| General History |
1794 - Battle of Fallen Timbers |
| How Northwest Ohio was opened up for pioneer settlers |
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On 28 July 1794, General Anthony Wayne's army
marched northward from Greenville,Ohio. |
The army had 2,000 men of the Legion of the United
States and 1,500 mounted volunteers. On 20 August 1794 they met a force
of about 1,100 Indians including Wyandots, Miamis, Ottawas, Delawares,
Mingoes, Shawnees, Potawatomis, Chippewas, and some Canadian militia disguised
as Indians. There was a fierce battle through a part of the forest where
a recent storm had knocked down many trees. These "fallen timbers"
gave the battle its name. The American army lost about 30 men and another
100 were wounded. The Indian losses are hard to count because they carried
most of their dead and wounded away from the battlefield. Probably more
than 200 warriors were killed and more than double that number were wounded.
General Wayne's army defeated the Indians and chased
them to the British Fort Miamis. The British would not help the Indians.
The Indians felt betrayed by the British. One year later, the Indians
came to Greenville to surrender formally. They signed the Treaty of Greenville
opening all of Ohio to white settlers. |
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| 1813-Siege of Fort Meigs |
| An army of British soldiers and Indians attacked
the fort in April of 1813. British cannons bombarded the fort and Indians
ambushed American soldiers when they came outside. The American troops refused
to surrender the fort and the British withdrew on the 9th of May. The British
attacked the fort again in July. Once again, the American defenders could
not be defeated. The defense of Fort Meigs marked the beginning of the end
for the British occupation in the Northwest Territory |
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1813- Settlement of Fort Industr |
| After the War of 1812 made white settlement of Northwest
Ohio possible, Ft. Industry (1803-05) was founded at the mouth of Swan Creek
(now downtown Toledo). |
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| 1833- Uniting of Port Lawrence and Port Vistula
into Toledo |
| Two villages, Port Lawrence established in 1817
and Vistula established in 1832 were consolidated in 1833 and named for
Toledo, Spain. |
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| 1835- Toledo War border dispute with Michigan |
| Ohio's decision to include the Toledo area (then
part of the Michigan Territory) in the state's canal system let to a boundary
dispute (the so-called Toledo War of 1835). Residents of the city organized
to a transfer the political jurisdiction of the lower Maumee from the Michigan
Territory to Ohio. Michigan, led by Gov. Stevens T. Mason, opposed this
and sent troops. Ohio Gov. Robert Lucas called out the militia, and the
state legislature organized most of the disputed area into Lucas County
with present Ohio line as the northern boundary. The dispute was settled
by Pres. Andrew Jackson in favor of Ohio. In 1836 the U.S. Congress compensated
Michigan for the loss by awarding it the Upper Peninsula and admission to
statehood. |
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| 1837-Toledo became incorporated as a city |
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History of Bowling Green |
| Geological factors resulting from several glacial
movements in the area played a major part in the timing of the development
of this region of Northwest Ohio. The Great Black Swamp encompassed most
of the land hereabouts. Thus, settlements were confined to ridges and low
sand hills created from glacier deposits until such time as comprehensive
drainage work took place, shortly before the Civil War. |
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1830s - Local historians cite an incident in
1832, when settler Elisha Martindale traveled to the area by means of
an old aboriginal trail. He claimed 40 areas of land near the site of
the current Conneaut School on Haskins Rd. The first season he arrived,
he camped on the land and was able to cut and stack two ricks of prairie
hay. Returning to his claim the following spring to build a cabin, Martindale
found his hay burned by the natives (in this area members of the Wyandot,
Miami, Ottawa, and Pottawatomie Tribes).
Present-day Bowling Green received its name in 1834
from early postal carrier, Joseph Gordon, who previously lived and worked
in Bowling Green, Kentucky. .
During the next decade, more settlers arrived
and built dwellings (the first school building in 1835 and the first store
in 1846) on higher ground near present-day Napoleon Rd. and South Main
St., calling the settlement Mount Ararat. Incoming residents eventually
settled slightly to the North of these early settlements, and a tavern/inn/blacksmith's
shop operated by John Hannon was built at the intersection of today's
North Main St. and Poe Rd. The name of the settlement, Hannon's Corners,
was taken from that business's proprietor.
