The Historic Old West End in Toledo, Ohio

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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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Hello, I lived in an apartment that was once a grand Victorian home in the Old West End on Ashland Ave. I have recently heard that the home I once lived in was a funeral home back in the mid to late 1800's and I just cannot seem to find any information on this. The homes address was 2303 Ashland, however I think that Ashland Ave used to be called Adams way, way back but to this I am not even sure. Any help on this and if possibly any pictures would be great! 
 
 
Thank you very much,
 
 
Jax Webber
 
First of all, your information is correct that Ashland Avenue was once an extension of Adams Street coming up from downtown.  Later a portion of Adams was renamed "Ashland Avenue".
 
The former private home at 2303 Ashland became a funeral parlor about 1930 when Harvey Gardner, formerly of Delaware, Ohio, and a resident of Toledo since 1919, purchased the property.  He not only conducted his business in this mansion but lived there also. 
 
The business was renamed Gardner-Dolbee Mortuary when his stepson Robert joined the venture in 1946 leaving in 1976. 
 
Your HIstory Detective
 

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Hello!

Quite some time ago I had written about the information given about 2036 Robinwood Ave. The home was built in 1892 by Francis B Arnold. He lived in the home until his death in 1905. The second owners were John R and Josephine Calder. He was a lawyer, she a popular watercolor artist.

I believe you had asked me for my research. I can provide this to you.

I have been trying to get more information on Francis B Arnold and his restaurant Union Depot Dining Hall. Also I have been trying to get a piece of Josephine Calder’s art to display in the home she loved so much.

This is a wonderful site. I am so grateful to have it for reference.

Sincerely,

Aimee Faykosh

 

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Hi,

I found an old office chair and on the bottom was a shipping label from jasper chair company to the Toledo Office Equipment Supply Co. And was wondering what was the years of operation for this Toledo company. There is no zip code on the label.

 

Hello to you,

The Polk's Toledo City Directory first listed the Office Equipment & Supply Company, managed by Bruce R. Smith and located at 236 Summit, in their 1936 edition.  Mr. Smith had previously worked for Eriksens, a typewriter and office supplies business.  The Summit  location, recently vacant in the mid-30s, had been the site of the Daudt Glass & Crockery Company for many years.

The 1940 directory still listed Mr. Smith as the manager of the office supply business which remained at 236 Summit.  By the time of the 1941 publication, Oma Smith had become a widow. 

 

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I own a building at the corner of Airport and Detroit.  The addresses include 1893 and 1895 Airport Hwy and 303 S. Detroit. 
 
Any information about this property would be appreciated.
 
Mark Colchagoff
 
 
Hi Mark,
 
Before 1965, Airport Highway was the extension of Wayne Street west of Bryne Road. So city directories before 1965 referred to 1893-95 Airport Hwy. as 1893 and 1895 Wayne Street.
 
A 1918 city directory listed C. W. Miller Dry Goods Store as being the occupant of 1895 Wayne Street. Salesman Dallas Muse and conductor J. P. Adams found lodging in the upstairs apartments. Mr. Miller's store was still at that location in 1932. That same year, Harry C. Evans, who lived upstairs, had a drugstore at 303 S. Detroit.
 
In May of 1934, a newspaper article announced the grand opening of a new grocery market at 1893 Wayne Street on the corner with Detroit Avenue. The Kroger Grocery & Baking Company opened a branch at that location. It was still there in 1951 with its address as 1893-95 Wayne Street.
 
Your History Detective
 
Hi Mark,
 
I saw your note asking for information on 1895 Airport Highway in Toledo.  I can give you some because I actually lived in one of the apartments on the second floor when I was a child.  I was born in Toledo in 1959 and my parents and I first lived in a small apartment on Central Avenue because my dad was part owner of a smoke shop there.  They moved to one of the upstairs apartments at 1895 Wayne Street in 1960 or 1961 (as you know, Wayne Street was renamed Airport Highway in 1965).  In the main downstairs area right at the corner was Ashe’s Drug Store.  Mr. Ash and his brother, who were both very old, owned and operated it and they carried a wide variety of stuff besides drugs.  They had a little post office in the back of the store and a long ice cream counteralong the right side wall.  I know they also sold tobacco products because the smell I can remember clearly is pipe tobacco.  There were several apartments in the upstairs area and I had a little playmate named Suzy who lived in another apartment.  We used to play in back of the building all the time.  I was like 2-3 years old and she was probably 5-6.  My grandmother had a house on Finch Street which runs back behind that building and I can also remember walks to her house and to Highland Park.  We moved out in 1963, and up to Livonia Michigan because my mom’s job at the Kroger office was moved from Toledo to Livonia.  My dad worked at (I think) Toledo Sash and Door and he changed jobs to Parks Windows in Livonia.  Probably more information that you wanted but I hope you enjoyed it.
 
