The
Historic Old West End
of Toledo
THE LARGEST NEIGHBORHOOD OF RESTORED LATE VICTORIAN, EDWARDIAN, AND ARTS & CRAFTS HOMES
IN THE UNITED STATES
Vintage Photographs
of the Old West End
These photographs are of homes and buildings in the Old West End of Toledo. Some of these homes still exist while others were demolished to make way for parking lots, commercial structures, and freeways.
Vintage home pictures from other areas of Toledo can be seen by going to
Vintage Homes Of Toledo.
Note: These photographs are organized by alphabetical street name and then from lowest street number to highest.
Updated: January 20, 2002
COLLINGWOOD BOULEVARD:
The Audrey Hixenbaugh home at 1618 Collingwood probably stood in the path of the freeway.
At one time, the four corners at Collingwood and Monroe Streets was a busy, commercial area. Some of you might remember the Kenton Building and, perhaps, the Kewpee restaurant. One of the businesses at the intersection was the Boyer-Kruse Mortuary.
The home of Solon Richardson, President of Libbey Glass was at 1835 Collingwood. In the 1920's it was heavily remodeled into a rest home and given a stucco finish. The front facade was brought forward and the entrance was moved to the left. A 2-story addition went on the south side. Today, this is an apartment house in the Museum Place complex of buildings
This was the home of Rudolph Bartley and his family. In later years the home served as a mortuary and, following that, it was home to various businesses until falling victim to time and vandals. It has now been resurrected as high-end apartments in the Museum Place complex. To the right you can get a glimpse of the Fisk-Dowling house. Fisk-Dowling was demolished to build the extension of Jefferson Avenue from Scottwood to Collingwood.
Innisfail [Island of Destiny] was a grand house occupying an entire city block on the east side of Collingwood between Madison Avenue and Jefferson Avenue. It was built for Celian M. Spitzer. The home was demolished and its contents auctioned in 1956. Executive Towers and Fifth/Third Bank now occupy the land.
A picture of an auto, complete with chauffeur and family, at the curb on Collingwood across from Innisfail. Note the post to tie up horses.
Innisfail: This interior picture shows a seated gentleman, possibly Celian Spitzer, and another man who may have been a member of the household staff.
Innisfail:This picture shows what may be an entrance hall or gallery.
Innisfail: A picture of the entrance hall or gallery. This picture may have been taken from a staircase or landing.
This brick side-by-side was located on the east side of Collingwood behind the Abram Colton house which fronted on Woodruff. Both the Colton house and this double house were torn down. For many years this corner had a gas station which was eventually torn down. The corner sat empty until the property owners at 443 Woodruff ( the Davison-Spitzer house ) fenced it and included it in their property.
Here is a very old picture of the Reynolds-Secor home at 2035 Collingwood showing a horse drawn Citizens Ice Company delivery wagon.The home was built in 1887 for Frederick J. Reynolds, a Toledo flour and grain merchant.
The front porch of the Reynolds-Secor home. Leroy Ludwig, a Findlay, Ohio oilman, bought the house from Reynolds in 1894 and he, in turn, sold it to Jay Secor in 1904.
A family picture showing part of the rear of the Reynolds-Secor home.
Another family picture of a man in uniform standing before the south side of the Reynolds-Secor porch. In the background can be seen homes on the east side of Collingwood.
The Richardson house at 2051 Collingwood provides the background for this picture. The girl in the picture is believed to be Virginia Secor.
An interior view of the Richardson house showing the staircase. The Richardson house was demolished and is now a rest and rehabiltation facility.
The Richardson house second floor stair landing.
The John Berdan home at the northwest corner of Collingwood and Floyd streets. In recent years it was known as the Banks nursing home. The front porch no longer exists.
A photograph from the early 1930's looking north up Collingwood across Floyd street. The home to the right, the one nearest Collingwood Presbyterian Church, was demolished and, in 1957, a small, one-story, doctors office was built. Neighborhoods in Partnership moved its offices to the building in 1998.
