Toledo History June 18-23

June 18

1912 - Toledo teacher Anna Stapleton is fired from her job as a teacher at Hoag School when she complains that conditions at the school are unhealthy and have contributed to the illnesses of many children.

1924 - The famous and aging Indian Elm tree is cut down in Maumee. The tree reportedly was used by Indian snipers to target soldiers at Fort Meigs across the river.

1935 - News Bee reports that two area boys landed a 36-inch, 11-pound muskellunge while fishing on the Maumee River.

1975 - The last edition of the Toledo Times is published.

1983 - One Government Center Building is named for Michael DiSalle, former Toledo mayor and Ohio governor.

June 19

1896 - North Baltimore police officer Jesse Baker is shot and killed in a gun battle on that community's Main Street.

1911 - Longtime Toledo artist William Henry Machen dies at the age 79. Born in Holland, Machen was a world famous painter of landscapes and animals, and lived much of his life in Toledo.  

1919 - Sunday School Association of Ohio votes to condemn the upcoming Dempsey-Willard boxing match in Toledo. Calling it harmful to moral values and a desecration of the July 4th holiday.

1924 - A family of six from Sandusky is killed when their car hits a Lake Shore Interurban trolley west of Genoa on Woodville Road.

1938 - Ten-thousand people jam Toledo Municipal Airport to watch a demonstration of powered model airplanes.

1943 - Toledo Police raid the Cole Bros. Circus and round up 23 kids who had "runaway with the circus," The 22 boys and one girl were making $11 a week. Ages 15-17.

June 20

1911 - Three-thousand Toledo area women join letter writing campaign to protest the execution of a pregnant mother, Angelina Napolitano, in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada. The sentence of the condemned mother is eventually commuted to life.

1949 - The “new” City Park swimming pool at City Park and Nebraska Avenues is opened for first time. Over 4,000 attend dedication ceremonies.

1955 - Last of the veteran housing projects in Toledo is demolished as the Woodsdale Veteran Housing complex is torn down, They were temporary housing projects for returning veterans from World War II. That site is later used for Woodsdale Park.

1967 - Future NHL hockey player, Pat Jablonski, is born in Toledo. The goaltender played for several teams between 1987 and 1998.

June 21

1918 - The new Mercy Hospital in Toledo opens its doors to patients.

1929 - Willow Beach Park at Point Place holds its grand opening, offering rides, picnic groves, a bathing beach and dance pavilion. It was shut down in 1949 and later became the Cullen Park boat launch area.

1985 - Lucas County Sheriff James Telb and team of deputies begin digging with backhoes for as many as 75 bodies the sheriff had been told were buried in satanic rituals in western Lucas County. Despite massive national media attention, nothing is found except for a few animal bones.

June 22

1902 - Walbridge Park heralds the opening of the “Scenic”, a small railroad train that runs through indoor tunnels painted with various historic scenes. On it first day of operation, it was reported to be loaded with women and children and will no doubt be very popular.  

1912 - Heubner Brewery of Toledo runs full-page ad in News Bee explaining why beer offers so many “healthful life-giving qualities.”

1927 - Toledo Mud Hens manager Casey Stengel inserts himself into the line-up of a championship game and hits the game-winning home run.

1943 - Race riots erupt on the streets of Detroit. 43 people are killed, and more than 1300 people arrested.

1949 - Willow Beach at Point Place closes for good.

June 23

1890 - First public library opens at Madison and Ontario.

1908 - It’s announced that Toledo’s popular airship aviator Roy Knabenshue will race his airship against a team of speedy cars in a race from Toledo to Cleveland. The longest contest to date between these new transportation marvels of the 20th Century.

1933 - First night baseball game played “under the lights” in Toledo at Swayne Field. The Mud Hens beat the Columbus Red Birds 2 -1 before 8,000 fans.

1952 - Toledo Mud Hens move to Charleston, West Virginia in a rancorous and controversial move that triggers a lawsuit from season ticket holders.

1969 - Cuyahoga River in Cleveland catches fire. A moment of historic irony remembered by millions.

June 24

1906 – Toledo police begin a “clean-up” of the Canton Avenue area from Jackson to Cherry streets. Newspapers report that patrolmen are under orders to arrest scores of African-Americans who reside in the neighborhood.

1910 - County records show there are 659 saloons operating in Lucas County, bringing in tax revenue of over $350,000 a year.

1920 - Industrial leader and glass maker Edward Ford dies. Ford started Ford Plate Glass Company in 1898 along riverfront and with it; the town of Rossford was created.

1958 - City Forestry Department announces that the six-year battle to save the city’s Dutch Elm trees from an invasive beetle has been lost. All 30,000 of these stately trees in the city will have to be removed.

1998 - Tornado sweeps through Port Clinton area. Hundreds of homes are  damaged.