Gayleen Gindy

This is my 250th history article written for the Sylvania AdVantage, which fits in perfectly with the America 250th celebration this year. There are many activities scheduled in our community throughout the year to celebrate this very important birthday, and we need everyone to be involved.

Lot 3 of the subdivision known as “Hubbard’s Addition to Sylvania,” now home to Little Ceasar’s Pizza, was purchased in 1917 by Willis E. Bryan (also known as William). He and his wife Cora built a house on that site that same year. Willis and Cora Belle Taylor Haas were married in 1911 in Windsor, Essex County, Ontario, Canada. He was 43 years old and listed as a railroad conductor. She was listed as 30, and both were listed as residents of Sylvania, Ohio. Family records said that Willis remained at home with his parents well past the age of 40 to care for them, and only then would take a wife.

In the 1920 census Willis and Cora were listed living here on Monroe Street. Willis was listed as head of household – 51 years old – owned his home with a mortgage – employed as a motorman for the railroad street car. Cora was listed as 38 years old. Their child, Arthur F. Bryan, was listed as 14 years old and attending school. Also living with them was Charles Taylor – brother-in-law – 34 years old – single – employed as a metal worker at an auto factory.

On Sept. 7, 1928, a zoning permit was granted to William Bryan to add a summer kitchen to the home at 6361 Monroe St. The builder was listed as John Knepper and the cost to the owner was $100.
Willis Bryan passed away in 1929. His obituary said that he passed away at his home at 6361 Monroe St. at 3:45 pm on Sept. 11. Survivors were his wife, Cora; one son, Arthur; two sisters, Mrs. Whitacre of Clayton, Michigan, and Clarissa Peterson of Toledo.

By the 1930 census Cora was widowed and rented this house to the Klein family, listed as Louie E. Klein – renter – $45 per month – 29 years old – married at age 19 years – occupation – salesman – electric; Amanda M. Klein – wife – 29 years old – married at age 19 years; Lenard L. Klein – son – 9 years old – attending school; Kathryn A. Klein – daughter – 8 years old – attending school; Charles E. Klein – son – 5 years old.

The Toledo directories starting with 1932 show Cora Bryan living on Detroit Avenue in Toledo. In 1937 she sold her Monroe Street home to Galen A. Peery who owned it until 1979. Galen Peery married Marian Peck in 1934 in Wood County, Ohio.

They are listed living in our subject house in the 1940 census. Galen was 40 years old and employed as an accountant owning his own business. Marian was 28 years old and was a beautician, owning her own shop. They had one child living at home, Gail Andrea Peery – 1 year old. Also living with them was Harriett Wilson, 22 years old, listed as a maid.

In 1941 Peery completed his World War II registration card listing our subject house as his address. He was 41 years old and self-employed with offices at 923 Spitzer Building in downtown Toledo.

The Peerys were still living here when the 1950 census was taken. He was 50 years old and employed as an auditor for the Internal Revenue. Marian was 37 years old, and their children living at home included: Gail – 11 years old; and Michael – 3 years old. Living with them was Marian’s sister Mildred Peck, 43 years old – divorced.

The Peerys lived here until they sold it in 1979 to William C. Bayer, who operated the Chalet Restaurant just to the west. (He will be discussed in upcoming articles.)

Soon after the Peerys sold this home Mr. Peery moved to the Marigarde-Sylvania Nursing Home, and Mrs. Peery lived out the rest of her years living at 6601 Convent Blvd.

Mr. Peery passed away in 1986 at the age of 86, and his obituary notice said that he was a retired Internal Revenue Service agent and had been associated with the IRS for 23 years, retiring in 1965. During his career he was a district conferee, supervisor of office audit, and an auditor in the Toledo office. In 1964 the U.S. Treasury Department presented him with the Albert Gallatin award for distinguished service with the IRS. Before that he had been a partner in the Personal Adjustment Co., a collections manager for the Holland Furnace Co., and an accountant for the Merchants Credit Co. He was survived by his wife Marian, daughter, Gail Andrea Peery and son, Michael Peck Peery.

Mrs. Peery died in 1987 at the age of 75. Her obituary said that she had been a Veteran of World War II and was trained at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas, where she joined a female branch of the armed forces known as the Women’s Air Service Pilots. The WASPs performed such flying tasks as ferrying bombers from the U.S. to England during the War. She was later sent to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where she taught ground school, which included lessons in morse code and naval aviation to cadet aviators. In 1942 she became one of the few women to ever fly solo at Toledo’s former Franklin Field, now the location of the Franklin Park Mall. She owned the former Ritz Beauty Shop in Sylvania from 1939 to 1945. She later worked 11 years for the Ohio Belting and Transmission Co., the last eight years as executive secretary to the president. She retired in 1966.

From 1979 until 1986, while Mr. Bayer owned the home the directories listed the house as vacant or “no return,” except for 1984 when Mitzi Bayer was listed living at this address. From 1986 until 1991 the property was in the name of John G.and Jane L. Day. During those years the directories said the home was vacant, except for the 1990 directory which shows Teresa M. Ontko living in the home.

In March of 1991 the city of Sylvania granted demolition permits to John G. Day for the houses at 6361, 6367 and 6375 Monroe Street, and plans were approved for a new development to be known as Sylvania River Crossing Shopping Center. It would include a Little Caesars Pizza and a Video Connection/Movie Gallery, of which Mr. Day was the founder. In the next article I will tell you more about Day’s amazing success story in starting the Video Connection stores, since he purchased more houses to the west.