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

By Gayleen Gindy

Join the author in reliving Sylvania’s over 180 years of history from footpaths to expressways and beyond, in volume six 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: Aug 2, 2017
• ISBN: 9781546200598

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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Published by AuthorHouse 08/01/2017

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Newspapers

Newspapers In Sylvania

Libraries

Sylvania Public Library

History Of The Sylvania Public Library Properties

Events, Festivals & Annual Programs In Sylvania

Art Festivals

Ballooning

Bank Robbery By The Famous Pretty Boy Floyd

Bank Robberies In Sylvania - Two More

Bean Festival

Chautauqua In Sylvania

Fall Festival And Parade

Fourth Of July In Sylvania

Ginnivan’s Dramatic Company

Gold Rush In California – Who Went?

Jamie Farr / Marathon Classic Ladies Professional Golf Association

Lyceum Courses In Sylvania

Harriet Beecher Stowe

National Bicentennial Wagon Train – 1976

Sylvania’s Centennial Celebration – 1933

Sylvania’s Time Capsule Is Buried

Clubs, Centers, Camps, Organizations, Posts

American Legion In Sylvania

Boy Scouts In Sylvania

Camp Miakonda

Friends Of The Lathrop House

Girl Scouts In Sylvania

Great Black Swamp Frogs Base Ball Club

Huntington Farms Community Center/Sylvania Area Family Services

Protected Home Circle

Sylvania Area Chamber Of Commerce

Sylvania Area Community Improvement Corporation

Sylvania Community Arts Commission

Sylvania Community Services Center, Inc. (A/K/A Scsc)

Sylvania Downtown Business Association

Sylvania Grange No. 1188

Sylvania Ladies Literary Club

Sylvania Masonic Lodge No. 287 F & A.m.

Sylvania Moose Family Center 1579

Sylvania Order Of Eastern Stars No. 149

Sylvania Rotary Club

Sylvania Veterans Of Foreign Wars Post

Sylvania Villagers – The Villagers

Toledo-Sylvania Elks Lodge #53

Places In Sylvania

Ambrose’s Woods

Banks Bridge

Battery F

Bittner Barn

Boot Hill

Cadwell’s Mill

Catacombs

Central Avenue Strip

Collin Farm Or Kingscroft Farm

The Commons

Crandall Field

The Depot And Depot Grove

Diamond Farm Or Diamond Hill

Dogpatch In Sylvania

Ginger Hill

Glanntown

Hasty Farm

Lilac Hill

Little Chicago

Mill House And Mill Pond

Monroe Street Strip Recreation Area

Moorhurst - Moor’s Corners

Oak Grove And Oak Grove School

Rattlesnake Corners

Ray West Hill / Suicide Hill

Sweet Shalom Tea Room

Swinghammer Corners

Sylvania’s South Side

Silica

Deaths, Accidents And Injuries In The Quarries

Fertilizer Plant At 8061 Sylvania Avenue – In Silica

France Stone Company

Medusa Gardens Or Medusa Row

Medusa Gun Club

Quarries And Fossils In Silica

Sandusky Cement Company - Medusa Portland Cement Company

Silica Park

Silica Hotel

Silica Sand

Stone Companies Of Sylvania Township In Silica

Toledo Stone & Glass Sand Company

References Used For All Volumes

About The Author

The future has a way of arriving unannounced.

George Will

. … … … … … … . …

The past actually happened but history is only what someone wrote down.

A. Whitney Brown

. … … … … … … … …

Never doubt that you can change history. You already have.

Marge Piercy

. … … … … … … … …

The more you know of your history, the more liberated you are.

Maya Angelou

. … … … … … … … … . …

For most of history, Anonymous was a woman.

Anonymous

. … … … … … … … … . . …

Dedicated to my family

Sam, Allan, Samantha, Audrey, Sophia and Ella

I love you!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Individuals who have helped with information 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. 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, 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 six of my eight volume set of books that will be published about Sylvania’s history. All eight volumes will be titled Sylvania, Lucas County, Ohio; From Footpaths to Expressways and Beyond, and each volume will have 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 N 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. 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. 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.

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 were 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.

This book is Volume Six, which covers 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 places in Sylvania and finally ends with the history of a community within Sylvania Township that became known as Silica.

Volume Seven of this series of books will include the history of our involvement during the various wars, and the history of Sylvania’s war memorials. Other things of interest within these up-coming volumes include: landfills, refuse, yard waste, recycling, weather related incidents, our history organizations, and many other miscellaneous subjects. Volume Seven ends with a list of the murders that have happened in Sylvania since day one.

The last volume, volume eight, will include the complete history of our schools 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 again in order to give our young residents the best possible education at the most economical cost to the taxpayers.

Again, it is the author’s hope that these books will help to document Sylvania’s history, for use by the new residents just arriving in Sylvania, and for future Sylvania residents, so that they can get caught up. For those residents who have been in Sylvania all along, I hope that these books will help to jog your memories and give you more 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.

NEWSPAPERS

NEWSPAPERS IN SYLVANIA

The Sylvania Weekly Times was the first known newspaper in Sylvania, Ohio. It was started by William E. Chapple. Mr. Chapple had also been the founder of one of the first telephone companies and at various times worked as our postmaster, barber, newsstand operator, lawyer and served as a real estate and insurance agent at one time also. The first issue of Mr. Chapple’s Sylvania Weekly Times is said to have been printed in 1891. We know this because the old Sylvania village council minutes mention in 1891 that the village officials printed its first legal notice in the new Sylvania newspaper called the Sylvania Weekly Times. A couple of the issues of this newspaper still exist. One is dated 9-23-1892, and was labeled Volume 2 - Number 31. Another is dated 6-30-1893 and is labeled: Volume 3 – Number 19.

