Oregon Jerusalem Historical Society

10/17/2026

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Saturday History Lesson with
The History Fanatic

This weekend we are talking about:
–Bowsher High School–
Let's begin!!

Bowsher High School opened for classes in September 1962, the same day as Start, and was named for the former Superintendent of schools, E. L. Bowsher, who was at that time the secretary-manager of the Toledo Automobile Club. Before the school even opened, controversy was generated by its chosen name.
On December 12, 1960 residents presented the Toledo board of education petitions with 6,000 signatures in favor of naming the new school in honor of Libbey's beloved principal Harold Williams, who had died in 1947. A.M. Steinberg, told the board, “We have no quarrel with Mr. Bowser, but he was an administrator and Mr. Williams was an educator.” He suggested that the board name its new administration building on Manhattan Ave. for Mr. Bowsher and the new school under construction for Mr. Williams.
Designed by the firm of Samborn, Steketee, Otis and Evans, Bowsher was built at a total cost of $3,313,734. Situated on a 20 acre tract, the new school has a three story wing on Detroit Avenue with 53 standard classrooms, 13 science and home economics laboratories, a library and a cafeteria with kitchen. A one-story wing on Glanzman Road held a 10 room music department, little theater, industrial arts shop, art studios, auditorium, gymnasium, and administrative offices. The side of the school away from the road was 25 feet lower, and would provide space for a football stadium and other athletic fields.
When it opened, Bowsher had an enrollment of 1232 students with a teaching staff of 49. The first principal was Raymond McNeill l, who would later be a principal at Waite. By the mid 1970's, the enrollment increased to as many as 2160 with a staff of 92.
The library at Bowsher was once a courtyard. The courtyard was converted to provide additional space when the original library was enlarged. It was named for Elaine Leech, the librarian at the time of the expansion.
Bowsher has had many outstanding athletes in its sports programs, including basketball star Dennis Hopson who later played in the NBA. The school's football stadium is named in honor of Charles W. Matthew's, a former teacher and athletic director who died in 1980. It became only the third lighted stadium at a Toledo high school when the old lights from the UT Glass Bowl were given to the school in 1990.


History and pictures provided by:
A Change for Every Child
By;
Robyn Hage & Larry Michaels

10/10/2026

.
Saturday History Lesson with
The History Fanatic

This weekend we are talking about:
–James O’'Brien–
Let's begin!!

The O'Brien family is descended from Milesius, King of Spain, through the line of Heber, third son of that monarch. The founders of the family were Brian Boroimhe, or Boru, King of Ireland, A.D. 1002 - 1014, and Moriertach O'Brien, last king of Ireland, or the race of Brian Boru, A.D. 1089.
James started his career as a teacher and coach at Wynn Elementary, after his sophomore year at Bowling Green State University. He was a member of the BGSU track team. He agreed to run a track meet in Oregon for $5. He talked to an administrator, found out they had an opening and was hired.
In those days a person could take a test for a teaching certificate in Ohio even before he completed college.
After taking the full time position at Wynn school in 1927, he completed the requirements for his bachelor's degree in BGSU summer sessions, receiving it in 1936. Then he continued for his masters at BGSU, getting it in 1950.
After 11 years at Wynn, Mr. O'Brien became principal of Clay Elementary School. Then 11 years later in 1949, Mr. O'Brien was named principal at Clay High School.
He was a past president of the Lucas County Teachers Association, the Northwestern Ohio Principals Association, a former member of the Board of Governors of the East Toledo YMCA and the BGSU alumni Board of Directors, a member of the National Education Association, the national and State Principles Associations, the Oregon Civitans, the Oregonian Civic Club, the East Toledo Club, the Oregon Historical Society, the BGSU Varsity BG Club, the BGSU Falcon Club, and the North Central Association of colleges and Secondary Schools and is a Mason.
After 47 years in the Oregon school system, James O'Brien in May of 1974 James retired from Clay High School. He said he had plans to continue to restore and repair antique clocks in his spare time.
At the age of 90, James passed away on October 20th, 1997.

