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Wanted!
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Members wanted! If you have an
interest or a talent, let us know how we can help you help us!
Anyone with a short family
history or in- teresting story about Sylvania that they would
like to submit for a future newsletter. See Polly Cooper at the museum
We are looking for political buttons, pins, any type of political
memorabilia anyone might have and would like to donate to the Historical
Society to add to our collection. These should be from the Sylvania and Sylvania Township
area only, please.
We are looking for Burnham memorabilia for a possible
exhibit on the former Burnham
High School. Do you have
a school sweater, photographs, or anything that might be used for a display?
Items will be returned to you after the exhibit is over. See Polly Cooper or
Liz Stover or any board member.
Docents are
needed for occasional Saturdays.
Bring a
dessert for meetings once or twice a year.
Help with
periodic cleaning.
Help in the
office on Tuesdays.
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Letter found...
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This letter was found in the water department file. There is
no date but we think it might have been during the great depression.
Dear Sir,
Due to the fact
that it was necessary for me to buy 2 pairs of golashes today and with pay day
a week away – I am quite short – but if you will accept this dollar to apply on
my bill I will send the balance of the old arrears ($2.15) over next Saturday
some time and then take care of this last quarter out of my next check on the
15th.
Trusting this will
be ok I am------
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Once upon a time...
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The population of Sylvania in 1880 was
523.
The Sylvania School census for 1888
showed a total of 138 pupils.
AN OLD
TIME FOURTH OF JULY
At one time there
was a cavalry-artillery in-
stallation calledBattery F just south and around the corner
from the high school on School
Drive. One fourth of July one of the officers
dragged a cannon over to the north side of town in front of the residence of a
well-known townsman and fired off a blank. Now that woke up the town! And, one
of the neighbors of the well-known townsman was roused out not by the roar but
the fact that his front window let loose and landed on his bed.
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Welcome
to our website. Please keep checking back since it will be updated
frequently!
It is the purpose
of the Sylvania Area Historical Society to work toward the preservation
and collection of materials and items concerned with the development,
history, and genealogy of Sylvania and its surrounding area.
It is the goal of
the Sylvania Area Historical Society to work toward the preservation of
the past so that present and future generations might have evidence of
their great heritage, thus making the present more meaningful to all.
The Sylvania Area Historical Society
hopes to continue to add to their collection of photographs, family
histories, and historical objects.
Meetings:
The Sylvania Area Historical Society meets at 7:00PM on the third
Wednesday of designated month. The meetings are held at the Sylvania Heritage
Center, 5717 North Main St.
Guests are always welcome!
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Governor Strickland has recommended cutting more than $6 million dollars, or 45 percent, from the Ohio Historical Society’s state funding from 2008, taking funding back to 1986 levels.
WHAT IT MEANS:
These proposed cuts would be devastating to the
statewide programs and services provided by the Ohio Historical
Society, including: historic sites and museums, educational programs
and teacher training, historic preservation, programs and services at
the Ohio Historical Center, support services to local historical
organizations and more. If enacted, these cuts would not only
jeopardize Ohio's past, but its future.
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MUSEUM
NEWS
We recently received an April 27, 1944 issue of The Sylvania Sentinel. Donated
by David Rumpf, he found the paper beneath floorboards during remodeling. I
read the newspaper and found many interesting tidbits.
Some things
never change after all these years.....in this issue, they complained about the
weather, urged reusing paper grocery bags (but for making into containers for
75MM shells!), and discussed potlucks, Red Cross drives, and literary
clubs.
But many things HAVE changed in sixty-five years! Ads included
Feen-a-mint, 10 cents, for constipation, Lydia E. Pinkham's vegetable compound
for hot flashes, and Sewing Circle dress patterns for 20 cents. Wagonlander's
Federated Stores advertised cotton dresses for $4.98. and Gordon Hathaway's
Sohio service station at 6515 Monroe offered 25 lb bags of Victory Garden
Fertilizer for $1.09.
Clarence I. Fauble was running against James M.
O'Reilly for Lucas County Sheriff, and both had display ads requesting votes.
Chandler Hardware advertised Solventol, promising that 3-cents-worth made a
gallon of finest liquid cleaner. Ohio Associated Telephone Company explained
that phone lines are the lifelines of the army, so residential customers should
expect delays in service.
Many local ads with addresses and phone numbers
were interesting. T.G.Reger, Real Estate and General Insurance at 5610 Main
St. Sylvania Auto Sales, phone 32. Dentists Dr J.A.Counter at 5702 Summit St
and Dr. H.V.Currier, Reeb Bldg, both advertised. "Jersey Joe" milk was located
at Berkey and Little Roads.
