Collector Enjoys the Spitzer Story

Local History News  |  Posted by: Tedd Long  |  06/20/2022

In light of the recent news that Lucas County received a $1 million award from the State of Ohio for asbestos abatement and lead-based paint removal from the Spitzer Building, we thought it would be timely to take a look back on the rich history of this downtown gem and explore a local history buff's Spitzer collection.

The Spitzer was built at the corner of Madison and Huron Streets by the investment banking duo of Celina Milo Spitzer and his cousin Adelbert Spitzer, just as the light began to fade on the 19th century and downtown Toledo was entering an era of rapid development. The Spitzers hired local architects Bacon and Huber to model their office building in the style of Chicago's turn-of-the-century skyscrapers designed by famed architect Louis Sullivan. Construction began in 1893, but the project got off to a rocky start as work was halted after crews completed the second floor due to financial woes following the nationwide Panic of 1893. Thankfully, construction restarted in 1895 and was completed in February 1896. Four years later, the Spitzers added a 10-story addition. With as many as 25 stores operating in the building's first-floor arcade and full-up offices on the upper floors, the Spitzer quickly became a busy hub in downtown Toledo.

After serving as a downtown landmark for more than a century, the Spitzer closed its doors in December 2013 due to a dwindling number of tenants, costly maintenance and repairs, and the requirement for additional staff for fire safety checks mandated after the building's alarm system failed. Today, it sits idle, patiently awaiting a future of mixed-use development.

As we look toward the future, let's explore the past with local collector, Nelson Shaffer. We first met Nelson last year in our Toledo Time Travels' Collector Profile Series. When Nelson is not collecting local history and memorabilia items, he is serving as the Toledo City President at Citizens National Bank.

How long have you been collecting Spitzer Building items?  How many do you have?

I became a collector of interesting things when I was 10. It all started with a coin collection.  Over the years, various categories of collectibles were added, including Boy Scout memorabilia, vintage toys, and classic cars, to name a few.  Over the last ten years, I've been focusing more and more on Toledo history, memorabilia, and collectibles.  Spitzer Building items represent the smallest part of my Toledo-focused collection, as these items are relatively hard to come by.  I will see office doors from the building for sale from time to time, but they take up a lot of space.  To supplement my limited amount of Spitzer Building items, I have added items from the Spitzer-Rorick Trust & Savings Bank—as these items are related to an overall interest in the Spitzer name.

What motivated you to collect Spitzer Building-related items?

When gathering things related to the vast history of Toledo, it becomes necessary to start to focus on specific areas.  The Spitzer was constructed between 1893-1896, and was the first steel frame building built in Toledo.  If you look back at records or talk to people from Toledo, you notice the amazing number of businesses that occupied the building over the years. I'm talking about numerous law firms, insurance agencies, accountants, stockbrokers, a variety of retail shops, barbers, the Toledo Chamber Of Commerce, and many others.  With such a distinguished history, it's hard not to be interested in learning more about the property.

What are your hopes for the building in light of the recent award from the State Brownfield Fund?

Downtown Toledo continues to experience significant, ongoing redevelopment.  Historic jewels, like the Pythian Castle, Westminster Gym, and Fort Industry Square, are just a few examples.  Like these other buildings, the Spitzer Building brings back fabulous memories for so many. So I think it's safe to say there will be significant interest and demand for the building's redevelopment.

To view a gallery of photos from Nelson's Spitzer collection, visit my site at www.holytoledohistory.com.