Happy Halloween!

Several Sandusky residents attended a costume party in the first quarter of the twentieth century. Clowns, waiters, and chefs are among the costumed guests and a variety of festive hats and balloons can be seen in the picture postcard.

First row, August Kuebeler, Mrs. Russell Ramsey, Mrs. John Mack, Mrs. R.M. Taylor, Mrs. Clifford King, Mrs. Ira Krupp, Clifford King, Mrs. Merritt Wilcox

Second row: Mrs. Phil Beery, Phil Beery, Mrs. August Kuebeler, Mrs. Watson Butler, George Beis, Watson Butler, Curtis Brewer, William Kerber, Mrs. Thomas Sloane, Herbert Textor, Fred Harten, Harry Dunn, Carey Hord, Mrs. Curtis Brewer, Merritt Wilcox, Ira Krupp

Top row: Mrs. Brown, Mrs. George Feick, George Feick, Doris Marquart, Mrs. Percy Staples, Natalie Marquart, Gladys Rife, Homer Neill, Mrs. John Britton, Mrs. Harry Dunn and Mary Vietmeier

 

Washington Ball in 1830

Miss Florence Victor donated an invitation to the Washington Ball held on February 22, 1830, to the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center. Florence’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Victor, invited several individuals to the celebration, which was held in honor of George Washington’s birthday. The event was held at Obadiah Jenney’s Assembly Room in Norwalk, Ohio. Managers of the Washington Ball were: W.F. Kittredge, F.F. Hamilton, G.A. Boalt, B. Carkhuff, and D.A. Baker.

The back of the invitation indicates that Mr. Henry Victor did attend the Washington Ball.

Obadiah Jenney was an early hotel proprietor in Norwalk, Ohio, while Henry Victor operated a hotel in Sandusky in the 1820s. The son of Henry and Gertrude Victor, Orville J. Victor was an associate editor of the Sandusky Daily Register from 1851 to 1856. Orville J. Victor also wrote a four volume set of books entitled The Civil, Political and Military History of the Southern Rebellion, which is housed in the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center.

St. Patrick's Day Party in 1911

 

The postcard above was a party invitation sent to the students of William S. Heslet. The St. Patrick’s Day party was held at the Economy Hall in Clyde, Ohio on March 17, 1911, and was given for students and their guests. Ackley’s Band provided the music, which included Irish and American selections.

 

“Professor” William S. Heslet conducted a private dancing academy in Sandusky from about 1897 through1921. During the 1898-1899 season, Professor Heslet gave classes on the third floor of the Lea Block, but by 1908, he had moved the dancing academy to the Cable Block, at the northeast corner of Market and Jackson Streets. Some of the dances taught at the Heslet Academy were the waltz, two-step, square dance, and the cake walk. An article in the September 23, 1921 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal reported that Mr. Heslet was moving to Detroit, Michigan, where he was to become the dance manager at the Bob-Lo resort. The article went on  to state that news of Mr. Heslet’s leaving brought regrets to hundreds of Sandusky residents who had been students of the veteran dance master.

Happy Leap Year!

As you know, 2008 is a leap year, when we have an extra day on the calendar, February 29. Some also recognize these years as a time for certain quadrennial events, such as the Olympics and the presidential campaign season. (Although nowadays the campaigns seem to not just occur every four years, but to last for four years.)

In the nineteenth century, in particular, it was also the time for Leap Year Parties. Here is a scene from a Leap Year Party held in Sandusky 142 years ago, on Friday, January 21, 1876. Unfortunately, we do not have much detail on the party itself. The photograph was donated to the library in 1928 by Fred Woolsey, who is seated at the left in the picture. He went on to become the owner of the Woolsey Wheel Company in Sandusky. The other men are: Charles Mills, Albert Rosenbaum, Charles Johnson, Dr. Gibson, Sam Ferris, and D.W.C. Brown, Jr. Why these men are wearing ribbons and handkerchiefs fastened to their clothes is unclear, but it might have something to do with a leap year tradition. . . .

Legend holds that on leap year days (some say the entire leap year), it was socially acceptable for women to propose marriage to men; any other time of the year, etiquette and custom dictated that only men were allowed to propose marriage. Also, it became a tradition to have Leap Year parties, where the women invited the men to be their dates and dance partners, and were in charge of the festivities. (Some claim that that is where the idea for Sadie Hawkins dances came from.) We can only speculate, but perhaps the handkerchiefs and ribbons symbolize the men's position as secondary to the women on that day. Any thoughts?