Sylvania Township history

Judge William Wilson and General David White founded Sylvania in 1833, just 30 years after Ohio became a state.

Since the first school was built in 1834, Sylvania has provided the community with an excellent school system including St Francis Education Center, St Joseph Elementary School, Hebrew Academy of Toledo and the First Apostolic Christian Academy.

On February 23, 1835, the Ohio Legislature passed an Act to create the Township of Sylvania, still part of Wood County at this time.

Sylvania was founded in July 1836 and has a current population of approximately 19,100 people.

The county seat was moved to Sylvania from its former location at Jacksonborough in 1847 by an act of the state legislature.

Built as a carriage works with two stories by J.J. Richie in the 1850's.

Sylvania was incorporated in 1854.

In 1867, the Village of Sylvania was established and at that time, the village council created the position of Village Marshall.

In 1868 a new brick school was built on the same land to replace the old stone academy.

On March 1, 1872, the Village of Sylvania council passed a resolution to form their first fire department, a Hook & Ladder Company.

The Constitution and By-Laws of the Northwestern Ohio Volunteer Firemen’s Association lists Sylvania Township Fire Department as a Charter Member of that organization, which was founded in 1874.

As late as 1875 Central Avenue was not a continuous road from Toledo to the Lucas-Fulton County line.

A fire in April of 1887 destroyed all of the commercial and residential buildings on the west side of Main Street from Maplewood to Monroe Street.

The earliest mention of a fire chief by name was in 1899, Chief Crum was mentioned in a newspaper article about a new fire engine trial run and reorganization of the fire company.

Mich. and bought the place in the early 1900's, it became the Bittner Place.

The Village passed an ordinance in December of 1915 to create a fire district and to regulate the construction and repair of buildings within Sylvania.

The Franciscan Center is a nonprofit presenting organization which extends the social and educational ministries of the Sisters of St Francis who first came to Sylvania o n December 8, 1916 from Minnesota.

Toledo inventor and businessman, who in the 1920's purchased hundreds of acres along Central Ave. and Corey Rd.

Bob Wyandt in his research of old council records found that Division St, Ohio St, Maumee St, and the Adrian Rd. inside the village limits were combined into one thoroughfare called Main St in 1923.

On December 15, 1927, the Village of Sylvania again organized a volunteer fire department, with the Mayor appointing the Village Constable, Ralph VanGlahn, as the Fire Chief.

November 3, 1928, Sylvania Township Trustees passed a motion to allow $3.00 a piece to two men who shall come with the fire truck from the village for a fire in the township until such time as the township purchases their own equipment.

On January 5, 1929, the Sylvania Township trustees got serious about forming a permanent fire department, setting aside $2,000 from the general fund for the purchase of fire equipment and $500 for other expenses.

On January 14, 1930 the Township Trustees budgeted $8,000 for the purchase of fire equipment and $2,940 for other fire expenses.

January 9, 1931, they held joint meeting with the officials of the village of Sylvania and made arrangements to share in the expense of hiring W.W. Netz to serve as inspector and driver of fire trucks at the fire station on a full-time basis, with his wages divided between the village and township.

*January 20, 1948 – Fire Chief Darrell Williams resigns and Elmer Cline was appointed as Fire Chief. (Chief Darrell Williams passed away in September of 1948)

With public donations and volunteer labor, a three-bay firehouse was built in 1950 at 6448 West Central Ave.

*The first fire levy, one mill, was approved by village and township citizens in November of 1951.

*On January 15, 1956, Fire Chief Elmer Cline is hired to work as a full-time Fire Chief, becoming the first area fire chief outside of Toledo to be a paid full-time Chief.

Chief Arthur Cole, who had been appointed Chief of Police in 1958, became the first Chief of Police for the city.

*In 1959, Derwin “Jim” Aller was hired on a part-time basis for a fire prevention program in Sylvania.

On April 1, 1964, City Council and all city offices moved out of the building at the northwest corner of Main and Monroe and moved to their new municipal building located at 6635 Maplewood Avenue.

*On April 4, 1971 a new 24-hour police and fire dispatching system was established by the Sylvania Township Police Department.

*On January 17, 1973 the first full-time firefighters were hired.

Sylvania also features 105.5 WWWM-FM ( www.star105toledo.com), a contemporary pop/rock radio station that’s been on the air since 1990.

Officer Gallup has been employed with the Sylvania Police Division since 1991 and is currently assigned to Community Affairs as a School Resource Officer.

On January 2, 1998 Deputy Chief Christopher Maurer is appointed as Fire Chief.

The building was remodeled and emergency services started operation in 2001 from that location.

*In November of 2009, remodeling was completed and the administrative offices of the fire department were moved to firehouse No.

*On December 31, 2010, Chief Welsh resigns and Assistant Chief Jeffrey Kowalski is appointed Fire Chief.

*November 10, 2013, the newly rebuilt Firehouse #1, at 6633 Monroe St is completed at the same location.

As of 2014, the Sylvania Police Division consists of 33 sworn personnel, seven civilian employees, and 13 citizen volunteers.

*March 2017, the fire department takes delivery of a new fire engine, built in Columbus by Sutphen Corp. at a cost of $517,000.