The Ward M. Canaday Center

for Special Collections

The University of Toledo

Finding Aid

Toledo Edison Collection

MSS-082

Size: Approximately 90 linear ft.

Provenance: Received from the Toledo Edison Company 

Access: Open

Related Collections:

Processing Note: 

 

Copyright: The literary rights to this collection are assumed to rest with the person(s) responsible for the production of the particular items within the collection, or with their heirs or assigns.  Researchers bear full legal responsibility for the acquisition to publish from any part of said collection per Title 17, United States Code.  The Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections may reserve the right to intervene as intermediary at its own discretion.

 

Completed by: April S. Dougal and Jamie L. Wraight; Revised by Tamara Jones, February 2007

 

 

Brief Company History

1853

September 25. Toledo Gas Light & Coke Co., Toledo's first utility, incorporated.

 

 

1860

November 20. Toledo Gas Light & Coke Co formed the first horse-drawn street railway.

 

 

1862

May 27. First horse-car line begins operation on Summit Street.

 

 

1879

October 21. Thomas Edison perfects the first incandescent light.

 

 

1881

April 28. Toledo Brush Electric & Power Co. incorporated, Toledo's first electric utility.

 

 

1883

Electricity first used to produce light in Toledo, when C.C. Warren installs light plant in the Hannah Building at Erie and Monroe Streets.  The first arc light was installed at the corner outside the plant.

 

 

1884

December. Toledo Consolidated Street Railway Co., "The Big Con," organized by Albion Lang.  Four competing lines merged.

Toledo Electric Co. established by predecessor of General Electric Co. bring first incandescent lights to Toledo plant at Locust and Water Streets (site of Locust substation.)

 

 

1889

April 10. Toledo Electric Street Railway Co., organized by predecessor of General Electric to demonstrate feasibility of electricity for street railway propulsion.

 

 

1892

April. Toledo Traction Co. formed by Albion Lang, succeeding "Big Con" and eventually bringing in all other concerns.

 

 

1898

Albion Lang elected president of American Street Railway Association.  Water Street Station completed - four rope drive Wheelock engines - 4,000KW capacity - "sufficient to serve needs of Toledo for 25 years."

 

 

1901

June 1 - Toledo Railways & Light Co. organized bringing together all of street railway and most electric business - direct predecessor of Toledo Edison co. Albion Lang first president. Purpose: to develop inter-city electric railways, or "interurbans".

 

 

1903

Albion Lang retires.

 

 

1905

August 14 - three small gas companies merged to form Toledo Gas, Electric & Heating Co. to make an aggressive bid for electrical business in Toledo.

Electric service cost : 12 cents per KWH - $1.00 per month minimum charge covering first 8 KWH

 

 

1906

First turbine unit a 2,000 KW vertical generator and four 650 horse power Sterling boilers, installed in Water Street to relieve acute capacity situation.

 

 

1907

Albion Lang called back from retirement.

 

 

1907

June 1 - Rail Light bought Toledo Gas, Electric, & Heating Co. bringing together all street railway artificial gas and hot water heat and almost all electric facilities.

Plants:
Water Street - Electric
Detroit Avenue - Heating and electric
Floyd Street - Heating and electric
Twenty-second Street - Heating and electric
Erie Street - Gas plant

Capacity:
Less than 25,000 KW

 

 

1910

Willys-Overland Motors becomes first major industrial electric customer. Service includes six 50 KW transformers for lighting and three 200 KW transformers for power.

 

 

1911

Albion Lang retires and is succeeded by Frank R. Coates.

 

 

 

Auglaize Power Co. formed  and work started on Defiance hydro-electric

 

 

1912

Defiance Hydro completed - 375 feet long, 22 feet high - five 1,000 KW generators. In 1953 this was still Ohio,s largest hydroelectric station.

 

 

1913

February - H. L. Doherty interests ( Cities Service Co.) purchase Rail Light.

April - Doherty interests take charge.

15,117 customers served.

12,500 KW turbines installed at Water Street Station.

Power supply short and industrial growth inhibited.

March - high water broke Defiance dam.

