Erney Tire Company

From about 1921 to 1931, the Erney Tire Company sold and serviced tires for automobile owners in the Sandusky area. Norbert G. Erney was the president and general manager.  In the early 1920s, the business was at 163-165 Jackson Street. In 1921, they sold Miller tires, especially for Ford cars. Staff from the company would deliver and install new tires to any automobile within a fifteen mile radius of the store. 

In April of 1927, the company moved to a new building at 919 West Washington Street. A special newspaper supplement devoted to the Erney Tire Company appeared in the April 8, 1927 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal.

Ackley’s Band provided music for the grand opening of “Sandusky’s Finest Automobile Service Station.” Services offered there included tires, road service, vulcanizing, tubes, washing, greasing, gasoline, oils, and brake service. By 1929, the company also sold and serviced radios for automobiles. It was felt that having a radio in one’s automobile helped prevent boredom on a long road trip, and provided a diversion from the roar of the motor and the rumble of the tires.

In 1931 the Erney Tire Company began selling Firestone tires and batteries. By the summer of 1931 a Firestone Service Store took over the business. Below is a portion of the large advertisement from the July 25, 1931 issue of the Sandusky Register.

Mr. Norbert G. Erney went on to work as an accountant at Farrell Cheek for several years, but he was long remembered for his excellent leadership and service at the Erney Tire Company when the automobile era was still in its infancy.

Automobile Show at Jackson Junior High School

Sandusky’s 15^th Annual Automobile Show was held at Jackson Junior High School on February 14, 15, and 16 in 1936. (The photo above is undated, but it was from the decade of the 1930s.) Details about the Auto Show in 1936 were featured in the Sandusky Register and Star Journal newspapers, now available on microfilm at the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center.  Thirty new cars were on display, and there was entertainment and door prizes each night of the show. Admission fee was fifteen cents. 

The new Chrysler automobiles in 1936 had several new features, including more passenger space, stronger body construction, and a new ventilating system.

Some of the models of cars on display from the Ogontz Garage are no longer made today.

Appliances were also on display at the Auto Show.

The Erney Family had two performances during the Auto Show.

Visit the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center to learn more about the history of Sandusky and Erie County, Ohio.

Employees of the Sandusky Demokrat

This picture from 1888 shows several employees of the Sandusky Demokrat in Sandusky, Ohio. The  Demokrat was a German language newspaper published for the many local residents who spoke German. The company also offered printing services in either the English or German language. 

From left to right in the picture are: Charles Ruemmele, John Erney, Otto Mielke, Albert Kolb and William F. Senn, who was the editor and publisher of the Demokrat in 1888. Peeking out from an upper story window is Philip Buerkle. The building was located at 742 Water Street in 1888, which was later 216 West Water Street. (This structure no longer stands.) You can see 742 Water Street in a portion of the 1886 Sanborn Map below. It was on the south side of Water, east of Jackson Street.

The Sandusky Demokrat was in business in Sandusky from 1856 to 1919. A front page article in the May 7, 1919 issue of the Sandusky Register reported that the Demokrat had become “a thing of the past.” At the time it ceased operations, it was considered Ohio’s oldest German language newspaper. The newspaper closed for a variety of reasons, many caused by pressures arising from anti-German sentiment that was prevalent throughout the United States due to the war in Europe.

You can read more about German language newspapers in Sandusky in a previous post at Sandusky History.

Cornerstone of St. Mary’s School Set in Place in 1909

On April 25, 1909, thousands of people attended the ceremony of the setting of the cornerstone for St. Mary’s School. The school was a three-story structure which included as basement and a large auditorium. The architect for the project was H.C. Millott, and the school was constructed by George Feick and Company. Bishop J.M. Koudelka came to Sandusky to dedicate the cornerstone as it was laid in place. St. Mary’s priest, Father J.S. Widmann was directly behind the group of men carrying the cornerstone in the picture above. As the cornerstone was set into place, the choir from St. Mary’s Catholic Church sang a musical selection.

Councilmen from St. Mary’s each tapped the new cornerstone with a mawl. The councilmen were: Dr. J.H. Herman, Edward Erney, Charles Westerhold, and Martin Ehner. After them, Father Widmann gave words of thanks on behalf of himself and the entire congregation.

Father Patrick O’Brien, from Toledo, gave an oration, but he had to cut it short due to threatening weather. Though rain fell, the audience gave Father O’Brien their complete attention. Ackley’s Band played as the people assembled sang a Catholic hymn at the conclusion of the ceremony. Articles about the cornerstone laying ceremony appeared in the April 25 and April 26, 1909 issues of the Sandusky Register. St. Mary’s School was dedicated on June 19, 1910.

Visit the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center to read more about the history of churches in Sandusky.

Knights of St. John Convention in Sandusky

The Knights of St. John, a Catholic fraternal organization, held their convention in Sandusky, Ohio from June 19-26, 1910. Special services were held at St. Mary’s church, while business sessions took place at Cedar Point. A Grand International Parade was held in downtown Sandusky on June 20 at 3 p.m.

The Knights of St. John wore military style uniforms.

Rev. John Cavanaugh, president of the University of Notre Dame gave an address at the Grand Banquet at Cedar Point on June 23. On Friday night, a grand military ball was held at the Coliseum at Cedar Point, with the Knights of St. John in full uniform.

The field and staff officers for the 1st Battalion, 5th District of Ohio, were all residents of Sandusky. William Busam served as Colonel; Emil Meyer was Senior Major; Joseph Meyer was Junior Major; Lieutenant Colonel was Carl F. Joerger; Anthony Joerger was Commissary; and Adjutant was Benjamin Erney. The Sandusky Commandery of the Knights of St. John, No. 49, had their photograph taken on the steps of the Sandusky Library.

Jazz Appreciation Month

April is Jazz Appreciation Month; March was Women's History Month. Here is a picture that combines the two occasions. They are the Harmonettes, an all-woman band that performed in Sandusky during the late 1920s. In the band were Florence and Thelma Brengartner, Dorothy Hartsook, LaVesta Muenchow, and Marcella and Hildegard Erney.

[Edited to add a missing name.]