519 South Blanchard Street, Findlay

519 South Blanchard Street

Findlay, Oh

45840

PSEI Research Team

Property Information:

Parcel I.D. Number: 570001008200

Deed Number: None Available

Year Built: 1900

Township: Coextensive

Current Names on Deed: Lori Powell, Wilma Powell, Robin Reyes-Powell

Property Card:

Deaths Associated with the House:

Robert Brennen Blackwell, Jr.

Born: 1964

Died: April 26, 2011

Buried: Oak Grove Cemetery, Bowling Green Ohio

Obituary:

Robert Brennan Blackwell Jr., 46, of Bowling Green, Ohio, died peacefully at Wood County Hospital on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 in Bowling Green.

He leaves to miss his love, parents, Bob and Mary Blackwell of Bowling Green, sisters, Lynn (John) Deep of Cohoes, N.Y., Jill (Dan) Peters of Durango, Colorado, four nieces and two nephews.

He will be remembered by his dear friend Jill Morehart and their daughter, Lindsay Rae Blackwell.

Mr. Blackwell was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1989, according to the Supreme Court of Ohio's Web site, and had an office at 130 South Main St. downtown, in the Huntington Bank Building. He was a graduate of the Ohio Northern University College of Law.

Interview Notes from December 3, 2017

By Nicole Smith, Research Investigator PSEI

(Momma's House)

• House was once a psychiatrist's office, Brothel and opium den. Not sure of order.
• Momma was supposedly the brothel Madam in the 1800's. Bob (Medium, PSEI) thinks Patrice, Nick Hendry (medium) thinks it contains R or starts with R.

• Bob sees a large man, Nick him named Jr, possibly the bouncer type at the brothel.

• • Bob also mentioned a little girl (6-8 yrs old) often, a woman named Jennifer, and man named Robert.
  • Patty (homeowner) said she buys a lot of second hand items. She thinks she brought a teacher into the home when she purchased classroom chairs and large chalkboard.

• Bob thinks someone hung themselves in the home and there was a murder and possibly an explosion were many could have been injured and died.
• Bob mentioned a woman named Elizabeth who may have been the men's favorite.
• Bob mentioned a large black woman with the name possibly of Gladys.
• May be a tunnel that goes under the home into the garage. Possible underground railroad activity.

Findlay, A Brief History:

During the War of 1812, a Colonel by the name of James Findlay decided to build a road to transport troops across the region and constructed a stockade. The stockade was named Fort Findlay. A community surrounding the fort began to grow after the war was over. Im 1821 the first lot were laid out by Joseph Vance and Elnathan Corry. The community of Findlay grew steadily and by the 1840’s, there were approximately one hundred families residing in Findlay.

Prior to the Civil War, Findlay is documented as a stop for the Underground Railroad.

The community gained national attention around the 1880’s, when natural gas and oil were discovered nearby. The first gas well, the Oesterlen, was drilled in 1884, and the following year the first oil well, the Mathias, began to produce oil. Unfortunately, the gas wells were quickly depleted, leaving only the oil wells continued to provide income in the area. However, other industries began to emerge as Findlay's population quickly grew. There were several newspapers, including German paper for the German immigrants in the community. Glass manufacturers were abundant as well, ranging from window glass to table glassware and bottles. There were several woodworking firms and furniture manufacturers as well. A woolen mill, brick manufacturers, and a company that made typewriters were among many other businesses. The town opened its first public library in 1890, and the first high school in Findlay was built ten years later. In 1920, the town formed its first Rotary and Kiwanis organizations, as well as founding the Findlay Chamber of Commerce.

Near By Cemeteries:

Maple Grove Cemetery:

1120 W Main Cross St, Findlay, OH 45840

(2.1 miles from Residence)

On December 25, 1854 when the Maple Grove Cemetery Association was formed after an act of the State Legislature passed February 24, 1848, "making provisions for the incorporation of cemetery associations". John Ewing, Hanks P. Gage and Parlee Carlin were elected as trustees and oversaw operations until the association turned over its title in the cemetery to the town and township of Findlay on August 3, 1860.

Hedges Family Cemetery:

Ohio State Route 15 / US 224, Findlay, OH 45840

(3.6 Miles from Residence)

Hancock County Infirmary Cemetery:

County Road 140, Findlay, Hancock County, OH 45840

(3.3 Miles from Residence)

The Hancock County Infirmary was constructed in 1867 to house the insane and partially demented. Located on the Northeast part of section 15 and the southeast part section 16 in Liberty township. This asylum was infamous for the poor treatment of the poor, and mentally ill. Archives for inmates are dated to 1913.

“A letter was received by O A BALLARD JP on Saturday from some person signing himself ‘Infirmary Pauper’ in which it was stated that the food received by the paupers at the infirmary was unfit to eat and accompanying the letter was a piece of meat slightly tainted as a specimen. The letter and meat were placed in possession of the County Commissioners and we understand an investigation will be made forthwith. MR CAMPBELL BYAL one of the Infirmary Directors said that he desires an investigation of affairs but from what he has himself seen is confident the charges are utterly without foundation in fact. The fact that there was no name signed in the letter is in itself a very suspicious circumstance” Weekly Jeffersonian Thurs 3-17-1881

Death Near 519 S. Blanchard Street:

1701 Blanchard Ave:

Officers found the body of a 24-year-old white male upon arrival at 12:49 a.m. Monday at the Pentecostal Church of God, 1701 Blanchard Ave. An autopsy was conducted by the Lucas County Coroner’s office, the death appeared to be a suicide. The man’s name has not been released, but police said he died of a gunshot wound and the gun involved has been recovered.

Historical Maps:

The house is visible on an original landowner map from 1863. Across Eagle Creek is a mill.

The address itself is not available on Sanborn Insurance Maps from 1895, but the lot next to it is clearly marked as a grocery and junkyard.

In 1915, the building located on the lot next to the address is labelled as a grocery and meats.
The property appears much the same in 1930.