History and Pictures Provided by:
Oregon- Jerusalem Historical Society Archive

10/03/2026

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Saturday History Lesson with
The History Fanatic

This weekend we are talking about:
–Waite High School–
Let's begin!!

Morrison R. Waite High School is a public high school located in east Toledo, Ohio that opened in 1914. It is part of the Toledo Public Schools. It is named after Morrison R. Waite, a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Waite replaced the original Central High School when Toledo Public Schools decided it couldn't afford to have 3 high schools for the 1914-15 school year.(Scott High School had opened in 1913.)
The Waite Indians are members of the Toledo City League and their school colors are purple and gold. However, the Indian nickname is not for Native Americans. When the school was first opened, the Toledo Fire Department had an annual competition that involved running and pulling the fire truck.
The team from the East Side was called the Indians. Someone thought it would be a good idea to name the school's athletic teams after the Fire Department team. The Indians have a rivalry with fellow East Toledo City League rival Clay. The rivalry ended in 2019. They had a football rivalry from 1914 thru 1963 with Scott High School that was played every Thanksgiving morning and generated much interest across the Midwest. That game is now played on the final Friday of October and, with the closings of Libbey and DeVilbiss High Schools, has become once again the top rivalry for both high schools.
During the early days of the Oregon Township school system. Oregon did not have a high school yet. Education went to eighth grade. Going to high school meant you had to be transported to Toledo to attend high school at Waite. Many people went to Oregon schools but graduated from Waite High School.

History and pictures provided by:
A Change for Every Child
By;
Robyn Hage & Larry Michaels

09/29/2026

It's Apple Butter time again.
Volunteers needed
See flyer for volunteer opportunities.
Hope to see you there.

09/27/2026

09/26/2026

.
Saturday History Lesson with
The History Fanatic

This weekend we are talking about:
–Toledo High School–
Let's begin!!

On August 15, 1853, the City laid the cornerstone for a new high school building at the corner of Adams and Michigan Streets on the same site where Harriet Whitney first taught. A portion of the land was donated by Jesup W. Scott, and in 1852the board purchased the remainder for $2,700,000. This is the same property now occupied by the main library. The cost to build the school, considered the “architectural pride of Toledo”, was $23,000.
The massive three story brick and stone Toledo High School contained 26 rooms. Elementary classes were held on the lower level, and the high school classes were conducted on the upper floors. The lecture room on the top story could accommodate 1,800 students. The most distinguishing feature of the school, however, was the bell tower with a large clock that had seven-foot dials. The bell weighed 4,305 pounds with the inscription "Toledo High School, May 1st, 1854” and “To Learning's Fount, the youth I call”. Tuned to note D, the bell was used to sound classes and also served as a fire alarm system for the city. The front facade of the building faced the Miami and Erie Canal. With the opening of the school, Toledo became only the 25th city in the country to offer classes above grammar school level in the 1850s.
Scholars and elected city officials held a ceremony on the first day of classes in 1854, followed by hours of orations and poems. Topics included the Bible, Latin, women's rights and the lecture,”Man makes his own character”. The first graduating class, March 6th, 1857, consisted of three members, William Smith, Oliver Parmelee, and Amos Crane.
Fire destroyed Toledo High School on March 10th, 1895, and the bell rolled it's last alarm. Today, the bell resides in front of Scott High School. The rebuilding of the school was completed in 1898 and the name was changed to Central High School, not to be confused with Central Catholic High School. This new building would remain part of the downtown landscape until it was razed in 1938 to make way for the library.
The final graduation of 93 students from the rebuilt Central was held on June 19th, 1914, just a year after Scott High School opened. Various classes were held in the old structure until 1919, when it became the Woodward Technical School.

History and pictures provided by:
A Change for Every Child
By;
Robyn Hage & Larry Michaels

09/19/2026

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Saturday History Lesson with
The History Fanatic

This weekend we are talking about:
–Nightingale House–
Let's begin!!

