Memorial Day Has Been Celebrated in Sandusky Since 1870

Since 1870, when it was known as Decoration Day, Sandusky area residents have been celebrating Memorial Day, a holiday which honors those who died in war. In Sandusky’s first Decoration Day celebration, there was a parade from the newly built Sandusky High School (later Adams Junior High) to Oakland Cemetery, where several city leaders gave addresses, and the Great Western Band played patriotic music, as the crowd reflected on those lost in war. Attorney Walter F. Stone served as “President of the Day.”

Below is a portion of the listing of the Civil War veterans buried in Sandusky, which appeared in the January 20, 1880 issue of the Sandusky Register.

The last name on the excerpt above is the name of Dr. R. R. McMeens, who lost his life while serving as a physician during the Civil War. The local post of the G.A.R. was named for Dr. McMeens.

 Sandusky’s Veterans Memorial Park, just west of the Erie County Courthouse, honors all local veterans from the Civil War forward. Visit the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center, to learn more about your own ancestors who served in the military. There are a wide variety of print and online resources to aid you in your research.

Decoration Day, May 30, 1870

Decoration Day was established by the Grand Army of the Republic on May 5, 1868, as a day set aside for decorating the graves of the war dead. For many years May 30 was the day on which Decoration Day was observed, later becoming known as Memorial Day, and celebrated on the last Monday in May. The May 31, 1870 issue of the Sandusky Register reported that May 30, 1870 was the first celebration of a national Memorial Day in Sandusky. At 2 p.m. the procession began, including the Great Western Band, the widows of soldiers riding in carriages, speakers of the day, and elected officials and committee members. Dozens of wagons, carriages, and citizens on foot also participated in the procession. Forming at Wayne Street, the procession went past Sandusky High School (now Adams Junior High) and traveled south on Columbus Avenue to Oakland Cemetery. Several Civil War veterans who had been injured in the war marched the entire distance.

On the platform with the speakers of the day were the Honorable Walter F. Stone, Mayor Philander Gregg, Ferdinand Geiersdorf, Dr. A. H. Agard, C.J. Parsons and the Honorable Oran Follett. Chaplain L. Allinger and Rev. George B. Sturgess said prayers. Speakers for the day included F. W. Cogswell, J.M. Root, Rev. Babcock, Rev. W.W. Farr, General John G. Mitchell and Judge A.W. Hendry. The Glee Club sang hymns and “America,” accompanied by the Great Western Band. The closing benediction was given by Rev. H. N. Burton. While the addresses were being given, several ladies marked the graves of over eighty soldiers with small flags. The Sandusky Register articled concluded by stating that the Decoration Day “was in all its features a worthy demonstration, impressive, and patriotic.”

Oran Follett was one of the men on the platform along with the Decoration Day speakers in 1870. You can tour his former home in Sandusky, now the Follett House Museum, and see a variety of photographs and artifacts from Sandusky and Erie County.