 

 

1914

One of world's longest high tension underground systems put into operation - Water Street to Willys-Overland. Composed of five 23,000 volt cables.

Customers increased to 19,164

 

 

1915

Annual production passes 100 million KWH mark.

 

 

1916

Toledo Engineering Cadet School organized; 45 college engineer graduates begin training.

Acme Power Co. formed by Henry L. Doherty and work begun on Acme Station.

 

 

1917

Engineering work started on high tension belt line.

 

 

1918

March 28 - No. 1 turbine at Acme put into operation - 25,000 KW. 25 cycle.

 

 

1919

572 interurban arrivals and departures every 24 hours.

November 10 - After lengthy street car fare negotiation, city notified Rail Light it must cease to operate transit system. Under H. L.  Doherty , supervisor, 350 street cars taken across the state line into Michigan. Remained there 27 days until controversy settled.

November 12 - Rail Light offices moved from Smith &  Baker buildings, Superior & Adams Streets, to former Lasalle & Koch Building.

Peak - 48,220 KW.

41,500 customers

 

 

1920

Electric production - 226,295,000 KWH

May 9 - No. 2 generator at Acme in operation - 20,000 KW.

System defeated in special election.

 

 

1921

January 31 - Street railway property sold to Community Traction Co.

October - Rail Light purchases acme Power co.

November 1 - Name changed to Toledo Edison Co.

First preferred stock dividend paid.

 

 

1922

October 1 - half of belt line complete - 12 miles.

First common stock dividend paid.

 

 

1923

December 11 - #3 Westinghouse 30,000 KW turbine on line at Acme Station.

 

 

1924

September 30 - Toledo Edison purchases Defiance Gas & Electric (including Defiance hydro plant ), Swanton Light & Power, Holgate Light & Power.

 

 

1925

Peak - 78,900 KW.

 

 

1926

December 1 - Cities Service purchases Lake Shore Power Co.

Toledo Edison buys six small rail and power companies in area.

 

 

1927

Five more small companies acquired.

 

 

1928

March 1 - All gas properties ( except Defiance and Delta ) sold to Ohio Fuel Gas Co.

 

 

1929

May 21 - #4 at Acme on line.  35,000 KW.

May 31 - Nation's first night horse racing at Ft. Miami track as Toledo Edison installs 120 lights ( 1,500 watts each ) on the mile-long track.

September 15 - Downtown steam heating system completed.

 

 

1930

Electric production - 468,679,000 KWH.

 

 

1930

Garage completed and contract let for Service Building as development of west Delaware Avenue Service Center is begun.

 

 

1935

Offices moved to former Ohio bank Bldg., Madison Ave. & Superior St.

Congress passes Public Utility Holding Company Act.

 

 

1936

February 1 - Lake Shore Power Co. purchased, including much of present Wauseon Division.

 

 

1937

Albion Lang dies.

 

 

1938

February 5 - Toledo Edison purchases Ohio Utilities Finance Co., holder of properties now in Fremont Division.

April - C. L. Proctor succeeds Frank R. Coates as president.

April 28 - Topper turbine installed at Acme - 5,000 KW 60 cycle.

 

 

1939

Last passenger interurban ( Toledo & Indiana ) retired.

 

 

1940

Electric production - 642,425,000.

Average cost to domestic customers - 3.84 cents per KWH.

 

 

1941

2-way FM radio dispatching system installed - one of first in Midwest.

December - system peak - 50,000 KW.

 

 

1944

Output passed billion KWH mark - 1,083,324,577 KWH.

 

 

1946

Charles E Ide succeeds C. L. Proctor as president.

 

 

1949

No. 6 unit installed at Acme - 90,000 KW

 

 

1950

Electric production - 1,488,881,000 KWH

Average cost to domestic consumer - 2.62 cents per KWH.

May - Toledo Edison is separated from Cities Service Co. and stock sold to the public in accordance with provision of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.

December 31 - Last electric street car retired.

 

 

1951

Replacement for old No. 2 unit installed in Acme Station - 60,000 KW.

 

 

1953

June 18 - Ground broken for new plant on Maumee Bay near Harbor View. New station to be called Bay Shore Station.

