Robert W. Traver, Former Chief of Police

Robert W. Traver died at the age of 57, but he lived a long life, filled with service to his country and local community. A lifelong resident of Sandusky, he joined the Sandusky Police Department in 1937, serving with the department for thirty years. He was promoted to sergeant on January 16, 1946 and  captain in 1952. On October 17, 1962 he was appointed Chief of Police, and served in that position until his retirement in 1967. 

In addition to his police career, Mr. Traver had substantial military service. He was in U.S. Army intelligence, taking leave from the Sandusky Police Department during World War II and the Korean War. 

In 1971, Mr. Traver was elected to the Sandusky City Commission. At the time of his death on December 20, 1972, he was Ex-Officio Mayor of Sandusky. Additionally, Mr. Traver had served on the board of directors of Providence Hospital, and was a member of the Amvets and the Fraternal Order of Police. For a time, he also was vice president in charge of personnel at Mr. Wiggs department store. 

Robert W. Traver was survived by his wife, the former Louise McGeachie, four sisters, two brothers, and a niece. Funeral services for Mr. Traver were held at the Frey Funeral Home, and burial was at Oakland Cemetery. A lengthy article in the December 21, 1972 issue of the Sandusky Register highlighted his distinguished career, and included several tributes from his colleagues.

The Army dress uniform once worn by Robert W. Traver is now in the collections of the Follett House Museum.

Floyd Churchwell, First African American Police Officer in Sandusky

 

Born in Tennessee in 1930, Floyd Churchwell moved to Sandusky as a teen, graduating from Sandusky High School in 1947. After having served in the Korean War, he was appointed to the Sandusky Police Department in 1956 as its first African American officer.

By 1965, Officer Churchwell was promoted to Sergeant; he achieved the rank of Captain two years later, on August 16, 1967.

In 1979, Captain Churchwell was appointed to be the Sandusky Police Department's community relations and court officer. 

Sadly, Captain Churchwell died suddenly on October 8, 1980, but he has left a continuing legacy of service to the community. During his brief lifetime, he served in many roles, including as trustee of Ebenezer Baptist Church, a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, past master of Progress Lodge 85, and several others. Sandusky's Churchwell Park is named in his honor, and the Floyd Churchwell Court #8, Most Ancient Prince Hall Grand Court, Heroines of Jericho, was constituted in Sandusky in 1988. 

A Glimpse into the Life of the Samuel Beach Family

Samuel F. Beach and his wife, the former Harriet Jakes, were married in Erie County, Ohio in June of 1900. According to city directories, from about 1906 to 1921, they resided at 1311 Shelby Street.

Mr. and Mrs. Beach’s only child, Ruth Imogene Beach, was born on February 14, 1902. Ruth is pictured below when she was about three or four years old.

For most of his life, Samuel F. Beach was employed as a carpenter, working for many years for George Feick, but in 1915 and 1916, Sam Beach worked as a patrolman for the Sandusky Police Department.

Ruth Beach worked at the Citizens Banking Company for over forty years, retiring in 1964. This photograph of Ruth standing next to an automobile was taken when she was a young woman.

Samuel Beach passed away in 1939 and his wife Harriet died in 1948. Ruth Beach lived to be 73 years old, passing away in 1975. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Beach and their daughter Ruth are all buried at Oakland Cemetery. Several photographs from the Beach family were donated to the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center, allowing us the opportunity to learn more about the life of a local family in our community. If you have old family photographs, you too can learn more details about your family by looking at vital records, city directories, and genealogical databases, such as Ancestry Library Edition, Heritage Quest, and FamilySearch. Visit the Sandusky Library to get started on your family history research.

Sandusky Police Department Vehicles from the 1920s and 1930s

Officer Chris Sehlmeyer of the Sandusky Police Department is pictured above at the seat of a new police emergency vehicle. It appears that the car is on an assembly line or testing facility. (We don't know the details.) Note the spare tire, located right on the outside of the car door. 

In 1931, Chris stood in front of another new police vehicle.

   

Christian J. Sehlmeyer held many positions with the Sandusky Police Department, where he worked from the 1920s through 1944. He was a traffic officer, detective, and achieved the rank of Sergeant. He died on May 22, 1971, and he was survived by his wife, three sons, and five grandchildren. Below is a group photograph of members of the Sandusky Police Department in 1937. Sergeant Sehlmeyer is in uniform near the center of the front row.

   

Notes on the original picture identify each person.

To learn more about the past members of the Sandusky Police Department, you can view the historical roster at the city of Sandusky’s website.

