The Graham Block

 

The image above is from an 1894 publication, Art Work of Huron and Erie Counties. According to volume 11 of the Firelands Pioneer, John A. Graham had the Graham Block built in the late 1870s. He was also known for having established the first drug store in Sandusky, on the corner of Columbus Avenue and Water Street, where Daly’s Pub is now located. 

Stores on the street level in the picture above are George Knopf and Sons, a men’s store; the Quinn and Whitworth grocery store; and Henry Dehnel’s jewelry store. To the south of the Graham Block was the Sloane House hotel (slightly visible on the left), and the old Post Office was to the north (at the corner of Columbus and Market). An advertisement for diamonds at the Dehnel store appears on the side of the building. The Graham Block was in the 200 block of Columbus Avenue. 

In the image below, from 1949, you can see the Graham Block as a sign was being placed on the new Lasalle’s store. Byer Brothers and the Caryl Crane store are on the lower level of the Graham Building. Further down the block are J.C. Penney, Montgomery Ward, and Gray’s Drug Store.

Today the property where the Graham Block once stood is occupied by the Erie County Building and parking garage. This block in downtown Sandusky continues to play a vital role in the lives of the residents of Sandusky and Erie County, Ohio.

Installing the Sign for Lasalle's

Pictured above is a scene from 1949, when workers were placing the new sign for the Lasalle’s store in place. A crane was parked on Columbus Avenue, and a worker was high atop the Lasalle’s store, which had not yet opened.

In this closer view, you can see the Byer Brothers store, Caryl Crane, and the J.C. Penney Company, all in business on Sandusky’s Columbus Avenue in 1949.

Further down the block were the Montgomery Ward store and Gray Drugs.

An article in the March 30, 1949 issue of the Sandusky Register Star News stated that construction of the Lasalle’s store was ahead of schedule. The new store opened on October 28, 1949, right before the busy holiday season. Many of our parents and grandparents shopped in this block of Sandusky in the late 1940s.

Lasalle’s Store

In time for the busy holiday shopping season of 1949, the Lasalle and Koch Company opened a Lasalle’s department store in downtown Sandusky at 247 Columbus Avenue. This location had previously been the site of the Sloane House, and now is an Erie County office building. Rev. Rush R. Sloane spoke at the opening ceremonies held on October 28, 1949. The Sandusky High School band, under the direction of B.F. Aldrich provided music for the event. Mayor Kahler cut the ribbon across the main entrance to the new Lasalle’s store. The store featured four floors of merchandise. The outside walls were made of light brick, and the front of Indiana limestone. Glass windows across the entire front and side of the store created a huge show window.

Lasalle’s sold clothing for every member of the family, along with home furnishings, shoes, appliances, and furniture. A snack bar in the basement provided lunch for employees as well as shoppers. A beauty shop was located on the third floor of Lasalle’s. When shoppers rode the elevator, an elevator operator assisted you in getting to the upper floors of Lasalle’s.

Pictured below are the first Sandusky sales managers for the Lasalle’s store in Sandusky. Lasalle’s provided jobs for many area residents through the years.

The Lasalle’s store served Sandusky area customers until 1981. Do you have any memories of shopping at the Lasalle’s in downtown Sandusky?

Thanksgiving Weekend Snowstorm in 1958

Bob Frank took this photograph in November, 1958 in downtown Sandusky. Columbus Avenue businesses in the picture include: LaSalle’s, Marsh Shoes, J.C. Penney, Gray Drugs, Holzaepfel Brothers, and Burns & Gove Jewelers.

The November 29, 1958 issue of the Sandusky Register reported that a major snowstorm paralyzed traffic throughout the Midwest, and knocked out power lines in three states. Gale force winds downed trees and power lines, and at least 226 individuals had been killed throughout the United States since the beginning of the holiday weekend, which had begun the previous Wednesday. Snow began falling early Friday morning, and continued for twenty-four hours.

Former longtime Hinde and Dauch Paper Co. employee, Roland Sloat, suffered a fatal heart attack after shoveling snow. The Bay Bridge post of Ohio State Patrol reported six accidents on Erie County highways on Friday night, with three of them resulting in injuries. Columbus, Ohio police said that minor accidents were being reported every six minutes.

Below is another photograph of Sandusky during the 1958 snowstorm, taken by Bob Frank. Mr. Frank was looking south from West Adams Street. The office of Dr. J. D. Parker is seen just east of the Erie County jail. Both these properties are now part of the Sandusky Library.