History behind an amateur radio station in Toledo, Ohio. A lost chapter in radio history.

W80FG was an amateur radio station which had formally operated out of the city of Toledo, Ohio. This amateur radio station was owned by Ronald A. Hall Sr. for a few years. This news article will explain the history behind this amateur radio station.


W80FG originated as an amateur radio station operating out of a house owned by Ronald A. Hall and located in the Point Place neighborhood at the Street beginning in 1954. This amateur radio station was his sole proprietorship. The address of his amateur radio station was as follows: W8OFG Ronald A. Hall, 2710 128th Street, Toledo 11, Ohio (Ref: https://archive.org/stream/Fall_1954_Radio_Amateur_Callbook/Fall_1954_Radio_Amateur_Callbook_District_8_djvu.txt)

W80FG relocated when Ronald A. Hall moved the radio station to a different house located at 1621 Woodland Avenue near the South Side beginning in 1957. This amateur radio station was his sole proprietorship. Ronald A. Hall continued to operate his amateur radio station out of his house all the way through 1958. (Ref: https://archive.org/stream/Summer_1958_Radio_Amateur_Callbook/Summer_1958_Radio_Amateur_Callbook_District_8_djvu.txt)

However of course, W80FG would not operate at this location for long. W80FG relocated when Ronald A. Hall moved the radio station to an apartment complex located at 220 Winthrop Street in Olde Towne during the spring of 1961. This time W80FG would permanently stay at this location. The address was as follows: W80FG RONALD A. HALL SR, 220 WINTHROP ST, TOLEDO 10, OHIO (Ref: https://archive.org/stream/Spring_1961_Radio_Amateur_Callbook/Spring_1961_Radio_Amateur_Callbook_District_8_djvu.txt)

Ronald A. Hall Sr. ceased operating W80FG by 1962. The exact reasons as to why this amateur radio station disappeared are unknown.

However he moved his amateur radio station operations to Stevensville, Michigan in 1970 and changed the radio station format from W80FG to WR8AFK. W80FG would no longer be used or operate in Toledo. (Ref: https://archive.org/stream/Winter_1979_Radio_Amateur_Callbook/Winter_1979_Radio_Amateur_Callbook_District_8_djvu.txt)


The building of where W80FG once operated out of was foreclosed on in 2004. Bryan Dibling
Bryan Dibling was forced to sell the brick apartment complex to Crystal Brown for a price of $16,000.  Description of the transaction for this foreclose appeared under “Bryan Dibling to Crystal Brown, 220 Winthrop, Toledo, $16,000.” in the Toledo Legal News. (Ref: https://www.toledoblade.com/business/RealEstateTransfers/2004/07/26/Real-estate-transfers/stories/200407260017)

The building of where W80FG once operated out of was foreclosed on again in 2009. The State of Ohio levied of unpaid taxes, assessments, penalties, and interest in the amount of $5,187.06 on the property and current owner. (Ref: https://www.toledolegalnews.com/noticeforclosures/details/ref_index/7153)

The object of the complaint is to foreclose the lien of the State of Ohio for unpaid taxes, assessments, penalties, and interest in the amount of $5,187.06 levied upon: T.D. 03 Parcel 18461, located at 220 Winthrop Street, Toledo, Ohio 43620. A copy of the full legal description may be obtained from the Lucas County Auditor's Office, (419) 213-4420. The prayer is to find said amount to be a first and best lien, to forever bar all defendants unless they set up their respective claims, for costs, to marshal all liens, to sell the above described real property according to law, to apply the proceeds according to the respective priorities and for such other and further relief. Said defendants are required to answer the complaint herein on or before the 2nd day of October, 2009, or decree will be taken as prayed for therein.

Yet again Lucas County declared 220 Winthrop Street to be forfeited land in 2017. Lucas County forced Crystal Brown into foreclosure and forced to sell the land to Lucas County Land Reutilization Corporation. (Ref: https://www.toledoblade.com/business/RealEstateTransfers/2017/11/03/Real-estate-transfers-October-23-27/stories/20171103123)

According to ohiohistory.org, the owner applied for a NIP Historic Waiver for 220 Winthrop Street in August 2018. (Ref: https://www.ohiohistory.org/OHC/media/OHC-Media/Documents/SHPO/RPR/Submissions-Received-Aug-2018.pdf)


According to current bids from foreclosures.com, this property is currently in auction despite being put up for auction on the date of 5/8/2014. Now the brick apartment complex has been demolished and no longer exists. (Ref: https://www.foreclosure.com/address/220-Winthrop-St-Toledo-OH-43620)

W80FG was located at 220 Winthrop Street, Toledo, Ohio, US 43620.