The Bijou Restaurant after a Snowstorm

A large group of individuals are pictured above in front of the Bijou Restaurant on West Water Street, next to the West House Hotel (where the back of the State Theatre is today) in downtown Sandusky in 1910 or 1911. The huge mound of snow behind the men (with an interesting statue on top) indicates that Sandusky must have recently had a large snowfall. An obituary for Charles W. Herzog, which appeared in the 1950 Obituary Notebook at the Sandusky Library, stated that Mr. Herzog operated the Bijou Restaurant and Café from 1908 until 1916. 

A woman and child can be seen in an upper floor window, just to the right of the restaurant sign. Could that be Mrs. Herzog and their daughter? Probably. A little genealogical research lets us come to that conclusion: According to the 1912 city directory, the Herzog family residence was at the same address as the business. Searching for Mr. Herzog in Ancestry.com, we find a record for the 1930 census that shows that Charles & Suzanna Herzog had a 22-year-old daughter named Mildred, as well as a 10-year old son Charles and a 3-year old daughter Rosemary. We know that the two youngest were not around yet in 1911, but with a little math we know that Mildred was born around 1908 or 1909. So, seeing the child in the photo who looks around 2 or 3 years old, it might be reasonable to assume that the people in the window are Suzanna Herzog and her daughter Mildred. Isn't genealogy fun?!

Keep the Sidewalks Clear of Snow! (That is, if we ever get any this year)

On February 1, 1881, the following proclamation was made by Sandusky Mayor Rush R. Sloane.

Mayor’s Proclamation

To whom it may concern

Mayor’s Office

Sandusky, O. February 1^st, 1881

Whereas, it is by ordinance of said city ordained

“That it shall be unlawful for the owner or occupant of any premises in the city of Sandusky, or the owner or agent of any occupied premises in said city, to allow any snow or ice to remain upon any stone, brick or plank sidewalk abutting on his or her premises, for more than twenty four hours after the same shall have fallen or accumulated on said sidewalk.”

And any person violating said ordinance is liable to prosecution before the Mayor upon complaint of the City Commissioner of Streets and upon conviction shall be fined from one to twenty five dollars and shall be imprisoned until the fine and costs are paid.

It is also made the duty of the Commissioner to clean all sidewalks not cleaned by the owner or occupant and to report the names of the occupants on the premises thus cleaned that they may be proceeded against as required by said ordinance.

I hereby give notice that said ordinance will be duly enforced.

Witness my hand and seal this 1^st day of February A.D. 1881

RUSH R. SLOANE, Mayor

The Mayor’s proclamation appeared in the Sandusky Register of February 5, 1881. It appears that someone in the city of Sandusky was not clearing off  their sidewalks in a timely manner. Mayor Sloane wanted to inform all the citizens of Sandusky that this ordinance was to be diligently enforced. Anyone who has spent the winter in Sandusky knows that the snowfall can be quite heavy and frequent. Below is just one example of how snowy the city can become. In 1913, the snow was piled high along West Water Street, in front of George Rinkleff’s hardware store.

Sandusky Bay Bridge Snowbound in 1936

An Associated Press article which appeared on the front page of the January 24, 1936 issue of the Sandusky Register reported that Ohio had been hit with the most intense cold wave in half a century on January 23, 1936. Eighteen deaths related to the cold were caused by exposure, heart attacks, fire. An Ohio couple from Springfield died from carbon monoxide poisoning, as they attempted to keep warm with a gas stove that was improperly ventilated.

Snow drifts of 14 -15 feet closed the Sandusky Bay Bridge to all traffic. Here, several individuals are shoveling through the massive snow drifts:

A bulldozer is used to clear the snowbound bridge:

Ice fishing shanties can be seen in the distance in the image below:

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.