TOLEDO OHIO VETERANS MUSEUM DISPLAYS "MISSING"

MUSEUM RESTORATION 

"STONEWALLED"

BY VETERANS ORGANIZATION

MILLIONS IN MEDALS, UNIFORMS, FLAGS DISAPPEARED

By Gordon Duff and Nick Haupricht (WITH PHOTO HISTORY)

In cooperation with office of Congressional Rep. Marcy Kaptur, originator of the World War II Memorial in Washington, a local group of veterans, museum curators and historians is working to restore one of America’s lost treasures, the Toledo Soldiers Memorial Museum. 

This facility held, not only famous paintings, hundreds of weapons of incredible value, several Congressional Medals of Honor, hundreds of Civil War uniforms and WWI combat aircraft but memorabilia donated by veterans of every war Americans died in for nearly a hundred years.

We are asking anyone who has seen the displays that were moved to the TOLEDO ZOO or has any knowledge of any individual collectors or museums that might have any of these artifacts so important to the  veterans of Ohio to contact us.  Photographs are essential. [email protected]   [email protected]

The search for these items has been a combination of a Nancy Drew novel and an SEC investigation.

 BUILT BY DONATIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS BY LOCAL SOLDIERS.  READ THE LETTER BELOW FROM 1886:

 FREMONT, OHIO, March 13, 1886.
  MY DEAR COMRADE:–You ask me for some relic of the war
for the Toledo Soldiers’ Memorial Hall.  In reply, I hand you
a large tin ball painted yellow, which is of no intrinsic value, but
which is interesting for its associations.  When the old War
Department Building was torn down to be replaced by the pres-
ent State, War, and Navy Building in Washington, the engineer
in charge, Colonel Thomas L. Casey, sent me this ball. It was
on the top of the flagstaff of the War Department Building
during the whole war of 1861-1865. From that building were
issued the orders under which the war was conducted. I trust
it will be deemed by the comrades of the Toledo Soldiers’ Me-
morial Association worthy of a place in their collection.
                          Sincerely,
                                              R. B. HAYES.
  COLONEL R. B. COCHRAN,
    SECRETARY.

A local museum in Oregon, Ohio, preserved those few items that didn’t mysteriously disappear.  Reading their records, prices are in the right hand column, some frighteningly low.  A delegation met this the Oregon Historical Society last month, thanking them for their efforts in preserving what remains of our historical legacy

Local attorney, Vesper Williams said, "Without their efforts, we would have nothing left." 

Former Zoo employees tell of an auction where valuable weapons were sold for pennies on the dollar or of hundreds of uniforms being "disposed of" under unwholesome circumstances.

Questions about records of the museum’s contents  were asked of the director of the Toledo Zoo but even Congressional requests have been denied as yet.  We are told by some that records were destroyed, others say they are on microfilm and still others claim they were downloaded and taken away for "safekeeping."

Local veteran leader, Sam Slaughterbeck, disabled combat veteran of Vietnam, told us of the missing aircraft, a missing Gilbert Gaul painting and the removal, by a local moving company, of valuable historical items that disappeared.  More and more people are coming in with similar stories.

Research done thru the Attorney General and Secretary of State of Ohio show a web of filings by groups run by regional VSO officials but have no information on millions of dollars of missing military/veterans displays or cash.

Please help us restore this important part of Ohio and America’s military history.  Spread the word to every museum, every collector and every interested veteran.

Memorial Building. The Soldiers’ Memorial Association was organized in 1879, for the purpose of securing the erection of some suitable memorial to the memory of the soldiers who lost their lives in the Civil War.   Toledo Soldiers’ Memorial Building. It was resolved to erect a building, the first of its kind in the country, to be not only a beautiful memorial to the honored dead, but of material benefit to the city.   

The corner-stone of the building was laid with Masonic ceremonies on July 4, 1883.  The means necessary for the construction of the building were largely voluntary contributions from the citizens of Toledo, but there not being a sufficient amount raised to properly complete the work, it was turned over to the city in June, 1884, and city bonds issued to the sum of $30,000 to provide for its completion.   

The building was formally opened with appropriate ceremonies on Washington’s Birthday (February 22), 1886.  At the close of the ceremonies it was dedicated by Mayor FORBES, in the following words: "On behalf of the citizens of Toledo, I hereby dedicate this building to the honor of the soldiers and sailors of Lucas county in the late war, and in memory of those who gave up their lives in the maintenance of our country, and to be the home of the military of our city forever.  And may the God of battles smile auspiciously upon this momento of patriotism and loyalty."  

Memorial Hall is situated on the corner of Adams and Ontario streets, in the heart of the city.  It is constructed of brick with Berea stone trimmings.  Internally the building is arranged to meet the requirements of a Memorial Hall and military establishment.  The basement is set apart for artillery and infantry companies.  On the upper floors are the headquarters of the Memorial Association, the Library, Memorial and Memorial Annex Halls; also, on the third story, a large Military Hall, 64 by 103 feet, with reception-rooms and side-rooms for companies.  This room is the largest and finest assembly and drill hall in the State.   The cost of the building complete, exclusive of site, was $65,000.   

