TPD is Born and Fiberglas Tower is Topped Out

On This Day  |  Posted by: Tedd Long  |  04/05/2026

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 mooring on the Maumee River by 90 mph winds and crashes into the Fassett Street bridge. The bridge loses 600 feet of its span, which crashes into the river. It was never rebuilt.

1968: The topping out ceremony is held for the new Fiberglas Tower on St. Clair Street. At 30-stories high, the building will become the city's tallest building and will serve as the world headquarters of Owens Corning. The photo above shows the last beam waiting to be used for the topping-out ceremony in front of WGTE's downtown studio.

For more Toledo history, visit www.holytoledohistory.com.