Northwest Ohio residents have a long-standing tradition of speaking out against what they feel are unfair utility bills. This Toledo News-Bee archive photo shows 9-year-old Stefania Smiczek of Rossford preparing her lessons for Good Shepard School by the glow of an oil lamp instead of an electric light on April 7, 1934. Stefania’s dad, Stanley Smiczek, said he could not afford to pay the Toledo Edison bill, so his family had returned to burning oil lamps. About 200 families in Ross Township, including Rossford, said they would not use electricity, or would significantly reduce their usage, until Toledo Edison lowered its rates. Electric washers, toasters and radios were also set aside to reduce electricity consumption. Petitions objecting to the charges were drafted and circulated in the Eagle Point Colony, Rossford, Lark School district and Olney School district, for submission to the state public utilities commission.
The Blade/Toledo News-Be
Buy This Image
Ken Osen works on a sculpture of a Black Brunswicker, a soldier during the Napoleonic war, at the Good Soldier toy company in Holland, Friday, April 8, 2016.
The Blade/Andy Morrison
Buy This Image
A scene depicting Native American warries in western Pennsylvania, circa 1763, at the Good Soldier toy company in Holland, Friday, April 8, 2016.
The Blade/Andy Morrison
Buy This Image
The bowling club table at Perrysburg High School is set up in hopes of recruiting incoming eight graders during Froshfest at Perrysburg High School in Perrysburg, Ohio.
The Blade/Lori King
Buy This Image
St. Clair, Mich. resident Sam Tricomo watches Toledo Zoo's male silverback gorilla Kwisha hang out in his indoor habitat.
The Blade/Lori King
Buy This Image
Chrys Peterson, right, greets guests including Susan Goodman, left of Sylvania, and Mary Lou Leonard, center, of Holland, as they come through the door for the Ladies Night fundraiser for the Susan B. Komen Foundation at the Appliance Center Home Store on April 10, 2016.
The Blade/Amy E. Voigt
Buy This Image
Luke Reinhart of Rossford, gives his niece, Peyton Derian, 2, a ride on the MS walk. At left is Peyton's mom, Cayla Derian . They live in Toledo. Walk MS in the Toledo area, hosted by the Ohio Buckeye Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), at the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio on April 10, 2016. The event brings together more than 1,500 people to raise awareness about multiple sclerosis, with a goal to raise $180,000 in funds for NMSS. With combined contributions, they had raised $146K during the walk.
The Blade/Jetta Fraser
Buy This Image
Completion pins gives to participants.
Jetta Fraser
The Honorable Judge Jack Zouhary, who serves the U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, hugs new citizen Puja Divyang Patel, formerly of India, after receiving her certificate, during a naturalization ceremony in the Koehler Fitness and Recreation Center at The university of Findlay on April 6, 2016.
The Blade/Amy E. Voigt
Buy This Image
Thomas Putnam, with the Sons of the American Revolution, salutes the flag while saying the Pledge of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony in the Koehler Fitness and Recreation Center at The university of Findlay on April 6, 2016.
The Blade/Amy E. Voigt
Buy This Image
Perrysburg resident Jared Okoneski takes a selfie with his children Brooklynn, 9, and Easton, 2, with the Mercy Life Flight helicopter in the background. The helicopter crew took part in a program for community members at the Way Public Library in Perrysburg. The Blade/Lori King
The Blade/Lori King
Buy This Image
Gracyn Laplant, 13, on the bottom, her sister Alyssabeth Laplant, 11, and their cousin Chloe Strong, 9, all of Oregon, flying down the hill. Sledding on the sledding hill in Pearson Metropark in Oregon, Ohio on April 9, 2016.
Jetta Fraser
Salt Lake City resident Carter Hurst removes a tarp from the site where the Color Run was supposed to be held on the University of Toledo campus this morning The event was cancelled due to weather, but it will most likely be rescheduled later in the year.
The Blade/Lori King
Buy This Image
The Toledo Rockets football spring game was cancelled due to the field being covered with snow.
The Blade/Lori King
Buy This Image
Samaria, Mich. resident Vincent Kibler, 8, struggles to push a snow ball in preparation for a big snowman at Ottawa Park in Toledo.
The Blade/Lori King
Buy This Image
A "stop" sign says it all. Snow on the morning of April 9, 2016 in the Library Village neighborhood of Toledo, Ohio.
The Blade/Jetta Fraser
Buy This Image
Sunrise breaks on snow-covered trees in the Old West End Saturday, April 8, 2016, in Toledo. Snow fell heavily throughout Friday night and into early Saturday morning, blanketing Toledo's Old West End.
