Apart from her roles as the spouse of James M. Ashley, a US Congressman and Montana Territorial Governor, and the great-grandmother of Ohio Representative Thomas Ludlow Ashley, Emma Ashley stood out as a pioneering figure among Toledo women—helping to lead the establishment of one of the nation's earliest organizations to advocate for women's rights. Before I get into the Emma Ashley story, let's talk briefly about her husband, James, who in the late 1840s was a former riverboat clerk and then newspaperman recently admitted to the State Bar in Ohio. Still, he didn't practice law because he wa ..read more

The ethnic heritage of East Toledo originated with French-Canadian families like the Navarres early on and later a prominent French community settled in the East Broadway and Greenwood area.  Many immigrants came from the Alsace-Lorraine region, between Germany and France, bringing names like Gladiuex, Tschirret, and Hollerbach. In the 1890s, the National Malleable Castings Company moved from Cleveland to Front Street near Consaul and grew rapidly.  Word went back to Eastern Europe, and Hungarian families began coming to work here.  Once here, they sent money home to have more ..read more

As we move closer to the once-in-a-lifetime 2024 total solar eclipse on April 8th, Northwest Ohio residents (and many thousands who will travel here from out-of-state) are making party plans to celebrate a unique natural marvel unseen in Ohio for over 200 years. But how many of us know the backstory to the last eclipse? You know, the one that happened in 1806 and some call the Tecumseh Eclipse. Well, you are in luck. I took a deep dive into this one and was richly rewarded. The eclipse of 1806 is a storied event in American history, interwoven with the lives of two significant figures: Tecums ..read more

Each February, Toledo comes alive with educational programs, exhibitions, and events designed to celebrate the profound impact of African Americans on the city's history and contemporary life. Surprisingly, one rarely explored story involves Marion and Ella Auther, a formidable duo who developed a popular Black oasis in Newaygo County, Michigan, while living in Toledo. I was unfamiliar with their story until Dr. Ted Ligibel told me about a Library of Michigan ,,online presentation featuring Dianna Toran, author of ",,Woodland Echoes: A Cottage in My Heart." After exploring their story, I'd ha ..read more

Imagine it's early November 1908. You are a Toledo Laundry Workers union member—the first laundry workers union organized in the United States. For the last year, you've worked harder than you ever thought possible laundering clothing and linens—a physically demanding and time-consuming job without the modern conveniences we have today. Each morning, you wake up before dawn, hop on a streetcar, and head to Reliable Laundry at Monroe and 10th Streets. Depending on where your supervisor places you, you spend each day sorting, pre-treating, hand washing, boiling, rinsing, hanging, drying, ironin ..read more

In the heartland of America, no rivalry stands as iconic as that between Ohio State and Michigan. But to the uninitiated, it might seem like just another football feud, a product of athletic prowess and college chants. A deeper dive will unearth a conflict not born on the gridiron but on disputed land, not over yard lines but borders. Before there were touchdowns, there was the Toledo War—a skirmish, brief yet fiery, that laid the foundations for a sporting rivalry that continues to capture the imagination of millions. In the early 19th century, as the United States expanded westward, the bou ..read more

HolyToledoHistory.com was incredibly honored to learn we were selected as Favorite Blogger in the ,2023 M Living Readers’ Choice Awards. We are humbled to know that M Living readers took the time and effort to cast their votes for us, and we’re truly excited to receive this great honor for the first time. Quite a few of the other blogs considered for this honor are written by our good friends and we love them, too. Please accept our thanks and deep appreciation for your support and for your vote! We are so grateful for this award ..read more

Greetings, fearless adventurers and thrill-seekers! Are you ready to embark on a journey through the spine-tingling corners of Lucas County? Grab your torches (or, let’s be real, your smartphones) and dive into yesteryear's shadowy tales. Lucas County promises a buffet of paranormal delights, from ghostly apparitions whispering secrets of ancient scandals to mischievous poltergeists playing tricks in creaky old mansions. Why is Lucas County such a hotbed for haunted happenings, you ask? Well, every nook and cranny of this historic county holds a story waiting to be told—and some of those tale ..read more

Today, we know Friendly Center, located at the corner of Superior and Magnolia Streets, as a local agency committed to Toledo's first neighborhood in partnership with the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. In 2023, as Friendly Center celebrates its 100th year anniversary, let's explore the story behind how this North End institution was founded. We'll have to go back to the late 1800s to put the Friendly Center story into perspective. At the dawn of the twentieth century, Toledo’s population soared! It grew from 50,000 in 1880 to 132,000 in 1900, making it the 2 ..read more

This tour is part of the Trees and Tombstones Tour Series at Toledo's Woodlawn Cemetery and Arboretum. This post includes several bonus Arts & Leisure pioneers that were laid to rest in the historic cemetery. I've listed each person in the order in which the tour is conducted, starting in section 14. David Ross Locke (1833-1888) Section 14 Born in Western New York, Locke finished his education at 12 and moved to Richland County, Ohio as a printer's assistant. He began his journalism career in Plymouth, Ohio in 1852 when he started The Advertiser. In 1855 he moved to Mansfield to write fo ..read more