Ernestine Weier Waldock

Ernestine Weier, sometimes known as Helen Ernestine Weier, was born in Sandusky in 1900, to Henry Weier and his wife, the former Elizabeth Py. She was a 1917 graduate of Sandusky High School. Ernestine began her studies at Lake Erie College in Painesville in 1917. While at Lake Erie College, she was an outstanding athlete on the women’s track team. An article from the Sandusky Register of May 18, 1919 reported that she claimed a school record by hurling the discus 48 feet, 7 ½ inches.

Ernestine graduated from Lake Erie College in June of 1921 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Sadly, in March of 1925, Ernestine’s uncle John Weier and her father Henry Weier, both died. The brothers had both ran the Weier Brothers salvage yard, which had been a successful business in Sandusky. In September of 1925, Ernestine Weier married William Leonard Waldock at the First Reformed Church. The article about the Weier-Waldock wedding indicated that “Because of the recent bereavements in the Weier family, the wedding was marked by simplicity of detail.”

Mrs. Ernestine Weier Waldock died in 1962 at the age of 62. Her final resting place is the Weier family mausoleum at Sandusky’s Oakland Cemetery.

Rudy Vallee Turned Down an Opportunity to Appear in Sandusky in January 1933

In December of 1932, J. Leroy Weier of the Lake Shore Tire Company, asked musical star Rudy Vallee to consider appearing at the opening of a new building in Sandusky. A reasonable search did not turn up exactly which building or business was opening in Sandusky in the winter of 1932-1933, but Mr. Weier had several local business interests at that time, including the Lake Shore Tire Company and the Weier Brothers salvage yard. It seems that the famous entertainer was going to be in Cleveland, Ohio for the Automobile Show in January of 1933. Mr. Weier had hoped that Rudy Vallee could appear in Sandusky, during the same week as the Auto Show. It turns out that Mr. Vallee had to return promptly to New York City for the radio broadcast sponsored by the Fleischman Yeast Company.  Though Mr. Vallee seemed optimistic that he may be able to appear in Sandusky at a later time, it does not seem that he ever made it here.

During the 1920s and 1930s, radios were sold at the Lake Shore Tire Company. In the historical business files of the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center is an undated promotional item that was given away by the Lake Shore Tire Company. Inside the small notebook were pages on which a person could jot down the call letters, city, and state of radio programs, and make notes about those programs.

In the 1920s and 1930s, the Lake Shore Tire Company stocked a variety of radio accessories, including tubes, condensers, batteries, condensers, speakers and sockets.

Osborne (Seventh Ward) School

According to the book Treasure by the Bay, by Ellie Damm, the Seventh Ward School in Sandusky was built in the Romanesque Revival style by George Feick in 1890. Many of the students who attended this school were the children of railroad workers, as the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway depot was not far from this school. In 1908 the school was enlarged, with an addition that doubled its size. In the fall of 1912, the name of the Seventh Ward School was changed to Osborne School. 

Pictured below are several teachers from Osborne School about 1912.

Though not everyone in the picture has been identified, notes with the original picture state that these individuals are included in the photo: Emma Schleicher, Myrtle Coles, Edna Becker, Hattie Ehrhard, principal Winifred Light, Stella Horn, Lucy Day and Marie Weier. Miss Winifred Light was principal of Osborne School for twenty nine years. 

Visit the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center to read more about the history of schools in Sandusky.

Weier Brothers Company

John and Henry Weier started a salvage business in the early 1880s at 922 Hancock Street. After the street numbers changed in 1915, the Weier Brothers Company’s address changed to 1024 Hancock Street. The brothers came to the United States in 1843 from Baden, Germany. The business started small, but grew to become a profitable establishment. The scrap yard dealt in waste materials of all kinds, but it specialized in steel and other ferrous scrap. The January 25, 1908 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal ran this advertisement from the Weier Brothers, in which the brothers encouraged local farmers to sell their scrap materials to their company.

The business was located close to the railroad tracks, which expedited shipping and receiving of materials.

In March, 1925, both John and Henry Weier died. The business was passed down to John Weier’s son J. Leroy Weier, who continued the family business until shortly before his death in 1971. During World War II, the Weier Brothers Company advertised for patriotic workers who could work in the scrap iron trade. Materials from Weier Brothers was sold to industries involved in making goods to contribute to the war effort.

