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Rare Historical Pictures Of Old Toledo, Ohio At The Beginning Of 20th Century

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Toledo is a city in Ohio. Founded in 1883 on the west bank of the Maumee River. Toledo was very slow to expand during its first two decades of settlement. Industrial development began in the 1830s with the arrival of the railroads and the discovery of local deposits of petroleum and natural gas in 1844. Several industries began to emerge in the city, including furniture, carriage maker, railroad manufacturing and glass production. These industries attracted many immigrants by the end of the 19th century.

Toledo continued to expand in population and industry into the early 20th century. However, Toledo was hit hard with high unemployment rates during the Great Depression. As World War II started, the industries shifted their focus on wartime production, and unemployment concerns disappeared. Toledo has a genuine world-class art museum, best metro parks in the country, libraries, restaurants, and symphony.

Here below are some historical photos that give a glimpse of old Toledo at the beginning of the 20th century.

#3 White Star steamer Owana leaving for Detroit, Toledo, 1912

White Star steamer Owana leaving for Detroit, Toledo, 1912

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#5 The Cherry Street Bridge over the Maumee River, Toledo, 1909

The Cherry Street Bridge over the Maumee River, Toledo, 1909

8 Points
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#7 Maumee River waterfront and Railroads represented on the coal cars, 1910

Maumee River waterfront and Railroads represented on the coal cars, 1910

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#11 Spitzer Building, Madison Avenue and Huron Street, Toledo, Ohio, circa 1900

Spitzer Building, Madison Avenue and Huron Street, Toledo, Ohio, circa 1900

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#13 Madison Avenue from Summit Street, Toledo, Ohio, circa 1905

Madison Avenue from Summit Street, Toledo, Ohio, circa 1905

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#15 Sidewheeler Frank E. Kirby at steamer landing, Toledo, 1910

Sidewheeler Frank E. Kirby at steamer landing, Toledo, 1910

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#19 Toledo, Ohio, circa 1909. “Hotel Secor, Jefferson Avenue and Superior Street.”

Toledo, Ohio, circa 1909. "Hotel Secor, Jefferson Avenue and Superior Street."

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#20 Brown hoist, Ohio Central coal dock, Toledo, 1910

Brown hoist, Ohio Central coal dock, Toledo, 1910

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#30 Riverside Drive, Riverside Park, Toledo, Ohio, 1902

Riverside Drive, Riverside Park, Toledo, Ohio, 1902

1 Point
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#37 Madison Avenue & the Ohio Building, Toledo, Ohio, 1904

Madison Avenue & the Ohio Building, Toledo, Ohio, 1904

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#39 Toledo Museum of Art, north gallery, Toledo, Ohio, 1906

Toledo Museum of Art, north gallery, Toledo, Ohio, 1906

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#42 Conservatory in Walbridge Park, Toledo, Ohio, 1906

Conservatory in Walbridge Park, Toledo, Ohio, 1906

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#44 Greyhound passing through Cherry St. Street bridge, Toledo, 1909

Greyhound passing through Cherry St. Street bridge, Toledo, 1909

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#45 The Farm, Toledo, Ohio, 1908.between 1900 and 1910

The Farm, Toledo, Ohio, 1908.between 1900 and 1910

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#47 Produce exchange and Ohio Building, Toledo, Ohio, 1909

Produce exchange and Ohio Building, Toledo, Ohio, 1909

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#48 Up the Maumee from Walbridge Park, Toledo, Ohio, 1909.between 1900 and 1910

Up the Maumee from Walbridge Park, Toledo, Ohio, 1909.between 1900 and 1910

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#51 View on Collingwood Ave., near W. Bancroft Street, Toledo, Ohio, 1903

View on Collingwood Ave., near W. Bancroft Street, Toledo, Ohio, 1903

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#52 Boardwalk, casino, showing portion of scenic ry., Toledo, Ohio, 1904

Boardwalk, casino, showing portion of scenic ry., Toledo, Ohio, 1904

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#63 Blast furnaces from west bank of Maumee River, Toledo, Ohio, 1907

Blast furnaces from west bank of Maumee River, Toledo, Ohio, 1907

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#69 Brown hoist, Hocking Valley coal dock, Toledo, Ohio, 1910

Brown hoist, Hocking Valley coal dock, Toledo, Ohio, 1910

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#70 Toledo Shipbuilding Co.’s yards, building a freighter, 1910

Toledo Shipbuilding Co.'s yards, building a freighter, 1910

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#73 A man sits in a Toledo Steam Carriage on the rim of the Grand Canyon, 1902

A man sits in a Toledo Steam Carriage on the rim of the Grand Canyon, 1902

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#75 Roller Coaster along Boardwalk Leading to Casino, Lake Erie Park and Casino, Toledo, Ohio, 1906

Roller Coaster along Boardwalk Leading to Casino, Lake Erie Park and Casino, Toledo, Ohio, 1906

1 Point
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#76 Street Scene, Madison Avenue from Summit Street, Toledo, Ohio, 1905

Street Scene, Madison Avenue from Summit Street, Toledo, Ohio, 1905

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#77 Roller Coaster and Boardwalk, Lake Erie Park and Casino, Toledo, Ohio, 1905

Roller Coaster and Boardwalk, Lake Erie Park and Casino, Toledo, Ohio, 1905

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#80 A man drives a passenger through the snow in a Pope-Toledo automobile in 1905

A man drives a passenger through the snow in a Pope-Toledo automobile in 1905

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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