Timeline of Events for 125th Anniversary
May 2023
Sunday, May 21, 2023
Opening Event for 125th Anniversary
Rossford Public Library
1 pm to 4 pm
Opening and Welcome by Mayor Neil A. MacKinnon, III
History of Glass in Rossford – How the Ford Family ended up there
Milton Ford (Tony) Knight
Glass in NW Ohio – Importance of LOF Plant in Rossford – Kyle Sword
Re-enactment of Edward Ford by Alex Chiarelott
Tours of Library Mural
Musical Performance
Videos of LOF and ROSSFORD History
Display of Rossford High School Centennial Celebration items
Refreshments
Sale of Commemorative T-shirts
Sale of 125th Yard signs
Free Magnets with Save the Date July 28 and 29 special event.
125th Historical Magazine available to public
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Downtown Rossford Business Event 4:30-7:30 PM during Stroll the Street
• Trolley to participating businesses from Ford Park
• Business ‘Passport’ of Savings
• Scavenger Hunt
• Entertainment throughout the Downtown
• Historical photos of Downtown buildings
June 2023
Sunday, June 11, 2023
Home Trolley Tours of Eagle Point Colony (fee)
Tours of Murals at Rossford Library
July 2023
Tours of NSG during Stroll the Street – Date TBD
Friday, July 28, 2023
Evening event at Rossford High School – open to the public
• Proclamation, speakers and introduction of special guests such as Ohio Governor, Ford City Mayor, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Ford family members, Hall of Fame honorees, and other dignitaries
• Tours of the high school
Saturday, July 29, 2023
Morning activities:
• 10 AM – 125th Anniversary Parade beginning and ending at Veterans Memorial Park
• ‘Follow along’ theme with prizes for decorating - adults (golf carts) and children (bikes, scooters)
• All Saints Catholic Church Traditional Ethnic Food Drive Thru and Dinner
Late Afternoon/Evening Activities
• Food trucks
• Large “Birthday Cake/Cupcakes
• Kid’s Game Tent sponsored by All Saints Church
• Bounce House and Dunk Tank
• Riverfest activities including Live Band and Beer Garden
• Fireworks display by Rocketship Pyrotechnics
• River cruise and Fireworks on The Pearl (fee)
Fun Facts About Rossford
Cranes Woods, which later became the site of Rossford’s Indian Hills Elementary School, was a common gathering place for picnics and large events, including the LOF Old Timers’ annual picnics. In Rossford’s early days, families often walked their cows to pasture there.
Fun Facts About Rossford
LOF paymaster and timekeeper Jake Bayer, who worked for the company in the early 1900s, knew all LOF’s 1,700 employees. When they lined up on payday, Bayer just looked at their faces and handed them their wages. Bayer carried gold and silver coins in a wheelbarrow from department to department on paydays, accompanied by an armed constable.
