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

By Gayleen Gindy

join the author in reliving sylvania’s over 180 years of history from footpaths to expressways and beyond, in volume five of an eight volume set. with 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 dowtown 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: Mar 12, 2015
• ISBN: 9781496973399

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.

Book preview

2015 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 04/21/2015

ISBN: 978-1-4969-7340-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-7339-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015903515

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Zoning And Development

History Of Zoning In Sylvania

Cemeteries And Undertaking

The Establishment Of Cemeteries In Sylvania

History Of Public Cemeteries

Undertaking/Funeral Parlors/Funeral Homes

Ghosts, Legends, Folklore And Spooky Stories

Ghost Towns In Sylvania

The Ghost Of Ravine Cemetery

The Ghost Of Pacesetter Park

The Ghost Of Mrs. Ward

Native American Ghosts

Sylvania’s Old Original Jail Was Haunted

The Mystery Of Alonzo Bellows

Poor Chloe Smith-Warren

Hiram Wellman Still Lives Among Us

A Vortex In Centennial Farms?

Our Ghost At The No. 1 Fire Station

A Few Long-Time Businesses In Sylvania

All-American Coach Co.

Alter’s Greenhouse / Whiteford Road Greenhouse

The Bagel Place / Barry Bagels

Bel-Main Upholstery

Bill Knapp’s Restaurant

Bill’s Big Burger

Bird’s Grocery Store

Boyd’s Cut Rate Drug Store

Carroll Motor Sales

Cartwright Manufacturing Co.

Chalet Village Restaurant

Chandler Block / Sylvania Building Products

Chandler Hardware

Checkerboard Inn / Seafood Bar And Restaurant / The Seafood

Comstock & Coventry Furniture / Comstock Furniture

Dog House / Our Place Restaurant

Don’s Drive-In

Elden’s Coal & Supply Company

El Matador Mexican Restaurant

Farmers And Merchants Bank Company

Fleeger’s Hardware

Franklin Airport / Franklin Ice Cream

Hesselbart’s Grocery

Highland Meadows Golf Course

Holland House Autoteria

Holliday’s Five & Dime / Hollidays 5 Cent To $1 Store

Hotchkiss Motor Sales

Howard’s Elevator & Grain Co. / Howard’s Tire And Battery Shop / Howard Motor Sales / Howard Gas And Oil Company

Inn The Pines

J & G Pizza Palace / J & G Pizza – Gyros Restaurant

Jimmie’s Hamburger

Knisely Kleaners

Laux Motor Sales

Leader Store / Jerry’s Clothing

Lentz And Sturn Drug Store

Leonard’s / Lapoint’s / Richard’s / Yeager’s General Store

Lindau Drug Store

Maple Grove Tavern

Melody Inn

Oak’s Feed Store

Pabst Brewing Company In Sylvania

Parkview Dairy

Patneau Community Chevrolet / Suburban Chevrolet / Dave White Chevrolet Inc

Plantation Motel

Pownell Machine Works

Reed’s Grocery / D & R Market

Sautter’s Food Center

Schaber Motor Sales

Scripture Supply Shop

Sharp’s Party Shoppe / Clark’s Party Shoppe

Someplace Else Restaurant

Snyder-Parker Monument Company / Sylvandale Turkey And Poultry Farm

Speedway Theater

Spuyten Duyval Golf Course

Star-Lite Drive-In

Starlite Plaza / Churchills / General Churchill

Stork’s Nest / Cow Palace / Carmels / Venturas

Sylvania Bowling Lanes

Sylvania Country Club And Golf Course

Sylvania Home Bakery / Seitz Bakery / Brieschke’s Bakery

Sylvania Lumber Company / Robert Hixon Lumber Company / Hixon-Peterson Lumber Company / Kelsey Freeman Lumber Company

Sylvania Savings Bank

Sylvania Tanning Company / Sylvania Tannery

Sylvan Studio

Sylvan Theater

Sylvania Veterinary Hospital

Toledo Memorial Park And Cemetery

Vic’s Sandwich Shop / Village Inn

Vin Devers

Wagonlanders

Western Auto Store

References Used For All Volumes

About The Author

History is a cyclic poem written by time upon the memories of man.

Percy Bysshe Shelley

. … … … … … . . …

Only faint echoes from the past come to us now, but such as they are, they are worthy of preservation.

Florence Bedford Wright

. … … … … … . . …

Time is my greatest enemy.

Evita Peron

Dedicated to my family

Sam, Allan, Samantha, Audrey and Sophia.

I love you!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

A special thanks to my husband Sam Gindy for all of his support in all of my history projects.

Others who have helped with information in one way or another include: Sharon (Polly) Cooper, Liz Stover, Lucille Laskey, David Drake, Carolyn Micham, Melvin Micham, Gordon Deye, Alcy Downing, Richard Downing, Clark Collins, Rachel Stanton, Craig A. Stough, Gerald Sobb, Clayton Fischer, Cheryl Lavimodiere, Margie Lintner, Peggy Watts, George Eichenauer, John Plock, Jeff Ballmer, Rick Barricklow, Loren Sengstock, 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, Susan Wood, Charles Tipping, Melissa Burzynski, John Grayczyk, Ralph Stallsworth, Karen Keeler, Ara Smith, Hazel Smith, Robert C. Smith, Robert A. Smith, Milton Thomas Cory, Greg Roytek, Mark Weichel, Shelley Howard, Patricia Howard, Charles Clarke, Duane Clarke, Gary Clarke, Juanita Buyaki, Ginny Smith Siegel, Nancy Beveridge. 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, 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 is volume five of my eight volume set 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. All books will be the same size, and 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 separated by the words township or village/city.

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, 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. 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.

The next book is Volume Three and that book 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 and a separate listing of the full-time firemen 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.