Collingwood Presbyterian Church was originally built on the Southeast corner of Collingwood and Prescott Streets. An addition that included a 2nd floor gymnasium was built later and the Church eventually occupied the block between Floyd and Prescott Streets.
William Simmons, of the Smith, Simmons, and Peabody Company, lived here at 2115 Collingwood. He was also the president and treasurer of Simmons Boot and Shoe Company.
A picture taken in later years of the Simmons house. This house was also home for many years to the Peckinpaugh family.
A picture of the Edward Ford home at Collingwood and Bancroft. This picture was taken sometime in the 1960's. During World War II, when The American Red Cross owned the building, a first floor canteen and a radio room, just off the third floor ballroom, were built.
This is an earlier picture of the Edward Ford Home. The open side porch was eventually enclosed and, later, the front porch was removed.
Another picture of the Ford home as it appeared in a turn of the century publication
To the north of the Ford home stands the Knight house. This is a picture from an 1899 picture book. The Red Cross also owned this building and they were resposible for adding the cement block addition to the rear of the building.
The Marvine Home at 2233 Collingwood was next door to the Knight house. It was built in 1894 and razed in 1962. This photo was taken shortly before it was demolished. The Marvine home, the Walding home next door, and the Warner home were all torn down to build a parking lot.
Here's a great old photo of the Marvine family standing before the front steps of their home.
Another good photo showing all of the Marvine house and some family members. This was a gorgeous home. The Walding Home can be glimpsed to the right.
Photograph #1 of an interior room of the Marvine house.
Photograph#2 of an interior room of the Marvine house
The Walding house at 2237 collingwood was next door to the Marvine house. For a number of years it was the John Wakelin Photography Studio. This photo is from the early 1970's.
The Cauffiel house, 2238 Collingwood, is across the street from where the Walding house once stood. The house to the left in the picture has been demolished and where it stood is now the driveway for the Girl Scout headquarters.
The living room fireplace and mantel in the Cauffiel house. The Cauffiel house is currently for sale.
The home of Howard Radcliffe at 2256 Collingwood in 1924. It was formerly the Waite home and is on the north side of the Girl Scout driveway.
At 2272 Collingwood is the St. Marks Episcopal Church property. Collingwood Hall stood on what is now the church's parking lot. Collingwood Hall was a school and, in later years, it was known as the Toledo Conservatory of Music. I believe the smaller building to the right was the original St. Marks church.
On the East side of Collingwood in the triangle formed by Collingwood's intersection with Ashland Avenue stood the Paragon Refining Company's gas station. The building in the background is still standing. Unfortunately for the motoring publc, the same can't be said for the gas station - the building is gone and a beauty shop now occupies the site.
At 2357 Collingwood, on the corner of Winthrop street, is the William Daly Residence also known as the Laskey house. This home was built in 1883 for Stephen Laskey. The porches to the sides of the entrance have been removed.
The State Theatre, at 2476 Collingwood, was built in 1927 and, by all accounts, was a drop-dead-gorgeous movie palace. Photos of the interior are scarce or non-existent and little is known about the history of the bulding.
By the 1990's the State Theatre was a mess: heavily water damaged, vacant, and decaying. It was demolished in the mid 90's. Parts of the building have been reclaimed, however. The vertical marquee was used on Kelsey's Restaurant for many years and carved pieces of the sandstone facade can be found in the sculpture garden at the Agnes Reynolds Jackson Arboretum at Delaware and Robinwood.
A view from the early 1930's of Collingwood looking south across Delaware Avenue as crews move the trolley tracks to the middle of Collingwood. On the left at about mid-picture is the State Theatre. A drug store was located at the southwest corner in the Lukens Building, the present location of Pumpernickels Deli. On this side of Delaware, at the far right, was a florist shop in the Milan Building.
