Shortly after the original Sandusky Library building opened in 1901, the library established a room on the upper level dedicated to the preservation of items of
historical interest. The historical museum of the Sandusky Library was founded by the Board of Trustees in 1905. The museum featured artifacts,
photographs, maps and other documents from the early days of Sandusky and Erie
County. Mary McCann, longtime head librarian of the Sandusky Library, stated in the early years, the alcove room which stored the historical items must have looked like someone’s crowded attic.
Mrs. Charles Merz, the former
Sakie Prout, was chairman of the museum committee from 1920 through 1942.
Through the efforts of Mrs. Merz, the space was enlarged, items were cataloged,
and the museum policy was organized. The historical museum in the library was usually
open to the public on one Saturday afternoon each month. Special tours were
given at other times for school groups and community organizations. Ruth
Thomas wrote an article about the museum in the June 8, 1919 issue of the Sandusky Register entitled, “Romance of
City’s Past Within Library Museum." The author stated that “Sandusky’s story in times
of war and peace is portrayed in the collections of relics” at the historical
museum. She pointed out some of the highlights of the museum, including a chair
made from the battleship Lawrence from the Battle of Lake Erie, a wooden grave
marker from the former Civil War prison camp at Johnson’s Island, and household
items and clothing from an era gone by. In
October of 1942, the museum displayed an exhibit of antique salt cellars.
Sister Mary Delphine brought St. Mary’s High School history students to the
museum in 1962:
In January of 1971, the estate of Dr. Norbert Lange donated photographs and documents to the museum. Dr. Lange had a
lifelong interest in the economic, scientific, and cultural affairs of the
community, so the gift from his estate greatly enriched the museum’s collections.
During the Sandusky Area Sesquicentennial celebration in June, 1968, the
historical museum of the Sandusky Library was open for several days. Below are
two young ladies in historical dresses.
In the picture below, taken at the museum on June 23, 1968, you can see a bell which hung from the towers of the first and second Erie County Courthouses, from about 1840 to 1936. Another antique dress is worn by a museum
volunteer at the left.
The collections of the former
historical museum of the Sandusky Library found a new home at the Follett House
Museum in July, 1976. Each of the Museum’s four floors feature exhibits that
document the story of Sandusky. You can
take a virtual tour of the Follett House Museum online at the website of the Sandusky Library.
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