Letters to the Editor

Where was coverage of Trilby school?

1/21/2012

Your almost-daily articles about the Seneca County Courthouse bring back memories of Trilby Elementary School, which was torn down about a year ago.

The Washington Local school district's Trilby school was a focal point in the area. Thousands of children and staff went through its doors.

I remember looking at school memorabilia on display. When Trilby was razed, I remember the fence lined with past and present students, parents, and teachers as we watched this almost-100-year-old school come down.

I remember high school students who had attended Trilby carrying bricks to people along the fence and taking pictures as the building went down in stages. I remember talking to a man in his 80s who attended this school.

Most of all, I remember the many tears shed by the Trilby community. But I don't remember The Blade taking countless pictures and writing numerous articles about our beloved school.

Cheri Kaintz

Provincetowne Drive

Promote Tiffin's theater, museum

I am amazed at all the attention shown by The Blade to a courthouse that is not in Toledo or even an adjacent county ("Demolition continues to draw residents' ire," Jan. 12).

I have traveled to Tiffin about once a week for the past three years. I haven't met a person who wanted to spend any money to restore the Seneca County Courthouse, known as "Old Ugly."

If The Blade is so concerned about tourists coming to Tiffin, you should cite the Ritz Theatre, which draws many notable performers, and the new American Civil War Museum of Ohio. Both of those are down the street from the courthouse. Many restored old homes in the area also are worth touring.

Maybe Toledo and area residents would have been better served if you had used your passion to try to save Libbey High School from destruction.

Joe Peer

Oregon

Name vacant spot for Wagner, Nutter

Seneca County Commissioners Jeff Wagner and Ben Nutter, who backed the razing of this iconic edifice, deserve credit for their defiance in the face of historic preservationists, historians, and other lovers of high culture. This must not have been easy.

It is the first county courthouse in Ohio that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places to be demolished. They had their own vision and stuck to their guns dispute criticism from all corners.

A large hole will be opened once the rubble is removed. During these harsh times, it is doubtful another courthouse will be built soon.

A park should be created instead. Why not name it for those two commissioners? Wagner & Nutter Square has a nice ring to it. This would commemorate local officials who resisted public opinion, media pressure, and outside influence, and would be a tribute to strength of conviction and intestinal fortitude.

Preservationists like to say "this place matters." But not in this case. Rather, the lesson of the Seneca County Courthouse is that these men mattered. Name the park for them. They earned it.

Steven Lindsey

Keene, N.H.

Editor's note: The writer is a Democratic state representative in New Hampshire.

Lucas courthouse needs attention

During my 28 years as administrator of Lucas County Common Pleas Court, many capital projects for the courthouse were funded by the county commissioners. But at the time of my retirement in 2009, there were still many projects left on the to-do list, including repair and preservation of the exterior stonework.

The stonework is deteriorating because of age and water damage. The Blade and the county should take an interest in the preservation of our own local jewel before the majestic Lucas County Courthouse becomes another casualty of neglect.

Jean Atkin

Waterville Township

Abuse of power must be exposed

As a daily reader of The Blade, I appreciate your coverage of the Seneca County Courthouse demolition.

As I watched the wrecking ball begin the assault, I was talking to two gentlemen from Columbus who had come to Tiffin to see the demolition for themselves.

They expressed their disgust that the demolition had been allowed to happen. They were especially disgusted with county and state officials who could have prevented it.

Your readers who complain about too much coverage should realize that abuse of power needs to be exposed. The same thing could happen to something they value.

I learned more about this debacle in The Blade than at the local level. Thank you and keep up the good work.

Dolores Ranker

Tiffin

Seneca, state failed the public

Bravo to The Blade for this expose. Seneca County and the State of Ohio have miserably failed their constituents. The beautiful and historic courthouse is lost forever.

Dennis Youngman

Sandusky

Children Services thankful for gifts

On behalf of the staff of Lucas County Children Services and the families we serve, I thank the many businesses, organizations, and individuals who supported our 2011 holiday gift drive ("So many toys ... 31 area children get shopping spree -- and police escort," Dec. 22).

They saw fit to, as we say, give the best gift ever to about 1,500 children who receive services from our agency. This generosity ensured that these children had special gifts to open during the holiday season.

Additional thanks go to members of the Toledo Police Department Honor Guard. Their "12 Kids of Christmas" program provided 31 children with the opportunity to shop and spend the morning with an officer. I also thank the many Toledo-area women's organizations that donated hundreds of dolls of every size and color.

We appreciate the support of our community partners. They donated goods and services or organized their own toy drives to help us meet the need.

As we move forward, we hope that with community support, we can eliminate child abuse in Lucas County. Until them, our staff will be at work, protecting our most vulnerable citizens.

Dean Sparks

Executive Director Lucas County Children Services Adams Street