Double Stone House on West Market Street

According to the book, At Home in Early Sandusky, by Helen Hansen, this double stone house, which no longer stands, was built at what is now the 400 block of West Market Street by Leonard B. Johnson (of Johnson's Island) in 1846. William A. Simpson bought the property in 1848. In 1866, Rev. J. George Lehrer owned the west half of the house, and Julius Robrahn owned the right side. Until 1960, this property had several different residents. In the 1920 U.S. Census, sisters Mary and Amelia Maul lived in one half of the house, where they both worked as dressmakers. 

In 1960 the double stone house was razed, for use as a parking lot. This link to Google Maps shows what the space looked like in the fall of 2013. See At Home in Early Sandusky to learn more about houses in Sandusky, some still standing. This book is available at the Sandusky Library in the Reference Services area of the Sandusky Library, or you may buy it for $1.00 at the check-out desk at the library. 

J. Rickers Mattresses and Upholstering

According to the 1880 U.S. Census, John Rickers was born about 1854 in Schleswig, Germany. By 1878, he and his family were residing in Sandusky, Ohio, where Mr. Rickers ran an upholstery business. He also manufactured and sold mattresses. In the picture above, the side of the building advertised corn husks for sale. Corn husks were traditionally used in furniture cushions and mattresses, so perhaps Mr. Rickers sold the excess husks if he purchased too many from area farmers.

In 1880, the Rickers family consisted of John Rickers, age 26, his wife Lizzie, age 22, and two infant sons, Albert and Oscar. Mrs. Rickers, the former Elizabeth Maul, gave birth to a daughter Verna in 1880. The Rickers upholstering business was at various locations, including 141 Columbus Avenue, 730 Water Street, and at the southeast corner of Reese and Franklin Streets. Mr. John Rickers died on February 1, 1895. His funeral took place at the family residence on Franklin Street on March 3, 1895. Friends and relatives came from Norwalk, Oak Harbor, Chicago, and Philadelphia, to pay their respects. Rev. C.A. Vincent, pastor of the First Congregational Church officiated at the funeral, and several vocal selections were sung by a quartet. Members of the local Odd Fellows Lodge closed the graveside services, held at Oakland Cemetery. Mr. John Rickers was survived by his wife and three children. For a few years, Mrs. Lizzie Rickers ran the upholstering business, but eventually it was taken over by John Rickers’ son Oscar. The final location of the upholstery business operated by Oscar Rickers was 604 West Market Street. Oscar Rickers died in 1943.