Sylvania, Lucas County, Ohio;: From Footpaths to Expressways and Beyond

By Gayleen Gindy

Join the author in reliving Sylvania’s over 180 years of history from footpaths to expressways and beyond, in volume eight of an eight volume set. With over 30 years of research she has included every subject imaginable that helped bring Sylvania to where they are today, with excellent schools, over-the-top parks and recreation, rich beautiful homes, commercial and industrial businesses and a quaint historical downtown that looks like it was planned by Norman Rockwell himself. This book is a treasure trove of information for the thousands who have ancestors that once lived and helped Sylvania grow through these years. Located in northwestern Ohio, Sylvania is a suburb of Toledo, Ohio and for many years has been known as “the fastest growing suburb in Lucas County.” A once rural farm community, between both the city and township they have grown from a combined 2,220 residents in 1910, to 48,487 in 2010. Over a short period of time the land has transformed into beautiful subdivisions of grand houses, so that now their subdivision names are all that remain to remind them of their once dense forests and sprawling farmlands. No longer can Sylvania be called the “bedroom community” of Toledo, because over the last 50 years they have done a lot more than sleep.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Oct 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781728367484

Gayleen Gindy

Gayleen Gindy is a free-lance writer, author and historian from Sylvania, Ohio, and for many years wrote under the name of Gaye E. Gindy. She has been researching the history of the Sylvania community for over 30 years and retired in 2010, after working for 33 years with the governmental entities of Sylvania Township and the City of Sylvania; working in the fire department, township administration offices and then the city police division. She has been a member of both the local historical society and historical commission for many years and has written numerous local history articles for many magazines and newspapers, as well as published nine other books about the history of Sylvania.

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© 2020 Gayleen Gindy. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted

by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 09/25/2020

ISBN: 978-1-7283-6747-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-6748-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020913011

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There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing and be nothing

Aristotle

Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs

Farrah Gray

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.

Benjamin Franklin

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dedicated To My Family

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Public Schools In Sylvania

Maps Showing School Districts And School Houses

Sylvania Township Board Of Education

Sylvania High School Company

Township School District No. 1

Township School District No. 2

Township School District No. 3

Township School District No. 4

Township School District No. 5

Township School District No. 6

Township School District No. 7

Sylvania Village Board Of Education

Sylvania Township And Village Joint High School Committee

Sylvania School Boards Merged – The First Ten Years 1920 - 1930

Consolidation Of Schools

Hill View Elementary School – 5436 Whiteford Road

Burnham High School – 6850 Monroe Street

Central Elementary School – 7840 W. Central Avenue

Maplewood Elementary School – 6749 Maplewood Avenue

References Used For All Volumes

About The Author

DEDICATED TO MY FAMILY

Sam, Allan, Samantha, Audrey, Sophia and Ella

I love you!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Individuals who have helped with information for these volumes, in one way or another, include: Sharon (Polly) Cooper, Elizabeth (Liz) Stover, Lucille Laskey, David Drake, Carolyn Micham, Melvin Micham, Gordon Deye, Alcy Downing, Richard Downing, Clark Collins, Rachel Stanton, Gerald Sobb, Leonard McMahon, Clayton Fischer, Cheryl Lavimodiere, Margie Lintner, Peggy Watts, George Eichenauer, John Plock, Jeff Ballmer, Rick Barricklow, Deb Raszka, Terry Helpman, Loren Sengstock, Tammy Martin, Tara Jacobs, Barb Taylor, Dan Hughes, Robert Oberly, Larry Wagner, Kathryn Keller, Vicki Alspach, Jennifer Howard, Sue Tuite, Lonnie Smith, Glenn Fink, John Fisher, Donald Covrett, Curtis Niles, Richard A. Campbell, Clifford Keeler, Scott Reed, Charles Tipping, Melissa Burzynski, Richard Laux, John Grayczyk, Ralph Stallsworth, Karen Keeler, Ara Smith, Hazel Smith, Robert C. Smith, Robert A. Smith, Milton Thomas Cory, Greg Roytek, Mark Weichel, Timothy Burns, Debbie Webb, Pat O’Brien, Joe Shaw, Samantha Babkiewicz-Didion, Marie Truckor, Eric Ulas, Gwen Clark, Sue Paschen, Amy Addington, Linda Decker. Also a big thank you to the employees at the Local History and Genealogy Department at the Toledo and Lucas County Public Library for being ever ready to drag stuff out of that backroom for me and fix the machines: James Marshall, Greg Miller, Donna Christian, Irene Martin, Mike Lara, Ann Hurley, Jill Clever and Laura Voelz. And a big thank you to R. Michael Frank, Esq., for all that you did for me during some very rough times in my life.

It is impossible to personally thank everyone that helped with information for these books, so to those that I did not specifically name, I give you thanks for your contribution.

