This picture was taken in 1911 from
the steeple of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. St. Mary’s Parochial School is
visible on the right side of the photo, located at the corner of Decatur and
Jefferson Streets. Further to the east, at the intersection of Jefferson Street
and Columbus Avenue, the tops of three different churches can be seen. The
tallest church tower at this intersection is that of Sts. Peter and Paul
Catholic Church. Zion Lutheran Church is directly across the street, and the First Congregational Church
is at the northwest corner of Jefferson and Columbus.
It looks as though the weather is
cold, as you can see people scurrying down Decatur Street in this close up view
below.
In 1911 Fred Westerhold had a jewelry
and clock store in the 400 block of Decatur Street. He stated that his prices
were reasonable in this ad from the November 2, 1911 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal.
Gasper Anastas had opened a shoe repair shop in August
of 1911 at 426 Decatur Street. He
promised to bring first-class work and the best materials to his customers.
By looking at city directories from
the period in which a photograph was taken can help you understand what a
neighborhood was like in a specific era. Visit the Sandusky
Library to learn more about the historic businesses and residents of Sandusky
and Erie County.