The Milan Building was on the Northwest corner of Collingwood and Delaware. Recently, a parking lot was built on this spot. The small building housing Royal Foods was at one time an A & P grocery store. Beyond Royal Foods can be seen the Rosary Cathedral and school building. This picture was taken shortly before the Milan building was demolished.
This unidentified home was said to have been located near Rosary Cathedral, possibly on what is now the property of the Cathedral.
A crane erects scaffolding for the construction of Rosary Cathedral. In the background can be seen the Rosary Cathedral Chancery which was originally built on Islington but moved to its present location on Parkwood to allow room for the cathedral.
The home of George Barnes at 2939 Collingwood was built in 1895 and razed in 1906.
The imposing Rorick house was on Collingwood near Collins.
A view from a different angle of the Rorick house.
It isn't often we get to see the rear of one of these grand Collingwood mansions. Here's the rear of the Rorick house.
The dining room of the Rorick house.
Another shot of the Rorick dining room.
The solarium or sun room of the Rorick house.
Another picture of the Rorick solarium.
And another view of the solarium.
An interior view of possibly the living room of the Rorick house.
Another shot of the same room.
A Rorick family gathering on Christmas Eve, 1941.
The Devilbiss house stands at 3015 Collingwood, just south of Central Avenue. It is currently used as a conference center. This is a very old interior picture of the parlor.
Here is a picture of the garage behind the Devilbiss house. The garage is still there although the facade has been altered. This garage is rather small for a house as grand as the Devilbiss so it may have been built where a larger carriage house once stood.
The Old Ladies Home was at 3101 Collingwood where the Kent Branch of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library now stands. This photo is from about 1900.
The home of the Honorable C. P. Griffin was at 3120 Collingwood.
GLENWOOD AVENUE :
The row of homes on the west side of Glenwood at Monroe Street. The first two homes remain virtually intact. Much of the fence is now gone.
A good view from about 1900 of two homes somewhere on Glenwood Avenue.
Another early 1900's view of homes on Glenwood.
And another early Glenwood view.
And yet another early view of homes on Glenwood Avenue.
Built in 1891 at 2228 Glenwood for Calvin S. Brown, this home later became the home of Alphonse Mennel of the Mennel Milling Co. This picture, taken in 1955 shows the front porch which was later removed.
This picture shows the interior of a room in the Brown - Mennel home.
The Oscar Schultze Home at 2334 Glenwood. Oscar Schultze was secretary/treasurer of the Hoppe & Strub Bottling Co.
MONROE STREET:
Homes at the intersection of Lawrence Avenue and Monroe Street. Monroe Street is on the right.
The W.H. Scott Home at 2505 Monroe St was built in 1875 and was used, for a short time, by the Toledo Museum of Art as the School of Design. It was razed in 1929 to make way for the west wing of the Museum.
PARKWOOD AVENUE :
Somewhere on Parkwood between Monroe Street and Woodruff stood this great looking house. It probably stood in the way of Parkview Hospital or a doctor's office and so it had to go.
An aerial view from the 1960's of the Jefferson Avenue extension, The 1900 block of Parkwood Avenue, and Woodruff Avenue. Most of the area taken in by this photo is the property of the ever-expanding Toledo Museum of Art. The Jefferson extension swings down from the top past the parking lot where the TMA hopes to build a new glass museum building. Parkwood runs diagonally at left-center and Woodruff is at the lower right corner.
The Doyle house at 1920 Parkwood would have been approximately where the flat roofed building (Parkview Hospital) can be seen at the far left. The Milburn-Metzger house at 1930 Parkwood can be seen in the lower left at the corner of Woodruff and Parkwood. The small, flat-roofed buildings were doctors offices.
Almost all of the buildings in this photo are gone, with the exception of the homes on Woodruff.
The Home of Judge John F. Doyle at 1920 Parkwood was built in 1890 and demolished in 1945 to make way for Parkview Hospital, which has also been demolished.