This book is volume five and includes chapters on our zoning laws and 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, and a little history on undertaking, funeral parlors and funeral homes in Sylvania; along with our legendary ghost stories that have been told over the years. Then volume five ends with a history of our long established and well-known businesses in Sylvania, which once operated in Sylvania and many that still do operate here, along with a little history on each.

Continuing the list of chapters in the up-coming volumes, after volume five, there are chapters on our newspapers, our public buildings, historical societies, historical commission, our love for local history and the development of a historical village in the downtown district of Sylvania. Then on to our special events, festivals, annual programs, a complete history on a community known as Silica that was located within the boundaries of Sylvania Township, and then a few historical facts on some of our early train stops and subdivisions. Other volumes discuss various clubs, centers, camps, organizations, posts, and then some interviews and reminiscing with some of our local residents and business owners over the years.

Further volumes will give biographical sketches on many of our notable people and then there will be chapters on our involvement during the various wars, starting with the Civil War, and the history of our war memorials. Continuing, there are chapters on various places in Sylvania, landfills, refuse, yard waste, recycling and then chapters on weather related incidents in our history, miscellaneous subjects about Sylvania and a list of murders that happened in Sylvania.

One of the last volumes will re-print a booklet titled "A History of Sylvania for the First Hundred Years" by Maynard Cosgrove. Mr. Cosgrove wrote this booklet in 1933 and it is a short story about Sylvania that takes you through the earliest years and up through 1933. Then Gayleen Gindy continues this history from 1934 through to 1999. The final volume tells the complete history of our schools in Sylvania 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.

It is the author’s hope that these volumes will help to document Sylvania’s history, in a small way, for use by the new residents coming to live here, and for future Sylvania residents, in order to learn about our history and tell how we got to where we were when they arrived. For those residents who have been here all along, I hope that I have mentioned your name somewhere within these volumes.

ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT

HISTORY OF ZONING IN SYLVANIA

Zoning codes and classifications are established by each individual community as needed and when necessary. Zoning is a way of organizing the land in a township/village/city by zoning classifications; meaning only certain types of building or land usages would be permitted according to the zoning classification in each area. Zoning codes throughout each community are city or township specific and are not standard throughout the state or states. In most communities though, there are classifications for residential, commercial and industrial classifications, and in the more rural areas agricultural could also be a zoning classification. Zoning helps to organize and keep industrial areas from spilling over into the residential areas and retail areas from spilling over into industrial areas, and so on. Zoning helps to preserve the character of a community.

Chapter 519 of the Ohio Revised Code dictates to Ohio townships what they are allowed to regulate regarding zoning. Section 519.02 says that the Board of township trustees may regulate location, size and use of buildings and lands in unincorporated territories in the interest of the public health and safety. This Section also says that in accordance with a comprehensive plan, the location, height, bulk, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures, including tents, cabins, and trailer coaches, percentages of lot areas that may be occupied, set back building lines, sizes of yards, courts, and other open spaces, the density of population, the uses of buildings and other structures, including tents, cabins and trailer coaches, and the uses of land for trade, industry, residence, recreation, or other purposes in the unincorporated territory of the township. Except as otherwise provided in this section, in the interest of the public convenience, comfort, prosperity, or general welfare, the board by resolution, in accordance with a comprehensive plan, may regulate the location of, set back lines for and the uses of buildings and other structures, including tents, cabins, and trailer coaches, and the uses of land for trade, industry, residence, recreation, or other purposes in the unincorporated territory of the township, and may establish reasonable landscaping standards and architectural standards excluding exterior building materials in the unincorporated territory of the township.

The Ohio Revised Code then requires that as a part of every township zoning resolution there shall be established a board of zoning appeals. This is a five member board of residents of the unincorporated territory appointed by the board of township trustees. This board hears and decides appeals where it is alleged there is error in any order, requirement, decision or determination made by the zoning inspector. The zoning appeals board can grant variances from the zoning resolution and grant conditional uses, or a special use because of some uncommon or unique characteristics, which is specifically listed and permitted in a particular zoning district.

The board of township trustees shall also create and establish a township zoning commission, composed of five members who reside in the unincorporated area of the township. The zoning commission holds public hearings on requests for zoning classification changes and changes or amendments to the zoning resolution. The zoning commission members then make a recommendation to the township trustees. The trustees then make the final decision.

Officials of Sylvania Township first started making plans for a zoning commission to prepare a proposed zoning resolution in 1947. This zoning resolution was then submitted to the township trustees for their approval, which was accomplished, but when its approval was put to a public vote it was rejected.

The village of Sylvania was established in 1867 when the Lucas County Commissioners annexed a portion of Sylvania Township, as requested by petition, and they set it aside as a separate community, with a separate governmental body. At that time the village became incorporated and village council could establish ordinances of their own, separate from the rules of the Ohio Revised Code and separate from those of Sylvania Township.

The first mention by Sylvania Village Council of keeping track of the plat of the village of Sylvania and organizing a map was on 7-7-1871 when council appointed a committee to look after the Plat of the corporation and also report all nuisances therein or obstructions. Then on 7-21-1871 Council appointed Aaron B. West to gather up all evidence of maps that have been in existence, of our village and proceed to make a new map as perfect as possible from facts so called for future use and reference. Then council passed a resolution that the marshal be instructed by the mayor to request every citizen of the village to clean up their yards, renovate privies, remove obstructions and to request Mr. W. H. Huling to either cover up, or curb his well at his store property. On 7-19-1872 W.W. Covell and James Calders were paid by Sylvania Village Council for carrying the surveyor’s chain

One of the first ordinances passed by Sylvania Village Council that regulated any type of building construction was the one they passed on 5-9-1887; shortly after all the buildings located on the west side of Main Street between Monroe Street and Maplewood Avenue burned to the ground. This ordinance prohibited the erection of wooden buildings in the downtown district and said that accessory buildings could not be any more than ten feet high. But then on 1-23-1891 village council rescinded this ordinance when the downtown business owners submitted a petition that said that the limit of ten feet high was not sufficient to erect carriage stables and other buildings necessary for their businesses.