The comics page was especially fun! The
heading "The Sunny Side of Life: Clean Comics That Will Amuse Both Old and
Young" appeared in this Thursday issue. How many do you remember?
SPARKY
WATTS by Boody Rogers, LALA PALOOZA by Rube Goldberg, REG'LAR FELLERS by Gene
Byrnes, POP by J Millar Watt, and RAISING KANE by Frank Webb. (Submitted by Sheila Painter)
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Upcoming Programs and Events* |
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There is no February Meeting
Be safe and stay warm!
March Meeting and Presentation
Wednesday, March 18, 2009,
7 p.m.
Roger Sutherland will present "How Sweet It Is: Maple
Syrup, History of Sugaring."
There is no April Monthly
meeting
Start planning your garden!
May Meeting and Presentation
Wednesday, May 20, 2009,
7 p.m.
From Comfits to Confectionaries,
the Sweet History of Candy in America: What sugary sweets did you savor
as a child? What candies still delight you? Take a look back at candies
through history and discover how your sweet tooth were shaped by
society and events.
Sylvania Founder’s Day Celebration
June 6, 2009, 1 to 4 pm at
Sylvania
Heritage
Center, 5717
N. Main St.
Special exhibits, tours and
refreshments. Join us as we remember the founding of
Sylvania! No charge, and
everyone is welcome. Sponsored by the
Sylvania Area Historical Society.
There is no June Monthly
meeting
Enjoy the summer evening!
July Meeting and Presentation
Wednesday, July 15, 2009,
7 p.m.
Dr. Mary Stockwell, PhD,
Prefessor and Chairperson of History at Lourdes College will be
speaking on the forcible removal of Native Americans from Ohio during
the Westward Expansion.
Historical Neighborhood Tour
July 18 2009, 7 p.m.
Join the Sylvania Area Historical Society for a historic neighborhood walking
tour in downtown Sylvania. Costumed interpreters will bring history to
life by sharing the history of the neighborhood and telling stories of
fascinating people who made colorful contributions to Sylvania. Meet at
the Sylvania Heritage Center
on Main Street. Free event. Heavy rain cancels.
Genealogy/Memory Album Workshop
Saturday, August 8 2009, 1-4 p.m.
Join the Sylvania Area Historical Society for a Genealogy and Memory Album
Workshop. Learn how to create your family tree and produce memory
albums that will be cherished for generations and help the society's ongoing
preservation efforts.
Learn some of the basics about researching your family tree. Find out how
things like the census and city directories and other sources can uncover your
families' past.
Whether it's walking down memory lane or exploring your family history,
scrapbooking is one of the most powerful ways to celebrate our lives and the
lives of our loved ones. Don't let the lack of photos keep you from putting
together a family heirloom. Join to learn some inventive ways to incorporate
writing, memorabilia, and just about anything into scrapbooks. Learn about the
importance of of acid-free papers and other archival materials and start
planning your memory album today!
Workshop will be held at the Sylvania Heritage Center, 5717 North
Main St., Sylvania. Cost: $15.00 per person. There will be several door prizes
and and snacks will be provided. Each participant will go home with a workbook.
Limited space. Reservations required. Click here for form.
Summer Picnic
Wednesday, August 19, 2009, 6 p.m.
Bring a dish or two to pass!
September Meeting and Presentation
Wednesday, September 16, 2009, 7 p.m.
History of etiquette in America.
Historic Cemetery Tour
Saturday, October 3, 2009, TBA.
TBA
October Meeting and Presentation
Wednesday, October 19, 2009, 6 p.m.
Meet at Camp Miakonda. Reservations required.
*All programs are held at the Sylvania
Heritage Center Museum on 5717 N. Main, Sylvania, Ohio, unless
otherwise noted.
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CARD FUNDRAISER
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These cards will make great holiday
gifts! A set of 8 cards costs $10 and includes 2 of each of the four
designs below:
Proceeds from the sale of these cards
will be donated to the Sylvania Historical Village, Inc. for the Train
Barn Project. The proposed train barn will house the former Toledo
& Western Baldwin Westinghouse Steeplecab electric locomotive
and a Chesapeake & Ohio/Toledo Angola & Western
Railroad caboose car No. 90781.
Click
here for an order form
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Join Now!
A paid membership entitles you to the
newsletter which is published quarterly and a 10% discount for giftshop
items including the Sylvania history book
Welcome New Members!
Nancy Govan
Nancy
is the daughter of Polly Cooper.
Sandra Lawrence
Sandra lives in Eugene,
Oregon and is researching the
Reuben Sawyer family.
We will photograph grave markers!
In order to raise money for the
Sylvania
Area Historical Society, we will take photos of grave markers in
Sylvania's Ravine and Association Cemetery during the summer months.