Prior to 1891 the residents of Sylvania only had access to the Toledo Blade, which covered news in Sylvania, but was more focused on the happenings in our much larger neighbor, Toledo. Ohio. The Toledo Blade newspaper was first published on 12-19-1835. So from 1835 to 1891 the residents of Sylvania only had that newspaper to rely on for the happenings in Sylvania, the county, the state, in the United States and in the world. Throughout the 1880s the Toledo Blade was called the Toledo Weekly Blade, and they did have a correspondent that wrote interesting happenings in Sylvania, and often his column appeared under the neighboring communities section of this newspaper.

Charles R. Claussen was one of the contributors of the first Sylvania newspaper. According to a 1903 issue of the Toledo Critic newspaper, Claussen wrote for the Sylvania Weekly Times until the Black Friday when it went by the board. I am not sure what they meant by this statement.

According to Robert Pop Wyant, a long-time teacher in Sylvania and Sylvania historian, there was no newspaper in Sylvania from 6-15-1896 until 5-29-1899. In 2009, Sylvania had boasted that they had a continual newspaper for 110 years, keeping us up to date on the important facts and local news.

In many instances Sylvania’s old weekly newspapers are the only thing we have left today that allows us the clearest picture of what was going on in our community over the years. They tell us the local happenings, who were Sylvania's public officials, what they were doing, what businesses were located in Sylvania, how much things cost, who was born and who died, what was playing at the movies, who had property or items for sale, and each fall who was running for our public offices, with their campaign messages, along with numerous other informative items and news on all the sports events happening throughout Sylvania. In reading through the available Sylvania newspapers dating back to 1899 you can relive most of Sylvania's history. The most reported item in Sylvania over the years has always been the happenings in our schools and school sports. Sylvania has always been above-average in the business of teaching our children, and schools have always been a top priority in Sylvania.

Next, Mr. John Samsey was the editor of The Sylvania Sun. He started this newspaper in Sylvania in May of 1899. Mr. Samsey had resigned his position as Deputy Sheriff of Lucas County in order to start this newspaper business. Family documents report that when he started the business he did not have a single name on his subscription books and he distributed the first issue free of charge, which at that time was a small four page, seven column newspaper. The day following this first issue 133 people walked into his office and paid for the paper in advance, ranging from three months to one year. By 1904 Mr. Samsey was printing 3,000 papers each week to supply the demand for his newspaper. Charles Claussen was the assistant editor and bookkeeper of The Sylvania Sun. From 1899 until 1901 Mr. Samsey occupied a building in the downtown Sylvania district and then according to documents in 1901 he moved his business to the south side of Monroe Street just east of Main, into the building that had just been vacated by the Sylvania Masonic Lodge. By 1905 Mr. Samsey had constructed his own building at 5470 South Main Street, and moved his newspaper business into that building. You might remember this building as it later became the Carroll Motor Sales building and then later became the Fenstemacher building.

A 1903 article in the Toledo Critic said this about The Sylvania Sun: "After the paper had passed the sixth week of its promising column size, and when one year of age, The Sun was changed to the eight page, six column form. Shortly after this change the use of patent insides was discarded, a power press installed, and the paper all printed in Sylvania. Stereotype plates were used in its makeup, but were soon dropped to make room for the large amount of local news gathered each week by its corps of over eighty correspondents, which are stationed at every cross road for miles around Sylvania. Then came the demand for more room, and the paper started on its fourth volume by adding one more column to each page, making the Sun in its present form just double the size of its initial number. The Sun has one of the largest and best equipped weekly newspaper plants to be found anywhere. It has a Mergenthaler type-setting machine, fast two revolution newspaper press, a stereotype foundry, and is otherwise unusually well equipped. Sylvania is, undoubtedly, the smallest town in the world that has a Mergenthaler linotype machine within its borders, and she may well be proud of her bright Sun, with its large circulation and superb equipment."

The 11-10-1904 issue of The Sylvania Sun featured a photo of the front of The Sylvania Sun office. The article said that "Last June Mr. Samsey purchased The Metamora Record and assumed its publication. The first move was to increase the size of The Record to that of his Sylvania paper—The Sun. Then he commenced putting The Record on a firm business-basis and today that paper is growing in circulation and is undoubtedly the best of the 11 papers published in Fulton County."

Also in the 11-10-1904 issue of The Sylvania Sun is the following: "Monday noon, Edwin Samsey, while in The Sun office, had the big toe on his right foot mashed by pulling two pages of The Sun forms, which were inclined against a wall, over onto his foot. Dr. Cooke dressed the toe and Edwin is going to school just the same."

A December 1905 issue of The Sylvania Sun announced that Mr. Samsey moved into his own building (5470 Main Street) and said: The building is of brick, 30 x 60 and two stories high with a basement which makes it almost a three story building. In the basement are the newspaper and job presses. On the street floor is the business office, the editorial room and the job stock shelves. Also the Mergenthaler type-setting machine on which the straight composition of the paper is done. The building was begun in September and the lay-out planned by the editor. It was executed from start to finish by E.C. Holt who drew the plans for the building. It is electric lighted and steam heated. Cost of the structure was $4,000 which is far in excess of the first estimate and is explained by the fact that the original plans called for cement blocks to be made on the premises by the McMichael process. But there were delays in getting the molds and with winter coming on brick was used instead. Brickwork was done by Gus Lemle of Richfield, while Mr. Holt and his men did the carpenter work.