The current downtown commercial center originated in 1846 when L. C. Locke
purchased land (today's 139 S. Main St.) to establish his home and a store,
and he also built the area's first factory, an ashery. |
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1850s - Other merchants open establishments nearby
to create the early business district. In 1855 the settlement was officially
incorporated as a village.
Presiding over this colonized region, John
C. Wooster, was elected its first mayor in 1856 |
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| 1870's - In the mid-1870's, the community received
the sought-after designation of county seat for Wood County after a prolonged
battle with neighboring Perrysburg. |
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1880's - Commerce consisted of farming, fur trading
and lumbering during those early years. The discovery of oil in nearby
North Baltimore in 1886 brought an influx of people and money to this
area.Several of the grand homes built with
revenue from oil money still house the community's residents today.
Free gas attracted five glass-making companies
towards the end of the 19th Century, resulting in the temporary moniker
Crystal City. |
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| 1900's - With the dawn of the new 20th Century,
Bowling Green officially received city status in 1901. |
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| The community gained prominence as an educational
center when the state legislature's established the State Normal College
(now Bowling Green State University) in 1910. |
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| Today's thriving community that prides itself
on a high quality-of-life for its residents reflects the dreams of early
pioneers who recognized its potential and worked hard to bring it to fruition. |
| Requiem History |
| 1813 - Begins in 1813 at the Battle of Fort Meigs.
A Spanish explorer, wanderer, and potent vampire known as Francisco Romero
assists the Americans defending Fort Meigs against the British Army and
local Indians. It is said that the Indians became frightened as the spirits
of their ancestors rose up against them and drove them from the battle leaving
the British alone to siege the fort. (ST: Romero, an ancient Gangrel manipulated
the Miami Indians beliefs to scare them from the battle. However, this starts
a feud between the vampire and the local werewolf population [to be detailed
at a later date]) |
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| 1817 - Romero, a sailor in his own right finds profit
in the Ports of Northwest Ohio and starts the Port Lawrence and Port Vistula
companies in 1817. The first “unions” of the area begin on these
ports where the workforce began to hold a sway over the ownership based
upon forced work outages. |
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| 1835 – What most popularly is called the Michigan/Ohio
war was really an escalation in a territory dispute between a growing vampire
presence in Northwest Ohio and the receding Werewolves into Michigan. In
1835, forces led by Francisco Romero drive the lupines into the wilds of
Michigan. Romero sets himself up to be the undisputed leader of the newly
growing vampire community in Northwest Ohio. |
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| 1929 – As the economy falls apart, some of
the most affluent of the area move out of Toledo into the sprawling lands
to the south. Romero follows suit by moving his residence to Bowling Green
where he can control his holdings through his mortal contacts and his eldest
childe Hugo Porczinski. |
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| NPC Information |
Francisco Romero, BP 7 Gangrel – Romero
was born in Barcelona, Spain in the early 15th Century. He was born to
poverty and quickly became a street rat. He is a charismatic being that
seems to be constantly thinking. These traits are those that led him to
lead a small coven of child thieves that pillaged the fat and rich merchant
princes of Barcelona. This grew into somewhat of a small loosely organized
gang. Enough of one that it drew the attention of a vampire who thought
that to control Romero was to control those who followed him. His sire
underestimated the independence of Francisco and found he had lost his
head one night. Romero left Europe to escape the persecution of the Prince
of Barcelona for breaching his laws. He visited France, England, Mexico
and what is considered the Southern United States before he anchored his
vessel in Lake Erie a quarter mile from where the Maumee River feeds into
it. (Needs to be fleshed out more)
Hugo Porczinski, BP 6 Gangrel – Porczinski
is the childe of Francisco Romero. Hugo is a Catholic Priest. Since he
has taken reigns of Toledo on behalf of his sire the area has become much
more palpable for Lancea Sanctum. (Needs fleshed out) |
| Forsaken History |
| 1756: The pure tribes have total control of the
whole North West part of Ohio. Keeping the natural balance of nature, and
keeping a check on the local spirit populations. Culling the evil ones,
while nurturing their allies. |
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| 1757 – 1800: Vampires move into the territory
and start setting up as the early human settlers move into the area. Tensions
start to rise but an uneasy peace is upheld. |
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| 1835: The Ohio/Michigan Boarder War breaks out.
