family but can't get back beyond his grandfather. Do you have any information about the Cumiskeys of Toledo?
Thank you for any help you can give me.
Leah Marie Brown
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Hi,
I stumbled upon your website looking for information about Toledo's Old West End. I'm hoping someone has some information about my maternal great-grandfather, Thomas Huber. He was a partner at Bacon and Huber architect firm that designed in the OWE. Thomas died in 1919 when my grandfather was 13yrs old, and his mother lost most of the family's wealth shortly after. I am pretty sure they lived on Collingwood, I was hoping there was some record of which home was theirs. There are just 3 great-grandchildren of Thomas surviving from that family, and none of us are still in Toledo. If you have any resource recommendation or information, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time,
Sincerely,
Kim Mejias
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( We received a phone call from John McClain regarding his family's home at 119 Melrose. )
John,
--
I will drive over to 119 Melrose to take some photographs for you. The auditor's website shows a photo of the house which gives me hope that it is still standing.
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Hello HD,
I may have a lead for you... Marie Bates asked about the Old Orchard neighborhood, specifically regarding an original farmhouse in the area. I used to work at Beauty Bar (formerly John Vance Interiors) located at 2919 W Central Ave. On their website there is a photo, this is the link http://www.beauty-bar.com/about/index.html of a portion of the original home. When looking at the property head on from Central Ave the original farmhouse is on the right and the left side is an addition. Maybe this is what she heard about! In the photo you can see an orchard (apples?) too!
Good luck!
Andrea Dressel
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Hello HD,
I'd like to know anything and everything about 2215 Collingwood. It's is featured on the header for your website as the Robert Lee House. It is currently on the market and it has been said that it was once owned by the Knight Family. Is this true? My cousin's research found this transfer card... http://maps.co.lucas.oh.us/Areis/TransferCard1Frame.asp?Parcel=1839331&Page=1
Andrea, Chicago
Dear Andrea,
Robert Lee and his family lived at 2215 Collingwood Avenue (now-boulevard) as early as 1896. He was employed at Childs, Lee & Co. The book Toledo Lucas County Vol. 3 has Mr. Knight's biogrphy beginning on page 35. The 1896 directory listed Mary Cary as a live-in domestic.
Both the 1910 and the 1921 city directories list William Knight's family as the occupants of this imposing mansion. Mr. Knight was the secretary and by 1921 the vice-president of the Bostwick-Braun Company. His wife was Edna Sage (Ford) Knight. The 1910 directory listed his domestic as Jesse Crego, while in 1918 Adelaide Anderson worked for the family.
The 1929 city directory listed physician A. Paul Hancuff as the resident. His biography appeared in Maumee Valley Vol. 4 on page 86.
2215 was altered in 1905 and 1907 and again in 1935 with the addition of chauffeurs' quarters and in 1935 with an alteration to the living room. The driveway was resurfaced in 1936. The garage was altered in 1919 with the plans drawn by Mills, Rheinhart & Bellman.
We spoke to a local real estate professional who told us that the house has suffered from neglect resulting in interior water damage and black mold. Currently listed for sale (in December 1913), it will take someone with considerable deep pockets to save this historical gem.
Your History Detective
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Hello,
I have several questions if you can but not necessary just about West Toledo.
1) How many towns / communities / villages, etc., was made part of the present day Toledo ?
2) In South Toledo alongside Swan Creek between Western & Spencer to Highland Park are trails, referred to as Indian trails, any truth ?
3) Any information on the concept Toledo Tomorrow / a interstate running from I-75 alongside the Maumee River then connecting to ? / Anthony Wayne Trail plan to turn it into a interstate with a connecting interchange at Conant St. in Maumee ?
4) Was any important West Toledo landmarks loss when I-75 went though ?