Just so that nobody in my family can say that I did not mention them in my book I would like to mention the following names of my beloved family who have all helped me in many, many ways: Sam Gindy, Allan Gindy, Samantha Gindy, Audrey Blaisdell-Gindy, Sophia Rose Gindy, Ella Jane Gindy, Charles Sullins, Carolyn Daler-Sullins-Micham, Allan J. Gindy, Carolyn Sberna-Gindy, Melvin Micham, Sharon Dentel-Sullins, Jeff Gindy, Jill Sullins-Dallas, Mark Dallas, Pen Dallas, Marsha Rosinski-Dallas, Nick Dallas, Melissa Flores-Dallas, Luna Mae Dallas, Miles Dallas, Andrew Dallas, Bart Sullins, Julie Crayford-Sullins, Sara Sullins-Martin, Tyler Martin, Laura Sullins, Amy Sullins-Verhelst, Bob Verhelst, Bret Sullins, Charley Sullins, Jack Sullins. You are all the highlight of my life.

INTRODUCTION

This book is volume eight of my eight volume set of books that I have published about Sylvania’s history. All eight volumes are titled Sylvania, Lucas County, Ohio; From Footpaths to Expressways and Beyond, and each volume has a different set of historic photos on the cover to represent the contents of that particular book. The top portion of each spine will have a letter to represent one letter in the name Sylvania. When lined up on your bookshelf the books will spell out S-Y-L-V-A-N-I-A. The volume that you are reading right now has the letter A on its spine.

Sylvania, Lucas County, Ohio is located in northwestern Ohio, and our north border line runs along the south border line of the Michigan state line. Monroe and Lenawee County, Michigan are our bordering neighbors to the north, and we are a suburb of Toledo, Ohio, which the township of Sylvania borders on their eastern and southeastern lines. These volumes include the history of both the city and township of Sylvania as one community, but distinguished by the words city or township.

The 2010 census shows that there were 18,965 residents in the city and 29,522 residents in the township of Sylvania, for a combined population of 48,487. The 2020 census counts are not available yet. Our Sylvania school district includes an even larger population because it covers areas of the township that were annexed to Toledo as well. At this time the township continues to grow with new commercial development and new residential subdivisions, while the city of Sylvania has pretty much all been fully developed, and we are now working on our second generation of buildings in the city.

Sylvania Township and the City of Sylvania share so many of their services that in most cases the residents don’t even know which community they live in, they just know that they live in Sylvania. A few of the services that the two communities share include fire services, rescue services, public schools, public recreation, court services, historical societies and in some cases water and sewer services. Another confusing fact is that residents of the city of Sylvania get the opportunity to vote for the three township trustees and township clerk; because the Ohio Revised Code says that the city is officially still part of its original township of Sylvania. But the township residents do not get the opportunity to vote for any of the city public officials. Police service is one service that is still operated by the two separate entities, as well as police and fire emergency dispatching services and road and street maintenance services.

This volume was to be my last volume, and was to include the complete history of Sylvania’s schools, but after putting everything together, and eliminating so much, I found that it was going to have to include just the history of the schools through 1930. Another volume will have to include the history of Sylvania Schools from 1931 to 2020.

To recap the volumes that have been published so far, Volume One included history of the beginning years of Sylvania, the American Indians that lived in the Northwest Territory and in the areas throughout Lucas County, before the county was established. Included was information on the locations throughout Sylvania where the Indians camped, and where their footpaths and arrowheads were found by the early settlers when they first arrived here. Volume One also includes the following other subjects: The Ohio-Michigan boundary dispute; the establishment of Lucas County; The first settlers in Sylvania; Sylvania Township and its original boundaries and annexations; the initial events; elected positions; the first land purchases; the first elections under the name of Sylvania; information from the first township minutes books; government meeting places; voting in Sylvania; a complete listing of Sylvania Township officials; how the village of Sylvania was established and later became a city; information from the first minute books of the village of Sylvania; a complete list of village/city officials; populations; merger attempts; postmasters and post offices; the Ten Mile Creek; the Ottawa River; and the establishment of a public water system in Sylvania.

Volume Two documented the early medical doctors, epidemics, diseases and illnesses, and gave biographical sketches of the early doctors in Sylvania. There is a chapter on the poor and needy, the depression years, and government work programs. Next in Volume Two is a complete history of the railroads that operated through Sylvania and on to the development of roads and how some of them got their names from the names of some of the early settlers. Sylvania was notified in 1956 of the state’s intentions to build an expressway that would pass through Sylvania, and by 1958 the state started purchasing the land for the new expressway. Volume Two then ends by telling the history of some of the very early fires in Sylvania and then the early development of a volunteer fire department.

Volume Three focuses completely on the history of the Sylvania Township Fire Department, and ends with a complete listing of all those individuals who served as volunteers on the fire department, all those who served as part-paid firemen/EMTs and a separate listing of the full-time firemen/paramedics through to 2013.

Volume Four includes information regarding the sale of intoxicating liquors, the first taverns, gambling, our jails over the years and then a history of the Sylvania Township Police Department, the Village/City of Sylvania Police Division and a history of the Sylvania Municipal Court. The last chapters in volume four tell the histories of our public parks and recreational facilities in Sylvania.