Mortals don’t know that the true purpose of the war was between the
vampires and werewolves of the area. The vampires hunt down most of the
Pure and kill them; those who survive flee into the wilderness of Michigan. |
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| 1836: With the loss of the only spiritual police,
spirits start to multiply and infest the whole region |
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| 1850: The first of the moon tribes move into this
area and start to scout it out. |
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| 1901: A very powerful spirit moves into the area
claiming the largest foci. A pitched battle rages and the Forsaken are pushed
from the field of battle with many losses. |
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| 1912 – 1940s: With both World Wars, spirits
of death, murder, and suffering start sprouting up all over the town of
Toledo. Also, Spirits of Corruption also appear during the great depression |
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| 1975: Several powerful Host Spirits descend on the
area, and wreak total havoc for years. |
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| 2004: The local Forsaken take to the battle cry
and enter Toledo to do battle with the Host Spirits. After several bloody
engagements, the host spirits are all destroyed, but at such a terrible
cost. Only one local pack remains intact. |
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| 2005: The last pack calls for aid from afar to try
and reclaim the lost foci of a century ago. |
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| Lost
History |
| History: “This
is the Swamp. You have come here Lost, despairing, afraid, yet in the very
fiber of your being is a will that shall not submit. You are a fighter,
a warrior, a spirit of greatness. You cannot allow the blackness to consume
you. You arrived at the Great Black Swamp Lost, do not get lost within it.”
– Chief Black Ibis of the Miami Tribe (Summer Court) |
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Prior to 1794 – Little is known of the history in ancient times. A
vast, marshy wetland known as the Great Black Swamp stretched for miles
and was so trepidatious, that not even Native Americans dared venture in.
Erie, Seneca, Miami, and other tribes held lands around the area and only
entered in primarily for hunting. It is said one man, Black Ibis, was born
in the heart of the swamp, carried there in the clutches of his namesake.
His deep complexion led many to believe he was crafted so deep in the mud
that no water could wash it from his skin. As a child, Black Ibis was fascinated
by the undiscovered territory and would wander into the territory only to
be gone for days and weeks. Each time he returned it would be with another
tale of horrors and monsters in the deep, and yet, he kept returning. At
age 14 he became a man and took his vision quest into the Swamp once more.
Black Ibis did not return for many years. Stolen by the Fae, Ibis became
more, and less, than the man he once was. Following his escape from the
Hedge (for the Swamp called him home), Black Ibis established the first
known Changeling presence here. He became Chief of the Summer Court in the
Freehold of the Great Blackswamp. Summer ruled year round for many years. |
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| 1794 – General Mad Anthony
Wayne defeats a coalition of Indian forces at the Battle of Fallen Timbers.
While driving out the Native American presence in the mortal lands, it also
eliminated the local Court. White Changelings came with the men who thought
to claim the frontier of their own. As the mortals went to war, so too did
the Changelings. Great losses of Clarity were suffered out of fear and mistrust.
Most of the Court of Chief Black Ibis was destroyed, others fled the lands,
and yet it is said that the Chief himself retreated within the Swamp once
more and was never heard from again. Legend speaks that he roams the Hedge
to this day, seeking his people and savaging his enemies with bitter retribution. |
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| 1808 – Western Reserve
Road (now US 20) is paved, stretching from Fort Meigs to Fremont. Travel
to the area increases. A few sparse Changelings inhabit, but no Freehold
is established due to lack of population. |
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1812 – War of 1812;
General William Hull blazes “Hullo’ Trace” (now US 25).
Travel again increases. Hedge is affected, mimicking the mortal realm slightly.
Work begins slowly on the difficult and dangerous process of draining the
Swamp.
|
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| 1832 – Settler Elisha
Martindale claims 40 acres in what is now Bowling Green. More Changelings
also begin to settle, taking Bowling Green as their primary area of residence. |
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| 1835 – The Toledo War.
