Longtime headquarters of ex-firm to be auctioned
12/27/2008The home of an electrical supply business that had been a mainstay of downtown Toledo's business community for nearly 90 years will be auctioned next month.
The former H. Poll Electric Co. at 8 North St. Clair St. ceased operation in July after 89 years in business as a wholesale distributor of electrical products and automation components. The building, contents, and an adjoining lot are scheduled to be auctioned at 10 a.m. Jan. 12. The company's other locations in Findlay and Defiance will be auctioned Jan. 13 and 15, respectively, at the order of the company's secured creditor, auctioneer Wayne Wilson said.
Mr. Wilson, owner of Wilson Auction & Realty Co. in Bryan, predicted the downtown auction would generate interest, especially for its prime real estate. The three-story, 31,100-square-foot building and an adjacent vacant lot on the northeast corner of Washington and St. Clair will be auctioned as one unit.
"The downtown Toledo location is certainly a good location with the activity of the ballpark and the new arena. There's a lot of real estate there," Mr. Wilson said. "If somebody wanted to do some development and rehabbing with some of the other things in the area, it certainly offers a great location for that with the proximity to the ballpark."
Members of the Poll family could not be reached for comment yesterday.
The retired president and chief salesman for H. Poll Electric, Richard M. Poll, 84, died Dec. 7. Mr. Poll's father, Henry, founded the business in 1919. In addition to Findlay and Defiance, the company also had an office in Sandusky at one time, and did business in southeast Michigan as well. Its clients included Toledo Edison, Owens Illinois, and Sun Oil.
Contact Larry P. Vellequette at:
lvellequette@theblade.com
or 419-724-6091.