Volume Five included chapters on our zoning laws and gives information on those who helped in the development and enforcement of our subdivisions, commercial areas and industrial properties. Included are discussions about our years of large growth and when the township farm lands started to boom with development. Next in volume five there are chapters on our public cemeteries and their individual histories, then a little history on undertaking, funeral parlors and funeral homes in Sylvania; and our legendary ghost stories that have been told over the years. Then volume five ended with a history of our long established and well-known businesses in Sylvania, which once operated in Sylvania, along with many that still exist here today.

Volume Six covered the history of our newspapers in Sylvania over the years, the history of our public libraries and the history of our events, festivals and annual programs. Volume Six then includes the history of our clubs, centers, camps, organizations and posts. This volume then includes a chapter on information about various places in Sylvania and finally ends with the history of a community within Sylvania that became known as Silica.

Volume Seven includes information about the wars that our residents lived through and the memorials that they built to remind our future generations of these wars. Then researched were our landfills and auto salvage yards, which up until 1999 took up a large portion of our township. Next a review of our weather related events, then miscellaneous subjects such as our bands, classic cars, our first national fast food restaurants, a frog farm in Sylvania, some of our social groups, gypsies, house moving, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, our ringing of the church bells, history the Sisters of St. Francis and their community within Sylvania, strawberry picking, the Sylvan Serenaders, telephones, and Sylvania as a Tree City U.S.A. designated community. Finally Volume Seven ends with a list of our known murders that have occurred in Sylvania.

Volume Eight includes the history of our public schools through 1930, and how we went from being one school system, to two separate school systems and then how we eventually merged to become one school system in order to give our young residents the best possible education at the most economical cost to the taxpayers. The merge of the two school boards occurred in 1920 and this volume takes you through the first ten years of the merged board. A volume nine will have to be published to take our school history from 1931 to 2020. I’ve decided that the top spine of the proposed volume nine will say OHIO.

It is the author’s hope that these books will help document Sylvania’s history, and help to jog your memories and give you a detailed insight into the things that have happened before us. I hope that I have mentioned your name and/or the names of your Sylvania ancestors somewhere in these volumes.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN SYLVANIA

Most of the information provided in this brief history was obtained from the minute books of the two different Boards of Education in Sylvania, which go back to the earliest days. Another great source of information regarding our schools comes from the local newspapers that were published over the years. These old newspapers tell the week by week news of what was going on in our schools. And finally, the actual yearbooks of the high schools over the years were also used. Sylvania has always been proud of its schools and our schools are a big part of what brought, and still bring people to Sylvania, since its earliest days. The Sylvania schools are known for the best education that a public system can provide.

I always say that in order to understand where we want to go, we need to first understand how we got to where we are today. Almost every elected school board member over the years has worked to attain excellence in our schools, and over the years Sylvania has provided a quality education that has been known for miles around. We have had an outstanding teaching faculty and administration and have always been able to hire the best of the best because of the support of our residents and school administration. Sure there were times over the years that it took a couple of tries to get a school levy passed, but it was usually due to bad economic times.

Throughout the history of our schools, along with everyone else, we have suffered the national events over the years. The Mexican-American War, American Civil War, the Spanish-American War, The Panic of the 1890s, World War I, The Great Depression, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, War in Afghanistan, Invasion of Iraq and others. But somehow we lived through these events, and in fact, in reading through all the available minutes of the school boards, you wouldn’t even know that anything was going on, except during the Great Depression when the board of education literally ran out of money and had to pay the employees in script. This was a form of money, but it could only be used at certain local stores and to pay local property taxes. That portion of our school history will be addressed in a Volume 9.

Starting in the beginning, records indicate that the first school house was built by General David White at his own expense. It was a frame building about 18 x 24 feet in size and stood on land owned by J.H. Parker. (Today the address of this original school house is 5735 Main). In 1836 when the Erie & Kalamazoo Railroad was built, the running of the railroad cars, and the noise it created, annoyed General White so much that he had the school building moved to the opposite side of town.

One document that indicates that a school existed by November of 1834 was the minutes of the First Presbyterian Church of Whiteford, which recorded the following on 11-8-1834: The Presbyterians and Congregationalists of the town of Whiteford convened at the school house in said town for the purpose of taking in to consideration the propriety of organizing a church… .

The public school system in Sylvania started out as a township controlled board, since at that time the village of Sylvania and the city of Sylvania did not exist yet. It wasn’t until 1867 that the village of Sylvania was established as a separate governmental entity. When that happened a totally separate school board was established to handle the schools within the village only, while the township school board remained intact, now minus the village.

In 1837 a new Ohio School law was passed, and then after that schools in Sylvania started to take hold.

The laws of the State of Ohio for a Township said that the Board of Education shall be composed of each clerk of each school sub-district of the township. The officers included a president, (one of the members elected by the Board) and the clerk.

• The regular meetings were to be held on the third Monday of April and September.

• Special meetings could be called by the clerk, president, or any two members.

The duties of the Board of Education were:

• To divide the township into sub-districts, and to build school-houses.