Toledo is disputed territory between Ohio and Michigan. Ohio eventually
receives the territory as the Black Swamp is difficult for both militias
to navigate. Changelings in Bowling Green stay out of it, especially after
a keen few notice the interactions of other supernatural creatures in the
war (vampires and werewolves). |
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| 1846 – John Hannon establishes
Hannon’s Corners a tavern/inn/blacksmith shop. John, himself, was
once taken to the lands of Arcadia. He is a Wizened Smith of the Spring
Court. Hannon’s Corners becomes a central point for both local Lost
and those passing through. |
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| 1855 – Bowling Green
becomes a town. The Changeling population of Bowling Green has grown to
approximately 12. Hannon’s Corners Freehold is established in the
spring of 1855. John Hannon is chosen as Spring King. He implements a small
court with an advisory council of one from each 3 other seasons. Furthermore,
John opts for a seasonal rotation of Kings/Queens wherein the Court elects
their ruler and the previous rules of other Courts continue to serve on
the Equinox Council. |
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| 1856 – John C. Wooster
becomes first mayor. Issues with the transition of seasonal rulers occur
in the Court. To halt this, King and Council develop a new position called
the Magistrate of Change. This individual serves all year and is chosen
only on the New Year’s Eve. His duty is to assure the peaceful and
successful transition of power, as well as administer the rituals of each
equinox. |
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| 1886 – Discovery of
oil in North Baltimore. Money floods Bowling Green. Both Mortals and Changelings
profit from the discovery. Some relocate to North Baltimore. With the new
wealth, many Changelings become over-zealous. |
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| 1888 – The first and
only recorded Wild Hunt occurs in Bowling Green. True Fae take notice of
the newly popular Changelings and their exposure through increased wealth.
Many are killed, including the founder John Hannon. Yet, many of his ideas
and principles live on today. |
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| 1890 – Glass companies
dub Bowling Green as “The Crystal City”. An Autumn Court Beast
called “Itch” brings faith back to the surviving Changelings.
Through political manipulations, he is able to restore the Court to order,
and places himself as the King of the entire year. He maintains his power
through blackmail and abject fear. He burns Hannon’s Corners to the
ground and renames the Freehold of the Crystal City. |
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| 1892 – James B. Hill,
a machine shop worker in Bowling Green, invents the steam-powered mechanical
ditching wheel. The Black Swamp is nearing complete drainage and is fairly
habitable. Farm ground is some of the most fertile in the country. Settlers
come in droves. |
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| 1901 – Bowling Green
given official city status. After 11 years of King Itch’s rule on
the lands, local Changeling population has grown to over two dozen. The
four most powerful of each Court unite under one banner to drive the King
from his tyrannical rule: Destiny (Fairest of Spring), Clyde Dergun (Ogre
of Summer), David T. Pitch (Darkling of Autumn), and Bartholomew “The
White” Walker (Wizened of Winter). Leading their Courts after “The
White” claimed a vision from the legendary Chief Black Ibis who allegedly
told him the history and truth of the lands, the Four White Warriors banished
Itch from the territory and settled in to make a more peaceful and prosperous
home. They returned to the name of the “Freehold of the Great Black
Swamp”, and their traditions and history have been passed down orally
to the Changelings of modern night. |
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1910 – State Normal
College (now Bowling Green State University) established. Education and
the arts flourish, a trend that will continue on in Bowling Green.
|
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| Mid 1900’s – Through
some fluke of nature, the Wyrd, or the magic of the Swamp itself, the Four
White Warriors live an exceptionally long time. Through this period, they
do, indeed, establish a Court that is a meld of both Chief Black Ibis’s
rule and John Hannon’s. They incorporate the seasonal transition of
rulers, the Magistrate of Change, the Equinox Council, and also develop
a new position of a year round protector dubbed the “Guardian of the
Black”. Things go quite well for the Court and Changeling society
during their rule. |
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| 1975 – Poe Ditch Music
Festival held. Brought about by the Spring Court, this event attracted more
than 33,000 people all heeding the call of their desire. After the amount
of chaos and debauchery in the small, relatively conservative town, the
festival was banned by the Winter King and never held again. |
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1993 – First Black Swamp
Arts Festival is held. This becomes a notable event for all Changelings
in the land. Many get together and showcase their art in private parties.
There is drinking, storytelling, and much revelry. Spring predominantly
takes charge of this as well.
Please visit our website for more complete details, notable NPCs, PCs, and
court structure of the Freehold of the Great Black Swamp. (http://www.blackswampdomain.org) |