Mr. Samsey sold the newspaper business and his building on S. Main Street in 1908 and there were several owners of the newspaper between the years of 1908 until 1912, who continued to occupy the structure at 5470 S. Main Street that Mr. Samsey had originally built. The building was sold on 6-2-1908 to Guy F. Peabody, who was a doctor in Wood County, Ohio.

Apparently Mr. Samsey did not pay all his bills for the materials he used to have his building constructed there on South Main Street, because in 1905 the West Toledo Lumber Company filed a lien against Mr. Samsey’s property for lumber and material furnished for the erection of the building on Lot #212 (5470 S. Main Street) in the amount of $201.55. And then in March of 1906 the Sylvania Lumber Company (Victor Burg and Nicholas Willinger) filed a lien on the property for materials furnished for the construction of the two-story with basement brick building. This lien called for $544.

Mr. Robert Pop Wyandt said that legal notices for the Village of Sylvania were published in The Sylvania Sun from 5-25-1899 until 1-10-1907, then beginning 8-28-1908 the legal notices were listed in the Sylvania Sentinel. So it was in 1908 that the name of the newspaper changed from The Sylvania Sun to the Sylvania Sentinel.

According to property deed records John and Julia Samsey lived at 5329 Main Street, which they purchased on 1-10-1901, and they sold on 9-5-1905 to William Denton. Mr. Samsey probably sold this home in 1905 in order to build the brick commercial building on S. Main Street. I am unable to verify where he lived, in Sylvania, after selling his house, from 1905 to 1908, but after he sold the newspaper business he left Sylvania, and by the 1910 census John and Julia Samsey were found living in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio working as a printer of catalogues, and renting a home at 3008 Payne Avenue.

The Sylvania Sentinel dated 7-16-1909 reported the following: Mrs. John Samsey and children left Tuesday for Cleveland where they will make their future home, they having shipped their household goods to that place Monday. Mr. and Mrs. Samsey and family have many friends who loathe to see them leave our little city, but wish them success in their new home. Mr. Samsey has a lucrative position in Cleveland where he has been employed for some time.

Mr. Samsey died in February of 1934 and the following article appeared in the Sylvania Sentinel on 2-8-1934: "John Samsey, publisher of The Sylvania Sun, years ago, died in a New Orleans hospital recently. In his death there passed one who was a colorful figure in Lucas County politics a quarter of a century ago, when he and A.D. Fassett dictated to no small extent certain policies of the Republican party. Both were publishers of newspapers. Mr. Samsey founded the Sylvania Sun and conducted it for a number of years. He built the building now occupied by the Carroll Motor Sales, where the paper was published for some time. He afterwards published for a short time a weekly devoted to the interest of East Toledo. Following that experience he removed to Cleveland where he operated a commercial printing establishment, moving later to South Carolina where the publication of a Republican newspaper occupied his attention for some time. For the last several years, he had lived in Florida, going recently to New Orleans. He leaves two sons, Edwin R. Samsey, 636 Boalt Street, Toledo, and John Samsey, Jr., of Lakewood, Ohio. The body will be held for some time in a New Orleans mortuary and will later be shipped to Toledo for burial. Mr. Samsey was 74 years of age."

In February of 1910 M.H. Cartwright became the owner of the Sylvania Sentinel. This was Miles Cartwright, who before taking over the newspaper business used to manufacture toothbrushes in the same building at 5470 Main Street. Many Sylvania residents had stock in his toothbrush factory. The toothbrush had a perpetual handle that could be refilled with new bristles when needed. The handles were nickel plated. At the 1910 census Miles is listed as 27 years old, his wife was listed as Sylvia, and his occupation was listed as printer of newspapers. A search of the 1910 Sylvania village and township census revealed the following individuals working in the newspaper business: Ben Shepard, 21 years old, was listed as a Printer – Newspapers; and Greely Ackerman, 22 years old, was listed as a Printer – Newspaper.

In July of 1912 W.D. McCarthy became the manager and editor of the Sylvania Sentinel newspaper. An advertisement in the 9-26-1912 issue of the Sylvania Sentinel advertised the following other services provided by the Sentinel Publishing Company: Letterheads, note heads, billheads, statements, envelopes, business cards, booklets, posters, announcements, invitations, color printing, calling cards, etc. Commercial and society printing our specialty ask our customers.

In September of 1912, and until May of 1964, the owner was listed as the Sentinel Publishing Company. As of May of 1964 the owner listed was Byrneway Publications, and stayed in that name until December of 1970. From December 1970 until November 1976 the owner was Maumee Valley Publishing Company. From November of 1976 until August of 1980 A. Foster Publications Inc., owned the newspaper, and finally from August of 1980 to 1999 it is owned by The Herald Newspapers.

In 1912 the cement block structure at 5716 Summit Street was constructed after the property was purchased by Jasper J. and Cora M. Parker. According to the Sylvania Sentinel dated 10-31-1912 Carpenters are at work on the roof of the new Sentinel building, and then according to the Sylvania Sentinel newspaper dated 12-19-1912: Plasterers have finished work in the new Sentinel building across from the Congregational Church, and the building will soon be ready for occupancy. This building was used for the newspaper business until the 1980 when Allen C. Foster moved the business to 4444 Alexis Road in Sylvania Township.

According to the 1920 Sylvania census, Jasper J.A. Parker was listed as 63 years old and his occupation was listed as Printer/publisher – newspaper.

