TOLEDO — In 1938, H.H. (Hollie Howard) Turbett was the contractor, heading up the crew which built the original Toledo Bandstand on the east lawn of the Tama County Courthouse. The bandstand was built by City of Toledo.

Today, Hollie’s granddaughter, Cindy Turbett Backoff, and her husband Gerald, recall what a hard worker her grandfather was renown to be.

Gerald recalls the proof was in Hollie’s hands as they were well worn showing the result of years of masonry work. And remember, the Backoffs said much construction work was done back then without todays modern equipment.

A Toledo native, born in 1883, Hollie began his career as a mason working with his father, D.W. Turbett. Along with Hollie, his brother, Clyle Turbett and more workers, D.W. built the Christ United Methodist Church on South Broadway. Another highlight of their work is the 1912 completion of the Wieting Theatre. The Turbett crew joined forces to build many of the downtown Toledo business buildings which are still standing according to Cindy’s research.

“Half of the sidewalks in Toledo” were built by Hollie according to a 1974 newspaper article reporting on his 90th birthday observance.

Cindy Backoff’s research shows the Turbetts first arrived in Toledo in 1854 led by William S. Turbett her great-great grandfather. Great Grandfather Daniel Webster Turbett was born in Toledo in 1862 and Holly’s birth was in 1883.

Not only were D.W. and Hollie local masonry contractors, but nephew, Bill Turbett, was also well-known for his concrete work in the Toledo area.

Add to that, Bill’s granddaughter and Hollie’s great niece, Holly, is the wife of the present bandstand general contractor Tim Dunn. It’s coincidental Hollie and Holly share the same last name.

And, yet another “brick,” Holly’s sister, Angie Turbett, is opening the new Frosted Bliss Bakery directly across from the bandstand in downtown Toledo. Whether her brick business building was originally built by grandfather Bill, or great uncle Hollie, couldn’t immediately be determined.

A number of descendants of the Turbett families still live in the area – you very likely are acquainted with at least some of them.