Holidays in the Manor House:

For 41 years, community volunteers have transformed over 30 areas of the Manor House into a holiday wonderland. Holidays in the Manor House has become a Holiday tradition and the largest free program offered by Metroparks of the Toledo Area. Last year, over 27,000 people visited the Manor House during the nine days. Over 16,000 s’mores were made at the Welcome Tent by visitors. A thorough application and interview process starting in March is how the volunteer decorators are selected for the upcoming holiday season. This event would not be possible without the engagement of the community and volunteers!

Manor House Facts:

 The Manor House was built 1936-1938 by Robert and Page Stranahan. Robert Stranahan, and his brother Frank, started Champion Sparkplugs and moved their company from Boston to Toledo in 1910.  Over the two years of construction, 100 workers were employed to build this over 30,000 sq. foot home.  The home consisted of 15 bedrooms, 16 fireplaces and 17 bathrooms.  The entire house is constructed of poured concrete and steel I-beams throughout the four floors.  Stranleigh Estate, as it was known in the 1930s-1960s, consisted of 750 acres of land, swimming pool, putting green, horse stables, limousine garage, riding arena, ballroom, orchards, greenhouse, farm and pump house.  Most of the walking trails today at Wildwood Preserve started as a bridle (horseback riding) trail.  Robert and Page Stranahan were each married previously, and combined they had 9 children. Only two of the children lived in this home with any regularity because the older children were grown up by the time this home was built.  After Page passed away in 1968, the family decided to sell the property. Cavalier Construction was ready to buy the property and turn it into over 1000 single family homes and condos. A citizen’s group raised awareness for the property and assisted the Metroparks in passing a 1974 tax levy to purchase the property from the family. A one-hour documentary “Land as Good as Gold” is available online that shows how the citizen’s campaign resulted in the preservation of Wildwood Preserve.  Dr. Mewborn and Mr. Lusk were two of the instrumental leaders of the citizens’ campaign.  After the 1974 tax levy passed, Metroparks purchased 500 acres from the original estate and renamed the property Wildwood Preserve Metropark.  When the family sold the property to Metroparks, they took most of their furnishings with them so most of the pieces visible today did not belong to the family. Some original features do still exist: o Chandeliers in the Living Room and Dining Room o Wallpaper throughout the foyer and main hallways o Painted Wallpaper in the Dining Room o Miss Derby, the oil painting above the fireplace in the Living Room o Bed in the Master Bedroom  The formal garden of the Manor House was designed by one of the first female landscape architects, Ellen Biddle Shipman. In her career, she designed over 600 gardens for clients such as the Fords, Rockefellers and Du Ponts. Today only four of her gardens are left in their original integrity. A generous donation from the Carson family allowed Metroparks to restore the garden in 2008-2009.

Myth Busting!

 Rumors have spread all around Toledo about the bowling alley in the basement, but the space was always designed and used as a shooting gallery. We do know that the family and guests played “duck pin” bowling at the riding arena.  The Stranahans did not donate the property or Manor House, though they did donate property separately to the Stranahan Elementary and Stranahan Arboretum.  Some people believe the third floor of the Manor House was once the ballroom, but the ballroom was actually a separate building attached to the indoor riding arena. Both structures had to be torn down due to their highly dilapidated conditions.