According to the 9-19-1921 minutes of the Sylvania Village Council they were going to "advertise a legal notice in the Toledo Weekly Blade because Jasper Parker, present proprietor of the Sylvania Sentinel, was contemplating moving to California and the Chamber of Commerce is making efforts to bring in an experienced newspaper man." Jasper J. Parker continued to own the block building at 5716 Summit Street where the newspaper business was operating.

In 1921 Henry (Harry) C. Quinnell came to Sylvania and started as the co-editor of the Sylvania Sentinel, along with a partner, Harry Crawford. It was on 9-25-1924 when the Sentinel building (5716 Summit Street) was purchased by Henry (Harry) C. Quinnell. Then, according to the 4-8-1926 issue of the Toledo Blade, H.C. Quinnell bought the interest of his partner, Harry Crawford of Toledo in the Sentinel Publishing Co. of Sylvania. Harry then continued to serve as its sole editor until 1942, serving for a total of 21 years, and promoting Sylvania like no other had done.

An August 1927 newspaper clipping said that Nelson H. Randall was an employee of the Sentinel Publishing Co., and according to the 1930 Sylvania census Henry C. Quinnell was listed living at 5716 Summit Street (the first floor of the Sentinel building), and his occupation was listed as Printer – printing/publisher. He was 34 years old and his wife Grace was listed at 33 years old. Also living here was son Charles R. – 9 years, and Robert N. – 1 year. According to this 1930 census the following other residents of Sylvania were working at the newspaper/printer office: Gertrude Dietrich – 20 years old – bookkeeper; Theodore Dietrich – 13 years old – newsboy – paper route; Wesley Lindsey – 25 years old – printer – newspaper; Nelson H. Randall – 24 years – printer – newspaper; Jack Pickens – 25 years old – printer – newspaper.

NOTE: Sentinel owner J.J.A. Parker, who was responsible for building the Sentinel building at 5716 Summit Street in 1912 died in 1934. The following was noted in the 1-4-1934 issue of the Sentinel: "Word has just been received of the death of Mr. J.J.A. Parker, of Oakland, Calif., formerly publisher of the Sentinel. Mr. Parker, who was 77 years of age, passed away on November 17th of a heart attack. The Sentinel was purchased by Mr. Parker from John Samsey, when the office was located in the building now occupied by the Carroll Motor Sales. In 1912 Mr. Parker built the office which now houses the Sentinel. The business was sold to the present owner in 1921. Mr. Parker was a member of the Sylvania Masonic Lodge and the Methodist Church. Interment was in Glendale, California, where Mrs. Parker is also buried."

According to the July 1935 Sylvania Sentinel they said that Mr. H.C. Quinnell, editor of the Sentinel, who is visiting his parents in Margate, Kent, England, after an absence of 23 years writes that he is enjoying his visit to his former home.

In March of 1939 Harry Quinnell, editor of the Sylvania Sentinel newspaper, at the age of 43 years, had a heart attack and in the 3-2-1939 issue of the Sylvania Sentinel he described the entire incident. He announced at that time that he was going to have to slow down and take life in moderation.

During World War II, owner and editor of the Sentinel, Henry Harry C. Quinnell, sent his Sylvania newspaper, free of charge, to any soldier who was serving in the war. The owners thereafter continued the free subscriptions to the soldiers until the war was over. Also during World War II, each weekly issue of the newspaper included a column titled Mail Bag where they printed letters sent by the soldiers. They would publish News of Our Men and Women In Uniform. This column continued until the war ended. An example of one of the letters they published was on 7-1-1943, the Sentinel reported that Stanley Whitey Kjoller wrote and said …. he hasn’t received a letter from home and wants everyone to write to him. He is lonesome for news from home. During World War II the Sylvania Sentinel also helped to keep the residents of Sylvania informed of the outcome of the air raid alerts and the rules to be enforced. The location in Sylvania to pick up your latest rationing stamps was often reported too. These are just a few of the crucial services that our local newspaper provided to the residents of Sylvania during World War II.

The 9-24-1942 issue of the Sylvania Sentinel published a letter from Harry and Grace Quinnell which reported that "with this issue of the Sentinel, they brought to a close more than 21 years of serving the finest people on the earth—the folks of Sylvania and the surrounding community." Harry said that because of the need of complete rest, he had leased the business to Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Mack, of Port Clinton, Ohio, who took over the duties of the Sentinel Publishing Company on 10-1-1942. He said that Mr. and Mrs. Mack had been with the Herald-Republican of Port Clinton for eleven years and both were well acquainted with the newspaper business, as well as the job of printing. They had three sons and were residing in the Reeb apartments (5693 Main).

In September of 1943 Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Mack and family reported: Next week’s issue of the Sentinel, for reasons beyond our control, will be the last for the present editors, and therefore we request that all advertisers, correspondents please get their copy in by Tuesday evening at the latest, in order that we can print one day earlier, and clean up our affairs on the last day of the month.

Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Mack and family printed the following farewell letter in the 9-30-1943 issue of the Sylvania Sentinel: It is with a great feeling of regret that we, with this issue are sorry to announce that it is our last week of publishing the Sentinel. To all our friends, and we think we have made some in our year here, we say a fond farewell and we will always have a warm spot in our hearts for the residents of this territory. As we assume the publishing of the Morenci Observer next week our only hope is that the people of Morenci are as nice to strangers as the people of this community.