City Marshall George Washington Gilbert

                  

These badges were once worn by Sandusky’s City Marshal, George Washington Gilbert. They are now in the historical collections of the Follett House Museum. George W. Gilbert served as Marshal in 1895 and 1896. His office was on the second floor of the city’s central fire and police station, seen here in 1901, at the time of President William McKinley’s death.

According to a Sandusky Register article written by Helen Hansen on June 18, 1989, in about 1904 the title of city marshal was changed to police chief, when Charles Weingates held that position. 

From 1887 to 1900, George W. Gilbert served on the City Council. For many years Mr. Gilbert also worked as a fisherman. He died on April 25, 1926, at the age of 79, survived by four sons and four daughters. His obituary in the Sandusky Register of April 27, 1926 stated that he had been one of Sandusky’s best known residents.

When Sandusky’s City Building was on Market Street

The building which began as Sandusky's Central Police and Fire Station building in 1890 served as Sandusky's City Building from 1915 until 1958. Local photographer Robert E. Frank took several pictures of the former City Building before it was razed in 1958. In the picture below, several businesses along West Market Street are visible, including Gray Drugs, Weber's Men's Wear, and Herman's Jewelers.

In a closer view, you can see the words "City Building" above the large doors on the street level. The lower level of the building originally housed horse-drawn vehicles for the city’s police and fire departments.

You can see the old city building in this picture postcard, which was taken from West Market Street looking east.

An image of Sandusky's former city building graces the cover of the Old House Guild's Downtown Architectural Walking Tour of Sandusky. 

Sandusky Police in 1915

In this picture from about 1915, Sandusky police officers are lined up across Columbus Avenue for a parade. Pictured above are: Sam Beach, Otto Rudolph, Officer Curtis, Leo Schiefley, John Molz, Henry Scherer, August David, John Rimidy, Sam Black, Joseph Schlitt, John B. Taylor, Dan Loveland, John Hobert, Adam Zimmerman, Andrew Polta, Melville White, Conrad Hobert, Henry Ringholz, George Dean, Jay Perry, Peter Herb, Al Tremper, John Bauer, George Leitz, and John DeMuth.


This portrait image of Samuel Beach allows a clearer view of the police uniform of that era.

Sandusky policemen are pictured below in an unidentified parade. The streetcar rails are clearly visible, and a marching band is behind the group of policemen. A little boy wearing a hat and knickers appears to be very interested in the parade.

Sandusky’s Central Fire and Police Station, 1890

In 1888, Sandusky’s leaders saw the need for a new building to house the city’s police and fire departments. Following a “series of complications” the contract for the new building was awarded to A. Feick and Bros. The new Central Police and Fire Station was built of native blue limestone, and trimmed in Michigan red sandstone. It had a frontage of 81 feet, and a depth of 120 feet. The main tower was 94 feet high. The building was on the south side of Market Street, between Columbus Avenue and Jackson Streets, just a few doors down from the U.S. Post Office and Customs House.

On October 9, 1890, the new building was opened for inspection. The October 10, 1890 Sandusky Register front page article reported that at the inspection, “the firemen and police patrolmen were attired in their best uniforms and wore their happiest smiles.”

The large new structure was divided into two sections, one for the police department and the other for the fire department. It included space for storing the police patrol wagon and the fire department equipment. Offices for the city marshal and captain of the police were on the second floor. There were enough prison cells for sixteen males and four females. In the basement of the building was a department known as the "tramps' reception room." The Central Police and Fire Station also had offices for the city electrician and the mayor's court. The fireman's chamber was spacious enough to hold thirteen beds and thee sliding poles. Food for the horses necessary for the horse-drawn vehicles was stored in the hay loft. On the third floor was a large hall to be used for holding large public gatherings.

Steam heated the new building, and there was lighting by both gas and electricity. Furniture for the new Police and Fire Stations was provided by J. Krupp & Son, Kugler & Marquart, and Deck & Andres, all local firms. Carpets, linoleums and mattings were purchased from John J. and George A. Esch. The article in the Sandusky Register continues with brief biographies of several Sandusky firemen and policemen, and gives further details about the contractors of the new building.

Below is a photograph of the Central Police and Fire Station in 1901. The building is draped with flags and mourning ribbons following the death of President McKinley who died on September 14, 1901. Several firemen and policeman can be seen outside the station. A. Steffenhagen’s saloon is to the east of the Central Police and Fire Station.

The building which began as the Central Police and Fire Station building in 1890 went on to serve as the City Building from 1915 until 1958. The new City Building on Meigs Street was dedicated in May, 1958.