The 100th Anniversary of the Incorporation of the City of Sandusky

From August 24 through 29, 1924, Sandusky celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of the Incorporation of the City of Sandusky. An open air religious service kicked off the festivities. The service was held at the Courthouse Square, and everyone was invited, regardless of religious affiliation. A mass choir, accompanied by Ackley’s Band, sang sacred music. At midnight a cannon was fired in Washington Park. Local residents and visitors were asked to sign the registration book in a log cabin in Washington Park.

The Sandusky Register published lists of the names of out of town visitors to the celebration throughout the week. On Monday, August 25, the Sandusky High School athletic grounds hosted a historic pageant produced by Lew J. Griffith and George J. Lehrer. Noted theatrical manager Daniel Frohman attended the pageant, and stated that “The pageant was a remarkable, gorgeous and edifying achievement. I enjoyed every moment of my stay and the centennial of my home town will always be a cherished memory.”

On Wednesday, August 27, a large parade was held at 2:30 p.m. as a major feature of the Centennial. Civic, fraternal, patriotic, and businesses all participated. Public buildings were closed at 1 p.m., and most retail merchants closed early. Various segments of the parade met at several different formation points, and then traveled down Jackson Street and on to downtown Sandusky.

Here is a view of the parade traveling south on Columbus Avenue. Holzaepfel’s Sporting Goods and the Interurban Station can be seen on the west side of Columbus Avenue.

Many women’s organizations participated in the parade.

Several Sandusky policemen, city officials, Dan Frohman, Ackley’s Band, and a host of uniformed groups participated in the parade. There were over 170 vehicle entries.

On Friday afternoon a “Kiddies Karnival” was held for children between the ages of 2 and 12. Over 1,000 ice cream cones were distributed at the carnival, and prized awarded in a variety of categories, including decorated bicycles, costumes, and dolls. Out of town guests were invited on an automobile tour of the city with automobiles provided by the Erie County Automobile Club. The tour visited places of historical, civic, and industrial interest throughout the city of Sandusky.

To read more about the 100th Anniversary of the Incorporation of the City of Sandusky, see the historical sketch and official souvenir program, located with the genealogical books in the Reference Services area of the Sandusky Library.

The Historical Pageant of Sandusky and Erie County

On June 28 and 29, 1933, the Camp Fire Girls presented “The Historical Pageant of Sandusky and Erie County” at Esmond Field near the corner of Columbus and Perkins Avenues. The pageant was a John B. Rogers Production, and was directed by Hazel Anderson. Music was provided by Ackley’s Band, with Bruce Clarks at the piano. The general chairman of the event was Earl Krueger. The cast was made up of hundreds of area adults and children.

The pageant began with Janet Munce, queen of the pageant, appearing with “Miss Columbia” and several attendants who represented the Camp Fire Laws: Beauty Trust, Work, Knowledge, Health, Service, Happiness and the Spirit of Camp Fire. Beginning with the dawn of civilization, the pageant proceeded to re-enactments of several key events in the history of Sandusky and Erie County. Included were: early Native American camp life, settlers of Sandusky, circuit riders, the cholera epidemic of 1849, early education in Sandusky, the Underground Railway, the Civil War, and a wedding celebration and ball. At the end of the pageant was a mammoth spectacle which symbolized the Spirit of Camp Fire, in which the cast members were dressed in the costumes of several different nationalities.

An article in the June 29, 1933 issue of the Sandusky Register reported that the early history of the area was well portrayed in the Camp Fire Girls pageant. A wagon which had actually been used to transport the dead bodies during the 1849 cholera epidemic was used in the scene which portrayed that event. The wagon was owned by Lee B. Keller, who played the role of Father Time. The article pointed out that many items of clothing used in the pageant were heirloom garments from ancestors of current area residents. A cow was seen in the wagon train scene, and dog who sat by his master in the wagon scene, added to the authenticity of the pageant. The pageant committee thanked these individuals who provided historical background information for the production: Mrs. Marjorie Loomis Cherry, Mrs. George Doerzbach, Miss Jessie Wilcox, Hewson L. Peeke, and James Ryan. The book History of Erie County, Ohio, edited by Lewis Cass Aldrich, was also consulted when the committee was researching the history of Sandusky and Erie County.

Visit the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center to view the program from the Historical Pageant of Sandusky and Erie County put on by the Camp Fire Girls in 1933. If anyone has photographs from this event, please contact us so that we may possibly scan the items to include in our historical collections.