O.S. Alcott and the "First Presidential Voters’ Club" of 1888

O.S. Alcott donated this 1888 ribbon from the First Presidential Voters’ Club of 1888. The members of this club supported the Republican Presidential candidate Benjamin Harrison, who defeated the incumbent Grover Cleveland on November 6. 

First voters’ clubs were popular in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. At that time, only men could vote. The club members were anxious to exercise their duties as citizens to make their voting choice count. 

Mr. Alcott ran a men’s clothing shop in the Kingsbury Block from about 1900 to 1930. He took the business over from his father, L.D. Alcott.

O.S. Alcott was the topic of the “Who’s Who and Why” column in the December 14, 1911 issue of the Sandusky Register.

Interior Views of the Perry and Bretz Clothing Store

From 1918 until its closing in 1963, the Perry and Bretz Store sold men’s clothing and accessories at 136 East Market Street in downtown Sandusky.

The 1919 Sandusky city directory lists Jay J. Perry and Robert B. Bretz as the proprietors of Perry and Bretz. By 1927 the store was run by Robert B. Bretz, Donald D. Perry, and Eugene J. Perry.

When Bretz died in 1947, his obituary stated that he had been one of Sandusky’s oldest business men, having been in the clothing business in Sandusky for sixty-five years. The Perrys continued to operate the store until 1963. An article in the July 8, 1963 issue of the Sandusky Register featured a going out of business sale for the Perry and Bretz store.

The Follett House Museum has two hangers in its collections, one from the former Robert B. Bretz store at 117 Columbus Avenue, and one from the former Kronthal and Bretz store.

J.D. McFall Men’s Clothing Store

In 1890 and 1891, Jasper Dean McFall operated a store in Sandusky at 121 Columbus Avenue. He sold clothing and gents’ furnishings.  The business was begun by J.D. McFall’s father, William H. McFall, Sr. In 1882 there were two men’s clothing stores operated by the elder Mr. McFall, one at 107 Columbus Avenue, and one at 708 Water Street. 

From about 1886 to 1888, the store was run by the McFall brothers, three sons of the elder Mr. McFall. J.D. McFall was the manager of the McFall Brothers store in 1888, and by 1890, he was the proprietor. This advertisement for J.D. McFall’s store appeared in the March 31, 1891 issue of the Sandusky Register. The surname McFall surrounds the advertisement which highlights spring suits and overcoats.

According to an article in the February 25, 1922 issue of the Sandusky Register, in 1897, J.D. McFall moved from Sandusky to Detroit, where he studied music.  He moved to Washington D.C. and later to the state of Oregon. While in Washington D.C., he was the director of music at the Sunnyside Methodist Church. He served in a similar position at the Arleta Baptist Church, until poor health forced him to retire.  At a memorial service for President William McKinley, held at Chase’s Theater on October 6, 1901, J.D. McFall was in charge of the music for the service.

J.D. McFall died at his home near Jennings Lodge, Oregon on February 5, 1922, at the age of 52. He was fondly remembered by Sandusky residents, who recalled his fine baritone voice.

A Closer Look at a Photo of the Feick Building in 1910

Sandusky photographer E.H. Schlessman took this photograph of a portion of the Feick Building in 1910. Though the picture is torn, it is interesting to see a slice of life from an earlier time in our community. From about 1910 to 1915, the Mayer Lebensburger Company, which sold men’s clothing, and the Sandusky Business College both were in operation in the Feick Building on East Market Street. The Mayer Lebensburger store occupied the street level of 154 to 162 East Market Street. The Sandusky Business College held classes on the third floor of the Feick Building, which only had three stories at that time. The automobile in from the Mayer Lebensburger store had a convertible top, and the tail light and headlights were lanterns, possibly fueled with kerosene.

The poster in the store window was advertising an event to take place on Thursday, August 10. The lady pictured below is looking at another poster in the men’s clothing store, where several pairs of trousers are displayed.