 

Folder List

 

Box

Folder

 

 

 

S1: COMPANY FILES

 

 

 

 

 

Toledo Edison

1

1

Right of Way Contracts, 1911-1921

1

2

Survey Report of Garage & Warehouse Centralization, May 1929

1

3

Safety Performance Award, 1968

1

4

Drawing and Photographs (1952, n.d.)

1

8

Comparative Statistics and Ratios of Electric Companies of the United States Year 1944

1

9

Non-Residential Building Permits, 1950

1

10

News clippings, 1938-1939

1

11

News clippings, 1939-1940

1

12

News clippings, 1940-1941

^

 

News clippings and Promotional Materials, 1933-1937?

 

 

 

 

 

Lake Erie Power & Light Co.

1

7

Copies of Contracts, Bills of Sale, and Deeds

 

 

 

 

 

The Toledo Railways & Light Co.

1

5

Certificates of Deposit, Mortgage Gold Bonds-Nov. 15, 1912-Feb. 13, 1913

1

6

Certificates of Deposit, Secured Promissory Notes-Nov. 21, 1912-Feb. 14, 1913

1

13

Ordinance Book, 1892-1896

2

1

Report on The Toledo Railways & Light Co., Sept. 30, 1910

2

2

The Toledo Railways & Light Co. Record Book, 1901

2

3

Surplus Account Records, July 1, 1901-Nov. 30, 1917

2

4

Underground & Line Dept. Repair Requests, 1912-1913

2

5

War Labor Board Hearing, May 12, 1919

 

 

 

 

 

The Toledo Traction Co.

2

6

Ledger, n.d.

^

 

Meeting Minutes, April 26, 1895

 

 

 

 

 

Miscellaneous Files (other companies)

2

7

Miscellaneous Contracts and Agreements

2

8

Ordinance Book, 1885-1895

 

 

 

 

 

S2: OVERSIZE MATERIALS

 

 

 

 

 

Blueprints (Plaza Alterations, Headquarters Facilities) * 

#

1

Plaza Arrangement Sketch

#

1

8th Floor Roof and Garden Plumbing (3 copies)

#

1

Toledo Edison Tenant Improvement-8th Floor First Aid Toilet Rm. and Cabinetry (3 copies)

#

1

Customer Service Plaza Level (5 copies)

#

1

Plaza Arrangement Sketches

#

1

Typical 3rd Fl.-7th Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Plan

#

1

Plaza Floor Heating,Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Plan

#

1

Mechanical Equipment Schedules and Legend

#

1

7th Floor Electrical Plan

#

1

Plaza Level Electrical Plan

#

1

1st Floor Plan (4 copies)

#

1

Plaza Level Lighting Plan

 

 

 

 

 

Drawings & Photographs

#

 

Bay Shore Station, 1955 photo (unframed)

#

 

Bay Shore Station boiler (drawing, unframed)

#

 

Bay Shore Station-Unit No. 4 (drawing, unframed)

#

 

Sketch, unknown station (framed)

#

 

John H. Barker (employee) portrait (framed)

#

 

Convention, Henry L. Doherty & Co., New York, NY (framed)

#

 

The Doherty Special-Bartlesville, OK, May 5, 1919 (framed)

#

 

Doherty Executives Conference-Kansas City, MO., Dec. 1-3, 1924 (framed)

#

 

Doherty Securities Tour-Bartlesville, OK, Sept. 24, 1929 (framed)

#

 

Library(?) (date and location unknown, unframed)

#

 

Unknown Power Station (unframed)

 

 

 

#

1

Maps (Northwest Ohio & Lake Erie Islands) * 

 

 

 

 

 

Plat Maps (aerial photographs) * 

#

1

BVG-7T-198 (12-1-57)

#

1

BVG-7T-183 (12-1-57)

#

1

BVG-7T-177 (12-1-57)

#

1

BVG-7T-175 (12-1-57)

#

2

BVG-7T-178 (12-1-57)

#

2

BVG-7T-179 (12-1-57)

#

2

BVG-7T-180 (12-1-57)

#

2

BVG-7T-176 (12-1-57)