From "Toledo’s Attic"

The Civil War made an indelible impact on the United States. Americans looked forward to the war as a glorious test of strength and honor, but found it to be a bloody seemingly endless conflict. By the 1880s, however, veterans groups like the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) promoted the idea that the war was a heroic event.

Commemorations to the memories of those who fought and died on the battlefields usually took the form of statues and monuments, but members of the Toledo Soldiers’ Memorial Association chose to erect a building to honor the City’s glorious dead. The cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1884 and the building was dedicated "to be the home of the military of our city forever" on Washington’s birthday, 1886.

The building included a meeting hall, GAR offices, "parlors" for women’s auxiliary groups, and a museum for war relics and documents.

Our country’s fascination with and glorification of war took a nose dive after World War I, and the fortunes of the Soldiers’ and Sai lors’ Memorial went down as well. The building served as a roller skating rink until it was purchased by a Masonic group and razed in 1955 for a parking lot.

TOLEDO MEMORIAL HALL. – 263

the Association in no assuring condition. At that tine new officers were chosen, as follows President, W. T. Walker; 1st Vice President, Mrs. Kate B. Sherwood ; 2d Vice President, C. L. Young; Secretary, C. S. Brown ; Treasurer, H. S. Bunker. It was then proposed to turn the Building over to the City, and at a meeting April 14th following, a resolution to that effect was passed by the Directors. The result of such action was the passage of an ordinance by the City Council, June 14, 1884, accepting a transfer of the property and providing for the completion of the Building by the issue of $30,000 of City Bonds, the same to be finished by July 1, 1885. The following named persons were chosen as Trustees, to manage the construction of the edifice: Robert Cummings, George Scheets, W. W. Jones, John S. Kountz, T. B. Terry and L F. Lyttle. These, with Mayor Jacob Romeis, ex officio President, and L. F. Lyttle, as Secretary, were organized July 15, 1884.

The Building having been completed, Washington’s birthday (February 22), 1886, was appointed for its formal opening and dedication to the purposes of its erection. The total cost of the same was then $65,000, exclusive of site, and was believed to be the only edifice of the kind in the United States. About 2 o’clock P. M., on the clay named, Mayor Forbes called to order a vast assemblage that had convened in Drill Hall, and asked Rev. H. M. Bacon to offer prayer. The Mayor then addressed the audience briefly, setting forth the object of the Building, and was followed by John R Osborn, Esq., who delivered the principal address of the occasion, when Mrs. W. W. Ainsworth sang the National air, "America." Colonel Lyttle read a historical sketch of the Building ; D. R. Austin, Esq., delivered an address upon the Soldiers in. the War, and Mayor Forbes, in the following words, dedicated the Building to the purpose of its erection, to wit : " On behalf of the citizens of Toledo, I hereby dedicate this Building to the honor of the Soldiers and Sailors of Lucas County in the late war, and in memory of those who gave up their lives in the maintenance of our country, and to be the home of the military of our City forever. And may the God of battles smile auspiciously upon this memento of patriotism and loyalty."

In the evening a memorial address was delivered by Capt. J. Kent Hamilton, in Memorial Hall, and a public Ball took place in Military Hall, above. Letters of acknowledgment and regret were read in the afternoon from many invited guests, including President Cleveland, Chief Justice Waite, Ex-President R. B. Hayes, Senator Sherman, Ex-Governor Charles Foster and Governor Foraker.

The Officers and Trustees of the Toledo Soldiers’ Memorial Association, for 1886, were as follows : President, L. F. Lyttle; let Vice President, Mrs. Kate B. Sherwood ; 2d Vice President, C. L. Young; Secretary, R. H. Cochran ; Treasurer, W. T. Walker ; Trustees, S. F. Forbes, Mayor, and C. A. Vortriede, County Auditor, ex officio; Mrs. Kate B. Sherwood, Mrs. Milton Taylor, Mrs. D. R. Locke, Mrs. S. H. Bergen, Mrs. Joel W. Kelsey, J. R. Osborn, W. T. Walker, C. L. Young, L. F. Lyttle, J. S. Kountz, H. G. Neubert, H. S. Bunker, T. B. Terry, William Corlett, George Scheets.

Gordon Duff

Gordon Duff posted articles on VT from 2008 to 2022. He is a Marine combat veteran of the Vietnam War. A disabled veteran, he worked on veterans and POW issues for decades.

Gordon is an accredited diplomat and is generally accepted as one of the top global intelligence specialists. He manages the world’s largest private intelligence organization and regularly consults with governments challenged by security issues.

Duff has traveled extensively, is published around the world, and is a regular guest on TV and radio in more than “several” countries. He is also a trained chef, wine enthusiast, avid motorcyclist, and gunsmith specializing in historical weapons and restoration. Business experience and interests are in energy and defense technology.

• Gordon’s Archives:  2008-2015
• Gordon’s Archives:  2016-2022