• To maintain school for at least six months each year.

• To levy taxes for school purposes, not exceeding seven mills on each dollar of taxable property in the township.

• To determine the course of study, adopt text-books, and to make necessary rules.

• To provide proper means and apparatus for efficient instruction, and to compel the attendance of all children between the ages of six and fourteen years.

In the sub-districts there were three local directors, elected by the people of that district, for three years, staggered so that each year a term was up. The duties included:

• To employ qualified teachers, and to visit and examine and schools at least twice each quarter.

• To have care of school property, and make repairs by direction of Board of Education.

• To elect one of themselves president, and clerk, to represent the school district.

• Enumerate the children of school age (between 6 and 21 years), and report the same to Township Clerk.

The best example of what an early school house was like in the early days was written by Sylvania’s own Robert R. Wyandt. He was a long-time Burnham High School teacher, who will be discussed more throughout our school history. Here’s what he wrote in his book titled: A Century and a Quarter of Education – Sylvania Public Schools – 1841 – 1966:

The One Roomer – From memory as a student and teacher. First of all the general location – In his first surveys General George Washington decided that all land should be laid out in mile square sections. In many places I have visited, surveyors attempted to do this. However many obstacles were met and land could not always be surveyed, according to Washington. Here is a crude construction of his idea. A school house was then to be built in the center of this plot. Now you see why a good many old-timers" talk about walking two miles to school. Anyone living at A-B-C-D either walked two miles or cut diagonally across to the school. This cutting across sometimes became a chore because fences had to be climbed, ditches crossed, plowed fields and corn fields navigated.

The school house was generally placed on an acre or two of ground in order for playground room for the students. The land was either given to the schools, sold to them, or privilege was given for the use of the land for school purposes and then returned to the original property after the school was disbanded.

The general run of the school house was a building, often specified inside measurement, 24 by 48 feet with at least a ten foot ceiling. They were constructed of frame material or brick.

The inside could be of several types of construction. Often a four to six foot wainscoting ran the length and breadth of the building. The upper part was finished with plaster and then covered with kalsomine. The front portion has blackboard space from one wall to the other. For lighting purposes there were from two to four kerosene bracket lamps on each side. Along the rear wall were benches above which were hooks to hang clothes.

The seating was as follows: The outside rows were double seats and desks while around the old pot belly stove single seats were placed so that no one sat too close to the stove. You no doubt remember the corners on very cold, windy days. Very little heat circulated into these far corners. When wood was used there always was a pile of it stacked near the stove. When coal came into use a couple huge buckets full were to be seen. No one ever knew how it got done but the wood never stayed in place and the coal buckets were always being overturned. The teachers, as a general rule, were the janitor and often in the midst of a class would have to tend the fire or delegate an older student to do it. Many a student would decide that the stove needed a good poking or the grates needed to be shaken. This always was good for the student morale.

The early school sessions were divided into a fall, winter, and spring term. In the fall, the young people started to school.

Generally this group ranged from 6 to 14 years of age. After the fall crops were all gathered then those from 14 years of age and older started school. This group, many times, had grammar students well beyond the age of 20. They generally went from the first of December until the first of March. This term was known as the winter term. At the close of the winter term, the enrollment for the spring term consisted of the students who started in the fall. It was not uncommon in the early days to have different teachers for each term.

At the close of the winter term many schools held a great celebration. This was visiting day for the patrons of the districts. The forenoon regular school session was held. Along in the middle of the morning session the patrons of the district began to arrive. Each patron carried a huge picnic basket loaded with all the goodies of a big meal. At noon everyone enjoyed a great feast. The afternoon session was given over to the program by the primary and intermediate groups. Following the program those who had evening chores to do went home to do them. The rest of the people remained at the school house to eat the scraps left from the noon meal. As soon as those who had gone to do the chores had returned the grammar school pupils furnished the entertainment. Quite often this consisted of a three act play. One of the favorite plays in our school was Nugget Nell. The make shift curtains and stage were something to behold but everyone would leave at the close of the play feeling that time was well spent. And so would end the glorious day in the one room school.

Other programs which would bring the patrons to the school in great numbers were the ciphering matches, spelling bees, and debates. These were generally hotly contested performances. The ciphering would start on a low level of addition and generally end with the extraction of square and cube roots. The spelling went far beyond the grammar speller because a goodly portion of the patrons knew how to spell every word in the book. In order to find the champion speller it would be necessary to use the words from the dictionary, geography, history, or weekly newspaper. Debates were based on current problems of the day. The terms were composed of teachers, local citizens and professional men. These debates would sometimes end in near fist fights.

A gala time for the pupils of the school often came after the last recess on Friday. During this time they might cipher, spell-down, recite poetry or sing songs. Once in a while this time would be spent in drawing and painting.

