Greater Toledo Heritage and Horizons

📰 Student Water Testing News Release

October 24, 2025

GTHH Sponsors New Student Water Quality Testing Initiative

Greater Toledo Heritage and Horizons (GTHH) is excited to announce a new partnership supporting hands-on environmental education in our community. Working with the Toledo School District, GTHH is sponsoring the relaunch of a teacher led and student conducted water quality testing program, helping to reintroduce a valuable science learning opportunity that had previously been discontinued due to funding constraints.

To equip this initiative, GTHH is partnering with EarthEcho International, an environmental education nonprofit founded by Philippe Cousteau Jr., whose mission is to build a global youth movement to protect and restore our ocean planet.

GTHH will purchase and provide user-friendly water quality test kits to local students and teachers, creating hands-on opportunities for real-world STEM learning and environmental engagement.

🌍 Global Connections Through Local Learning

EarthEcho’s Water Challenge Program is designed to empower the next generation to become the water scientists, stewards, and advocates that will protect our planet. Through this program, local students and teachers will receive, in addition to the water quality test kits, curriculum support designed to build real-world STEM skills and allow the teachers and students to connect with others in the global community for beneficial learning and sharing.

💧 Data to Inform Future Pond Restoration

The student water quality testing will provide basic information about conditions in Wallace Pond, which will help to inform future cleanup, restoration, and stewardship planning for the site.

This initiative reflects GTHH’s broader mission to promote education and environmental stewardship through youth-centered, community-driven efforts. GTHH will support program coordination, volunteer engagement, and logistics to ensure a safe and impactful experience for students and educators alike.

Stay tuned as this program launches. This news release is approved by Greater Toledo Heritage and Horizons (GTHH) and EarthEcho International.

Introducing the Steamboat Toledo Tribute — History & Original Ballad

October 2, 2025

We’re excited to unveil a new tribute page celebrating the Steamboat Toledo — our town’s namesake. It features an evolving historical narrative drawn from period newspapers, books, and archives, plus an original ballad by Lawrence F. Davidson.

This is living history: we’re actively researching the Toledo’s routes, crew, community ties, her 1878 launch and 1885 lengthening, and the events that shaped her story. As better sources surface, we’ll refine details. If you have photos, clippings, corrections, or memories to share, please reach out!

Update: We’ve also connected with a present‑day descendant of Joseph Kellogg. We hope to enrich the tribute with family knowledge and any surviving records that add clarity to the Toledo’s story.

You’ll also find links to the tribute throughout our site — here’s a quick link to jump in:

Read the Tribute →

Note: Because historical records can be incomplete or conflicting, some details may be updated as new sources are verified.

GTHH Launches Funding Campaign

Community-led nonprofit begins fundraising for its operations and first community project with board-backed startup support.

September 2025

We have launched our fundraising efforts for our first two projects. Initial startup costs were covered personally by our founding board, with a small individual recurring donation towards GTHH operations.

While our nonprofit does not pursue local fundraising so as not to compete with existing 501(c)(3)s, we are seeking grant support and broader philanthropic partnerships beyond the local area. No developers, corporations, or outside entities are funding this effort.