Oregon Jerusalem Historical Society

08/29/2026

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Saturday History Lesson with
The History Fanatic

This weekend we are talking about:
–Hirzel's Canning Company–
Let's begin!!

Carl R. Hirzel was a Swiss emigrant who came to New York with his wife Lena to become brewers. They later moved near Toledo, Ohio to be closer to his brothers.
With the start of American Prohibition in 1920. Hirzel could no longer produce beer
. He instead purchased what would be called Hirzel Farms and began growing and selling cabbage. A plentiful cabbage harvest in 1923 convinced Hirtzel to begin producing Sauerkraut, a process very similar to beer making. He started selling his sauerkraut under the name Star Cross.
In 1912, Hirzel's sauerkraut customers started requesting that he grow tomatoes. In 1924, Hirzel Farms harvested their first tomato crop.
In 1947, the Hirzel Canning Company was incorporated with Karl A. Hirzel, the son of Carl R. Hirzel, as president and his wife Rosalie as secretary.In 1954, the Hirzel Company purchased a plant in Pemberville, Ohio. In 1982 the company expanded to a third plant in Ottawa, Ohio.
Today, Hirzel Canning Company focuses on their Dei Fratelli Brand founded in 1980 and their Silver Fleece Sauerkraut products. Most of the tomatoes Dei Fratelli uses in their products are grown in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.

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

08/23/2026

Quilt Show 2026

08/23/2026

More from the Quilt Show

08/23/2026

More pictures from the Quilt Show.

08/23/2026

The Quilt Show was a amazing success. Thank you to all the people that made this happen. You did a great job showcasing all the beautiful quilts.

08/22/2026

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Saturday History Lesson with
The History Fanatic

This weekend we are talking about:
–100 years of of Clay High School–

Next week Clay High School opens its doors for the hundredth school year. It's hard to imagine that kids have been passing through those doors and walking those halls for a hundred years. I wonder what that first class thought as they entered the building for the first time, when everything was new.
Thus in 1926 - 27 the ninth grade students entered, the following years the tenth, and eleventh; and in the school year of 1929 - 30 the twelfth grade was to be included.
The high school offered three courses of study: the academic course which prepared students for college; the commercial course which prepared pupils for clerical positions; and the general course which gave the students more choices of subjects and made it possible to prepare themselves for business or college by making curriculum changes in their junior and senior year.
The freshman class of 1926 was the first class to enter the new high school building in Oregon Township. This group was given the opportunity and responsibility of establishing high ideals and standards for those who were to follow. The entire community is proud of their School which is a tribute to this first graduating class of 1930.
Over the one hundred years many things have changed on the Clay High School campus. With additions that have been made over the years, from the new buildings to all the new designs of the surrounding grounds. I bet that first class would be so proud to see what has become of the school traditions that they started all those years ago.
I went to Clay. I was in the class of 1996. I have a lot of fond memories of my high school years. Lots of memories of walking down the halls with friends, lunchtime, classroom fun. I will keep those memories forever. Clay High School is getting ready to open the doors for the hundredth time and looking to keep the great tradition going for another hundred years.

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

08/15/2026

08/15/2026

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Saturday History Lesson with
The History Fanatic

This weekend we are talking about:
–Toledo Streetcars–

Trolley coach operations started in Toledo on February 1, 1935 on the Dorr Street line. The Community Traction Company (CTC), which operated the transit system, was literally talked into starting operations by Mack, who was trying to get a foothold into the city transit industry. This was made easier as Dorr Street was in need of repaving and the rail replacement would have been expensive so the switch was made.
The Dorr Street line started operations with six 40 passenger Mack CR3S's. There were to be seven but one was diverted to Portland Oregon as a demonstrator. Mack sent two additional CR3S's in mid 1935. The Dorr Street line was a 4.2 mile line but needed an additional 3.5 miles of non-revenue overhead to allow the coaches access to the barn. The demonstrator was eventually returned to Toledo.
The next line to be converted was the Broadway line on October 27, 1938. The streetcar operations had ceased in 1936 and was converted to bus operations before the second conversion to trolley coaches. This line was longer, approximately 6 miles but it had the same distinction of needing miles of non-revenue overhead to gain access to and from the car barn. Nine 40 passenger Mack CR3S's were purchased for the operations on this line.
In 1945, Toledo ran a demonstrator trolley coach from Westinghouse. Known as a Westram, this car operated from 1945 through 1948 and then went to Wilkes-Barre PA. The Westram model W40 was designed as an export vehicle for sale overseas. Only Mexico City and Buenos Aires ever purchased the Westram model from Westinghouse.
1946 saw the delivery of 3 additional trolley coaches. These were used cars from Memphis TN and were 1935 40 passenger St. Louis Car Co trolley coaches. These were purchased as a back up for the existing 19 car trolley coach fleet (18 owned and 1 demo).
Toledo never seemed to take to the trolley coach. They only ever had 2 routes and a very small fleet. Even with this, costs of operations were higher than other Ohio cities. The CTC de-wired the trolley coach operations on May 28, 1952 based on falling ridership, high maintenance costs and the fact that the newest trolley coach in the fleet was 14 years old. This was the first city in Ohio to get rid of it's trolley coach system and throughout the 50's, many others followed.

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

08/14/2026

Quilt Show is going now. Today and tomorrow 10am - 5pm
Today's food truck is from Schlotzsky's Deli
Stop by for Quilt Show and have some good food also.

08/13/2026

Oregon Jerusalem Historical Society presents Threads of History!!

Come check out our quilts!!! Starts tomorrow August 13th thru Saturday August 15th, at 1133 Grasser in Oregon!!