The Blade/Katie Rausch
Buy This Image
Jeff Yeo, of Toledo, and his daughter Bella, 6, take a spin on their inner tube down the hill Saturday, April 9, 2016, in Ottawa Park in West Toledo. Snow fell heavily throughout Friday night and into early Saturday morning, blanketing the greater Toledo area.
The Blade/Katie Rausch
Buy This Image
Jennifer Bogle, left, and her boyfriend Dustin Messersmith release a lantern in memory of Heather Bogle, who was murdered last year, Saturday, April 9, 2016, in Fremont, Ohio.
THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH
Buy This Image
Carol Cierniak, left, and Laura Frailey knit and drink beer at the Black Cloister Brewing Company bar in Toledo.
The Blade/Lori King
Buy This Image
Tracy Miller, of Sylvania, looks at the Cowboys and Indians exhibit by Dave Wisniewski, a local artist who's blind, at the River Centre Gallery in Sylvania on April 7, 2016.
The Blade/Amy E. Voigt
Buy This Image
Ben Cheatham clears leaves from under the trees at Toledo Botanical Gardens, Monday, April 4, 2016.
The Blade/Andy Morrison
Buy This Image
Man's best friend leads the way as anglers look for walleye on the Detroit River near the mouth of Lake Erie, Tuesday, April 5, 2016.
The Blade/Andy Morrison
Buy This Image
Toledoan Chris Sutton, of Grunwell-Cashero Building Restoration, sands down the cement siding of the Government Center fountain in Downtown Toledo before it's recoated.
The Blade/Lori King
Buy This Image
Volunteer "kitty cuddler" Catherine Crumps, of Toledo, pets a cat who is napping on a climbing tree at Paws and Whiskers, an all feline, no kill shelter on April 4, 2016.
The Blade/Amy E. Voigt
Buy This Image
David Goulding, 2, of Toledo, rests in the "foam zone" after leaping into the area off of a trampoline while spending a cold Spring day with his family inside the Sky Zone Trampoline Park on April 10, 2016.
The Blade/Amy E. Voigt
Buy This Image
Mersaedez Zieroff, 11, jumps on a trampoline in the open jump area while spending a cold Spring day inside the Sky Zone Trampoline Park on April 10, 2016.
The Blade/Amy E. Voigt
Buy This Image
Dressed in winter attire, Toledoan Colleen Morris passes blooming daffodils as she she walks down Jackson St. in Toledo on her way to the Government Center.
The Blade/Lori King
Buy This Image
HensPhotos6p The Toledo Mud Hens take to the field for open practice Tuesday, April 5, 2016, at Fifth Third Field in downtown Toledo. Opening day is Thursday, April 7, 2016.
The Blade/Katie Rausch
Buy This Image
Bats wait for their owners inside the Toledo dugout during the Mud Hens' open practice Tuesday, April 5, 2016, at Fifth Third Field in downtown Toledo. Opening day is Thursday, April 7, 2016.
The Blade/Katie Rausch
Buy This Image
Members of Weapons Company 1st Battalion 24th Marines present the colors during opening day festivities for the Toledo Mud Hens baseball team, Thursday, April 7, 2016.
The Blade/Andy Morrison
Buy This Image
Jersey Ray, left, 12, Glorianna Demecs, 12, Tyesha Barrett, 12, and Tessa Christis, 13, try to keep dry as the Toledo Mud Hens baseball team play the Louisville Bats on Opening Day, Thursday, April 7, 2016.
The Blade/Andy Morrison
Buy This Image
Young fans wait for an autograph from Toledo Mud Hen player Corey Jones (4) during opening day festivities for the Toledo Mud Hens baseball team, Thursday, April 7, 2016.
Blade/Andy Morrison
Toledoan Tom Names is tuned into the game as the Toledo Mud Hens prepare to play the Louisville Bats during opening day, Thursday, April 7, 2016.
The Blade/Andy Morrison
Buy This Image
Toledo Mud Hens SS Dixon Machado (6) makes a play against Louisville SS Jose Peraza (7) at second base during first inning of the home opener baseball game Thursday, April 7, 2016, at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio.
BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH
Jack Malkoski, 15, of Toledo catches snow in his mouth during as the Toledo Mud Hens baseball game Friday, April 8, 2016, at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio. is cancelled due to weather.
THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH
Buy This Image
Toledo's Evan Rankin (86) hops over Kalamazoo's Evan McEneny (20) after hitting a shot on goal during the third period of the ECHL hockey match up at the Huntington Center in downtown Toledo. The game marked the home finale of the regular season.
Blade/Katie Rausch
Toledo's Bili Saarijarvi, left, (9) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring to tie up the game during the third period.
Blade/Katie Rausch