Early settlers along the southern shore of Lake Erie as well as in the Lake Erie Islands area noticed that there was a similarity in the weather and soil conditions in this area similar to the grape growing regions of Europe. Growing grapes and making wine soon became a profitable business.
Several Sandusky wineries were featured in the 1888 publication, Sandusky of To-Day, including Engels & Krudwig, Sandusky Wine Cellars, John G. Dorn, Link’s Wine Cellars, Moos’ Pure Ohio Wine Cellars, and M. Hommel. Hommel’s prize winning champagnes won awards at the St. Louis Exposition, the World’s Columbian Exposition, and the Pan-American Exposition.
The 1898 Sandusky City Directory had nineteen listings for wine wholesalers, as well as four businesses that sold wines and liquors. Two companies, the Sandusky Machine & Agricultural Works and the Klotz & Kromer Machine Co., manufactured presses for making wine and cider.
The Duroy & Haines Company was located on Columbus Avenue near Boalt Street, from about 1890 to 1915.
The sign for Dorn’s Fine Ohio Wines could be seen on Water Street in downtown Sandusky for many years.
The Steuk winery was located at the southwest corner of Market and Decatur Streets in the late 1800’s. Steuk’s winery was begun by William Steuk, and continued by Edward L .Steuk. Later, during Prohibition, Steuk’s turned to planting apple orchards, and the making of apple cider.
Visit the Sandusky Library to learn more about early businesses in Sandusky and Erie County. In the business collections of the Sandusky Library Archive Research Center is a journal article from the Spring 1981 issue of Northwest Ohio Quarterly contains an article by John F. Polacsek. The article, entitled “Pop-Pop – Fizz Fizz: A Glimpse at the Northwest Ohio Industry in Years Gone By,” discusses the history wine making in northwest Ohio. Inquire at the Reference Services desk for assistance.
