This Week In Toledo History

October 13
1885-Crowds gather in East Toledo to watch as small deposit of natural gas is drilled
1909 - Jazz piano legend Art Tatum born in Toledo. Nearly blind in early childhood, Tatum learned to play the piano at a young age and would later become a virtuoso, playing at lightening fast speeds with precise accuracy.
1931 - Toledo Police and dry agents raid a major distillery operation run by the Licavoli gang at Cherry and Spielbusch. They later confiscate even more spirits on Canton Avenue.

October 14
1844 - Land at Upper Sandusky that once belonged to the Wyandot Indians before their forced removal to Kansas, is being sold at $2.50 an acre.
1901 - The new “Toledo Steam” automobile leaves Toledo for a cross country trip to New York City for the first “auto-show”. The 1500 pound auto arrives at Madison Square Garden 16 days later and its journey is hailed as proof that the “Steam” is a reliable auto.
1925 - The Walbridge Park Zoo is given a moose named Barney weighing 1,100 pounds. He was found trapped in the woods near New Brunswick, Canada and presented to the zoo by the local Moose Lodge. Barney is one of only three moose in captivity in the U.S.
1969 - One of first female jockeys in the nation, Toledo's Mary Bacon was abducted by an obsessed stalker after dawn at Pocono Downs race track in New York. She manages to free herself from car and escapes.
1981-Toledo native Evan Galbraith nominated by President Reagan as Ambassador to France.

October 15
1906 - A Toledo police officer “Deaunee” was severely beaten by a gang of 15-20 men in Charlie Textor’s saloon on Fassett Street after he brought a suspect into the bar to have him identified by patrons.
1918 - Waite High School closed for one month because of Spanish flu and much of the city is now on alert that Spanish Flu is becoming a major health concern. Hospitals are closed to visitors.
1947 - Toledo city officials propose putting fluoride in water supply to help prevent tooth decay in children. Idea gets mixed reaction.
2005 - A planned rally by Neo-Nazis and skinheads in a park near Polish Village of Toledo erupts into riots. The clashes between counter protesters and police lasted for hours. Cars are damaged, some buildings are torched and a police car is turned over.

October 16
1901 - Bowling Green City Council in heated debate over whether to remove hitching rail posts for horses.
1940 - The possibility of war looms large. In Toledo it’s reported that 34,000 young Toledo men have now registered for the draft.
1957 - Local hotels are featuring special entertainment in their lounges and restaurants. The Shalimar at the Commodore Perry has Larry Green and his orchestra; the Victorian Terrace at the Hillcrest has the Nocturnes “for your dancing pleasure”, and the Park Lane features the music of Eileen Moon on piano.

October 17
1921 - 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 men injured in bloody riots at Lucas County Courthouse when farmers and jobless workers demanding relief, clash with police.
1937 - Notorious bank robber Joe Muzzio, leader of the "Cowboy Hill" gang dies of cancer at the Lucas County hospital. The aging 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 and many senior students are now filling in for the teachers.
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.

October 18
1879 - The first telephone call between Toledo and Detroit took place on this day between the Blade and a Detroit News reporter.
1905 - “Wonderful Horse” Jim Key appears at Valentine Theater with his ex-slave trainer who has taught him to spell, do math, and use a telephone. He appears with Toledo’s famous trotter racehorse Cresceus.
1923 - Groundbreaking is held for the new Safety Building on Erie Street which would serve as Toledo Police headquarters and city hall
1925 - 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) on trial in Cuba for the murder of her lover John Mee, a Chicago attorney, on his yacht in Havana. The DeVillbiss High School alum is eventually convicted and thrown into a Cuban prison, but released 18 months later.

October 19
1901- A big gusher is struck in the Wood County community of Haskins. The well immediately produced 700 barrels of crude on the Chauncey Parker Farm.
1906 - Toledo has reported 110 cases of typhoid fever so far this month. And a new study shows that with costs for physicians, nurses and lost wages, the cost to the city will be $60,000.
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 in Toledo. First major action against the company since the tragic Auto-Lite strike in 1934 that resulted in riots and deaths.