Physical education was not a particular time. About all of the students had plenty of work at home to keep them physically fit. However there were plenty of games concocted. Here are a few that I remember: One Hold Car, sock ball, zippy, draw base, stink base, you’re out, shinning, anti-over, and some simple form of baseball. In the winter there was sledding, ice skating, and fox and geese. With an hour at noon there was plenty of play time. At recess there was time for tag, ring-a-round-a-rosy, farmer in the dell, drop the handkerchief, crack the whip, and games of this nature.

And speaking of lunch, everyone carried a dinner bucket which generally was full. Bite for bite was often traded on sandwiches, pickles, apples, and whatever you had to trade. Little thought was given to sanitation. The water supply for instance came from the well. On the pump, dangling from a chain was the old tin cup used by everyone. So that time was not lost running to the well for a drink during classes, a bucket of water was carried into the building at morning, recess, and noon. A long handled dipper, which always rested in the water, provided drinking for all.

Restroom facilities were provided by two shanties, one for the girls, which was generally placed close to the building, and one for the boys placed as far from the building as possible. The shanties, as Chick sales in his specialist would say, were of the two or three holer type. Very little time was spent in these places in the winter because they were very, very cold.

I have often heard teachers, in our modern, up to date ventilated schools, complain about the odor in the school room. Let me compare just one day with them. Put 56 children from the age of 6 to 26 in one room. Most of the boys wearing felt boots. For the benefit of those who do not know, felt boots consisted of heavy felt, about one half inch thick, reaching stocking like almost to the knees, with an artic boot over the foot. The artic boot was made of rubber and when it became citified it became a galosh. Now take off the artic and run around in the felt. This felt was never washed or cleaned from the time it was purchased until it wore out. It was strong enough to wear for years and kept getting stronger in smell every year it was worn. Now add to this a cold, wet day. Add to this a half dozen boys who had run trap lines before coming to school, with two or three or more skunks in the traps. Now have these boys and all the rest of those who wore wet felt boots to school take off their artics and felt boots and place the felt close to the stove to dry. Put the stinky odor of damp corduroy pants with the above, the smell of an acidify bag, skunk grease, coal oil and lard, and garlic, the last four to ward off colds. Now you have an odor of a school room which is a never to be forgotten experience.

A well-remembered time was the day before the Christmas holidays when the teacher, in a good many instances, furnished a treat for the entire school. This treat often consisted of a bag of hard mixed candy with a few chocolate drops thrown in for good measure. It was also customary to present each child with an orange. This was not too great a financial burden on the teacher as the hard mixed candy generally could be purchased for a nickel a pound and the chocolates for fifteen cents a pound. Oranges were three for a nickel.

I think one should also mention the old school bells. As a rule each building had a belfry which contained a large bell. In some cases this bell was to be rung one half hour before school was to take up. It was rung again when school was to begin. The teacher was supposedly to keep his watch or clock running on time because many in the community set their clocks and watches by the ringing of the bell. It was a series of woes to the teacher who rang the bell erratically. This bell often provided the main fun for the young people on Halloween and New Year’s Eve. To break into the school and ring the bell was out of this world.

In addition to the big bell the teacher often had a hand bell for calling the students from the playground at recess time.

The old one room schools were fun. A few years ago I visited the old school where I began to teach. It is now a corn crib. I could not help but think, Maybe there was a lot of corn in it during school hours.

––––End of story by Robert Wyandt––––

MAPS SHOWING SCHOOL DISTRICTS

AND SCHOOL HOUSES

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1836 School Districts – The boundary lines of Sylvania Township were larger in 1836 before the establishment of Richfield Township in 1839 to the west, and Adams Township in 1856 in the southeast portion of the township. In 1836 the school board set up four school districts as shown.

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This map shows the school district boundary lines in 1850. On the west boundary line between Sylvania Township and Richfield Township, there was a joint agreement for Sylvania Township to provide schooling in their District No. 4. In the southeast corner District No. 7 still included land that would later be annexed to Adams Township in 1856. The north boundary line was always at the Michigan state line, and the east boundary line was always at Talmadge Road (Washington Township line).

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These were the school districts in 1854. In 1854 Adams Township had not been established yet in the southeast corner and was still part of Sylvania Township. The boundary line between District No. 1 and District No. 6 was the Ottawa River.

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This map of Sylvania Township was part of a Lucas County map published by J.D. & E. Janney in 1861, which was drawn showing the owners of each parcel throughout the county. The stars represent where our school houses were located at that time throughout Sylvania Township.

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This map shows the school districts in Sylvania Township in 1868 after the Village of Sylvania was established. The new Village of Sylvania School District took over the township’s No. 2 school district at that time.

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In 1875 a Lucas County Atlas was published in Andreas & Baskin’s Illustrated Historical Atlas of Lucas and part of Wood County, Ohio, Chicago, Ill. This map of Sylvania Township was included. Using this map the school houses at this time are indicated by a star.

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In 1877 the Sylvania Township School Board changed District No. 6 to District No. 2, and then created a new District No. 6. This was the map that was found in the school board minute book showing the districts after that change.

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The one-room school houses throughout Sylvania Township are indicated by a star as they were in 1920. By 1920 there were three one-room school houses on Whiteford Road (Pleasant Point, Ginger Hill and the original school called Hill View).

