On This Day

Joseph Harsch Born in Toledo

1905: Joseph C. Harsch, American newscaster (Background) and author (''At the Hinge of History: A Reporter's Story'') is born in Toledo.…

1934: National Guard troops guarding the Auto-Lite plant during the 1934 Battle of Toledo, fired into the crowd while trying to push them away from the plant, up Chestnut Street—killing 27-year-old Frank Hubay (shot four times) and 20-year-old ...…

Battle of Toledo

On this day... 1934: The Auto-Lite Strike culminates in the "Battle of Toledo," a five-day melee between 1,300 troops of the Ohio National Guard and 6,000 picketers. For more Toledo history, visit www.holytoledohistory.com.…

Kiwanis Club is Chartered and Jack Ford is Born

1916: The Kiwanis Club of Toledo is chartered. Known today as the Downtown Kiwanis Club of Toledo. 1947: John Marshall "Jack" Ford is born in Springfield, Ohio. After obtaining his Master's degree in Public Administration and his law degree from ...…

Teresa Brewer is Born in Toledo

1931: Teresa Brewer, American pop and jazz singer (Put Another Nickel In) is born in Toledo. 1975: The Tiedtke's Department Store drew thousands to downtown Toledo when the store known for its circus-like atmosphere and the smell of its Parkwood ...…

Dudley's Massacre

1813: On the bloodiest day of the first siege of Fort Meigs, nearly 600 men are lost to a combined force of British regulars, Canadian militia, and Native American warriors. Despite this major loss to the Americans however, many Native Americans ...…

WDHO Goes Live!

1966: WDHO (now WNWO) TV channel 24 in Toledo (ABC) begins broadcasting For more Toledo history, visit www.holytoledohistory.com.…

First Seige of Fort Meigs Begins and Moses Walker joins the Toledo Blue Stockings

1813: British artillery opened fire on Fort Meigs in what would become known as the First Siege of Fort Meigs. The bombardment carried on for five days, but the Americans within the fort held on until reinforcements, in the form of 1,200 Kentucky ...…

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 ...…

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.…

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 ...…

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, ...…

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.…

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.…

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 ...…

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 ...…

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 ...…

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, ...…

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 ...…

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: ...…

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…

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 ...…

Teresa Ganzel is Born

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

Libbey Breaks Ground and Woman Suffrage Association Constitution is Adopted

1888: Libbey officially breaks ground for a new glass factory in Toledo. Five months later, a special train of glassworkers and their families, together with 50 carloads of equipment, arrived in Toledo from Boston. The current Libbey glass factory ...…

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 ...…

Toledo Woman Suffrage Association Constitution is Drafted

1869: A public meeting is held at Hunker's Hall (on Summit, between Madison and Adams) to draft a constitution for the Toledo Woman Suffrage Association. Many local women helped carry the banner for legal and political equality for women in ...…

Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton visit Toledo

1869: Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton speak at a reception held at the Superior Street home of Israel and Olivia Hall. For more Toledo history, visit www.holytoledohistory.com…

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 ...…

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, ...…

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 ...…