Another early ordinance that Sylvania Village Council passed that regulated any type of construction was on 10-28-1916 when council passed an ordinance to regulate the construction and maintenance of privy vaults within the village of Sylvania. This ordinance said that privy vaults could not be constructed on any lot or parcel abutting on any street where there was already a sanitary sewer available. They said that all privy vaults now existing on any lot or parcel of land within the district bounded as follows: on the East by Division Street (Main Street), on the North by Indiana Street (Maplewood Avenue), on the West by a line through the middle of the alley west of Division Street extended to the Toledo & Western Railway tracks on the south by the Toledo and Western Railway tracks, shall be cleaned to the bottom and filled with earth or ashes, before 1-1-1917.

A petition dated 10-6-1922 was presented to Sylvania Village Council, from the residents of the southern portion of the village of Sylvania, which reads: We the undersigned, do hereby petition the honorable council of the village of Sylvania to enact an ordinance to make it unlawful for any person or persons to build without a building permit. This was signed by the following residents of the village of Sylvania: Belle Miles, George Yeager, Mrs. George Yeager, Roy G. Yeager, Frank Burnham (by his X) Mrs. Frank Burnham (by her X), Mrs. Ellen Lamb, Mrs. Joseph Parker, C. Sunior, Mrs. C. Sunior, A. Sommers, Mrs. A. Sommers, Joseph Parker, Mrs. Stytle, Earvin Creque, Mrs. E. Creque, H.G. Stytle, H.M. Carr, Mrs. Howard Carr, Arthur Bernholtz, Mrs. John Conrad, J.D. LaPoint, Lucy LaPoint, Mrs. W.M. Sines, Mr. W.M. Sines, W.J. Beebe.

In March of 1923 the Sylvania Chamber of Commerce invited Mr. Carl C. Britsch, a Toledo Artist and Architect, to talk about zoning for the Sylvania community. Mr. Britsch warned the audience of Sylvania commerce people that a new civic plan should be established now. He said that it would not be long before Sylvania would be expanding, and the population would be growing. He strongly urged a plan to build up the town in such a manner so that they would lose none of the natural beauty of the surrounding lands. It was reported that his talk opened the eyes of the members of the Commerce Club to the opportunities of the community to which they had all been blind for so many years. Another speaker, Mr. Thomas F. Dunn, also gave a lengthy talk about the industrial possibilities of Sylvania, and urged the cooperation of not only the Commerce Club, but of every individual in the town.

So, can we rewind back to 1923 and start over again knowing what we know now? Or is what we developed through our fourth, maybe fifth generation later, the best we could have done, not only for the aesthetics, but for the best plan to keep the community earning enough income to make it an above average community?

The Village of Sylvania officials started requiring building permits in 1924 in order to erect new buildings, to remodel existing structures or to demolish buildings of any kind. The earliest building permit was dated 8-4-1924 and was issued to John Redding to make repairs to a two-story dwelling on Hawley Street in Sylvania. There are more than 800 building applications in the files of the local historical society that show the rapid growth between the 1920s, after World War I, through the 1930s, when they start to reveal changes leading into the Great Depression era. Many of the permits are for converting an old barn or horse and buggy storage building into a garage for their new automobile; possibly adding on to the rear to accommodate bigger and bigger vehicles as the years went on. Or simply demolishing the old barns, in order to build a new garage. I did notice that most of the first garages built in Sylvania were simple one car garages. Many permits were issued for adding a basement to an existing house or commercial building and there were also many permits issued for adding a bathroom in an existing house. The basement was becoming necessary in order to store coal or wood for the coal burning furnace. Some of the permits requested permission to demolish a privy, which was no longer necessary with the installation of a bathroom in the home.

A review of these old building permits for the village of Sylvania also show that in 1924 Roosevelt Court and Woodrow Drive, south off Erie Street, were being developed by the Poulos Brothers. Besides the Poulos Brothers, Joseph Hittler was listed on many of the permits as the builder. Another area where houses were being built in 1924 was on Fairview, Parkwood and Maplewood Avenue.

In 1925 a permit was issued to Lloyd Dewey to install gas pumps and underground tanks on Monroe Street for a gasoline service station. At the corner of Allen and Brint, John Heath received a permit to build a garage that was going to be 12 x 18 feet, and he was going to add a cement block porch and repair the siding. On Main Street in downtown Sylvania, Lawrence Wickter, who owned one of the buildings on the west side of Main Street in downtown Sylvania was asking for a building permit to operate a bowling alley and pool room.

The 7-19-1928 Sylvania Sentinel reported that the Poulos Brothers had commenced work on a new home for Mrs. Catherine Jennewine on Sylvania-Alexis Road (Alexis Road) near Ginger Hill Road (Flanders Road). They said that this was one of several fine homes they expected to build this summer for people in this vicinity of Sylvania Township.

The Sylvania Sentinel dated 10-10-1929 published the following article: COUNTY PLANNER TALKS TO EXCHANGITES - At the regular meeting of the Sylvania Exchange Club held on Tuesday in the M.E. Church dining room, Mr. Charles Hatch, Lucas County Planning Engineer was the speaker. In a very interesting talk he told of the work of the city and county planning commissions, and of correctional and preventative planning of communities. After his talk Mr. Hatch conducted a round table discussion of local and county problems, which proved very educational and interesting to the Exchangites.