#

3

BVJ-1EE-78 (5-17-64) (5 copies; copy 5 in roll 7)

#

3

BVJ-1EE-81 (5-17-64)

#

4

BVJ-1EE-82 (5-17-64)

#

4

BVJ-1EE-123 (5-17-64)

#

4

BVJ-1EE-124 (5-17-64)

#

4

BVJ-1EE-126 (5-17-64)

#

4

BVJ-1EE-128 (5-17-64)

#

4

BVJ-1EE-136 (5-17-64)

#

5

BVJ-2EE-194 (5-18-64)

#

5

BVJ-2EE-202 (5-18-64) 

#

5

BVJ-2EE-185 (5-18-64)

#

5

BVJ-2EE-192 (5-18-64) 

#

6

BVJ-2EE-183 (5-18-64) 

#

6

BVJ-2EE-204 (5-18-64)

#

6

BVJ-1EE-26 (5-17-64)

#

6

BVJ-1EE-70 (5-17-64) (2 copies)

#

6

BVJ-1EE-28 (5-17-64)

#

7

BVJ-1EE-138 (5-17-64)

#

7

BVJ-1EE-78 (5-17-64) (copy 5)

#

7

BVJ-1EE-140 (5-17-64)

#

7

BVJ-1EE-134 (5-17-64)

#

7

BVJ-1EE-77 (5-17-64)

#

7

BVJ-1EE-79 (5-17-64)

 

 

 

 

 

Plat Maps (unrolled)

#

1

BVG-1T-97 (5-7-57)

#

1

BVG-4T-180 (6-20-57)

#

1

BVG-4T-193 (6-20-57)

#

1

BVG-4T-178 (6-20-57)

#

2

BVG-7T-181 (12-1-57)

#

2

BVG-7T-182 (12-1-57)

#

2

BVJ-1EE-69 (5-17-64)

#

2

BVG-1T-93 (5-7-57)

#

2

BVG-1T-94 (5-7-57)

#

2

BVG-1T-95 (5-7-57)

#

2

BVG-4T-179 (6-20-57)

#

2

BVG-5T-36 (6-20-57

#

2

BVG-1T-96 (5-7-57)

 

 

 

 

 

Scrapbooks

^

 

1894-1896

^

 

1896-1901

^

 

1901-1903

^

 

1903

^

 

1903

^

 

1903

^

 

1903-1904

^

 

1904-1905

^

 

1906-1907

^

 

1906-1907

^

 

1907, 1909

^

 

1907

^

 

1907-1909

^

 

1909-1910

^

 

1910-1911

^

 

1910-1911

^

 

1911-1912

^

 

1913-1914

^

 

1913-1914

^

 

1913-1914

^

 

1914

^

 

1914-1915

^

 

1914-1915

^

 

1915

^

 

1915-1916

^

 

1915-1916

^

 

1916-1918

^

 

1918-1919

^

 

1919

^

 

1919

^

 

1919

^

 

1919-1920

^

 

1919-1920

^

 

1920

^

 

1920

^

 

1920-1921

^

 

1920-1921

^

 

1920-1921

^

 

1921

^

 

1921-1924

^

 

1924-1925

^

 

1924-1927

^

 

1925-1931

^

 

1927-1938

^

 

1927-1940

^

 

1948-1951

^

 

1951-1954

^

 

1951-1955

^

 

1955-1963

^

 

1957-1959

^

 

1959-1960

^

 

1960

^

 

1960-1971

^

 

1961-1963

^

 

1962-1963

^

 

1963

^

 

1963-1969

^

 

1965 Columbia Gas

^

 

1965 Total Electric Award

^

 

1967

^

 

1967-1968

^

 

1968-1970

^

 

1969

^

 

1969

^

 

1969

^

 

1970-1972

^

 

1971

^

 

1972

^

 

1972

^

 

1972

 

 

 

 

 

Other Oversize* 

#

 

The Toledo Edison Co. Family Tree (diagram)

 

#=located on ranges 3 & 4
^=located on top of ranges 65 & 66
*=tube
Additional note: drawings, photographs, and unrolled plat maps are folios

 

 

Last Updated: 6/27/22