Old West End
Encyclopedia
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
and is considered to be "the largest neighborhood of late Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
, Edwardian
Edwardian architecture
Edwardian architecture is the style popular when King Edward VII of the United Kingdom was in power; he reigned from 1901 to 1910, but the architecture style is generally considered to be indicative of the years 1901 to 1914....
, and Arts & Crafts
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
homes east of the Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
."
The South end of the neighborhood is bound by the Toledo Museum of Art
Toledo Museum of Art
The Toledo Museum of Art is an internationally known art museum located in the Old West End neighborhood of Toledo, Ohio, United States. The museum was founded by Toledo glassmaker Edward Drummond Libbey in 1901, and moved to its present location, a Greek revival building designed by Edward B....
, the eastern edge by churches of many denominations and the other directions provide architecture and homes from Edwardian
Edwardian architecture
Edwardian architecture is the style popular when King Edward VII of the United Kingdom was in power; he reigned from 1901 to 1910, but the architecture style is generally considered to be indicative of the years 1901 to 1914....
to Arts & Crafts
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
to Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
and from 1200 to 10000 square feet (929 m²).
History
In 1818,the first log home was built in the area now known as the Old West End; then in 1829, the first tavern and store were built.The Old West End was platted in 1866; "the wealthiest and most well-to-do of Toledo began moving away from their former downtown homes to live in this new development far from the city". The Old West End "experienced most of its growth between 1875 and 1915."
By the late 1870s, the area became a very trendy place to live; "...families began to build 'out in the woods' in the West end.” In the heyday of the neighborhood,“Collingwood Avenue became known as the Avenue and eventually as the Avenue of Churches", because of all of the churches that lined and still line Collingwood Avenue.
Unfortunately, in the 1920s and 1930s the area was no longer considered the trendy neighborhood, and in the 1960s the neighborhood was significantly impacted by the development of the interstate highways. “The construction of the I-75 expressway resulted in the demolition of entire blocks...” The decline of the neighborhood was apparent by the end of the 1960s.
Like most established U.S. cities, Toledo's historic areas saw a time of decline prior to revitalization, but the residents of the Old West End have prevailed in keeping many of the historic landmarks from being demolished.
Their efforts paid off; in 1973, part of the Old West End were placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as a historic district
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
; this district was expanded in 1984.
From the 1970s through today the Old West End neighborhood is home to a broudly diverse population of established families, elderly residents, artists and those interested in the arts community which also includes singles, minorities, and immigrant residents all of which started a trend to restore homes in the neighborhood and help to define it as the diverse community it is today. Many Toledo-based artists and art aficionados of all types reside in the OWE neighborhood in part due to its close proximity to the Toledo Museum of Art.
Festivals and Tours
- Old West End Festival: "On the first weekend in June, residents of the Old West End hold their Spring Festival, which features food, entertainment, tours of historic homes, and spontaneous garage sales. Citizen involvement in the Old West End is high, and this is reflected by its many neighborhood organizations."
- Old West End Garden Tours: In September, the Old West End Garden Tours festival features a tour of Old West End gardens, concerts, and food.
- Tours de Noel: In December, Old West End residents open up their homes for tours while decorated for the holidays.
Neighborhood attractions
- Countless historic homes and churches.
- Mansion View Inn http://www.mansionviewtoledo.com/
- Toledo Museum of ArtToledo Museum of ArtThe Toledo Museum of Art is an internationally known art museum located in the Old West End neighborhood of Toledo, Ohio, United States. The museum was founded by Toledo glassmaker Edward Drummond Libbey in 1901, and moved to its present location, a Greek revival building designed by Edward B....
- Toledo Symphony OrchestraToledo Symphony OrchestraToledo Symphony Orchestra is a symphony orchestra in Toledo, Ohio. It's the biggest "musical resource for the region". They perform in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana...
(TMA Peristyle) - Rosary CathedralRosary Cathedral (Toledo, Ohio)Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church located at 2535 Collingwood Boulevard in the Old West End of Toledo, Ohio. The cathedral is the mother church of the 163 parishes in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Toledo. This cathedral is unique architecturally in that...
- Collingwood Arts CenterCollingwood Arts CenterThe Collingwood Arts Center is located at 2413 Collingwood in Toledo, Ohio in the Old West End neighborhood The center has been "Creatively serving visual and performing artists with residential, studio, and theatre space since 1985" -History:...
http://www.collingwoodartscenter.org