Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Greenfelder, Jr.

Jacob Greenfelder, Jr. was born in Sandusky, Ohio in 1851, shortly after his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Greenfelder, Sr., emigrated from Bavaria to the United States. Jacob, Jr. worked for many years as a traveling sales agent for the Kuebeler Brewery (pictured below). He was a charter member of the Western Reserve Lodge No. 128, Knights of Pythias.

In 1874 Jacob Greenfelder,Jr. married Henrietta Lange, the daugher of well known Sandusky druggist, F.R. Lange. Dr. Ernst von Schulenberg was the officiating minister.

Henrietta Lange, often known as “Aunt Hattie,” was born in Sandusky in 1854, to F.R. and Emilie Lange. Henrietta’s mother died when she was young.

In the early 1890s, Henrietta Lange Greenfelder and Mrs. William Altstaetter co-founded the German Ladies’ Sewing Circle, later known as the United Ladies’ Sewing Circle. The ladies met weekly. Members sewed bedding for local hospitals, and made charitable contributions for those in need in the community, especially women and children. Though she had moved to Cincinnati by 1916, Mrs. Greenfelder came back to Sandusky when the United Ladies’ Sewing Circle celebrated their twenty-fifth anniversary. An article in the January 26, 1916 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal reported that “many burdens have been lightened and hearts made glad” by the work and thoughtfulness of the members of the United Ladies’ Sewing Circle. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Greenfelder, Jr. moved to Cincinnati in 1897, where the both died in 1925; they were buried in Spring Grove Cemetery. Many friends and family still living in Sandusky mourned their loss.

The Lea Block, on Market Street

Located at the southwest corner of Market and Wayne Streets in Sandusky, Ohio, the Lea Block was built in 1895, at what is now 174 to 186 East Market Street.  It was named for its first owner, James D. Lea, a prominent Sandusky business man. The three story brick structure was built in the Second Romanesque Revival style of architecture, and features rounded windows and corbeled brick trim.

There is ornamentation both above and below the fire escape on the side of the building that faces Wayne Street.

The first floor of the Lea Block has been home to number of different businesses through the years. In the early 1900s, the top floor was used as an Armory. Mr. F.X. Rinderle operated his tailoring shop in the ground floor in 1900. (Note: Before the street numbers changed in 1915, the Lea Block was in the 600 block of Market Street.)

From about 1917 to 1919, the Wendt Economy Grocery was in business in the Lea Block.

Wrestling matches were held on the upper level of the building in the early 1920s. In 1928 the Lea Block was purchased by the Knight of Pythias, for use by the lodge for meetings, dances and parties. In 1936 the Knights of Pythias occupied the third floor; the second floor was home to the Oheb Shalom Jewish congregation and the Progressive Spiritual Church; and on the first floor were a music teacher, dental office, insurance agent, and two dress makers. In more recent years, the ground level of the building has been occupied by jewelry and floral shops, a finance company, a novelty business, home decorating store, and even a metaphysical shop. 

Read Ellie Damm’s book, Treasure by the Bay, available at Sandusky Library, to learn more about the historic architecture of Sandusky, Ohio.

Pythian Sisters

While we do not have details about the place or people associated with the Pythian Sisters riding in the float in the picture above, it is estimated that the picture was taken between 1910 and 1925. The streets are made of brick, and a horse drawn vehicle can be seen on the left side of the picture. It could have been for a patriotic parade during the First World War. 

The Pythian Sisters are an auxiliary group connected with the fraternal organization known as the Knights of Pythias. The mission of the Pythian Sisters is:

To bring together women of diverse backgrounds and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow through the principles of Purity, Love, Equality, and Fidelity.

Local Sandusky newspapers, available on microfilm at the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center, covered the activities of the Pythian Sisters on the Society Page. The ladies had dances and card parties, and raised money for charitable organizations. An article in the November 23, 1922 issue of the Sandusky Register reported that the “Sandusky Pythian Sisters’ degree team is one of the best in the state.” The degree team of the Pythian Sisters participated in ritualistic ceremonies associated with the Pythian Sisters.  In 1923, the Pythian Sisters held a fund raising activity with the proceeds going to the Sophie Huntington Home for Aged Pythian Sisters in Medina, Ohio. On October 27, 1931, the tenth annual convention of District No. 15, Pythian Sisters, was held in Sandusky. Over 300 people attended the convention. During the evening hours, the Sandusky Lodge, Knights of Pythias met with the Pythian Sisters. A play entitled “A Lesson in Friendship” was presented, along with musical selections.


Visit the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center to learn more about the past activities of the Club and Organizations of Sandusky and Erie County.

An Old Time Party

On February 2, 1910 the Garfield Company No. 13 of the Knights of Pythias Lodge had an “old time party” in Sandusky. In 1910 there were three Knights of Pythias Lodges which met in Sandusky. The Western Reserve Lodge No. 128 met on Thursday evenings. The Courtesy Lodge No. 252 met on Monday evenings, and the Garfield Co. No. 13 met on the first Wednesday of each month.

A history of the Knights of Pythias, a fraternal order that began in 1864, is found at the website of The Order of the Knights of Pythias.