The Milburn/Metzger Home at 1930 Parkwood, shown here in 1901, was built in 1894. George G. Metzger was the president of Toledo Stove Company.
Another view of the Milburn/Metzger Home, probably from a later date. The home was demolished in 1963.
An interior photograph of the Baumgardner house at 2015 Parkwood. This is a view of the parlor
A second interior photograph of the Baumgardner house. This would be a view of the entrance hall and stairs.
The Samuel Z. Foster Home at 2025 Parkwood. Samuel Foster was involved in C.M. Foster & Co. and was also secretary/treasurer of the Dewey Stove Co.
The Brigham-Backus Home at 2049 Parkwood. This Victorian was built in 1888 for William E. Brigham, a prominent Toledo grain merchant.
The Brand home on Parkwood at the northwest corner of Floyd street was owned by Dr. Herman Brand, a very well known physician. He married into the prominent Waite family who lived on Collingwood Boulevard.
This old snapshot of two girls has the Brand home as a backdrop. The home is currently undergoing extensive exterior renovation.
The Robison-Stranahan Home on Parkwood is across the street from the Brand house at the northeast corner of Floyd street but you wouldn't recognize it now. The third floor dormer windows and roofline remain but the rest of the front facade was remodeled which included removal of the porch. It is still a fine looking home.
The Bacon Residence at 2115 Parkwood was built in 1895 and razed in 1964.
The Leeper-Geddes Home at 2116 Parkwood was built in 1903.
The Leeper-Geddes home photographed in better weather with a full complement of awnings.
An older picture of the Leeper-Geddes home. Very little on this building has changed over the years.
A 1964 Picture of 2135 Parkwood.
Here is a photo of Mrs. Lewis Kinsey behind the wheel of her LaSalle roadster, in the driveway of the home at 2146 Parkwood.
The Albert J. Rummel Home at 2205 Parkwood at the corner of Bancroft. Mr. Rummel was a manufacturer of explosives and also owned a retail store on Summit St. that sold "guns, ammo, fishing tackle and sporting goods." An explosion in the fall of 1885 leveled his manufacturing facility but he was soon back in business. The Hiett house can be seen to the right.
Another picture of the Rummel house from a different angle and closer showing the front porch and two people who may be family members.
In about 1951, the Rummel house was remodeled into a nursing home. The exterior was wrapped in a brick box leaving only the roof line as a clue to the home's Victorian past.
The Emory Hiett house at 2211 parkwood is next to the Rummel House. Mr. Hiett was an attorney and the secretary of Peoples Savings and Loan Building Company.
Another view of the Hiett house at 2211 Parkwood.
An interior view of the Hiett house at 2211 Parkwood.
Another interior view of 2211 Parkwood.
A picture from 1901 of the E. E. Dow home which sits on Parkwood just north of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
This home at 2221 Parkwood is either just being built or being remodeled into a "foursquare" style home, which is how it remains today.
Further north at 2255 Parkwood is the Hiett-Stahl home. Irving Hiett had his house originally built on Collingwood and then later moved it due west to this location.
A drawing of the Hiett-Stahl house. This may have been a conceptual drawing for a publication.
A snapshot of Irving Hiett on his bicycle.
This was the home of Gustavus Lay at 2525 Parkwood Avenue. It looks very much the same today
A snapshot from 1916 of a mother and daughter walking in the 3300 block of Parkwood north of Central Avenue. This is a cute picture and gives you some idea of the fashion at that time.
A second picture from 1916 of the 3300 block of Parkwood.
A third snapshot from the 3300 block of Parkwood showing a car. Is it an Overland? A Ford?
ROBINWOOD AVENUE :
Here is a view of Robinwood near Monroe Street as it appeared in a turn-of-the-century German language publication.
The home of Christopher Daudt at 2020 Robinwood in 1901. Christopher Daudt was the president of Daudt Glass and Crockery Company.
