Sandusky’s 14th Semi-Annual Hancock Street Sale in 1925

From February 3 to February 14, 1925, a sale was held by several merchants whose businesses were located on Hancock Street in Sandusky.  A large advertisement which appeared in the February 1, 1925 issue of the Sandusky Register stated, “The Whole Street Ablaze with Bargains – Come, Get your Share.” In the 1920s, the H and S Modern Baking Company (maker of Betsy Ross Bread) had their main bakery at 625 Hancock Street, with another retail store located on Columbus Avenue. At that time, baked goods from the bakery were still transported by horse and wagon.

L.A. Biehl, who had a drug store at the northwest corner of Monroe and Hancock Streets, sold valentines for one cent, and advertised Crane’s candies during the February sale. Shoppers could get to Hancock Street easily via the streetcar, which ran down Hancock Street.

Image circa 1900

The many ads in the Sandusky Register for the Hancock Street Sale were indicative of a different era. Lange’s Grocery still made home deliveries, and the Hoffman Coal Company served the many Sandusky residents who heated their homes and businesses with coal. Al O. Pietschman sold button hooks and shoe horns for one cent each. Pusch’s and the Parrot Art Shoppe both sold ladies’ bloomers, along with many other products at their stores.

Browsing through historical newspapers can provide hours of learning and entertainment, as one notices how some things change over time, yet some things remain the same. Visit the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center to view local newspapers dating back to 1822, available on microfilm and online.

Sandusky Taxicab Advertisements in 1919

Arthur L. Pietschman ran the Pietschman Transfer & Taxi Company in Sandusky in 1919. He offered taxi service during the night or day, and also moved baggage, theatrical items and pianos. In 1923 he changed the name of his business to Pietschman’s Yellow Cab. 

The Cadillac Transfer and Taxi Company was operated by Oscar G. Biehl and Harry J. Andres.

The Cadillac Transfer and Taxi Company offered rides day or night, with a “big, roomy limousine or touring car.”  The advertisement below indicates that the Cadillac Taxi provided speed with safety, and the owners suggested customers call for an appointment for the best service.

E.H. Schlessman, best remembered as a commercial photographer in Sandusky for several years, ran the Buick Taxi Company. This advertisement from the December 31, 1919 issue of the Sandusky Register, states that the Buick Taxi Company offered “high class” cars that were clean and equipped with heaters.

Annual Outing of Booth Fisheries Employees

Mrs. H.C. Lehman donated this undated picture postcard of employees of the Booth Fisheries on their annual outing. The manager of Booth Fisheries, J.J. Schrank, is the fourth individual on the left in the back row. The men are all lined up at the pier, waiting for the trip to begin aboard the Major Wilcox. While we are not positive which year this picture was taken, an article in the July 2, 1917 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal provides us with a vivid description of the annual outing from 1917. The headline of the article stated that the outing was a great success.

Over fifty employees of the Booth Fisheries, and some of their friends, left aboard the company docks, in spite of threatening weather. Louis Beverick served as master of ceremonies, and “Bumps” Biehl was the chef. The group was served turtle soup and fried fish. After dinner, the group returned to Sandusky to unload equipment, and they returned to the Major Wilcox for a boat ride around the Lake Erie Island, while another round of refreshments was served. If you would like to read the article in its entirety, visit the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center, to view the Sandusky Star Jounal of July 2, 1917, now on microfilm.

Drug Stores at Hancock and East Monroe Street

From about 1880 until shortly before his death in 1933, Lewis A. Biehl operated a drugstore at the northwest corner of Hancock and East Monroe Streets. In the 1920s, an ice cream parlor was in the drugstore, making it convenient for customers to have a soda while they waited for their prescriptions to be filled. The early customers of Mr. Biehl arrived on foot, or by horse and buggy. From the 1890s to the 1930s, they could visit his drug store via the streetcar. By 1920 a Pennzoil service station was located kitty-corner to the Biehl store, at the southeast corner of Hancock and East Monroe Streets.

The Biehl drugstore was included in the listing of Sandusky neighborhood drugstores in this advertisement from the September 23, 1928 issue of the Sandusky Register.

Just as in the case of grocery stores, there were drugstores in most Sandusky neighborhoods in the late 1800s and early 1900s, before it was the norm for most families to own an automobile. The ad from 1928 suggested that if a person had a cold, a quick visit to the neighborhood druggist could help prevent pneumonia. The Sandusky Star Journal of July 28, 1939 reported that Harry J. Fisher would soon be having the grand opening of his drugstore at the building formerly occupied by the Lewis A. Biehl drugstore. Mr. Fisher had  remodeled the building, and moved the entrance to the Hancock Street side of the building. (The Fisher drugstore had previously been on West Washington Street.) All vistors to the newly remodeled Fisher Drug store received a souvenir. Below is a picture of the Fisher Drug store in 1955.

By 1957, Earl McGookey was the proprietor of the Fisher Drug Store. Eventually the drugstore became known as the Fisher-Buderer Drug Company. Today, the company is the Buderer Drug Company, a compounding pharmacy with locations in Sandusky, Avon and Perryburg. At GoogleMaps, you can see a recent picture of the intersection of Hancock and East Monroe Street.

Walther’s Peptonized Port Sold in Sandusky

In August of 1903 the Sandusky Register featured several advertisements for Walther’s Peptonized Port.  

The ad above stated that Peptonized Port was helpful for “people who are nervous, cannot stand noise, start at the least unusual sound” and “get that fly-to-pieces feeling often.” The ad below informed consumers that the remedy was a combination of port wine and pepsin, with no added drugs or chemicals.

The remedy was considered a good tonic for dyspepsia, indigestion, and recommended for nursing mothers, invalids, and older people. Two sizes were sold in 1903, one for fifty cents, and a larger size for one dollar. Two drugstores that sold Walther’s Peptonized Port in Sandusky were Henkelman & Bechberger and L.A. Biehl. Henkelman & Bechberger operated their drugstore on the street level of the Sloane House hotel in downtown Sandusky.

L. A. Biehl’s drugstore was located at the corner of Hancock and East Monroe Streets.

Jacob A. Biehl’s Grocery Store

From 1888 until his death in 1935, Jacob A. Biehl operated a grocery store at the southeast corner of Warren and Reese Streets in Sandusky, Ohio. Hewson Peeke wrote in his book, A Standard History of Erie County, Ohio, that Jacob A. Biehl was “a man of excellent business capacity, intelligence and sterling integrity.” Mr. Biehl was born in Sandusky on April 28, 1855, to Frederick and Barbara Biehl. For several years, Jacob Biehl worked for the L.B. Johnson Company. In 1888, without any previous experience, he started a grocery store, and met with success from the beginning of his business venture. Records from the County Commissioners’ reports in 1911 and 1912 show that Erie County purchased supplies from Jacob Biehl for use in maintenance of county buildings.  A popular product sold by Jacob Biehl’s store was “Biehl’s Killem Quick” rat poison. This product was said to free your premises from rats and mice. The rat poison came in a variety of sizes, ranging in price from twenty five cents to one dollar

In 1878 Jacob A. Biehl married Margaret Faulhaber, and they had a family of four children. Jacob A. Biehl passed away at his home on March 10, 1935. Funeral services for Jacob A. Biehl were held at the family residence, with the Rev. Arthur Von Gruenigen officiating. Mr. Biehl was buried in the family lot at Oakland Cemetery. A lengthy obituary for Jacob A. Biehl is found in the 1935 Obituary Notebook, housed with the genealogical books at the Sandusky Library.