So with the 10-7-1943 issue of the Sylvania Sentinel H.C. Quinnell announced the following: Well folks, it’s grand to say hello again here in the old column. It’s just a year this week since we last talked to you in the first column, left hand side of the Sentinel. And what a year it’s been. So much has happened to all of us as individuals and to the blundering old world. It seems there is scarcely a family circle which has not been touched; but while we still have a big job ahead, we know we are fighting for what is right and we can’t fail!

By December of 1943 Harry C. and Grace M. Quinnell were again bidding farewell to the newspaper business. He writes: Thirty-two years ago we were spending our first week as a Printer’s Devil, for the stupendous sum of two dollars a week. We listened to the admonitions of the box as he told of the many master printers who had gone up the ladder from the point where we were just starting. There were many times when we were sweeping up the shop that our mind would wander just a trifle and we would dream of someday owning our own newspaper and being the boss. Twenty-two years ago we realized that ambition and came to Sylvania as publishers of The Sentinel and have enjoyed every minute of that time. We have made many friends and have raised our family amid wholesome surroundings. It has been a glorious experience, with, of course plenty of hard work. However, the hard work has been forgotten, because during the course of our work we have had the best wishes of so many good friends. It is because of these fine friendships that it is hard for us to say what we now must say: Au Revoir. Once again we are handing over the reins of The Sentinel to other parties to carry on. However, we are pleased to inform our readers that the new people are fine folks, cultured and well-bred, efficient printers and lovable people. We know you will like them. The Quinnells, now alone, with one son in the Navy and the younger one in Howe Military School, thank each and every one of you for your kindness during the post years. After we have taken a good rest, we will no doubt be living among you once again. The new publishers, Mr. Gordon Long and Mr. Raymond Corbin, of Dearborn, Michigan leased the Sentinel on November 15th. Mr. Long has been with us for two weeks and Mr. Corbin will be here on Monday so the Sentinel will have two fine skippers instead of one. We hope you will be as kind to them as you have always been to us. HARRY C. QUINNELL AND GRACE M. QUINNELL.

Gordon Long and Ray Corbin became co-owners of the Sylvania Sentinel newspaper November of 1943.

On 7-1-1948 the Sylvania Sentinel reported: A new Little Giant press has been installed in the Sentinel shop which is an automatic feed job press. It weighed some 2300 pounds and presented a problem to the brains and brawn of the staff. This problem soon dissolved into thin air when Earl Downs, who operates the wrecker of the Sylvania Auto Sales drove up. Give Earl proper anchors to hook his blocks and tackles to and his cables could pull the building around. He soon had the press in its proper place and with no strained muscles either. It is all in the know-how and the proper tools.

The 7-7-1949 issue of the Sylvania Sentinel said the following: "Three weeks ago, the Sylvania Sentinel celebrated its forty-first birthday anniversary by just putting out another issue of the home town weekly. Some thought was given to something out of the ordinary to note the passage of time, but upon second thought, we decided to wait until our golden anniversary. At any rate we are now putting out the fourth issue in our forty-second year and we wonder how many, if any, of our readers have seen and read the Sentinel for the whole length of that time."

The Sylvania Sentinel dated 6-14-1951 reported: "With this issue, No. 1 Volume 44, the Sylvania Sentinel begins its 44th year of publication under that name. Prior to that time, the paper in Sylvania was known as the Sylvania Sun. The present publishers, R.G. Corbin and Gordon Long, took over the newspaper in November, 1943, right at the peak of the hectic times of World War II. In that period of time they have added considerably to the physical equipment of the plant and increased the circulation. In addition one improvement was to increase the page size from six to seven columns in width. With great confidence in the future of Sylvania, the Sentinel looks forward to continued growth along with that of the village and township of Sylvania. This in turn will assure continued increase in subscribers and number of advertisers."

In 1951 they changed the name of the newspaper from Sylvania Sentinel to Sylvania Sentinel-Herald. They used this name until 1963.

The 11-13-1952 Sentinel-Herald said: "A letter from the Toledo Public Library this week thanks us for letting them have old copies of the Sylvania Weekly Times, Sylvania Sun, predecessors of the present Sentinel-Herald, and also copies of the old Sentinel. We had no room for the proper preservation of the old newspaper copies and are glad that they are now in the vault of the Main Library and records made of all issues so that they may be referred to readily. In the words of the letter, Newspapers, of course, are our most valuable records of history as it is being made, and we are glad to add our bit to that history."

In the 11-24-1953 issue of their newspaper, and in celebration of their tenth anniversary, (Corbin & Long) the Sentinel-Herald featured a story about the employees of this newspaper. Here’s what they said about each of their current employees:

"RAY CORBIN – Actuated by a sincere desire to promote the welfare and progress of Sylvania, and Sylvania and Adams Townships, he strives to be sympathetic towards the officials of the three communities, yet, reserves the right to offer suggestive criticism. The columns of the Sentinel-Herald offer the best media for the dissemination of news of the three mentioned communities, either trivial or important. Through its columns too, the elected officials can let the voters who placed them in office know what progress is being made in carrying out their avowed programs. It has been said that a well-informed community is an intelligent community. With this thought as the ideal for which the Sentinel-Herald strives, Mr. Corbin promises a continuation of the policy of the past. It will continue to give unbiased news of the area which it serves to the best of the ability of the publishers and staff.