Thank You
Ronald Wolniewicz
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hi!
i grew up in 320 w. manhattan blvd. my parents bought the place in the late 80s but im not sure of the exact year.
i was once told that it was the first house on the block. that kind of seems right because it looks much different than the other houses on the block. it also has a huge back lot, much larger than any of the others on the block. i was curious to see why our house was so much different and our yard was so much bigger than everyone elses.
can anyone tell me who lived in the house before my family? i have always been fascinated with the history of our home. please help if you can. thanks!
with a light heart & a happy soul | whit robinson
Dear Whit,
We checked the Lucas County Audior's site to see what date was listed for the construction of your inquiry. They put the date as 1911. Sometimes these records are suspect. So we checked the 1911 directory and discovered that 312 W. Manhattan as well as other adjacent addresses appeared in that directory, but not 320. That address first appeared in 1912.
The resident listed for 320 W. Manhattan in 1912 was John Reinhart. Mr. Reinhart was the secretary of the Toledo Bending Company.
Many times as homes were constructed adjacent to exising homes, addresses had to be adjusted to reflect the growing neighborhood. The development in which 320 is located is Rheinharts Blvd. Addition.
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Good afternoon.
I would like to know if you can find any information on a store (former?) in Toledo by the name of Murdock's-Murdoch's?
I'm a big M*A*S*H fan and on the show Klinger (Jamie Farr) mentions buying a dress at Murdock's (ch) in Toledo.
My maiden name is Murdock & I grew up in Lucas/Henry counties.
Thanks for your time.
Linda Murdock/Lee
I would like to know if you can find any information on a store (former?) in Toledo by the name of Murdock's-Murdoch's?
I'm a big M*A*S*H fan and on the show Klinger (Jamie Farr) mentions buying a dress at Murdock's (ch) in Toledo.
My maiden name is Murdock & I grew up in Lucas/Henry counties.
Thanks for your time.
Linda Murdock/Lee
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Dear History Detective,
I'm currently looking at renting a unit in what is now called the Hymore Apartments 321-325 16th Toledo, OH.
After a significant amount of internet research I'm still longing for more information on this building.
All I've been able to uncover is that it's formally known as The Wachter Building after the architect Henry Wachter.
Built in 1897 or possibly 1905 depending on the resource.
Built by William Firstenburg on the site of The Douglas House (OAB July 1905,60) - not sure what this means exactly.
Any further information would be appreciated!!
Brooke
William F. and William R. Firstenberg were both carpenters who lived at 2057 N. 14th Street according to the 1896 city directory. A Charles W. Firstenberg of 319 Palmer is also listed as a carpenter.
The 1891 directory listed a George Douglass who was a real estate developer. His home was located at 321 16th Street, the current site that you ask about. The 1896 directory still listed his residence at that location.
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I'm looking for any information on the Collingwood Guest Lodge. It was located at the corner of Collingwood & Central, and was torn down in 1973-74 to make room for Old West End Junior High's construction.
I remember it from my youth. It had a stable behind it. My brother always talked about it.
Thank you.
Respectfully,
Leo R. Schnapp
Leo,
You may view a photo of the guest lodge on our site. It is located under the "Old West End" tab. Then look for the listing "Collingwood". The image noted as the 3100 Block of Collingwood shows the Victorian mansion known as the Collingwood Guest Lodge. It may be seen to the far right in the photograph.
Sincerely,
Your History Detective
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I have a photograph of my Grandmother age approx. 10, her two brothers and her uncle in front of a taxi cab that they owned (they owned a taxi cab company) with North Toledo Day July 21, 1929 written on it. Could you tell me what North Toledo Day was? My Grandmothers name was Flanagan and her father was James Flanagan.
Thank you,
Jennifer
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Hello, I grew up on Douglas Road in Toledo. In the 4700 block there was a house that had horses and gave rides. Please tell me about it. Also there was an empty lot then an old farm house on the left side of Douglas road going towards Laskey Road. What happened to it? I believed it was owned by Byers. Also where did the land that Wyndale Court is on come from? I used to play in that lot as a young girl.
There was a trampoleene place near Laskey and Tremainsville Roads and we used to go jump on them. How much did we pay in the 60s for that and do you remember exactly where it was? I remember it being somewhere near or behind the old Monettes Market on Tremainsville.
Thanking you in advance.
Donna
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