A Brief History of Toronto, Ohio.
Located in Eastern Ohio, on the west bank of the Ohio River in Jefferson County, the city of Toronto has a proud history of cultural diversity, industry, and commerce. The famed Mike “Auver” Myers was awarded the land for service to his country as an outstanding government scout. He and his brother sold the land to John Depuy, who laid out the town and named it Newburg. In 1856, the Cleveland-Pittsburgh Railroad came to the village. In gratitude to William B. Sloane for his generous donation of the land for the railway station, the village was re-named Sloane’s Station. After 1880, the village grew rapidly as a result of the sewer pipe, terra cotta, and fire and paving brick industries. In 1881, the village was incorporated under the name of “Toronto,” by suggestion of Thomas M. Daniels, a pioneer manufacturer whose business associate W.F. Dunsbaugh of Toronto, Canada, was the chief stockholder in the Great Western Fire Clay Company. The census of 1890 listed the population as 2,536 people.
In the 1900’s the industrial period bloomed and other related industries developed in Toronto: foundry, coal mining, lumber, lumber mills wagon works, pulp and grindstone, retail and general business. The American China Company, located on what is now the Valley Converting Company site, made high grade semi-porcelain, white and decorated dinnerware, toilet-ware and double thick hotel ware. Other early industries included the Gill Brothers glass plant on south Railroad St., the Kaul Clay Company, which was founded in 1903 and remained in operation until the 1980’s, and a new steel mill called the Follansbee Brothers Toronto Forge, which was erected in 1919 and produced among other things steel bars used in the automotive industry.
The most asked question regarding the history of Toronto is: “Where did it get the name, THE GEM CITY”? There are many answers to this question. The most accurate is that the name came from the many river boat captains who landed on our banks to load their barges.
The story is that they could come here and make it a one-stop shopping trip, due to the thriving and varied industries, therefore naming it a “Gem” of a city. The name stuck!
The village became the City of Toronto in 1931 as population and growth continued.
Harold Smith became the first mayor, and the youngest in the state. Hancock Manufacturing came to Toronto in 1945 and the plant began producing war components. Following the war, the plant was converted to the production of commercially used steel stampings. The year 1957 brought Titanium Metals Corporation of America to Toronto. Timet was heralded as the world’s first plant devoted to the rolling and forging of titanium, a lighter and stronger metal than steel, that would be used in the development of space missiles, military and civilian aircraft, commercial and industrial equipment.
The city of Toronto has gone through many changes over the years. However, the river boat captains were only half right. Yes, Toronto is a one-stop shop for business, industry and commerce. But, the people of Toronto are the real reason it’s THE GEM CITY!
From the 1996 Resident & Visitor Information Guide
The City of Toronto is located in Easter Ohio of he west bank of the Ohio River in Jefferson County, elevation 685 feet. Toronto was first laid out by John Dupuy in 1818 and named Newberg Landing. In the carly days the river trade was large. Toronto was a famous stamboat landing where farmers shipped their crops of bacon, com, lumber and
etc. north to Pittsburgh and south to New Orleans.
The railroad came in 1856 and Newburg Landing was renamed Sloan’s Station. Shortly before the Civil War the first sewer pipe works in the United States was built in Toronto. The industry grew with the manufacture of sewer pipe. terra cotta, fire and paving brick. The town grew rapidly and in 1881 incorporated under the name of Toronto. The name was suggested by Thomas M. Daniels, a pioneer manufacturer whose business associate was W. F Dunsbaugh from Toronto. Canada, who was the chief stock- bolder in the Great Westem Fire Clay Company in Toronto.
The Census in 1890 listed the population as 2,536 poople. In the 1900’s as the industrial period bloomed other related industries developed: foundry, coal mining. lumber and lumber mills, wagon works, pulp and grindstone along with small retail stores and businesses. Industry needed workers and workmen and their families came, many from overseas. Homes were built, schools and churches were established Toronto became a thriving Ohio Valley community. In the early part of the century travel was mainly by rail and then by trolley. Travelers could ride on trolley cars from Steubenville to Youngstown and Cleveland.
Early industries in Toronto included the American China Company (Toronto Paperboard Site) which made high grade semi-porcelain, white and decorated dinnerware, toilet-ware and double thick hotelware. In 1925 the Toronto Paper Company was organized on its present site. Ownership has changed in recent years but the company is still noted for the production of high grade paperboard. Another early industry was the Gill Brothers glass plant on South Railroad Street: The Kaul Clay Company was founded in 1903 and remained in operation until the late 1980’s: In 1919, contractors arrived to erect the Follansbee Brothers Toronto Forge, a new steel mill, producing steel bars. etc., used in the automotive industry.
Early employment reached 1300. The village of Toronto continued to grow and soon reached the population status of a city. In 1931 the Village officials petitioned the State of Ohio for recognition as the City of Toronto. Harold Smith became the first mayor, the youngest city mayor in the state. Hancock Manufacturing came to Toronto in 1945 and the plant began producing war components. Following the war, the plant was committed to the production of commercially used steel stampings and the production continues
today. The year 1957 brought the Titanium Metals Corp. of America to Toronto. It was heralded as the worlds first plant devoted to rolling and forging of titanium, lighter and stronger than steel, to be used in the development of space missiles. military and civilian aircraft, commercial and industrial equipment.
(Historic Article from the early 2000s)
