Broadway Houses

Old South End Houses may not be elaborate, but they usually have character.

Just a Comment

Since I've added links to some of my favorite Toledo blogs, I thought I'd better address the curious developments at my old blog, Just a Comment. Don't look at me, I have nothing to do with it. In a moment of disgust, I deleted four blogs. Do I regret it? Not a dickie bird. The only thing that bothers me is the fact that, when a blog's deleted, opportunists can go in, claim the blog,get a cached page for the template, and post any sort of advertising garbage they care to. They get a ready made number of hits. Does Blogger give a rat's hindquarters? Hell, no. I managed to get them to delete an advertiser from another of the blogs I deleted, but only because he was posting under my name. So, if you stop there and get an eyeful, don't blame me.
Why "Back to Damerosehay"? Long story. Suffice it to say my favorite writer is Elizabeth Goudge. ( That's Elizabeth, not Eileen.)
There's a list of my other blogs in the sidebar. This one should have a lot more good pictures and a lot less yapping. I'm sick of yapping.

The Other Toledo

Old South End

Lucas County Courthouse

International Park, from the Owens-Corning Headquarters

Downtown Toledo

From the library roof garden.

Walbridge Park

A particularly magnificent gingko tree.

Stay Tuned

I'll post more this evening.

Edmund Henry Osthaus

Osthaus was one of America's most noted painters of dogs. He lived in Toledo for a good part of his life.

St. John's Lutheran Church, Old South End

A wonderful building, and not much changed since this picture was taken, in 1904. There's something different about the top of the spire, but that's all I can spot.

Judging by the window in the apse, I'm definately going to have to take a good look at the back of the building.

The "Pfarrhaus". That's German for Parish House.

The school. This was very impressive.

These pictures are from a book published for the 50th anniversary of the parish, in 1904.

Thanks to Kevin Hammer for scanning them.

Day Off

St. Patrick's Church, Warehouse District

607 Monroe Street

In spite of the unified look, this is actually three buildings. They were designed by Carl Schon and built in 1875. At one time, there was a cast-iron eagle on the cornice in the middle.
The storefront at the left, until recently, was the home of Rensch's specialty food store. They moved here in 1888 and sold 24 varieties of cheese, at a time when that was far from an everyday occurrence.

Sunset over Broadway

I'll post pictures of the Art Deco railroad underpass, as soon as I remember which storage account they're in.

St. Clair Street, from Madison, Downtown Toledo

The building at the right was the Boody House, Toledo's grand hotel. Every president from Grant to Taft stayed there. Behind it was the First Congregational Church. I'll be posting more on both buildings next week.

Toledo from the Air

At the lower middle is the Grasser and Brand Brewery, which still stands. This appears to be from the 1940's or 50's.
Photo: Toledo-Lucas County Public Library

Court House Square, Downtown Toledo

At left is the YMCA building. The county courthouse is in the middle, and St. Paul's Lutheran church at the right. Just beyond the spire of St. Paul's, you can see the tower of old St. Mary's.

Union Station, Old South End, Toledo

Though it's not exactly great architecture, this building didn't deserve the loating and snottiness aimed in its direction when it was destroyed by fire in the 1950's. Everyone was very pleased with its replacement, which is one of the most butt-ugly public buildings in the city.

Fairport Harbor, Lake County, Ohio

This one's at the mouth of the Grand River. The Christmas before last, I spent about an hour walking along the shore and looking at it in the distance.

This one's a museum. It's actually in the town of Fairport Harbor.

Walbridge Park

Foster Block, Fostoria, Ohio

Wonderful cornice. Too bad they've mucked about with the windows.

Photos by Kevin Hammer
I'm not sure if there's a connection to Charles Foster , for whom Fostoria was named, but this seems a good place to mention him. Foster was Governor of Ohio and US Secretary of the Treasury.

Former South Branch Library, Old South End

This is one of my favorite Old South End buildings.

It was built between 1914 and 1919. Can't recall the exact date and I don't feel quite up to digging through my notes.

ROFLMAO!

MIT is suing Frank Gehry for serious design flaws in one of his more surrealistic buildings. Doesn't surprise me at all. HERE'S the story.
Gehry is the architect who designed that arrangement of gray children's blocks next to the Toledo Museum of Art. Believe it or not, it's one of his better works. It actually looks good from an angle, or two. Some "cognoscenti" types ( You know what I mean. The sort who don't cogno their ass from a hole in the ground. ) seem to think Gehry is a groundbreaking architect. I disagree. He's the end of the line for tired, dated, modernistic folderol.

St. Lucas' Lutheran, Old South End

A few of my favorite details on a fine building.

"Jewels of Time"

There's an exhibit at the Taft Museum of Art, in Cincinnati, that looks good. It's a collection of watches. According to their WEBSITE , it'll run from November 30 to January 27.

Hamlin Hotel, Downtown Toledo

This was once a popular hotel for actors, during the days of live theater and vaudeville. Now, it's used as law offices, being conveniently located across Erie Street from the county courthouse. It was built in 1902.

Ohio Bell Telephone Building, Downtown Toledo

It's a bear to photograph. No good lines of sight for the whole facade. This is another product of the firm of Mills, Rhines, Bellman, and Nordhoff. Located at 121 Huron, it was built in 1925.

Marblehead, Ohio

I wouldn't be surprised if more people have seen pictures of this building than of anything else in Ohio. It was built in 1822.
There's a webpage for it HERE and more information and pictures HERE.
Photo by Kevin Hammer

B & O Railroad Station, Fostoria, Ohio