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By 1930 all one-room school houses were gone and schools were consolidated into one high school and three elementary schools: Burnham High School; Hill View Elementary; Maplewood Elementary; and Central Elementary.

SYLVANIA TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION

First we will start off with the list of Sylvania Township School Board members from 1853 through 1920. It ends at 1920 because that is when the school boards merged to become one. It starts with 1853 because records before that year are sketchy. If the year is missing the information is not available. These school board members managed the township school districts and the clerk paid their bills, after they were approved and submitted to this board by the district school directors, known as local directors.

The clerk of each local school district originally also served as one of the township school board members. The local directors were voted into office by the electors in each school district. Then each local district board nominated a clerk, and that clerk served as their representative on the township school board.

In these early years the local school directors hired their own teacher, and then in order for their hired teacher to be paid the teacher would make out his or her report to the local directors telling how many days they taught and how much was due. Then the local directors submitted that report, with their approval, to the township school board so that the teacher could be paid by the clerk. The township school board handled the purchase or leasing of property for school house purposes. The clerk of Sylvania Township initially wrote out the checks, but that was later turned over to the township school board clerk.

Superintendents of the township schools hired by the Sylvania Township Board of Education

The minutes of the first meetings of the school board in Sylvania Township reads as follows:

11-17-1836 – The Trustees of Sylvania Township, Cyrus Holloway and Shadrach W. Allen met and recorded the following: "We certify that we have this day divided and set off the Township of Sylvania into four school districts and they are bounded as follows:

District No. 1 – is bounded on the North and East by the Township line – on the South by the Township line and on the West by the West line of Sections No. 26, 23, 14, 11 and 2;

District No. 2 – is bounded on the North by the Township line – on the East by District No. 1 – on the South by the Township line – and on the West by a line running North from the SW corner of Section No. 28 to the 2nd Section stake on the West line of Section No. 9, thence East to the SE corner of Beebe Comstock’s land, thence North to the Indiana Road thence West to Beebe Comstocks House, thence North to the Township line;

District No. 3 – is bounded on the North by the Township line – on the East by District No. 2 – on the South by the South line of Section 8 & 7 and on the West by the Township Line;

District No 4 – is bounded on the North by District No. 3 – on the East by District No. 2 on the South by the Township line and on the West by the Township line.

In 1836 when the Sylvania Township Trustees recorded their first meeting minutes, after this area had been determined to be part of the State of Ohio, one of the first items mentioned was finding a means of opening a public school in Sylvania. In 1837 a new school law had gone into effect which permitted the organization of school districts. By 1839 it was noted that the Sylvania Township Trustees authorized a payment to D.L. Westcott for preparing a school district map.

Each year in September, if any of the school districts had neglected to hold their annual meeting, agreeable to the law, and if the voters failed to appoint three trustees to their school district, then the township trustees and clerk would appoint three directors to each district. School districts were created as needed, according to population changes in the various areas of the township. A petition could be submitted to the trustees by residents of a proposed school district and the trustees would approve or disapprove the request according to the required majority of the householders of said district.

At this time all entries in the Sylvania Township School Board minute books that refer to the various school districts have been separated into the individual district histories.

12-28-1839 – The following was recorded: Poll book of the elections held in the township of Sylvania in the county of Lucas on the 28th day of December 1839, Andrew Printup, Adam A Gordinier and Thomas D. Holloway, Judges and Daniel L. Westcott and John U. Pease, Clerks of said elections were severally sworn as the law directs previous to entering in the duties of their respective offices, said being for trustees and a treasurer of the school funds in said Township of Sylvania.

Number and Names of Electors

1 – Adam A. Gordinier; 2 – Andrew Printup; 3 – Thomas D. Holloway; 4 – John U. Pease; 5 – Daniel L. Westcott; 6 – Oristen Holloway; 7 – Abram VanAlstyne; 8 – Wm. W. Wilson; 9 – Paul Hawes; 10 – John B. Cory; 11 – Joseph Roop; 12 – Joseph Titsworth; 13 – Elijah Rice; 14 –William F. Dewey; 15 – John Lenardson, Jr.

It is hereby certified that the number of electors at this election amounts to fifteen, and that John Harroun and Shadrach W. Allen received each 14 votes and Eli Hubbard 13 votes and Abram VanAlstyne, Adam A. Gordinier and John U. Pease each one vote for trustees and Daniel L. Westcott received thirteen votes and Delano Holloway one vote for Treasurer of said school lands and that therefore,

John Harroun, Shadrach W. Allen and Eli Hubbard were elected Trustees and Daniel L. Westcott, Treasurer.

Attests:

Daniel L. Westcott and John U. Pease, Clerks

Adam A. Gardanier, Thomas D. Holloway and Andrew Printup, Judges of Election.

11-23-1841 - On this date the Sylvania Township School Directors met at Peleg T. Clark’s. S.W. Allen was appointed the chairman and Peleg T. Clark was appointed the treasurer and district clerk. The treasurer was directed to purchase a blackboard for the use of the school and was directed to lease a building to keep school in.

