Label
The Clerk Reports
Title
Declaring the intent to designate the building located at 25 S. Superior Street, Toledo, Ohio a historic landmark; and declaring an emergency.
Summary
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
The building at 25 S. Superior Street was originally built in 1909 for the Feilbach Company.
The Feilbach Company was a cornerstone of Toledo's early commercial and industrial development and played a vital role in the developing Warehouse District - exemplifying the city's commercial growth during the early 20th century. The company was founded by Charles Feilbach, a prominent local businessman and civic leader whose entrepreneurial and philanthropic contributions left a lasting impact on Toledo's economic and social landscape.
Charles Feilbach was born in Sandusky County, Ohio, in 1862. He moved to Toledo at the age of 16 to begin an apprenticeship in harness making. Finding little satisfaction in that trade, he turned to sales and became a traveling salesman for a Toledo grocery house, a role that offered him valuable insights into the wholesale grocery business.
In 1884, drawing on his experience, Charles Feilbach co-founded the Feilbach Company, a wholesale produce business. Initially operating out of a rented space at 524 Monroe Street, the company quickly grew. Charles was named "President" of the company in 1900, guiding its rapid expansion during a period of national industrial growth. By 1900 the company had eight salesmen on the road and trade was done in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan.
As the company's success continued, so did its need for space. In 1909, the Feilbach Company constructed a dedicated warehouse at 25 S. Superior Street, the nominated building, in Toledo's Warehouse District - a strategically located area serving as a junction between business, commerce, and warehousing activities. The site was chosen for its proximity to the Great Lakes port, canal terminus, and railroad hub, making it an ideal location for the efficient tran...
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