Toledo Time Travels

Toledo Time Travels is your source for the Toledo story—past, present, and future. We host engaging conversations about local history venues, long heard about but rarely seen spaces, Glass City artifacts, and historical preservation.


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L-O-F is Born

1974: Eric Kripke, American television writer, director and producer (Supernatural) is born in Toledo. 1930: Directors of the Libbey-Owens Glass Company and Edward Ford Plate Glass Company meet in New York to approve their merger into the ...…

L-O-F is Born Photo

Erie & Kalamazoo is Chartered

1833: the Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad was chartered in the Territory of Michigan to run from the former Port Lawrence, Michigan (now Toledo), northwest to Adrian on the River Raisin. For more Toledo history, visit www.holytoledohistory.com.…

Erie & Kalamazoo is Chartered Photo

TMA is Founded!

1901: After the success of its first exhibit in a rented room in the Gardner Building in January, the Toledo Museum of Art is officially founded. Today, what started out with 120 members and a collection consisting of two paintings is considered one ...…

TMA is Founded! Photo

Edward Drummond Libbey is Born on this Day

1854: Edward Drummond Libbey is born in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Regarded as the father of the glass industry in Toledo, Libbey moved his father's glass company to Toledo and renamed it the Libbey Glass Company in 1888. For more Toledo history, ...…

Edward Drummond Libbey is Born on this Day Photo

Dennis Russell Davies is Born

1944: Dennis Russell Davies, American conductor and composer is born in Toledo. For more Toledo history, visit www.holytoledohistory.com.…

Dennis Russell Davies is Born Photo

Toledo Diocese is Erected

1910: Pope Pius X erects the Toledo Diocese in territory taken from the Diocese of Cleveland. For more Toledo history, visit www.holytoledohistory.com.…

Toledo Diocese is Erected Photo

TPD is Born and Fiberglas Tower is Topped Out

1867: The Ohio Legislature creates a full-time police force in Toledo and the city marshals are released from their duties. 1897: Samuel "Golden Rule" Jones is elected Mayor of Toledo. 1957: The lake freighter "Champlain" is torn loose from its ...…

TPD is Born and Fiberglas Tower is Topped Out Photo

Fred Hartwell is Launched

1908: The 524-foot lake freighter Fred G. Hartwell is launched at Toledo Shipbuilding Company. The 514 feet long, 58 feet wide steel freighter was originally owned by Mutual Steamship Co. of Duluth, Minnesota. Mutual sold the vessel in 1915 to ...…

Fred Hartwell is Launched Photo

Fire Strikes Fort Miami Racetrack

1957: Tragedy strikes at Fort Miami Racetrack in Maumee at the Lucas County Fairgrounds, when fire races through a barn near Key Street killing 27 racehorses. More than 60 horses were turned loose and created havoc as many panicked and ran out onto ...…

Fire Strikes Fort Miami Racetrack Photo

The Auto-Lite Strike Begins

1934: A strike is called by the secretly organized Automobile Workers Federal Union Local 18384, American Federation of Labor, which became the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 12, against the Electric Auto-Lite company of Toledo. Anti-unionism, ...…

The Auto-Lite Strike Begins Photo

Willys Buys Overland Automotive Division

1908: John Willys bought the Overland Automotive Division of Standard Wheel Company in Toledo. In 1912 he renamed it Willys–Overland Motor Company. From 1912 to 1918, Willys was the second-largest producer of automobiles in the United States ...…

Willys Buys Overland Automotive Division Photo

Cancelled Speech Causes Riots

1919: Thousands of supporters of Eugene V. Debs stormed Memorial Hall where the controversial Socialist leader was to speak. His speech was banned by city officials and a riot followed. The clash ended with 75 protesters going to jail. 1921: ...…

Cancelled Speech Causes Riots Photo

Selma Rubin is Born

1915: Selma Rubin, American environmental activist (Earth Day co-founder) is born in Toledo. For more Toledo history, visit www.holytoledohistory.com…