GORDON LONG – Mr. Long has been in the printing business all of his adult life, and is considered one of the fine craftsmen. He it is, who has the responsibility of getting the copy into type, and then laying it out in page forms ready to be put to bed on the press. His too, is the responsibility of getting all of the printing jobs ready for the small presses. His many years of experience stand him in good stead as he is called upon to lay out a better looking letterhead, or an original idea for a program cover, or perhaps an especially fine invitation. Whatever the purpose of the job, Gord, as he is better known, has the answer and guests at the Open House will have the opportunity of seeing some samples of this work. I am looking forward to seeing some of the customers for whom we have done work, and trust they will avail themselves of the chance to see our plant and get an inside ‘peek’ at a newspaper and job shop, Mr. Long said.

BOB MEY is photographer-reporter and advertising manager. He joined the Sentinel staff in 1948 as Editor of the Reynolds Herald. When the two publications grew to a point of being ponderous to produce, they were combined into The Sentinel-Herald. Prior to the Sentinel, he was a portrait and commercial photographer.

IDA BENNET – Mrs. Bennett, who operates the second linotype, began as an operator on a weekly newspaper right after high school. She was married while working on a Pennsylvania paper and quit to devote herself to full time housekeeping. After 31 years she again succumbed to the lure of printer’s ink and began again at The Sentinel.

ED KNEPLEY – Eddie Knepley came to the Sentinel in 1949 as an apprentice printer. Now he is an accomplished compositor and pressman. He is 23 years old and is currently waiting for the stork. He is shown operating a high speed Little Giant automatic press.

MILFORD PETEE – Milt is a genuine craftsman. Although his first duty is linotype operator, he is an excellent compositor. He began to learn the printing trade in high school and was a full-fledged printer in 1922.

CLARA SCHWARTZ – Mrs. Clara Schwartz is the lady you talk to on the telephone. Clara handles the Personal Column, weddings and society stories. She keeps subscriber lists in order and is custodian of the advertising accounts.

JIM LONG – Jimmy Long is the son of co-publisher Gordon Long. He is a student at Burnham but feeds papers after school and on weekends. When the going is tough it’s a big satisfaction to be able to count on Jimmy to help out."

It was the 1-20-1955 issue of the Sentinel-Herald that it was reported that Milton M. Ferguson of Birmingham, Michigan had purchased half interest in the Sentinel-Herald from Ray G. Corbin. Gordon Long would continue as co-publisher with Mr. Ferguson.

The 1-20-1955 issue of the Sentinel-Herald was bidding farewell to Ray Corbin: This is the swan song for Nibroc who has been pounding out this trivia for the past eleven years. Yes, R.G. Corbin has sold his half interest in the Sentinel Publishing Co. to Milton M. Ferguson of Birmingham, Mich. who will take over the paper with Gordon Long, present co-owner. Mr. Ferguson, who is married and has three children, age 11, 8, and 5, will move his family here as soon as possible. He comes here with considerable experience as he published the Howard County News at Greentown, Ind. For nine and one half years; managed the Herald Review publications (five weeklies) in the Royal Oak, Mich. area, and recently was plant manager of the Michigan Rotary Press in Detroit. We know that he will be well liked by the readers of this paper and he and his family will be an added asset to the community. As for Nibroc, well he has no definite plans for the future, except to plan a trip to the southland soon to soak up some of the hot sun (which has been scarce to date, we understand). Looking backward, the past eleven years have been a wonderful time in our life. It has been our pleasure to live in one of the finest communities in the state, if not in the nation. It has also been our pleasure and opportunity to be a part of, and we think, a force toward, a growth of the community which has greatly changed the face of the village. The population has increased in those eleven years from 2100 to 3000. This paper plugged for a change in telephone service to eliminate the toll charge to Toledo. Prior to this change, the toll charge was like a Chinese wall between Sylvania and Toledo. The Sentinel also plugged for a Chamber of Commerce, which materialized in Jan. 1946. Also backed was the Zoning Ordinance which has kept building in order and prevented slip shod planning of residential and business areas in the village. Parking meters were a bone of contention, but the Sentinel again pushed for their installation and everyone is convinced today that in the small business area of Sylvania, they are an absolute necessity.

The 6-28-1956 issue of the Sentinel Herald reported that after 18 months as a partner in the Sentinel Publishing Company, Milton M. Ferguson announced that he had acquired full ownership of the firm effective 7-1-1956. The article said that Ferguson became the publisher of the Sentinel Herald and general manager of the Sentinel Publishing Company. Milton Petee, employee of the firm for ten years took over as plant manager, and Robert J. Mey was to continue as editor, and all other personnel remained the same. Mr. Ferguson said that during the 18 months that he co-owned the newspaper with Mr. Long they went from a 2,000 circulation to a total of 3,756 paid subscribers and a normal 16 page weekly instead of an eight page prior to that time.

The following background information was given about Mr. Milton Ferguson: Ferguson and his wife, Elizabeth, previously published the Howard County News, Greentown, Indiana, for 10 years. On his recall to active duty with the U.S. Navy in 1950, they sold this firm. Following the release from active duty in 1952, he managed five weekly newspapers in the Detroit suburbs and was plant manager of the Michigan Rotary Press prior to coming to Sylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson had three daughters, Ann, Jane and Betsey, who attended Maplewood School in Sylvania. Ferguson was a graduate of Indiana University and in 1956 had advanced to the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the Naval Reserves.

According to the 2-7-1957 Sylvania Sentinel Herald Robert J. (Bob) Mey, editor of the Sentinel Herald for the past two years, leaves this week for a post in the public relations department of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Commission. Robert Mey was the editor of the newspaper during the time that the Sentinel Herald won two state awards for editorial excellence. They said that Mey’s duties would be assumed by Milton M. Ferguson, publisher of the Sentinel Herald, and another reporter was added to the staff named Phil Flis. He was the editor of the Toledo University Collegian until his graduation.