(We will also visit Toledo Memorial if you can identify the
lot and grave number.) For a fee of $25 we will place seasonal
flowers at the grave of your ancestor, take a photo, and email that
photo to you. We can also photograph additional grave markers in the
same cemetery for $10 each. Send the name of your ancestor and the name
of the cemetery they are in along with your check to the address on
this website. Please write "CEMETERY FUNDRAISER" on the subject line of
you check.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Sylvania
school system did not have kindergarten classes until 1955. In 1949 a group of
young mothers belonging to the Child Conservation League started to make plans
for a private kindergarten and in January, 1950, began classes in the basement
of the old Methodist
Church on North Main Street.
After three or four
years in that location, the kindergarten was moved to a chicken coop. (Possibly
behind a house on South Main St.
facing Convent Blvd.)
The building was refurbished for classroom use and the mothers took turns with
the janitorial work.
Remember when...
Henry Ruedi had a tile kiln near Mitchaw and
Sylvania-Metamora? There was a 5 acre baseball field along Mitchaw with a
grandstand brought from Trilby?
Sylvania had an Apple Festival?
Sylvania
had an Apple Festival for a few years starting in 1980. It was held during
October at Burnham
Park. Activities in-
cluded a parade, entertainment, games for children, apple
dessert contest, and all kinds of food.
The first two Apple Festivals were used for improvements at Burnham Park, including renovation of the
bandstand.
NEW ACQUISITIONS:
Bob Smith – 1894 Delineator Magazine
Margaret Weber – Framed sketch of Council building by
Eleanor Gustafson, First Congregational and Methodist Church plates
Dorothy Watkins – Dobbs hat box, Lamson’s hat box with hat
and Misc. hat box
Del Vesey – Masonic Jacket
Lois Smith – Complete Air Force Uniform c. 1950’s, duffle
bags, shave kit, and tuxedo of Milton Rowe
A Parkwood Dairy bottle was purchased by the historical
society for our collection.
Antique clothes drying rack-Ema Lou Roberts
Muskrat mittens c. 1945 made by William Koester of The
Sylvania Tannery, for his daughter Carol, crocheted baby blanket, Sunbonnet Sue
quilt made in 1938, Boy Scout pin, 1931 Burnham ring, 1929 Burnham pin all
donated by Carol Parsons (Lalli).
Tin tray (Sylvania Plumbing, Heating and Tin Shop owned by
E.E. Double) given by Bob Smith.
Folding Maple rocker, with needlepoint back and seat,
donated by Keri Hopson.
Ema Lou Roberts
Billy Miller Store tokens, Wood plane, 2 Half & Half
tobacco cans, Kroll family photographs.
Margaret Lintner
Pharmaceutical Beaker.
John Fraley
3 Ceramic Telephone Insulators.
Liz Stover
2 Cotton petticoats
John Odom
Rocking Chair
1890’s-1900
Wood High Chair—Folds down and becomes a Rocker
Wood Stool
Donor unknown
Collection of Baby and Girls clothing from the 1940’s and early 1950’s.
Mary Koslovsky
Certificate of Title, Release of Mortgage and Certificate of
Survey for property of Thomas and Mary Koslovsky on Garden
Park Drive.
Thanks
to all those who donate items!
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Ohio Century Farms
To honor those who have helped shape
our heritage, The Ohio Department of Agri-culture administers a
statewide, historical program that recognizes families who have
maintained a farm in their family for at least 100 consecutive years.
Currently there are more than 600
families listed in the Ohio Century Farm program.
It is their goal to have a
comprehensive, historical record of all Ohio's century farm families.
If your family or someone you know has
such a farm visit the website at
www.ohioagriculture.gov/centuryfarm/cent-index.stm
A sample brochure and application may
be seen or copied at the historical society office.
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Visiting the Museum and access to the
Archives... |
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The Sylvania Heritage Center Museum on
5717 N. Main is open Wednesdays from 3-7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday
from 1-4 p.m.*
Archivists from the Sylvania Area
Historical Society are available on most Tuesdays, 9:30 - 2 p.m.; and
Saturdays, 1-4 p.m. If you wish to do research in the archives, please
call ahead of time.
The archives include family histories, records such as
Poll Books dating back as far as 1835, Youth Enumerations as far as
1838 (sometimes these include the parents names), Chattel Mortgages,
Tax records, church histories, cemetery records, photographs, school records, and much more.
NOTE:
*The museum usually closes the last
week in November for holiday decorating and December's schedule will be
posted. The museum is also closed in January and August. However, if
you have research to work on, please contact us and we can arrange an
appointment.
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Did you know... |
| Cedar
chests, where family heirlooms are often stored, produce acids
that will discolor and damage quilts. |
The Latin word Sylvania
means the woods.
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SEV.org