On 9-5-1930 Sylvania Village Council read a petition asking for permission to continue dances in the open air pavilion at Inn the Pines (6383 Monroe Street where the Kroger Store is today in 2014) signed by 35 residents of Sylvania and vicinity. It was moved by Councilman Hinckley, seconded by Councilman Acres, that the petition be tabled, and the motion carried with all council members voting yes. Council then presented an ordinance to prohibit the maintenance and operation of Open Air Public Dance Floors, Roller Skating Rinks and Other Similar Entertainment. Councilmember Williams voted to pass the ordinance, Mr. Hinckley seconded, and the motion carried with all members present voting yes.

Mr. John W. Cook was present at the council meeting on 9-19-1930 and asked for permission to erect a miniature golf course opposite the Hixon-Peterson Lumber Co. at 6619 Maplewood Avenue. Mr. Cook was informed it would be necessary for him to present to council a written consent from Edwin B. Parker, a property owner adjoining the proposed golf course on the west, before council could consider said application. Council also accepted and approved the plat of Convent Hills Subdivision as presented to them on the blueprint.

On 2-6-1931 village council passed an ordinance to continue to regulate the construction, repair and alteration of buildings in the village of Sylvania, but now building permits had to be approved by village council, at their public meetings.

As of the 4-17-1931 Sylvania Village Council meeting minutes the building permits submitted were numbered starting with No. 1, which was granted to Zilla Eley, prior to that they were just listed by the name of the applicant.

In 1931 council changed the boundary lines of the district of both the fire zone and business district. The new district lines were as follows: On the south by the Ten Mile Creek, on the west by the New York Central Railroad tracks; on the north by the north line of property now owned by The Hixon-Peterson Lumber Company (6632 Maplewood Avenue), continuing easterly on said line to the Ottawa Creek; and on the east by the Ottawa Creek. In this district no wooden buildings were permitted.

The minutes of Sylvania Village Council dated 11-20-1931 said: A letter from the Toledo Citizen’s Plan Association was read in which a request was made for the mayor to appoint a committee to represent the Village of Sylvania to work with the County organization in planning for the development and future growth of Lucas County. Mayor Quinnell appointed councilmen Acers and Hinckley to serve with himself on the committee.

The minutes of Sylvania Village Council always listed approvals of building permits, usually by the name of the person and what they wanted to accomplish. Each building permit had to be approved by council at their meetings. The 4-1-1932 minutes said: "Park moved, seconded by Hinckley that in the future no permits be signed individually by any members of council and that all permits be approved either at a regular meeting of council or in urgent cases by a special meeting of council called for that purpose. All members voted yes.

According to the minutes of Sylvania Village Council dated 1-6-1933 Ray West was constructing a frame barn on his property within the fire zone. The clerk was instructed to prepare written notice to Mr. West informing him that only fire proof construction would be allowed in this district and that before any buildings are erected it was necessary to have a permit approved by council. The notice was to be delivered by Officer McCulley and was to order that all construction on the barn must be stopped immediately. (Mr. West’s property was at 6465 Monroe Street).

The minutes of Sylvania Village Council dated 1-6-1933 said: Hinckley suggested a letter be sent to all contractors in this locality, and that they be notified not to proceed with any construction or alteration to any building until they are certain a legal permit had been granted by Council. Hinckley moved, seconded by Russell that the Clerk send letters to all carpenters and contractors informing them not to proceed with any alteration or construction until they are certain a legal permit had been passed by Council and that if they build without a permit both the owner and contractor will be held responsible according to the terms of the ordinance. Motion carried all members voting yes.

Mayor Quinnell’s term as Mayor of the village expired on 12-31-1937 and then Albert H. Randall took office. The minutes of the 1-21-1938 meeting of village council reported that Mayor Randall wanted a revision of the building ordinance so that individuals did not have to wait until a council meeting to get approval on their building permit. He suggested that a building committee could be given the power to approve building permits. He thought that the sewer permits could be handled in a similar manner. On 3-4-1938 council amended the building ordinance for the village to allow the clerk (Edward Jacobs) or mayor (A.H. Randall) to approve the building permits for repairs and alterations of buildings. All permits for new construction still had to be approved at a council meeting. Then at the 3-12-1938 council meeting the Fire District Ordinance was amended. Originally (going back to 1887) all structures in the fire district (mainly downtown Sylvania) could not be constructed of wood. This new amendment allowed wood construction on buildings other than commercial buildings.

11-4-1938 – The minutes of Sylvania Village Council said: A motion was made by Quinnell and seconded by Lochbihler that the clerk writes a letter to Mr. Hatch of the County Planning Commission with a protest against the construction of shanties in subdivisions adjoining the Sylvania Village limits. The letter to call their attention to the fact that village council endeavors to regulate construction and that it is the duty of the planning commission to carry out its program. Motion carried.

12-16-1938 – The following was recorded in the minutes of Sylvania Village Council: Mr. Hatch was present, representing the Lucas County Planning Commission and gave a very good explanation of the powers available relative to the regulations of buildings in subdivisions adjoining the Village limits. He explained the regulations exist in a territory three miles outside the Village limits as to width and arrangement of streets and as to fire hazards and health, but cannot regulate buildings at present as to looks or type. He explained the commission is sponsoring a bill called the Enabling Act and urged the members of Council to contact the State Senators and Representatives, asking them to support the bill. Until legislation is passed to control with legal regulations no further action can be taken then as above mentioned.

5-6-1940 - The fees for a building permit in the village of Sylvania were set at $1 for the first $1,000 of the estimated cost, and 50 cents per $1,000 thereafter.