12-12-1841 - The School Directors met at the house of Peleg T. Clark. Charles T. White exhibited a certificate from Horace Green, Esq, Department School Examiner of the county and it was agreed to employ him to teach school in the branches certified for four months for which he was to receive $8.00 per month. P.T. Clark reported that he had leased a house from David White for the use of holding school for $1.00 per month and they were to complete the necessary repairs. The directors employed George Miller, Elijah Rice, and John Hendrickson to do the repairs.

Robert Wyandt wrote the following in his book titled: A Century and a Quarter of Education Sylvania Public Schools 1841 – 1966: A goodly portion of the early teachers had no real formal education. After completing the eighth grade or its equivalent they could be certified if they could pass the teacher’s examination. This examination took from two to three days to complete. It consisted of examinations in Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Geography, History, Spelling, Grammar, Language, and others including Orthography. For those who have gone through the procedure the Boxwell Examination was quite an occasion. This examination was taken at the end of the eighth grade for admission into high school. If a student passed the examination he was eligible to attend high school after he or she had appeared before an audience and given an acceptable declaration or a speech of oratory., An interesting note in the Board minutes refers to one Boxwell student who caused some trouble in the Central High School and rather than face punishment he joined the Navy. (1895).

1-23-1843 - The following was recorded: "Poll Book of Election of Trustees & Treasurer of School Lands – Elections held in the Township of Sylvania on the 23rd day of January in the year of our lord 1843. Benjamin Joy, Townsend Ellis and Shadrach W. Allen, Election Judges and John B. Cory and Clark D. Warren, clerks of said election were sworn as the law directs previous to their entering on the duties of their respective offices.

It is hereby certified that the number of electors at this election amounts to twenty-five (25). The votes were as follows:

• Daniel Durfee had 11 votes for Trustee,

• Amos Miner had 11 for Trustee,

• Paul Hawes, Eli Hubbard and Oristen Holloway had each 10 votes for Trustee.

• Shadrach W. Allen had 9 votes and

• Peleg T. Clark had one vote

Because of the tie cuts were drawn and Oristen Holloway won, therefore Daniel Durfee, Amos Miner and Oristen Holloway were declared duly elected school trustees.

For Treasurer:

• Horace Green had for Treasurer 11 votes,

• William Bancroft had 10 votes,

• Clark D. Warren had two votes,

• Thomas D. Holloway had two votes.

Horace Green was considered to be duly elected Treasurer.

Attested: John B. Cory, Clark D. Warren, Clerks

Benjamin Joy, Townsend Ellis, and S.W. Allen, Judges of Election

9-15-1843 - David Harroun submitted a resolution which was unanimously adopted that the Directors be requested to call a special meeting at as early a day as practical for the purpose of raising a tax for building a school house and purchasing a site.

10-12-1843 - At a special meeting of the voters of the district, which was called by the directors, the voters took into consideration the raising of a tax for building a school house and purchasing a site. They voted first to raise a tax and second to proceed to erect a school house. The school house was to be built of stone. It was agreed to build the school house in connection with the members of the Presbyterian Society of Sylvania, if they see fit. They would be required to pay half the expense and they would have the second story of the building for holding their religious meetings. A committee of five was appointed to work out the details.

10-26-1843 - The directors voted to raise five hundred dollars in the district for building a school house.

11-2-1843 - The school directors of District No. 2 of Sylvania Township met on this date and agreed to advertise for the construction of building a school house for the district.

11-20-1843 - The school directors met at the house of A.J. Majors and proceeded to let the job of building a stone building for a school house in District No. 2. The building was to be 24 feet by 40 feet on the inside walls. The lower story was to belong to the school district and was to be built by them. The upper story was to be built by subscription. The stone work of the building was contracted to A.J. Majors for $350.00. The woodwork to enclose and finish the building was contracted to Hiram A.W. Newcomb for $459.50. The lathing and plastering on the lower part was contracted to Levi W. Bradley for $35.50.

NOTE: RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE BUILDING WAS OF STONE FROM THE LIMESTONE LEDGES OF THE OTTAWA RIVER WHICH WAS OBTAINED FROM THE EASTERN SIDE OF SUMMIT STREET. THE SCHOOL BECAME KNOWN AS THE STONE ACADEMY. THE STRUCTURE ALSO HAD A TOWER AND A BELL.

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Known as the Stone Academy this school house was built in 1844 by selling shares to the area residents in order to fund the construction. This school was used until 1869 when it was demolished in order to build a new school on the same property today known as 5735 Main Street.

2-7-1844 – The Sylvania Township School Board received a report from the Lucas County Auditor on this date showing them receiving $62.154 from state funds and $173.579 in county funds. Total $235.733.

2-15-1844 – The Sylvania High School Company was given a charter by the State of Ohio on this date. At this time all records of the Sylvania High School Company have been separated and included in a separate history within this book.

