Vince Fisher Tells Us More Amusing Facts About Ohio

Ohio is so interesting it would be impossible to explain it all in just one feed. So, Vincent Fisher is going to start out the new year with 10 fun and amusing facts about the Buckeye State.

10. The Invention of the Dining Dog

Harry M. Stevens, an Englishman who emigrated to Niles, Ohio in the 1880's, invented the hot dog. Stevens had several contracts with Major League ballparks across the US to supply them with refreshments. One cold day in April 1901 he was unable to sell ice cream, which led him to instruct his staff to bring out the "dachshund sausages". He placed them in bread rolls and called out, "Get your red hots!" One reporter couldn't spell dachshund, so wrote hot dogs instead. The rest is history.

9. Women's Lib

Vincent E. Fisher recognizes that Ohio has supported women's rights way before the women's liberation movement took effect in the 1970s. In 1852, Ohio was the first state to legislate laws that protect working women.

8. Electric City

Before the bright and beaming lights of American cities such as New York and Las Vegas were installed, Cleveland, Ohio was the city of lights. Cleveland was the world's first city to have electric lights in 1879.

7. Oberlin College

Vince Fisher enjoys the fact that Ohio was the first to break down barriers for women and African Americans in the education sector. Oberlin College, located in Oberlin, Ohio and was founded in 1833, was the first interracial and coeducational college in the United States.

6. Ohio Hangs on to Sloopy

Vince Fisher loves dancing to Ohio's official song. "Hang on Sloopy" is sung by Ohio natives the McCoys, who are from the Dayton, Ohio area.

5. Putting out Blazes

Cincinnati, Ohio was the first city to establish a professional fire fighting department.

4. Fun and Games

Ohio is home to baseball. The Cincinnati Reds were the first professional baseball team to ever exist.

3. Law and Order

If you are a crook on the run, you won't get too far in Akron, Ohio. That's because Akron was the first city to use police cars.

2. The Pop Top Can

The next time you open your favorite soda, you will remember Kettering, Ohio. We have Ermal Fraze to thank for that, who invented the pop-top can in Kettering.

1. Hollywood's Calling

Ohio is home to some well known personalities. These include Steven Spielberg, Paul Newman, Annie Oakley, Arsenio Hall and Clark Gable.