In a review of some of the earlier building permits issued by the Village of Sylvania the following are some of the names of the builders listed, along with the year that the permit was issued: Joseph Hittler (1924); Dave Garry (1924); E.R. Acers (1924); S.E. Good (1925); Nick Willinger (1925); Carl E. Mehring (1925); C.L. Hill (1925); Charles Nason (1925); Wayne Roberts (1925); Bert Friess (1925); Lyons Lumber Co. (1928); John Knepper (1928); George Poulos (1928); H.E. Winans (1929); Philip Muessig (1929); Lee Sheldon (1936); Maurice Weaver (1937); Herman Suhrbier (1938); E.C. Holt (1944); Al Young (1946).

In Sylvania Township, according to the Sylvania Sentinel of 3-16-1939: The Rural Zoning Bill, now up before the legislature, should be of vital interest to the people of this community. The bill would authorize the commissioners of nine counties, including Lucas, to draft regulations for the use of buildings designed for trade, residence or industry in the rural districts and unincorporated areas. The bill would in no way restrict the use of land for farming, but it would protect farmers, and those who invest money in suburban areas against the erection of shack dwellings and objectionable industries which the cities are able to keep out because of properly drafted and reasonable municipal zoning ordinances. For some years, charges Hatch, engineer of the County Planning Commission, has advocated such a bill, declaring it the only possible way to regulate building in the county outside the cities and villages. This bill deserves the support of all forward looking citizens, and should receive and support of all village councils and civic organizations in Lucas County.

3-19-1945 – The minutes of Sylvania Village Council said: The report of the Planning Committee of the Boosters Club was presented by the clerk and read by Solicitor Dague. Rev. Gans was present and suggested that the committee not be limited to property owners but include legal residents of the Village. Council accepted the report and agreed that it be referred when the planning commission was established. Solicitor Dague then presented an ordinance to create and establish a city planning commission in and for Sylvania and to repeal the ordinance passed 4-5-1929. Council agreed that a complete study would be made of the original ordinance.

3-23-1945 – Council passed an ordinance to create and establish a city planning commission for the Village of Sylvania, fixing the term of office of the members and defining the powers and duties of the commission and to repeal an ordinance creating a village planning commission that had been passed on the 5th day of April 1929. The ordinance was discussed section by section, certain changes were made and then the ordinance was adopted.

On 4-18-1945 Mayor John Wefer of the village of Sylvania named Don W. Beveridge, Milton Olander and Roy A. Chandler as members of the newly established Sylvania Planning Commission. Also councilmember W.L. Wright was to represent council on this commission.

In the village of Sylvania members of the Sylvania Booster Club took steps to arouse interest in a zoning ordinance that had been given to village council by their planning commission for adoption in April of 1946. Mr. John P. Howland was a member of the Boosters who made the original motion to set up a committee of planning, and was the instigator of the new plan. A meeting was called for 4-22-1946 at Burnham High School, in which the Planning Commission was invited, and a round table discussion was held. Ray Corbin, editor of the Sylvania Sentinel served as the mediator.

3-18-1946 – At this meeting of Sylvania Village Council, Mayor Wefer presented a letter from the Sylvania Village Planning Commission requesting that the zoning ordinance and map be adopted in its present form together with six copies of the proposed zoning ordinance and one copy of the zoning map. The clerk was instructed to give notice by publication of the public hearing on the ordinance to be held on 5-6-1946.

The Sylvania Sentinel dated 4-11-1946 published the entire zoning ordinance to be approved by village council and reported that this was an ordinance to regulate and restrict the use of buildings and the location of trades and industries and the location of buildings designated for specific uses, to regulate and limit the height and bulk of buildings, courts, and other open spaces, to limit and restrict the minimum number of families which may be housed in dwellings hereafter erected or altered, for said purposes. To divide the village into districts, to provide for changes in the regulations, restrictions and boundaries of such districts, to define certain terms used herein, to provide a method of administration and enforcement, the establishment of a board of appeals and to prescribe the penalties for the violation of the provisions of the ordinance.

On 6-3-1946 the new zoning ordinance for the Village of Sylvania was adopted by Sylvania Village Council.

In August of 1946 village council took action to complete the organization of the recently passed zoning ordinance by appointing individuals to the newly created Zoning Board of Appeals. The first appointments called for one member for a three year term, two members for two year terms and two members for one year terms; then as these terms expired their successors would receive three year appointments. The first members appointed to this board were: Norman Bischoff, three year term; James Rettie and Ray Corbin, two year terms; Don Holliday and Morris Wagonlander, one year terms. Regarding building permits, the new ordinance now called for a full set of plans/drawings and specifications, to be filed with the clerk. The new ordinance required that the village clerk check the plans to make sure that the proposed building conformed to the zoning ordinance. The clerk then made a recommendation to council, and once council approved the application the building permit would be issued. If the clerk denied the application on the grounds of non-conformity, then the applicant could appeal to the Board of Appeals, who were to make a decision as soon as possible. If the adjoining property owners were convinced that the structure did not conform, they could then appeal the clerk’s decision to the Board of Appeals.

5-19-1947 – Sylvania Village Council met on this date and discussed the hiring of a building inspector to inspect all new construction and all sewer connections within the limits of the village of Sylvania. No action was taken at this meeting.

7-3-1947 – Sylvania Village Council resolved to hire a building inspector for the village of Sylvania, and eight months later on 3-15-1948, council hired Warren Snyder and stipulated that any buildings now under construction, but not yet plastered, would be subject to his inspection, as well as all future buildings in the village of Sylvania. In September of 1948 Warren Snyder was still being paid as the building inspector for the Village of Sylvania.

In reviewing the minutes of the Sylvania Township Trustees the first time they held a meeting regarding zoning in the township was on 2-19-1948 when the trustees met to form a zoning commission to serve the township. The following Sylvania Township residents were appointed by the Sylvania Township Trustees to the first Sylvania Township Zoning Commission: J. Wayland Cook, Chairman - 5 year term; W.H. Johnson - 4 year term; Wilbur R. Micham - 3 year term; Wilber Start - 2 year term; Harry Stensloff - 1 year term.