4-8-1844 the Sylvania Township Trustees met with the Richfield Township Trustees and agreed to accept the Southeast ¼ of Section 11 and the Northeast ¼ of Section 14, Range 5 East, Town 9 South of the Township of Richfield into the Sylvania Township School District No. 6.

9-26-1845 – A deed for the property on the west side of Main Street, halfway between Erie Street and Maplewood Avenue, was recorded, putting the undivided half of that school property into the name of the Sylvania High School Company and the other half stayed in the name of the Sylvania Township Board of Education.

3-2-1846 - Agreeable to an application submitted and notices posted the Sylvania Township Board of Education altered school districts 1 & 2, to take the West 1/2 of the NW 1/2 and the West 1/2 of the SW 1/2 of Section 11 and the West 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of Section 2 in Town 9, Range 6 East, now forming a part of District No. 1 into district No. 2.

Also the board altered school districts No. 2 & 3 agreeable to notices posted, as follows: to take the West 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of Section 9 in Town 9 South and Range 6 East out of school district No. 3 and place it in district No. 2.

9-20-1847 - The Sylvania Township school directors met and voted that a tax of ten dollars be raised on the scholars according to the time spent in school for a wood tax. They also agreed to allow scholars to attend the school who were living out of the Sylvania Township district.

9-15-1848 - The Sylvania Township school directors met and voted that a tax of 37-3/4 cents be raised on each family in the district for fuel during the winter.

4-9-1849 - At this meeting the Sylvania Township directors passed a resolution to employ F.A. Benham to superintend the schools and teach school for twelve months at a salary of $300.00.

4-11-1849 - The Sylvania Township directors met and agreed to hire F.A. Benham to head the schools for twelve months at $300.00 salary payable quarterly and that all scholars that attend the higher branches should pay 1/4 more than those that study the common branches of education.

10-31-1851 - A meeting was held and the Sylvania Township school directors resolved that the school in District No. 2 be divided and a female teacher be employed to teach the lower school and that the scholars attending said lower school be taxed to pay the wages of the female teacher after drawing their proportion of the public money and that the parents make their own choice where to send their scholars, to the upper or lower school.

3-23-1853 – The following appeared in the Toledo Blade listing the amended school laws that were approved: "THE OHIO SCHOOL LAW –

Sec. 1 – Provides that every township shall constitute but one school district; except in cases of cities and incorporated villages, and also for the establishment of sub-district schools.

Sec. 2 – Provides for the election of three Directors in every sub-district, holding office respectively for three, two, and one year, according to their number of votes—such election to take place on the second Monday of April next.

Sec. 6 – Empowers these Directors to employ teachers, control the affairs of the schools, and visit them at least twice each term.

Sec. 8 – Requires the sub district Directors to take an annual census of all children between the ages of five and twenty-one years which shall be returned to the County Auditors.

Sec. 10 – Enumerates who shall constitute the Board of Township Trustees, viz: the clerks of the several district directors, with the township clerk, and empowers them to sue and be sued, to receive gifts and bequests, &, and invests them with the care of all the school houses, libraries %c., within their limits.

Sec. 12 – Gives to the Township Trustees the control of all High Schools within their limits, and also to decide upon propriety of German Schools.

Sec. 14 – Requires at least sixty resident scholars in order to constitute a sub-district.

Sec. 15 – Empowers the Board of Township Trustees to control the assignment of scholars to different schools, and invests them with disciplinary power in cases of bad behavior by pupils.

Sec. 17 – Gives to the Board the selection of books and the direction of studies to be pursued.

Sec. 18 – Compels each teacher to give a full statistic to his school.

Sec. 19 – Requires the returns of the statistics of each town to the Auditor of the County.

Sec. 20 – Enables Township Trustees to establish graded schools.

Sec. 23 – Limits the amount of tax for the support of High Schools to two mills on a dollar.

Sec. 24 – Requires the Board to continue their schools at least seven months in the year.

Sec. 31 – Directs the establishment of separate schools for colored children, when the number exceeds 30. If a less number, than their portion of the school fund shall be expended under the direction of the Township Board.

Section 32 – Makes every City and incorporated Village as School District, if not having not less than 300 inhabitants.

Sec. 36 – Authorizes the establishment of Evening Schools in Cities and incorporated Villages for those who work in the day time.

Sec. 44 – Empowers the Probate Judge to select three persons as school examiners, to serve two years and to fill vacancies &c.

Sec. 45 – Limits the validity of a teacher’s certificate to two years, and forbids the employment of any teacher not possessed of a good moral character, and qualified to teach Orthography, Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Geography, and English Grammar.

Sec. 46 – Provides for the payment of $1.50 a day to the Examiners while engaged in official duty.

Sec. 47 – Directs the appointment, by popular vote, of a State Commissioner of Common Schools, whose term of office shall be three years.

Sec. 50 – Requires the Commissioner to spend at least ten days in each Judicial District of the State, in promoting the general objects of education.

Sec. 56 – Requires an annual report from him of the statistics both of the public and private schools of the State.

Sec. 57 – Fixes the Superintendent’s salary at $1,500.

Sec. 58 –