The home of Charles A. Russel at 2027 Robinwood. He was president of Toledo Carriage Woodwork Co.
The "Rock Castle" at 2052 Robinwood.
The Milroy family lived here at 2236 Robinwood. Here they are on the front steps of their home.
The billiard room in the Milroy house.
An interior view of the Milroy house.
Another interior view of the Milroy dining room.
Another view of the Milroy dining room. There is a tear in the photograph near the right table leg.
The last interior picture of the Milroy house shows the mom sitting on the couch with, I suppose, the two Milroy kids,
A picture showing a little girl, possibly the Milroy's daughter. In the background at the right is the Milroy house. Further in the background is the McMaken-Hayes house.
After living on Ashland Avenue, Birchard Hayes, son of President Rutherford B. Hayes, moved to the McMaken-Hayes house, seen in the background. This picture was taken from in front of the Milroy house. Hayes' house on Ashland can be seen in the "
Toledo Homes....
" section of this website.
The Chesbrough Home on Robinwood near Bancroft. From the mid-1920's up until the mid-1930's the home was occupied by the Janes-Franklin School.
The Julian H. Tyler Home, built in 1897, at 2251 Robinwood. Julian Tyler was a partner in the Swayne, Hayes, and Tyler law firm.
An early picture of the home at 2357 Robinwood.
A picture of homes on the west side of the 2400 block of Robinwood. The home at the left is the Lester McKesson house at 2419 Robinwood.
At the Northwest corner of Robinwood and Delaware avenues is the Agnes Reynolds Jackson Arboretum which is owned by the Old West End Association. It was the original location of St. Lukes Hospital. After St Lukes moved to Maumee, Ohio in 1972, the property was leased to various educational and religious groups.
By 1979, after failed attempts to redevelop the property, the building was vacant and vandalized. In 1983, Old West End neighbors filed suit to force sale of the property. The suit was settled and the property was deeded to the Old West End but it was too late to save the buildings. They were demolished in 1985 and the arboretum was established.
This is a photo from the 1920's of the original building and grounds.
SCOTTWOOD AVENUE :
A view of homes on Scottwood Avenue
The Libbey House at 2008 Scottwood Avenue. In later years an iron fence was added.
A very nice panoramic view of the Edward and Florence Libbey house at 2008 Scottwood Avenue.
2040 Scottwood is now the home of the International Institute. It was originally owned by the Blevins family. These photographs were provided by Carolyn Rupert who lived in the home at the time these photographs were made in 1915.
Blevins House: The entrance hall and staircase.
Blevins House: View of the north side of the living room.
Blevins House: South side of the living room.
Blevins House: The music room.
Blevins House: One of the fireplaces.
Blevins House: The dining room.
Blevins House: The solarium.
The residence of Charles Browning at 2119 Scottwood. The home remains, however the front porch has been removed.
The home of J. W. Myers, at 2125 Scottwood Avenue, is next door to the Browning house.
This home is at 3138 Scottwood Avenue, just north of Central Avenue.
WOODRUFF AVENUE :
The Leander S. Baumgardner Residence at 406 West Woodruff.
The Davison-Spitzer House at 443 West Woodruff looks very much today as it did in this photograph. The Abram W. Colton house is on the left.
The Home of Abram W. Colton at 450 West Woodruff at the corner of Collingwood. The brick double-house on Collingwood (described in the "Collingwood" section, above) can be seen behind the Colton house. The Davison-Spitzer house on Woodruff can be seen on the right.
MISCELLANEOUS OLD WEST END HOMES AND UNIDENTIFIED HOMES :
The Meredith Smith property was near what is now the intersection of Bancroft and Detroit.
Here's an early view of homes on Hollywood Avenue.
A photograph, date unknown, of a small house at 2237 Rosewood.
The home of J.G. Mitchell in about 1901, location unknown.
This great looking unidentified home is believed to have been located on Monroe Street, between Collingwood and 23rd Street. It may have been utilized as doctor offices.
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