Spies’ Gallery of Photo Engravings: Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home

First published in 1896, August Spies copyrighted and published a second edition of Spies’ Gallery of Photo Engravings: Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home in 1902. On pages 2-3 of the 1902 edition is a brief history of the Ohio Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home, which stated that the facility in Sandusky was “the most beautiful Soldiers’ home in the United States.”

The Administration Building, which is now home to the Ohio Veterans Home Military Museum, is pictured on page 14.

General Manning F. Force was the first Commandant of the Ohio Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home. His picture appears on page 4 of the 1896 edition of Spies’ Gallery. General Force was appointed Commandant of the Ohio Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home by Ohio Governor Joseph Foraker in October 1888 and he served in his official capacity until his death on May 8, 1899.

In 1902 General Thomas M. Anderson was Commandant of the Home.

The Ohio Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home was arranged on the Cottage Plan. Residents had sleeping quarters and a sitting room.

Residents could read newspapers and books in the library.

In 1902 the Home used about 750 tons of ice each year, which was harvested from the lake on the grounds. Enough ice was harvested at the Ohio Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home in the early 1900’s to fill two ice houses, as well as have a three month supply of ice which was stored just outside the ice houses.

The hospital at the Ohio Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home employed both male and female nurses.

Many photographs can be seen in the Spies’ Gallery, including pictures of the fire department, work shop, cemetery, post office, railway station, and several view of the residents’ cottages and officials of the Home. The Ohio Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home is now known as the Ohio Veterans Home.

From about 1900 until 1923, August Spies had his photographic studio at 123 West Market Street in Sandusky, above the offices of Buerkle and Lermann’s General Insurance business.