Selma Rubin is Born Photo

Gloria Steinem is Born

1913: Massive flooding spread across the state of Ohio. Thousands of people are left homeless and more than 400 people perish. The Sandusky River at Tiffin came out of its banks, surging through town, carrying away homes and businesses. Nineteen ...…

Gloria Steinem is Born Photo

Teresa Ganzel is Born

1957: Teresa Ganzel, actress (Teachers Only, Duck Factory) is born in Toledo. For more Toledo history, visit www.holytoledohistory.com…

Teresa Ganzel is Born Photo

The Great Sarah Bernhardt Toledo Debut

1881: French actress Sarah Bernhardt, dubbed “Divine Sarah” by her worldwide legion of fans, makes her Toledo debut at the Wheeler Opera House. 1955: Gary Louris, American singer-songwriter and musician (Jayhawks) is born in ...…

The Great Sarah Bernhardt Toledo Debut Photo

33 Consecutive Strikes

1976: John Pezzin, a 46-year-old bowler from Perrysburg rolled 33 consecutive strikes last night in a sanctioned bowling league at Miracle Lanes. Pezzin rolled games of 259, 300 and 300 for an 859 series. For more Toledo history, visit ...…

33 Consecutive Strikes Photo

Mammoth Snow Storm Hits Toledo

1900: During a winter storm that ended on March 1st, 22" of snow fell at Toledo. This was the greatest storm total snowfall ever in Toledo history. 14" fell at Detroit and this storm also brought heavy snowfall (10" or more) at Chicago, Cleveland, ...…

Mammoth Snow Storm Hits Toledo Photo

Michael Owens patents a glass-blowing machine

1895: Michael Owens patents a glass-blowing machine. Just eight years later, Owens, a self-taught inventor, propels the glass industry into the mechanical age with the introduction of the world’s first completely automatic glass-forming ...…

Michael Owens patents a glass-blowing machine Photo

Stacy Lewis is Born in Toledo

1985: Stacy Lewis, American golfer (2011 ANA Inspiration and 2013 Women's British Open Champion) is born in Toledo. For more Toledo history, visit www.holytoledohistory.com…

Stacy Lewis is Born in Toledo Photo

Kate Shindle is Born

1977: Kate Shindle, American actress, is born in Toledo. For more Toledo history, visit www.holytoledohistory.com…

Kate Shindle is Born Photo

The Blizzard of 1978

1978: Over a two-day period, the Blizzard of 1978 blows into Toledo as one of the greatest storms of the century for the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley. There were severe wind conditions with heavy snow for many hours. There was 12" of snow at Toledo ...…

The Blizzard of 1978 Photo

Anita Baker is Born

1958: Anita Baker, American singer (Giving You the Best That I Got), is born in Toledo. For more Toledo history, visit www.holytoledohistory.com…

Anita Baker is Born Photo

Ed Ford is Born

1843: Edward Ford, the founder of the Edward Ford Plateglass Company which later merged with Libbey-Owens Sheet Glass Company to become Libbey-Owens-Ford in 1930, is born in Greenville, Indiana. Ford was the son of “Captain” John B Ford ...…

Ed Ford is Born Photo

Mark Twain Visits Toledo

1869: Mark Twain entertains a crowded White's Hall (Summit and Jackson) with his stories from The American Vandal. The Toledo Blade wrote: “White’s Hall was filled from cellar to garret, last night, by one of the best tickled audiences ...…

Mark Twain Visits Toledo Photo

First U.S. All-Glass Windowless Structure

1936: The first all-glass windowless structure in the United States is completed in Toledo as the home of the Owens-Illinois Glass Company Laboratory. For more Toledo history, visit www.holytoledohistory.com…

First U.S. All-Glass Windowless Structure Photo

The City of Toledo is Chartered

1837: The City of Toledo, Ohio is chartered. Toledo's first tax levy will soon follow in April. Although the villages of Port Lawrence and Vistula voted to merge and form Toledo in 1833, Toledo, Ohio did not receive a city charter until 1827, after ...…

The City of Toledo is Chartered Photo