The Bazar Was Santa’s Home in 1898

This advertisement from the Bazar store appeared in the December 21, 1898 issue of the Sandusky Register. In the late 1890s, the Bazar was located at 516 and 617 Market Street in downtown Sandusky. According to the ad, the Bazar was “Santa Claus’ Home” during the 1898 holiday season. For twenty-five cents, customers could purchase books, dolls, china ornaments, and handkerchiefs. For fifty cents, you could buy rings, toys, and vases. Sleds, mirror sets, and carving sets sold for a dollar. The advertisements in the historical issues of the Register give us a sense of the types of gifts our ancestors may have purchased over a hundred years ago. A large sign from the Bazar can be seen in this vintage picture of the parade honoring the returning Spanish American War soldiers from Company B of the Sixth Ohio Regiment in May of 1899.