Playdium razing begins

Crews on Thursday begin to demolish the Playdium building in East Toledo.

Demolition began Thursday on the Playdium, a 110-year-old East Toledo landmark that was a popular bowling alley and dance hall during the 1950s and 1960s

The city deemed the building to be a safety hazard after it sat vacant for years.

The structure at 1958 Front St. dates back to 1902, according to Lucas County records. Although it is not listed as historic, it is in the Birmingham Historic District, an area of East Toledo with a rich Hungarian heritage, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The three-story building itself, with its ornate tin ceilings, was built using elements of Hungarian architectural style, a study of the area showed.

The property has a long history as an entertainment venue. Prior to becoming a bowling alley, the building was a night club known as the Gypsy Camp. In 1948, four area bowlers bought it and converted it into the Playdium Lanes, making it East Toledo's fifth bowling center.

READ MORE: East Toledo landmark to be razed, 1/21/12