Effective 3-1-1948 the Lucas County commissioners established a county building inspection department and at that time started requiring that residents and business owners obtain a building permit for any type of new construction or remodeling within Lucas County. The 7-2-1948 Toledo Blade newspaper reported that: The county building inspection department, since opening March 1, has issued 736 permits of all types, with total value of $4,814,840.

6-21-1948 – Sylvania Village Council approved an ordinance Adopting the Plumbing, Wiring and Heating Code as written in the Code of Building Regulations prepared by and adopted by the Board of County Commissioners of Lucas County, Ohio.

According to the 10-12-1948 village council minutes, the clerk, Clayton F. Fischer, was authorized to issue building permits after the approval of council at a public meeting.

At the 12-6-1948 village council meeting the clerk read a letter of resignation from Warren Snyder, Village Inspector, for the Village of Sylvania. At this time council appointed Delbert W. Schunight to serve as the building inspector. In August of 1949 the minutes of village council indicates that they were still paying Delbert W. Schunight fees for service as the village marshal and as the building inspector. Clayton Fischer, the clerk of the Village of Sylvania, was signing the building permits, or sometimes a member of council at the council meetings. The minutes usually indicated that Building Inspector Schunight was submitting the applications for building permits to council at their meetings. Sometimes the minutes said that he had already approved some of them if they were minor repairs. On the other more extensive requests; such as building a home or garage or major repairs, Mr. Schunight would make a recommendation that council approve or disapprove the building permit.

All throughout the rest of 1948 and through 1949 the Sylvania Township Trustees and the township zoning commission members met and worked on a proposed zoning code for the township. The proposed zoning code was presented to the voters of Sylvania Township in November of 1949, and it was reported that it was soundly defeated. A search of the local newspapers of the Sylvania Sentinel and the Toledo Blade never did give the actual vote count on this measure.

By December of 1951 Delbert W. Schunight was still serving as the village marshal and receiving a separate check for serving as the building inspector for the village. On 12-3-1951 he was paid a salary of $127.55 (twice monthly) for services as marshal and $194.25 (annually) for fees as the building inspector.

On 4-21-1952 a delegation of people from the Spring Street area of the village of Sylvania appeared before council concerning the building permit and the building which Hudson Manufacturing and Equipment Co. was proposing to build. They presented a petition concerning the cancellation of the building permit issued on the basis that it was in violation to the zoning ordinance. This petition also required that a particular district in that area be re-zoned residential. Council agreed that the Hudson Manufacturing and Equipment Co. was to be notified to stop construction of the proposed building for which council had issued a permit and they be requested to attend a special meeting at the council building on 5-12-1952 at 7:30 p.m., to discuss the proposed commercial building.

The clerk of Sylvania Village Council recorded that on 5-12-1952 council decided that since the Hudson Manufacturing and Equipment Co. did not comply with the zoning ordinance, the building permit was therefore rescinded, and the fee for the permit was to be refunded.

On 9-15-1952 the following members were appointed to serve on the Village of Sylvania Zoning Board of Appeals: Allen Doerr, Harry Burnard, Guy Luce, Ray Corbin and Ed Doley.

5-25-1953 – Delbert Schunight resigned his position as marshal and chief of police for the village of Sylvania, therefore also gave up the position of building inspector and zoning inspector.

6-15-1953 – Mayor A.H. Randall recommended that B.H. Wyant be appointed the building inspector for the Village of Sylvania.

Between November of 1949, after the Sylvania Township residents voted down the first attempt for a zoning plan in the township, and 1953, the Sylvania Township Trustees had given up hope for a zoning resolution in the township. Then in 1953 the first zoning district was established in Sylvania Township, and was named the Flanders, Monroe, Whiteford zoning district. This district was established at the request of the residents in that area.

In reviewing the first Official copy of Zoning Regulations for Sylvania Township the first page reads: Proposed text of Sylvania Township Zoning Regulation considered at a public hearing on 6-11-1953 by Sylvania Township Zoning Commission and certified to the Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions 6-12-1953. Map and text considered and approved by Lucas County Plan Commission at meeting of 6-25-1953. Map & text approved by Sylvania Township Trustees. The trustees at this time were: Elmer L. Robinson, Elliot R. Acers and Earl Box.

On 12-7-1953, in the village of Sylvania, council passed a resolution to rezone the northwest corner of Main Street and Convent. This was the second area of the village that was requesting a change in zoning from the original planned zoning districts. The first attempt to change a zoning district was on the east side of North Main Street at the Michigan line when the Thompsons requested that area be changed from a residential district to a business district. This second zoning change request was made by Ray S. Loftus, requesting the zoning change on the northwest corner of Main and Convent, and council approved the request. At that same meeting council granted Mr. Loftus a building permit to construct a commercial building at this corner at an estimated cost of $3,000.

2-3-1955 – Sentinel-Herald: A meeting for Sylvania Township residents interested in zoning will be held at 8 p.m. at Sylvania Fire Department – Station One on Monroe Street, Thursday night, February 10th; it has been announced by Elmer Robinson, Chairman of the Sylvania Township Board of Trustees. With only two small portions of the township already zoned, Robinson hopes enough interest will be generated at the February 10th meeting so that a program for the rest of the township can be placed on the November ballot. He said interest in zoning has been renewed since a used auto parts concern has filled an area facing Holland-Sylvania Road with old automobiles. Areas already zoned include Talmadge Road west to Vineyard Road, and Monroe Street north to the Michigan line. Township zoning only covers land use, it was learned. Any area of the township can be zoned by a vote of the residents in that area. Procedures for zoning begins with a resolution of the trustees to place a zoning program on the ballot. If the majority of people present at the February 10th meeting want zoning, said Robinson, We will draw up the proper resolution and present it to the local Zoning Commission for further action.

