This Week In Toledo History | The Press – Press Publications Inc.

Oct. 161901 - Bowling Green City Council in heated debate over whether to remove hitching rail posts for horses.1918 - Spanish flu epidemic getting worse in the area. Many businesses shut their doors and St. Vincent Hospital is closed to all visitors.1927 - Farmers near Kenton in Hardin County report seeing a nighttime rainbow following a bright harvest moon and a brief rain shower. They say the perfect arc moonbow that stretched from horizon to horizon was glowing white against the western night sky.1930 - A grain dust explosion destroys a downtown Fostoria grain elevator, causing some $75,000 in damages as nearby buildings downtown are threatened by the blaze.1940 - The possibility of war looms large. In Toledo its reported that 34,000 young Toledo men have now registered for the draft.

Oct. 171921 - Large throng of men jam third floor of Toledo City Hall to apply for 200 temporary jobs with the city. Two of the men collapse in line from hunger.1932 - Six injured in bloody riots at Lucas County Courthouse when farmers and jobless workers demanding relief clash with police.1937 - Nationally known bank robber Joe Muzzio, leader of the "Cowboy Hill" gang dies of cancer at the Lucas County hospital. The 50-year-old bandit was attended only by a nurse and was buried the next morning at Calvary Cemetery.1958 - A severe bout of Asian flu is hitting Toledo area schools. Many teachers are out sick. To help keep schools in session, many senior students are now filling in for the sick teachers.1962 - The new $5-million Federal Building on Summit Street is opened. First U.S. Government Building built in Toledo since 1932.1976 - Sunset Fireworks Company on State Route 2 destroyed in arson-set blaze, killing Jerusalem Township Assistant Fire Chief John Kennedy.2007 - Toledo-born pop singer Teresa Brewer dies at the age of 76 at her home in New York.

Oct. 181905 The Wonderful Horse Jim Key is exhibited at the Valentine Theater in Toledo. Jim Key is a world reknowned horse, whose trainer has taught him to spell, do math, read books and use a telephone. He appears with Toledos famous trotter racehorse Cresceus.1909 - An amateur hypnotist in North Baltimore puts a 16-year-old boy under his spell to settle a wager at a local restaurant, but then couldnt bring him out of the trance for more than four hours. The boy needed medical attention after it was over.1923 - Groundbreaking ceremonies are held for the new Safety Building on Erie Street which would serve as Toledo Police headquarters and city hall1925 - Ground breaking ceremonies held for Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral on Collingwood Boulevard.1947 - Twenty-two-year-old Toledo exotic dancer Patricia Schmidt (aka Satira) is on trial in Cuba for the murder of her lover John Mee, a Chicago attorney, on his yacht in Havana Harbor. The sensational case was covered by press from around the world. The Devilbiss High School alum is convicted and spends over a year in a Cuban prison. Mysteriously released, she returns briefly to Toledo and then spends her life as an eccentric artist, traveler and actress, under a new name.

Oct. 191901 - A group of Toledo oil investors strike a big gusher in the Wood County community of Haskins, where they hit a well that immediately produced 700 barrels of crude on the Chauncey Parker Farm.1910 - Toledo Scale is in full operation. Reports indicate massive sales and offices in 50 cities.1943 - War Department reports that 43 Ohio service members are missing in action from both the Europe and Pacific theaters. Eleven of the men are from the Toledo area.1951 - Six-thousand Electric Auto-Lite workers go on strike against factories in Toledo. First major demonstration against the company since the tragic Auto-Lite strike in 1934 that resulted in riots and deaths.1993 - Four-year-old girl credited with saving her family when fire breaks out in their Toledo home.

Oct. 201910 - Hocking Valley Railway train en route to Toledo derails near Upper Sandusky. Two women passengers are crushed to death and 14 others injured when cars plunge down a 15-foot embankment.1915 - Lucas County Clerk of Courts John Kelly goes on trial for embezzling thousands of dollars from the county.1937 - The oil tanker, Argo, sinks north of Kelleys Island. About 200,000 gallons of oil are aboard and have to be pumped off.1944 - Toledoans are stunned by news reports from Cleveland where a gas plant explosion kills 130 people.2000 - Groundbreaking ceremonies are held for Fifth Third Field, the baseball stadium to be built in downtown Toledo for the Mud Hens.

Oct. - 211872 - Toledo businessman and futurist Jesup Scott deeds 160 acres of land to Toledo for a new university.1883 - Woodlawn Cemetery in West Toledo is dedicated.1925 - General Isaac Sherwood, longtime Toledo Congressman, dies at 90 years of age, just months after retiring.1958 - Ottawa River School in Point Place is dedicated.1960 - Cuban Army Major William Morgan, "El Commandante" of Toledo arrested by Fidel Castro for espionage in Cuba. He would be executed two years later. His wife, Olga later moves to Toledo to live out her life and to have her husband's name cleared and his body returned to the U.S.1965-Ten-thousand dollars worth of fur coats are stolen by thieves who broke into Lamsons Department Store in downtown Toledo.

Oct. 221908 - Giant mosquitoes, as large as houseflies, reported to be stinging people on the lips in the Findlay area. Two women stung the night before have had their eyes swollen shut.1925 - Mail theft at Toledos Union Station when thousands of dollars in securities and bond certificates are stolen from the mailroom.1932 - President Herbert Hoover makes campaign stop in Toledo. More than 20,000 Toledo residents turn out at Union Station.1936 - So called Black Legion case is underway involving Toledo members and involvement from Lucas County. The group was a notorious hate group of the 1930's who leader lived in both Lima and Toledo.1941 - Colony Theater opens on Central Avenue with a special premiere event and celebration. Adults: 35 cents admission, children 15 cents. The first movie shown is "When Ladies Meet" with Robert Taylor and Joan Crawford.1950 - Miniature bronze Statue of Liberty dedicated in front of Camp Miakonda along Sylvania Avenue. Replica is 1/19 life-size.1973 - Residents of Hicksville area report seeing strange and erratic lights flashing across skies of Paulding and Defiance counties.

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This Week In Toledo History | The Press - Press Publications Inc.