Bob Mey returned to this newspaper in May of 1958, and according to a photo of him, back at work, the caption reads: We are more than pleased to announce that R.J. (Bob) Mey is back at his old post as editor of the Sentinel Herald. Bob brings back to his favorite job a vast amount of experience gained in managing the public relations for the Toledo Port Authority during the past year and one half. His return bears out the old adage among newspaper men that ‘you never get the ink out of your blood.’

Bob Mey would continue to write his front page column that he titled The Bottom Drawer where he would talk about his thoughts on current events and most often talked about trouble that his wife would get herself into, affectionately referring to her as the Old Girl and later abbreviated to just O.G. Remember?

Bob Mey’s wife Luetta Mey had worked for 20 years with the Sylvania Sentinel during the time that her husband served as the editor.

In 1963 the local newspaper name changed from the Sylvania Sentinel-Herald back to just the Sylvania Sentinel, until 1964 when the name was changed to Sylvania Suburban Sentinel. In 1965 the name changed now to just The Sentinel until 1967 when it was again changed back to the Sylvania Sentinel.

In January of 1964 the following individuals were on the staff of the Sentinel Publishing Company: Milton M. Ferguson – Editor-Publisher; Don McConnell – Washington Area Mgr.; G.D. Welles, Jr. – Adams Area Mgr. The office staff included: Clara Schwartz, Luetta Mey, Jean Harvey, Luella Helmke and Bob DeVoe. The plant staff included: Paul Condon, Jr., Foremen; Ed Poulson, Chuck Erdman, Dave Mounts, Hal White and Milford Petee.

In August of 1964 the first floor of the Sentinel building on Summit Street was remodeled. All of the newspaper operations were moved to the basement of the building during the remodeling. The improvements included wood paneling in the office, a new ceiling, new floors, air conditioning, new porch, front door and shutters. The woodwork on the outside of the building was also painted.

In late 1969 another newspaper was printed for the Sylvania community. It went by the name of "The Sylvania Herald. They had offices at 1514 West Bancroft, Toledo, Ohio 43606 – Telephone: [phone]. The Editor was Robert C. DeVoe; The Publisher – Allen C. Foster. Subscription Rate $2.00 per year – Deadline 12 noon, Tuesday. Serving the City of Sylvania, Ohio. I do not know how long this newspaper lasted as the 10-2-1969 issue is Volume 1, No. 2 and is the only copy I personally have ever seen. I have also seen one issue of The Sylvania Tribune" that was published also in 1969. Again I do not know how long this paper lasted, and have only seen a couple pages of one issue, with the owner and publisher information page missing.

Allen C Foster purchased the Sylvania Sentinel business in November of 1976, and continued to operate out of the building on Summit Street until 1980. In December of 1976 the Sylvania Sentinel announced that Clara Schwartz had been answering the phone, taking ads, doing the bookkeeping and making umpteen reports for the publishers of the Sylvania newspaper for 25 years. They said that they had hired a part-time employee to help Ms. Schwartz, because she was semi-retiring. Mrs. Janice Boucher would be the part-time employee. It was reported that Ms. Schwartz’s employers then and now included Gordon Long, the late Ray Corbin, Milton Ferguson, Gordon Smitley and the present owner Allen Foster of Foster Publications.

The 3-17-1976 issue of the Sylvania Sentinel reported the following: Bottom Drawer Is Closed – ‘Bottom Drawer,’ the Sentinel’s popular long-time column, will no longer appear in our newspaper. Columnist Bob Mey is taking sabbatical leave for the present. Mr. Mey served as editor of the Sentinel (then the Sylvania Sentinel-Herald) for more than ten years prior to joining the Port Authority as director of public relations. His column, Bottom Drawer, was a blend of humor, pathos, controversy, and one of the best read efforts of our newspaper. We hope that he rejoins our staff in the near future."

Starting with the 5-3-1978 issue the Sylvania Sentinel the newspaper was now called the Sylvania Sentinel-Herald. Then in July the paper is changed to just Sylvania Herald. With the motto: Share your future with us and On target, with the interest of the community first.

The 5-3-1978 Sylvania Sentinel-Herald said: "The Sylvania Sentinel has a new name but retains the old image. The name is being changed to the Sylvania Sentinel-Herald because the paper is owned by Allen C. Foster of Foster Publications who also owns the West Toledo Herald. With the change of names, the five papers owned by Foster Publications will be easily identified. The papers also include the Bedford Journal, Anthony Wayne Herald and the Maumee Valley Herald. The weekly publications have a total combined circulation of 75,000 with an estimated readership of 300,000. We feel that with a common name, Herald, our papers will be more easily identified by our readers and advertisers."

In August of 1979, Robert J. Mey, died at the age of 61 years. He was the former editor of the Sylvania Sentinel. After leaving the Sentinel he became the public relations director and assistant general manager of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. He joined the staff in 1957 and assisted former general manager Louis Purdey in the early days of the agency as a speech writer and assistant. Mr. Mey had traveled with Mr. Purdey throughout the world in seeking new business for the port. In 1971 Mr. Mey was named assistant to the general manager, a post he held until his retirement in 1974. He was an Army veteran of World War II and had edited an Army publication as a member of the special services. After the war, he became the editor of the Reynolds Herald until it merged with the Sylvania Sentinel in 1951. He was editor of the Sylvania Sentinel until 1957. He returned for a short time in 1959 and wrote under the column titled Bottom Drawer. This column was very popular with the readers and he wrote this column throughout the early 1970s until 1974. Surviving were his wife, Luetta, daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Spaulding; son Thomas J.; sister, Mrs. Meta Mitruk; brother, Donald and two grandchildren.

