Charles L. Wagner, Pioneer in the Natural Ice Industry

Charles L. Wagner was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1852, to German-born parents, Mr. and Mrs. Julius Wagner. As a young man, he was a clerk in several different stores in Sandusky, Ohio, and later was associated with the company Wagner, Powers and Brodbeck. In 1885, he founded the Wagner Brothers Wholesale and Retail Ice Company, later known as the Wagner Lake Ice Company, serving as president and general manager. In 1907, the Wagner Lake Ice Company became a part of the Interstate Ice Company.

In 1913 the City Ice & Fuel Company acquired the Interstate Ice Company. C.L. Wagner was the wholesale manager of this business at the time of his death in 1921.

Charles L. Wagner had interests in several businesses during his long career in Sandusky.  At one time he was the manager of the Sloane Hotel. He was listed as one of the incorporators of the Sandusky Portland Cement Company, along with Arthur St. John Newberry, Spencer B. Newberry and F.D. White. This company was later known as the Medusa Cement Company. Wagner Avenue, which leads north from Barrett Road in Bay Bridge, Ohio, next to Clemons Boats, was named for him.

When Mr. Wagner died in 1921, his obituary appeared on the front page of the August 6, 1921 issue of the Sandusky Register.

C.L. Wagner was buried in Sandusky’s Oakland Cemetery in the family plot.

When Sandusky Businesses Made Home Deliveries

Before the advent of automobiles and supermarkets, several businesses in Sandusky delivered their products to the homes of area residents. The E.C. Sprau grocery store had a horse and wagon that made deliveries, seen in the picture above, taken about 1908. A young man and child, with a horse and wagon from the Lewis Neill, Jr. Dairy were parked at the rear of St. Mary’s Church in Sandusky in 1910.

               

Employees of several local bakeries made deliveries to both homes and businesses throughout the years. Mrs. C. Frank’s bakery was first located on Tiffin Avenue, and moved to Columbus Avenue near Neil Street by 1902.

               

Below is the wagon fleet of the H and S Modern Bakery on Hancock Street in 1920.

            

Esmond Dairy started making dairy deliveries by horse drawn vehicles, but eventually the company switched to refrigerated trucks. The Esmond Dairy began in 1907, and ceased operations in the late 1970s or early 1980s.

        

In the 1930s and 1940s, both ice and coal were delivered by the City Ice & Fuel Company.

Before there were electric refrigerators, Sandusky residents ordered ice from the ice man. Customers put a card in their window, indicating how many pounds of ice they needed for the ice box. This ice card from the City Ice & Fuel Company, now in the Industry Room at the Follett House Museum, allowed customers to indicate whether they wanted 25, 50, 75, or 100 pounds of ice.

The popularity of online shopping has actually increased home delivery of consumer goods in recent years, but of course, it is a very different method of sales and delivery. Now, you don't see your sales person, and the money you spent leaves your community. Amazon, Ebay, and many other online retail sites display their products on a computer or mobile device, and with a credit card, ordering is quick and easy.