Scott Susor

 

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In the 1920 Census, James and Ina Duley Ogdon lived at 2725 Glenwood. Ina was quite famous as a writer of hymns and a couple of books.

Her obituary:

 

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mzoxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SAEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7400%2C2731715

 

http://www.freewebs.com/marchi/history.htm

http://www.toledoblade.com/North/2008/09/04/1830s-Bedford-Township-home-intrigues-history-buffs.html

http://www.toledoblade.com/Music-Theater-Dance/2013/07/01/Piano-brightens-the-corner-of-hymnist-home-once-more.html

 

 

Debbie Martin

 

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Gray's Candy StoreMy Grandfather operated Gray's Candy Store on Galen Street in the north end. I am trying to find out how long it was in business. My father was born in Rock Island, IL in 1905 and he attended Waite High School in the 1920s, so I thing it operated from after 1905 to the 1940s (he was born in 1883, so he would have been 65 in 1948). I have a small photo of the candy store (see attached). Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Please feel free to use this photo on your web site.

Ron

 

Hello Ron,

We started with a Toledo Polk's City Directory from 1910.  It listed an Auburn Gray of 3366 Cherry as an inspector of the Central Union Telephone Company located in the Spitzer Arcade.  Clark Gray of the same address was a meat cutter with the Miller Brothers Grocery which went bankrupt in 1912. 

Gray's Candy Store on GalenaThe 1921 directory listed Auburn Gray as a confectioner with his candy store located at 724 Galena at Chase; while a 1924 directory listed the store's location as 720 Galena with the family living at 714. 

Gray's Candy Store Location at 2911 DetroitBy 1925 the Grays had moved the store to 2911 Detroit Avenue near the fire station and across from Glenwood School.  Scores of workers passed by daily as they walked through their Old West End neighborhood to the nearby auto plant on Central Avenue providing the store with a large customer base.  Auburn and his wife Emma along with son Clark W. Gray lived at the same location.  The 1928 directory revealed that the family had quit the candy business and moved to 1736 Loxley Road and still later to 4107 Asbury by 1931.

Your History Detective

 

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I1711 Mulberry circa 1937live on the side of Mulberry is directly across the street from forest cementary, so I was wondering if where my house sits which is 1711 Mulberry like what use to be here??? I'm basically trying to find out what use to sit on the land my house is now on, like was the cemetery ever on this land was it moved.That kind of thing.


Thanks,

Elda

 

Hi Elda,

 

The office of the Lucas County Auditor revealed that your house was constructed in 1885.  These dates haven't always been the most reliable however.  The 1900 Toledo Polk's City Directory listed a Joseph Ellenrieder, a finisher, as boarding there.  He could have been a renter.  Both the 1907 and the 1910 directories listed him as a shoemaker and apparent owner of the house.  The 1907 directory also listed a Albert J. Ellenrider (note spelling change) as a boarder.

 

 

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Hi, I'm wondering what information you may have or what direction you can point me into where I could learn more about these two breweries.   The Eagle Brewing Company and the Schmitt Brewing Company which were sold to the  Huebner Brewing company. 

It would be my Great, Great, Grandfather, Theodore who owned Eagle Brewing and sold to Huebner. After selling to Huebner, he started the Toledo Port Clintion Lakeside Railway.

 

I am seeking to learn more and see or own any family, historical artifacts related to his ventures.

 

 I found your site:http://www.oldwestendtoledo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=57&Itemid=80 by doing a web search for more information.

 

 Also, I believe that the "Schmidutz" side of the family in the Toledo area were considered Marketers (hunted game to sell) and tavern owners in the area. If there is any information relative to the Schmitt or Schmidutz family that you can provide, it would be greatly appreciated.

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Dear History Detective, 

 

Love your web site. I am originally from Toledo and loved growing up there but jobs brought us down here.

My quest is looking up some history of the old south end. In particularly the 1500 thru the 1700 blocks of Broadway.

A picture or the name of the business in the 1950's.  I remember a dry goods store and I believe the name was Whitney's Dry Goods. For the life of me I can't find a thing about the store or stores nor can I find any one who remembers.  It was a very long time ago.

I hope you will help me.

Karan

 

Hi Karan,

The Whitney Department Store was located at 1625 Broadway in the Old South End.  The 1954 Polk's Toledo Directory listed various businesses in the 1500 blocks of Broadway including Broadway Bootery, Kroger, Walford Variety Store, Three D Club restaurant, Harry's Auto Sales, Broadway Recreation (billiards), Sass & Son (vet), George Abel (florist), Earl Meyer (drugs), Humpty Dumpty Restaurant, Bernards, Broadway Men's and Boy's Store.  Besides Whitney's, the 1600 block had stores such as Toledo Trust, Dutch Maid Candies, Jax Services (filling station), Viking Hall and Temple, Gempel Hardware, State Liquor Store, ,Calumet Masonic Temple, Triangle Sales and Services, Joe I Cooper Florist, Ernst Rexall, and Toledo Branch Library.  You could go to Carl's Barber, Hutton Automotive or go bowling at Olympia Recreation; all in the 1700 block of Broadway. 