In 1980 Allen C. Foster purchased the building at 4444 Alexis Road in Sylvania Township and moved the Sylvania Herald business to that location at that time. Mr. Foster owned this building on Alexis Road until 1999. In 1980, before moving to their Alexis Road building, the newspaper had been occupying a unit in the Thormont Building at 6616 Monroe Street in Suite No. 3.

According to the Sylvania Herald dated 2-23-1983: After almost 20 years as a correspondent for The Sylvania Herald, Mrs. Alice Leutz is retiring. Mrs. Leutz authored the column Happenings and, through her the Herald editors work has been made much easier. She furnished the editors with many valuable tips on news stories in addition to writing them. Mrs. Leutz also handled the new subscriptions and contributed news items for The Stork Report column. The general manager of The Herald, Don Doyle, stated that Mrs. Leutz’s contribution to the paper throughout the years has been most gratifying. We would publicly like to thank her for her fine efforts in helping put out the news to and for Sylvanians."

The Sylvania Herald dated 9-4-1985 listed the following individuals involved with the Herald newspapers: Publisher – Allen C. Foster; General Manager – Donald Doyle; Editor – Sue Christmyer; Advertising Manager – Joanna L. Millward; Advertising – Bea Grub.

The following were the titles of the newspapers in Sylvania over the years:

1891 to about 1895 – Sylvania Weekly Times.

1899 to 1908 – Sylvania Sun

1908 to 1951 – Sylvania Sentinel

1951 to 1963 – Sylvania Sentinel-Herald

1963 to 1964 – Sylvania Sentinel

1964 to 1965 - Sylvania Suburban Sentinel

1965 to 1966 – The Sentinel

1967 to 1978 – Sylvania Sentinel

May 1978 to July 1978 – Sylvania Sentinel Herald

July 1978 to 2009 – Sylvania Herald

The editors of the Sylvania newspapers were:

1910 to 1912 – Miles H. Cartwright

1912 to 1915 – W.D. McCarthy

1915 to 1921 – J.J.A. Parker

1921 to 1926 – Harry Crawford and Harry C. Quinnell

1926 to 1942 – Harry C. Quinnell

1942 to 1943 – C.L. Mack

1943 to 1943 – Harry C. Quinnell

1943 to 1956 – Ray G. Corbin & Gordon Long

1956 to 1957 – Robert J. Mey

1958 to 1958 – Milton M. Ferguson

1958 to 1959 – Robert J. Mey

1960 to 1964 – Milton M. Ferguson

1964 to 1965 – Virginia Borcherdt

1965 to 1967 – Sunne Miller

1967 to 1969 – James Visely

1969 to 1976 – Carole DeJeu

1976 to 1976 – Bob Chapman

1976 to 2011 - Sue Christmyer, then Bonnie Hunter, then Mark Griffith, then Tyler Howard

In 1990 Sue Christmyer announced her retirement, and in early April 1990 a farewell surprise luncheon was held at Someplace Else in the Southbriar Shopping Complex for her many years of service to the Sylvania community.

In 1995 the Sylvania AdVantage newspaper started publishing a monthly newspaper for the community of Sylvania. In 1995 their address was listed as 7417 W. Central Avenue, Toledo, Ohio (in Sylvania Township). Sharon Lange is the publisher. According to the June 1995 issue of the newspaper the following were listed as doing work for this newspaper: Editorial: Bob & Sue Christmyer; Advertising: Dave Shearer, Amy Wagner, Linda Layman, Linda Pompili, Dusty Rothman, Sandy Rough, Less Snodgrass; Typography: Pat Eakins, Betty Fowler; Publisher: Sharon Lange.

In January of 2002 the Sylvania Herald announced several changes to their newspaper in order to keep up with the current times. In 2001 they introduced a web page; they added on the fourth week of each month. The Sentinel, a total market coverage paper, which is mailed to expand circulation by introducing the paper to non-subscribers and give advertisers increased coverage; a combined version with one name was introduced, but was not popular so they returned to two mast heads; and the page design was changed to update the look of the paper, and color enhanced photos once a month.

The 1-1-2003 issue of the Sylvania Herald featured an article by Robert Norlander, General Manager of the Herald Newspapers titled The Herald Newspaper makes its new year’s resolution. In the article he writes that part of their resolution was to make a promise to the community to change for the better. He said that immediate changes were evident just by looking at the paper as they had a new look and a new design. He promised that they would be more involved with the community and more accessible to all things news worthy, from the election of new officials to the last second touchdowns of the high school football season, to the winners of elementary school spelling bees.

The 3-31-2004 issue of the Sylvania Herald listed the address of the Herald Newspapers at 5739 N. Main Street, Sylvania, Ohio. Their subscription rates at this time $22.00 per year. The following were listed as the employees: Publisher – Kay Shirk; Editor – James Perry; Advertising Rep. – Adam Hansen; Graphic Design – Kyle Mossbarger; Typing – Donna Warner; Office – Jackie Giroux; Circulation – Alice Frantz and Lorrie Bryant.

The Sylvania AdVantage newspaper was still being printed in 2011, and Sharon Lange is still the publisher. They now are a bi-monthly newspaper and their offices are located at 901 Washington Street, Toledo, Ohio. This newspaper can be obtained, free of charge, at all the local stores, restaurants and businesses throughout Sylvania. This newspaper is truly a newspaper about Sylvania and they have used local residents