In an article that was published in the 2-23-1956 issue of the Sentinel-Herald regarding the proposed zoning plan for Sylvania Township the following was printed: Although the Sylvania Township Zoning Commission filed a map and resolution with the Township Trustees last Thursday night, residents will have plenty of time to think it over – the submission was too late for a plan to be carried on the May Primary ballot. Harry Ries, Chairman of the Board of Trustees said that a plan will probably be presented to voters in the November regular election since the cost of a special election must be borne by the township. The plan presented Thursday night will be reviewed by the trustees and some informal meetings open to the public will probably be held in advance of another hearing. Trustees can make further changes before the plan comes to a vote. After a hearing date is published (probably in June) a final mass meeting will be conducted prior to a satisfaction to the Board of Election. At a date yet to be announced, the use map as well as the complete resolution will be on display at the Sylvania Township Fire Station on Monroe Street in the village, they said. Charles Foreman, Chairman of the Zoning Commission, presented an explanation of the commission’s reasoning in a seven page brochure. So that interested residents may read the conclusion reached by the commission, it is presented herewith in its entirety: Gentlemen: Over the last year many of the residents of the unzoned portion of the township have requested that zoning be extended to cover the whole township. The Trustees, sympathetic with such request, requested that the Zoning Commission develop an ordinance together with a map entitled Sylvania Township Zoning Plan." With the cooperation and assistance of the Lucas County Plan Commission, the ordinance and map have been prepared by us and are herewith submitted for your consideration and action. Several meetings have been held by the Commission over the last year. Among these was a public hearing on 9-15-1955 attended by the Commission, representatives of the County Plan Commission, the Trustees and interested residents of the township. At this meeting, copies of the proposed ordinance were distributed and a map of the township showing the type of zoning for various areas was on display. Mr. Foreman and Mr. Foelier outlined the various features of the map and ordinance and then opened the meeting for discussion and questions. Most of the objections raised pertained to zoning of certain areas residential, commercial or industrial. All of the objections were noted in the minutes of the meeting for further consideration by the Commission, and the objectors were requesting to submit to the Commission letters, petitions, etc. supporting their positions. The commercial subsequently discussed all areas in question. Changes were made in the map where feasible and where consistent with good zoning practice. The plan and map we are now presenting to the Trustees, we believe to be most suitable for the future development of the township and to be in the best interests of the majority of the residents. However, when the Trustees hold their public hearing, some of the objections will again be brought up for discussion. Therefore we feel it advisable to put on record our reason for making the recommendations as we did. The areas in question are as follows:

1. Talmadge Road (west side) between Monroe and Sylvania. Petitions requesting commercial.

A. Giant Lumber and Building Company – request commercial zoning for approximately 1200 feet along Talmadge 600 feet deep.

B. Woodmont Company – requests commercial zoning for 340 feet along Talmadge, 350 feet deep, adjacent to Giant Lumber Company property.

C. Walker-Wenner Funeral Home – request commercial zoning for 258 feet of frontage, 300 feet deep.

D. Mr. and Mrs. L.W. Bunde – requests commercial zoning for 191 feet of frontage on Talmadge 1,366 feet deep.

E. Mr. Eugene Jernigan – requests commercial zoning for 62 feet of frontage on Talmadge, 350 feet deep.

The Commission recommends no commercial zoning in this area inasmuch as there is a 300 foot buffer strip of residential zoning along the Talmadge side of the Franklin Airport property in Washington Township and because there is adequate commercial zoning along Monroe Street.

2. North of Central Avenue area west of Corey Road (and its extension north) and west to the NYC RR track. Originally this area was designed R-A., with lot areas of 12,000 sq. ft. minimum. This has been changed to A-4 – rural residential – which carries a minimum area of 20,000 sq. ft. We felt this to be more in keeping with the general development in existence around this area.

3. Area on Central Avenue west of Toledo, Angola and Western RR tracks to Holland-Sylvania Road and thence north on Holland-Sylvania Road to the Toledo and Western RR tracks, primarily the area known as Lathrop Place. Petitions covering this area were received from the following:

A. Hugh T. Bartley Company – request commercial zoning along both sides of Holland-Sylvania Road, particularly on the east side between Goodhue Drive and Bonsels Parkway.

B. 175 residents of Lathrop Place – request only residential zoning on Central Avenue and Holland-Sylvania with the exception of a small area at the northeast corner of the intersection.

C. Mr. Charles Adams – request commercial zoning for area on southwest corner of Holland-Sylvania and Goodhue Drive. The Commission recommends commercial zoning as shown on the map of Central Avenue, but not along Holland-Sylvania Road. We believe there should be no spot residential zoning along this portion of Central Avenue; and by the same token are against spot commercial zoning of Holland-Sylvania Road. Central Avenue is primarily in commercial use in this area.

4. Reynolds Road area from township line north to Central Avenue.

Petitions covering this area were received from the following:

A. Reynolds Road Lumber and Supply Company – request that area east of Reynolds Road to RR tracks north of curve owned by them be zoned light residential as shown on the map.

B. Vogelsang Lumber Company and Mrs. Herma Bayer – requested that limited industrial zoning on the east side of Reynolds Road extend at least as far south as the south line of the Vogelsang line, which is 920 feet north of centerline of Elmer Drive and probably as far south as the south line of the Bayer property west is 412.5 feet north of Elmer Drive.

C. 10 residents of the area between Central Avenue and Vogelsang Lumber – request spot residential zoning.

D. Arnolds Bosch, Inc. requests industrial zoning of the area south of Central Avenue, where Toledo, Angola and Western, and NYC railroad tracks east of Holland-Sylvania Road and approximately 1,832 feet south of Central."