We hope this partial listing will spark many wonderful memories of the time you lived in Toledo.

 

Your History Detective

 

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Greetings History Detective,

 

I am searching for the obituary information of my g-g-grandfather, Emery D. Potter, Jr.

Evidently, the September 30, 1929 issue of the Toledo News-Bee reported his death, along with a lengthy biography appearing on page 1.  His photograph was on page 2.

If possible, could I obtain a scan of the obituary?  I am also interested in any other pictures you could uncover of E.D. Potter, jr., along with his father, Emery Davis Potter.

Thank you!

 

 

John H. Harbison
 
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Thanks for the nice website on the old west end.  We lived on Fulton most my childhood and have many fine memories of walking from there to Fulton school and  Rosary Cathedral School (rain or snow).  Sorry to see quite a few homes were torn down and that Cherry was widened which dead-ended Fulton.

Our father worked at the International Institute for a few years in the mid 1960’s and as I remember it I think it was on Sherwood.  All I remember is it was a mansion with at least 3 floors and extremely well made and in its day must have been very pretty.

Again Thanks and Best Regards,

Mario

 

Mario,

The International Institute recently relocated from 2040 Scottwood Avenue (not Sherwood).   The home is now a private residence once again.

Thanks for your email.  By the way, we are always looking for vintage photographs to add to our research site.

Your History Detective

 

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Dear historian,

I am researching the Ohio & Milburn Electric car companies.

The reports on board members list Abram M. Chesborough as president of Ohio Electric. You, and another Ohio history website have the spelling as Chesbrough (and one spelling of Chesebrough). The Supreme Court records show the name as Chesborough.

Which is it?

Thank you,

Galen Handy

 

Dear Galen,

Hubbell's Blue Book (1899) which was a social register of the time spells the name as Chesbrough.  We also checked our 1910 Polk's Toledo Directory for the spelling of your inquiry.  The spelling is Chesbrough.  We are confident that Chesbrough is the correct spelling and not Chesborough.

Your History Detective

 

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Hi,
 
I'm interested in the history of Cherry Street.  I know it has been around and seemingly named since the mid 19th Century along with the bridge.  Do you know if it was named after an influential person in the city?  Navarre, Secor, Berdan, Dorr, Reynolds, and Woodruff are roads that come to mind that made me curious about my namesake thoroughfare.  Thanks for the help!
 
Alex Cherry
 
Hi Alex,
 
Oh, how we wish we could tell you that Cherry Street was named for an ancestor of yours.  However, that is not the fact.  A quick review of the adjacent streets which run parallel to Cherry nearly all have streets named for trees.  The street names, in order from downtown upriver, are Beech, Orange, Cherry, Walnut, Sycamore, Locust, Pine, Cedar, Elm. Olive, Mulberry, and Magnolia.  This area was part of the town of Vistula which joined with the village of Port Lawrence to create the city we now call Toledo.
 
Your History Detective
 
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I have an 1888 letter with logo of a Toledo Commercial Exchange in the corner. I have been unable to find any information on this Company? Building? Organization?
 
David H. Plunkett
 
David,
 
The 1891 Toledo Polk City Directory listed the Toledo Commercial Exchange.  It was located at 241 Superior.  Emery R. Hiett of 2241 Collingwood and Daniel E. Thomas of 2221 Parkwood, both lawyers, were listed as proprietors. 
 
We also noted that the Commercial Exchange Bank of Adrian had offices in Toledo.  Perhaps there is a connection to be made with the 241 Superior location.  We will continue to investigate.
 
Your History Detective
 
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Would by chance have anything handy on Steadman Business College.
 
 David H. Plunkett
 
 
The Steadman Business College was located at the northwest corner of Summit and Adams.  Its principal was A. H. Steadman. 
 
Andrew Steadman lived at 716 Cherry in the 1890s.  He was the supervisor of penmanship in the Toledo public schools for years and started a business college which became highly respected.  Among its alumni was William T. Jackson, mayor of Toledo.
Mr. Steadman moved to Cincinnati where he held the same position with the public schools there.  In October 1916, Professor Steadman suffered a stroke of paralysis and passed away at the age of 60.  
Your History Detective 
 
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Hi - looked briefly at your Toledo OH site.

Before buying the book, can you tell me if certain relatives of mine are in the book or not ?  They lived in Toledo.

Ezra Squires Dodd or his sons Henry Wood Dodd and Theodore Hale Dodd ?

Ezra was a senator around 1844.   His 2 sons had Civil War fame.

thanks
Glen Pierce
 
Hi Glen,
 
Our book features the Old West End neighborhood of Toledo.  Your ancestors are not included in this book.
 
Your History Detective
 
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