On the second floor, we can see a man, presumably working at his desk.

By 1916, the Mayer Lebensburger Company went out of business, and the Sandusky Business College eventually moved to 403 East Adams Street. Of course, the Feick Building later had a total of eight stories, and many other businesses were in operation there. The Citizens Banking Company was in business at the Feick Building for several decades. Because of the generosity of many donors, the Sandusky Library Archives Center has a rich collection of historic photographs, scrapbooks, books, and other primary resources which help us learn about the past residents of Sandusky and Erie County.

Moses Lebensburger, Sandusky Merchant

According to the book, History of Erie County, Ohio, edited by Lewis Cass Aldrich, Moses Lebensburger was born in Bavaria, Germany, December 10, 1813, and came to America in 1840. Mr. Lebensburger married Caroline Monat in Dayton, Ohio in 1852. By 1860, Mr. and Mrs. Lebensburger were residing in Sandusky, Ohio, and Moses was a salesman at Leopold Monat’s men’s clothing store.  The Lebensburgers raised a large family of seven children. By 1867, Moses Lebensburger and Leopold Monat were partners in a store that sold ready-made men’s wear in West’s Block in downtown Sandusky. In 1875, Moses Lebensburger took over the men’s clothing business. In the 1870s, his store was at 161 and 163 Water Street. In 1880, Moses Lebensburger retired, and his sons took over the family business. For many years, Mayer and Abraham Lebensburger ran a menswear store on Columbus Avenue across from the old Post Office. The advertisement below appeared in the May 27, 1890 issue of the Sandusky Register.

On February 8, 1898, Moses Lebensburger died at the family residence on Washington Street. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Dr.Machol of Cleveland, Ohio, and burial was at the Oheb Shalom Cemetery. An obituary which appeared in the February 11, 1898 Sandusky Register reported that the last rites over the remains of Mr. Lebensburger were witnessed by many friends and family of the deceased.

Caryl Crane, "Sandusky’s First Lady of Fashion"

Born in Lorain in 1908 to Russian immigrants, Isaac and Rose Shiff, Caryl Crane was the president and founder of the Caryl Crane store in Sandusky from 1946 until 1982. The store was located in the 200 block of Columbus Avenue, but moved to the Sandusky Mall in the 1970’s. The store began with a dress department, and also carried coats, suits, and lingerie. Later a bridal shop, sportswear, accessories, and perfumes were added. In an article which appeared in the April 24, 1976 issue of the Sandusky Register, Miss Crane stated her philosophy for a successful business. “Our philosophy of retailing is that a store should be colorful and attractive and merchandise should be fashion right at the correct price.” Miss Crane and her buyers shopped in markets in New York, Chicago, Dallas and California. In April of 1957 Miss Crane traveled to Europe for a six week buying trip in Italy, Switzerland, and France. This same month her parents celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in Lorain, Ohio.

Always aware of the latest trends in fashion as well as in popular culture, in 1962, Caryl Crane gave away a free “Ben Casey” charm bracelet and 8x10 photo of the actor with every swimsuit that was purchased.

Caryl Crane conducted countless style shows, at Cedar Point, schools, area clubs, and at the YMCA. Often the proceeds were given to charity. Miss Crane was a member of the Harlequins Theater for more than 45 years, and she directed several Harlequins plays. She was involved in the production of the Miss Ohio pageant for six years. The program of the Miss Ohio Pageant of 1966, which was held at the Cedar Point ballroom, credited Caryl Crane, stating that the “entire production was conceived, written, and staged by Caryl Crane.” She founded the Caryl Crane Children’s Theatre at Firelands College.

On August 19, 1999, Caryl Crane passed away after a brief illness, at the age of 91. Her obituary in the August 21, 1999 Sandusky Register reports that she was a graduate of the University of Michigan and The Ohio State University, with degrees in education and music. She sang at Radio City Music Hall, and was on staff at NBC. Miss Crane was buried in Salem Cemetery in Lorain, Ohio.