To give you an idea of how the zoning issues were at first in the township, in 1956, the following is copied from the Sylvania Sentinel-Herald issue dated 6-28-1956: I think it’s nutty, said Sylvania Zoning Appeals Board Chairman Paul Thomae after an appeals board hearing last week, but we had to follow the book.

He was referring to a provision in the zoning resolution for a portion of Sylvania Township which prohibited two dwellings on any one plot of ground. The Appeals Board denied a request of Horton Rorick for the construction of a second dwelling on a five acre plot at 5347 Flanders Road. Rorick, who already owns one dwelling on the acreage, could build a second without Sylvania Appeals Board action if he would take legal steps to remove the proposed site from the acreage. Zoning regulations in the Flanders Road area, the only part of Sylvania Township which is presently zoned, provides that lots of 20,000 square feet can be used for dwelling construction. By plotting the five acres, Rorick could build at least five homes there. Under the zoning regulations, however, Appeals Board Chairman Thomae said it was clear that the Rorick request should be denied. The hearing was held June 20th in the Sylvania Township Fire House. Members of the Sylvania Township Appeals Board are Paul Thomae, Roman Laux, Russell Brown, Russell Croft and Francis DeHaven. Brown was appointed to the board last week by trustees after the resignation of Harry Cooper."

All through the spring and summer of 1956 the Sylvania Township Zoning Commission and the Sylvania Township Trustees were discussing the details of the new zoning resolution that would govern all of Sylvania Township. In April of 1956 Trustees Harry Ries, Earl Box and Howard Hine, with William L. Batt, Jr., the Executive Secretary of the Toledo Industrial Development Council, met and toured the township with an eye for suitable industrial sites. It was strongly suggested that the trustees consider additional industrial locations on the proposed land use map before the proposal was presented for public vote. Mr. Batt said: presently the map limits industry in the township largely to the Centennial Road sector surrounding the stone and cement industries already located here.

In July of 1956 the Sylvania Township Trustees scratched the Lucas County Master Plan out of the proposed zoning resolution that was to be voted on in November by the township voters.

On 8-2-1956 a zoning plan was adopted by the trustees for the entire township, with the public voting at the November elections. By October of 1956 the Sylvania Township Trustees were urging residents to vote FOR the zoning plan which would appear on the ballot on November 6th. The plan, they said, provided sensible regulations which would promote orderly growth in the rapidly expanding community. Minimum house requirements were tailored to fit most every income bracket—industrial areas were placed in sensible locations in order to induce tax producing companies to locate in Sylvania Township.

The zoning plan for Sylvania Township was approved by the voters on 11-6-1956. Shortly after this plan was approved, Elmer Cline, the township fire chief, was appointed to serve also as zoning inspector, and zoning permits were obtained at the fire station on Monroe Street. Chief Cline was to receive an additional $150 per month to handle the zoning inspector position. A review of the early zoning permits show that Norma Cline, the wife of Elmer Cline, was also authorized to sign zoning permits, as her name appears on some of the permits. Mrs. Cline was also a full-time fire and police dispatcher at this time and the dispatch offices were at the fire station, so if the fire chief wasn’t available then she could sign and issue permits.

In December of 1956 Sam Scouten, the former member of the zoning commission in the Flanders Road area became the chairman of the new township-wide Zoning Commission. Wesley Lowell was to head the Township Zoning Appeals Board. Chief Cline said that an application would be required for any building, remodeling or razing in the township. Permits were $2.00 and had to be applied for prior to the application for a county permit which was also required.

A five-member township zoning commission and a five-member township zoning appeals board were appointed by the township trustees on 11-30-1956. The first Sylvania Township Zoning Appeals Board included: Wesley Lowell, Murrell Smith, Fred Bostleman, Meigs V. Curtis, Lowell Mason, and Herbert F. Mey served as the recording secretary. The new Sylvania Township Zoning Commission Board included: Sam Scouten, Van M. Altman, Harold James, Werner R. Koch, Lloyd Bowman, and Herbert F. Mey also served as their recording secretary.

It was noted in 1956 that the Sylvania Township Zoning Appeals Board had always consisted of five members who were appointed by the Sylvania Township Trustees, as needed, and they had to be residents of Sylvania Township. The members were paid a small stipend ($10 per month) at the end of each year. Board members were appointed to five year terms, and reappointed when that term expired, or they were replaced. Starting with 1956 the following individuals were appointed by the Sylvania Township Trustees to serve on the Sylvania Township Zoning Appeals Board: Wesley Lowell, Meigs V. Curtis, Murrell Smith, Lowell Mason, Fred Bostleman, Richard Merce, John Connors, Milton McCreery, Robert Dixon, Albert H. Rotsinger, Bernard Black, Joseph Deahl, Rudolph Bedford, Lucille I. Laskey, John Schlageter, Fred Sherbert, John Gill, Marie Sharpless, Marvin J. Jacobs, A Jackson Smith, Marguerite Hall, James Jeffery, Carolyn Shelt, Richard Downing, Bruce A. Wharram, Frank TerWoerds, Jack Schwenning, Joanne Cwiklewski, C. Michael Smith, Jeff Lydy, James Jeffery again, Alan Robertson, George D. Fanning, Jr., Kenneth Perry, Duard Ballard, Clint McBee, Edward Konicki, Kevin M. Ferguson, Dennis Boyle, Scott Stansley, Kevin Eff, Daniel Bollin, Robert Sabo, Tom Helberg, Al Hayes, John Amos, Tim Schlachter, Amanda Siek (Alternate).

The Sylvania Township Zoning Commission had five members who were appointed by the Sylvania Township Trustees as needed. Those appointed had to be residents of the township. The members were paid