You've probably driven past it dozens of times, but odds are, you didn't know it was there.
If you're a long time resident of the area, you no doubt remember the beautiful fields of flowers or the Raggedy Ann and Andy sign that adorned the side of the house at 525 South Wheeling Street in the Eastmoreland section of Oregon.
From the road, the tidy Victorian looking house just up the road from St. Charles Hospital may catch your eye as being quaint, and well-kept, but not many people know that the old Nightingale Farm has stood there for a long time.
The home was built in 1877 and was part of a 80 acre farm, which changed hands many times over the years. It was eventually purchased at auction by the Nightingale family in 1946. For the next 37 years, Sam and Ella Nightingale went about their business raising their eight children.
While Sam worked at Maumee Malleable Castings, his wife worked at the homestead cultivating more than 400 varieties of irises and gladioli which sold at markets and local florists.
Mrs. Nightingale also raised parakeets and exotic birds, and then crafted Paggedy Ann and Andy dolls which she sold.
The Nightingales sold the house in 1983, and it changed hands a few times. In June of 1996 it was purchased by Randy Schnee, Denise McCroskey, and Miriam Patznick. After taking possession, the trio did some renovations. They turned this old Victorian farmhouse into a four suite inn, that's part retreat, part Victorian and local history museum.
The bed and breakfast operated for about three years and in 2000 was once again back on the market being sold as a four bedroom Victorian farmhouse.
If you get a chance, drive by and see this beautiful house. I have driven by that house literally thousands of times over the years and never knew what I was driving by. The next time I drive by, I will definitely look and appreciate the house.

History and Pictures Provided by:
Oregon- Jerusalem Historical Society Archive

09/17/2026

Oregon Cemetery Tour
We are sorry to say we will have to postpone the Cemetery Tour to our rain date of October 10th. Because of the good possibility of bad weather. Since we are postponing, there will be no reception after. We are just doing the tour. Thank you for your understanding

09/12/2026

.
Saturday History Lesson with
The History Fanatic

This weekend we are talking about:
–Movie Memories–
Let's begin!!

This weekend we are going to do things a little differently. With all the recent changes we have had to Navarre Ave. in the last year, I thought we should take a little time and look back just a bit.
This weekend no History facts, no famous people who did amazing things in the past. No old black and white photos of things and people long passed away.
I love movies. I have been a movie nerd my whole life. I like all genres of movies. Mostly action, sci-fi, fantasy, drama, comedy. Pretty much anything.
So in honor of all the movies that everybody loves. Let's talk about video stores.
Growing up in Oregon my parents took me and my brother to Major Video on Navarre Ave. I have so many memories of walking around those movie racks looking for something to watch. Going on a Friday night to pick out a few movies. The other place we would go was Video Connection. Video Connection used to have VHS and Betamax. It always seemed like the movies I wanted to get were in beta. I would show my dad the case and he would tell me,”nope that is beta”.
Major video was on Navarre pretty much where the Navarre Medical Plaza building is now. Video Connection used to be on Navarre in the little plaza that has Salad Galley now. It was on the side close to Ralphies.
Later Major Video became Blockbuster Video. Which brought many more years of video rentals into adulthood.
Before I could drive I would ride my bike to Major Video to find a new movie to watch. Kids today will never know the excitement of finding the last movie available on the wall of new releases. Being so happy there was one left. Or the disappointment of finding all the popular new releases already gone and having to find something else.

So today I hope everybody will think back to the times of wandering through the video store and finding that rare gem you have been looking for, and the instant feeling of accomplishment of finding that movie(lol) you missed in the theater. Share your stories of the countless tales of the video store. That's how we don't forget all the great places that have come and gone that made the weekend a little special(at least for two hours). And remember– BE KIND, REWIND–

I couldn't find pictures of the actual store fronts from Navarre, but here are the ones I could find to give you an idea of what they looked like.

09/10/2026

North Oregon Cemetary Tour
Come join us on September 19th at 1:00pm for this free and open to the public walking tour. Hosted by local historian Jeff Eversman. This is one you do not want to miss.