Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Back to School -- Class Photos from Campbell School

Thousands of school students have just returned to the classroom. Here are some vintage pictures of former elementary students who attended Campbell School in Sandusky, Ohio. The picture below was taken in the fall of 1888.

Forty five students from Grade 3-B at Campbell School in 1919 are pictured below.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

The 100th Anniversary of the Incorporation of the City of Sandusky

From August 24 through 29, 1924, Sandusky celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of the Incorporation of the City of Sandusky. An open air religious service kicked off the festivities. The service was held at the Courthouse Square, and everyone was invited, regardless of religious affiliation. A mass choir, accompanied by Ackley’s Band, sang sacred music. At midnight a cannon was fired in Washington Park. Local residents and visitors were asked to sign the registration book in a log cabin in Washington Park.


The Sandusky Register published lists of the names of out of town visitors to the celebration throughout the week. On Monday, August 25, the Sandusky High School athletic grounds hosted a historic pageant produced by Lew J. Griffith and George J. Lehrer. Noted theatrical manager Daniel Frohman attended the pageant, and stated that “The pageant was a remarkable, gorgeous and edifying achievement. I enjoyed every moment of my stay and the centennial of my home town will always be a cherished memory.”

On Wednesday, August 27, a large parade was held at 2:30 p.m. as a major feature of the Centennial. Civic, fraternal, patriotic, and businesses all participated. Public buildings were closed at 1 p.m., and most retail merchants closed early. Various segments of the parade met at several different formation points, and then traveled down Jackson Street and on to downtown Sandusky.

Here is a view of the parade traveling south on Columbus Avenue. Holzaepfel’s Sporting Goods and the Interurban Station can be seen on the west side of Columbus Avenue.

Many women’s organizations participated in the parade.

Several Sandusky policemen, city officials, Dan Frohman, Ackley’s Band, and a host of uniformed groups participated in the parade. There were over 170 vehicle entries.

On Friday afternoon a “Kiddies Karnival” was held for children between the ages of 2 and 12. Over 1,000 ice cream cones were distributed at the carnival, and prized awarded in a variety of categories, including decorated bicycles, costumes, and dolls. Out of town guests were invited on an automobile tour of the city with automobiles provided by the Erie County Automobile Club. The tour visited places of historical, civic, and industrial interest throughout the city of Sandusky.

To read more about the 100th Anniversary of the Incorporation of the City of Sandusky, see the historical sketch and official souvenir program, located with the genealogical books in the Reference Services area of the Sandusky Library.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Miles Walker, Civil War Veteran

In Block 5 of Sandusky’s Oakland Cemetery is a monument in memory of Miles Walker and his wife, the former Nancy Williams. According to the 1870 U.S. Census for Erie County, Ohio, Miles Walker was born in Tennessee about 1830. His wife Nancy stated that she had been born in Alabama about 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Miles Walker were African Americans, and they were living on Hancock Street in Sandusky, Ohio in 1870. Miles Walker listed his occupation as laborer, and Nancy said that she was a housekeeper.

The Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1866, records Miles Walker’s enlistment date in Company E of the Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry as October 14, 1863. His rank was recorded as “Cook.” Miles Walker mustered out with his company on August 4, 1865. After the Civil War, Miles Walker settled in Sandusky, Ohio. He married Nancy Williams on May 30, 1867. Miles Walker was included in the 1890 Veterans’ Schedules for Surviving Soldiers, Sailors and Widows who were residing in Erie County, Ohio in 1890. Notes taken by the census enumerator said that Miles Walker suffered from rheumatism.

On September 14, 1908, Miles Walker died in Sandusky, Ohio. He was buried at Oakland Cemetery next to his wife Nancy, who had passed away in 1896. Though Miles Walker was merely counted as a hash mark in the slave schedules of Tennessee in 1860, the name of Miles Walker was clearly inscribed on his tombstone, and has stood for more than one hundred years.

Monday, August 22, 2011

George R. Butler, Civil War Veteran and Manufacturer

George R. Butler was born on April 3, 1848 to Samuel W. and Clarissa (Boalt) Butler in Sandusky, Ohio. During the Civil War, he served as a drummer in Company B of the 145th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

After working for ten years with the passenger department of western railroads, George began working with his brother, Jay Caldwell Butler, in the lumber business. The company, located at the southwest corner of Water and Decatur Streets, manufactured sashes, doors, and blinds. George took over the business after the death of his brother in 1885. The George R. Butler factory can be seen in the picture of downtown Sandusky in the mid 1880’s.

On January 28, 1925, George R. Butler died at Good Samaritan Hospital after a lengthy illness. Rev. N.R.H. Moor officiated at funeral services, and he was buried at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. Mr. Butler was survived by his wife, the former Susan Barney, a son, and two daughters.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Jay Moss Home, 414 Wayne Street

The building at 414 Wayne Street was originally built as the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jay O. Moss in 1872.


A portion of the lot was a gift to the couple from Jay’s father, banker A.H. Moss. The remainder of the property was purchased from Oran Follett, who lived nearby at the southeast corner of Wayne and Adams Streets. The Martha Pitkin Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution was organized at the Moss home in 1897. In 1899 Mrs. Jay O. (Frances) Moss, who was acquainted with Andrew Carnegie, helped to secure a generous donation from Mr. Carnegie towards the building of the Sandusky Library.

