Toledo's Old West End

The Old West End of Toledo is a cultured, historically rich neighborhood—but that doesn’t mean the residents don’t like to show off. Each year, the Old West End Festival (OWE Fest) sees neighbors opening their beautiful homes for tours, filling their Arboretum with music, and proudly displaying the area’s best art. Why? Because the people who live there are certain the Old West End is the “Best Neighborhood in the World.”

It’s a bold claim, but those with an eye for classical architectural beauty would be hard-pressed to disagree. The Old West End is the largest neighborhood of Late Victorian, Edwardian, and Arts and Crafts homes east of the Mississippi. Those interested in history and architecture alike will delight at the opportunity to explore the interior of these homes during the OWE Fest and other select times.

While the OWE is home to many residents passionate about its history and grace, the neighborhood has embraced modernity is every conceivable way. Downtown is minutes away via Toledo’s TARTA system. From downtown, the intrepid traveler can access Interstates 80 and 90, the ultra-affordable Megabus, and an Amtrak station. If business or pleasure take you further, the Toledo Express Airport can get you most places; Detroit Metro, only forty-five miles away, can take you to the rest.

But if you simply want to see the region’s premier classical ensemble—the Toledo Symphony Orchestra—you need not leave the neighborhood. Are you more interested in world-class fine art? The Toledo Museum of Art is around the corner. If your approach to art is more hands-on, the Collingwood Art Center offers everything from instructor-led events to free face painting. (There’s always something fun going on at the Art Center—they even host a ghost hunting tour in September.)

If you get hungry between adventures, there are plenty of food options, such as local coffee shops and pizzerias. Residents looking for something social and unique may want to bring their produce to the Old West End Veggie Table, where folks swap produce, free of charge. When winter frosts the spires of the neighborhood’s old homes, bring a dish to the Old West End Holiday party and experience some old-fashioned neighborly camaraderie.

You’ll have plenty of other chances to meet your neighbors, too. The Agnes Reynolds Jackson Arboretum, the jewel of the OWE, is kept green and well-groomed through a series of community work days. Roll up your sleeves and beautify your neighborhood if the mood strikes you. If you’d prefer to eat the fruits of your labor, there’s always room open in the Scottwood Community Garden, where residents can borrow a plot and tend their own crops.

Projects like the Community Garden make it clear that the residents of the OWE aren’t content to rest on their laurels—this is a community of passionate, proud people. Nowhere is this more evident than with the Women of the Old West End.

The Women of the Old West End is a neighborhood group that promotes many projects aimed at maintaining and improving their neighborhood. Founded in 1969, their initiatives are many: television commercials, home restoration, tutoring, sponsorships for summer camps, and many, many more. They meet in members’ homes, and welcome all neighbors.

If you’re looking for a gorgeous community to call home, come take in the richness of the Old West End.If you would like assistance relocating to Toledo’s Old West End email [email protected].