In 1917, the home was purchased by Herbert Farrell, Sr., president of the Farrell-Cheek Foundry. The Sandusky Business Women’s club became the owner of this property in 1926, with financial assistance from the Women’s Building and Restroom Association. Meetings and social gatherings were held here, and apartments in the building were rented, to help pay for the upkeep of the building. For a few years in the 1970’s, the Harlequins owned the property at 414 Wayne Street, but they soon sold the main home to Mr. and Mrs. George Gilbert, who converted the building for use as apartments. The Harlequins retained ownership of the former carriage house for use in the group’s theatrical productions. Since 1984 the former Moss home at 414 Wayne Street has housed offices for several Sandusky attorneys.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Program Announcement: Ethnic Sandusky



Sandusky was built by people from many parts of the world - Germany, Italy, Ireland, and West Africa, just to name a few places. Continuing with our summer reading theme, “One World, Many Stories,” join us in the Library Program Room on Wednesday, August 24, at 12:00 p.m. as we discuss where our ancestors came from, why they came here, what they brought with them (material goods and traditions), and what they did when they got here. Archives Librarian Ron Davidson will use items from the Library’s historical collections - photographs, documents, and artifacts - to help tell the stories of our forebears. Registration is requested.

Friday, August 12, 2011

The Martins and Manhattans

In Sandusky in the 1910’s, the Martins and Manhattans were two popular city baseball teams that often played each other at Sandusky’s Huron Park. Sandusky photographer N. J. Abele, who lived at 311 Huron Avenue, took the picture below. The Martins were sponsored by Martin’s Confectionery, a Sandusky business owned by Fred Martin that sold ice cream and other confections.


While not everyone in the photo postcard above have been identified, notes on the original item indicate that manager Pat Murray is in the dark suit in the back row, and the player who is the second from the right in the front row is Ed Oesterle. The first young man in the back row is Moses Thompson. A news article which appeared on the sports page of the October 7, 1912 issue of the Sandusky Register reported that Moses Thompson played “sensationally” against the Manhattans at Huron Park on October 6, 1912. He got a home run in the first inning, and later participated in a double play with a player by the name of Meyers. The final score of the game was the Martins with four runs, and the Manhattans with two runs.

The Manhattans team, sponsored by the Manhattan Clothing Emporium, is pictured below. The only person who has been identified is manager Ralph Roesch, in the dark suit in the center of the back row. Players who played for the Manhattans during the October 6, 1912 game with the Martins included: Fred Kubach, Charles “Pink” Bogert, and old Sandusky favorite ball players with last names Blancke and McConville.
On September 18, 1940 an article in the Sandusky Star Journal covered a baseball game to be held at the Ohio Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home between the baseball teams sponsored by the Clover Leaf Dairy and the Farrell Cheek Foundry. Carl Bloker managed the Clover Leaf Dairy ball club, while Moses Thompson managed the Farrell Cheek team. Carl Bloker and Moses Thompson had both played with the Martins in the 1910’s.

Moses Thompson was the brother of Sandusky-born physician, Dr. Clarence Thompson. Previous blog entries about baseball in Sandusky discussed Clarence Howard of the Sandusky Crescents, Olde Broderson, and Frank “Casey” Casserly, manager of the Shamrocks baseball team.

Tuesday, August 09, 2011

Sandusky’s Silsby Steamer

The postcard below was created by Sandusky photographer E.H. Schlessman. Three gentlemen are standing next to an 1869 Silsby steam engine. Mr. Hegemer is the man in the center of the picture, and the other two men have not yet been identified.


James H. Wichman wrote in an article in the September 23, 1955 issue of the Sandusky Register Star News that by 1859 there were sixty volunteer firemen in Sandusky, Ohio. During the Civil War over half of the volunteer firemen enlisted to serve in the Union Army, so new fire fighters had to be recruited. In 1865 a steam engine was purchased from the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company of Manchester, New Hampshire at a cost of over $4,000. Silsby steam engines, made by the Silsby Manufacturing Co. of Seneca Falls, New York were purchased by the Sandusky Fire Department in 1868 and 1869. A history of the Sandusky Fire Department, housed in the local history collections of the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center, states that the purchase of these three steam engines along with a hood and ladder truck helped move the fire department towards a reorganization of the entire department. Inquire at the Reference Services Desk to view A Look Back at History, two booklets which provide an interesting history of the Sandusky Fire Department.

Saturday, August 06, 2011

Annual Excursion of the Great Western Band

Sandusky area residents were invited to the annual excursion of The Great Western Silver Cornet Band on Thursday, August 6, 1868. The Great Western Band was formed in 1867 and was led for many years by Charles Baetz.

The steamer Evening Star was chartered for the excursion, which left at 10 a.m. from Fitzhugh’s Dock. The Evening Star carried passengers on the Great Lakes from the 1860’s through the 1890’s.

Wednesday, August 03, 2011

Dr. William A. Ferry, Veterinarian

Dr. William A. Ferry was a veterinarian in Sandusky for thirty five years. Born in Sandusky in 1869, he was the son of pioneer Sandusky merchant Austin Ferry. Dr. Ferry received his veterinary training at the Chicago Veterinary College and the Toronto Veterinary College. In 1915 Dr. Ferry had his veterinary office at 140 Wayne Street in Sandusky. By the 1920’s Dr. Ferry’s home, as well as his veterinary practice, were both in the 400 block of Jackson Street, now a part of the parking lot of the Sandusky Library. 
 For several years, Dr. Ferry worked in conjunction with Dr. H.C. Schoepfle to inspect dairy farms in Erie County to make sure they met proper health and sanitation standards. He inspected the stables, milk houses, and took samples of milk for testing. Dr. Ferry also inspected Sandusky area grocery stores, meat markets, ice cream plants, and soda fountains. He said in an article in the December 4, 1920 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal that health inspections in Sandusky businesses were found to have excellent sanitary standards “in nearly every instance.” After a lengthy illness, Dr. William A. Ferry died on June 3, 1944. His funeral was held at the Charles J. Andres Sons’ Funeral Home at 421 Jackson Street, which was directly across the street from Dr. Ferry’s home. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. C. L. Alspach, and burial was at Oakland Cemetery.