After the deaths of J. Leroy and Laura Weier, money from their estate was bequeathed to several charities.  The $600,000 was distributed to three area hospitals, the Firelands Council of Boy Scouts, Firelands Council of Camp Fire Girls, and the Sandusky Y.M.C.A. What started as a small business founded by two German immigrants, became a vital business in Sandusky. The Weier Brothers Company employed hundreds of local residents through its many years of operation, and after the company ceased operations, the local community benefited from the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. J. Leroy Weier. 

Lake Shore Tire Company

The Lake Shore Tire Company operated in Sandusky, Ohio from about 1915 to 1931 on the 1000 block of Hancock Street.  The business was run by Fred Brobst and J. Leroy Weier. The company started out selling tires for trucks and automobiles, but by 1927 the Lake Shore Tire Company was listed in the Sandusky city directory as a sporting goods store. In the mid 1920s, the Lake Shore Tire Company sold radios and radio accessories. This ad from the December 21, 1923 issue of the Sandusky Register told of the joys a family could have by listening to radio programs.

 In the vintage photograph from the Lake Shore Tire Company below, we see that the Lake Shore Tire Company once sold Imperial and Pullman tires. A handwritten slogan reads: “We’re the guys who put the miles in mileage.”

Lake Shore Tire Company July 4th Parade Float

 

The float pictured above was sponsored by the Lake Shore Tire Company for a parade in Sandusky on July 4, 1918. Men are dressed in World War I military uniforms, some bearing weapons. A simulated cannon on the float appears to be made of tires carried by the Lake Shore Tire Company. Lake Shore Tire Company was in operation in Sandusky from about 1915 to 1931, and was run by Fred Brobst and J. Leroy Weier.

The Lake Shore Tire Company sponsored the float below in the 1919 Fourth of July parade in Sandusky.

Names of deceased local servicemen from World War I are listed on a tablet in the back of the truck.

Floral urns, similar to those still found in Washington Park are found in the four corners of the truck bed. An article in the July 5, 1919 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal, reported that the Lake Shore Tire Company’s float was one of the most beautiful floats in the parade. 

As the parade passed at West Monroe and Jackson Streets, the band played “Onward Christian Soldiers.” Area men who had served in the war marched directly behind the band. Over 150 soldiers and sailors, along with two Marines, participated in the parade. Following the parade, Ohio Congressman Randolph Walton, gave a speech in front of the Erie County Courthouse. He said, in part, “The boys of Erie County are deserving of all the honors that can be given them. The outstanding characteristics of the American fighter were cheerfulness and unselfishness.”

J. W. Weier, Manufacturer of Weier’s Cream of Roses

In the 1880 Erie County Census, Jacob Weier is listed as a barber, the 20 year old son of Louis and Ernestine Weier. A newspaper article from the November 17, 1894 issue of the Sandusky Register states that J. W. Weier took first place at the Erie County Fair, for the category of “human hair goods.” He exhibited curling irons, hair products, and his well known Cream of Roses cream. In the 1888 Sandusky City Directory, J. W. Weier was listed as the manufacturer of Weier’s Cream of Roses, Curline for Ladies’ Bangs, Burdock Hair Tonic and Hair Restorer, with his place of business located at 712 Market Street.

The advertisement below appeared in a Postal Guide which was distributed to Sandusky residents about 1899.

Weier’s Cream of Roses was used for healing cuts and burns. Weier’s Circassian Pearl was recommended for freckles and tan. Weier’s Reliable Hair Renewer was used to remove gray from hair, and Weier’s German Hair Vigor was supposed to positively stop hair from falling out. Mr. Weier also sold wigs, waves, bangs and switches.

J. W. Weier’s listing in the 1900 Sandusky City Directory stated that J. W. Weier was of proprietor of the Weier Chemical Manufacturing Co., which manufactured Weier’s Cream of Roses and barber’s supplies, in the Odd Fellows Temple at 231 Washington Row. Jacob’s sister Louise Weier advertised ladies hair products and toilet articles at the same location. Later city directories list J. W. Weier as selling barber supplies.

On November 25, 1912, Jacob W. Weier was killed when his automobile crashed into Lake Shore Train No. 43 at the Hancock Street crossing, as Jacob was returning from a trip to Norwalk. Jacob W. Weier’s funeral was held at his Hancock Street residence, and he was buried at Oakland Cemetery. Jacob’s brothers, John and Henry Weier, had a prosperous salvage business in Sandusky for many years. After John and Henry Weier both died in March, 1925, the business was carried on by J. Leroy Weier, the son of John Weier.

J. Leroy Weier

J. Leroy Weier, known as Leroy, is pictured here driving his automobile with 1911 license plates. (We don’t know the names of his passengers.) Leroy’s father, John Weier, along with Leroy’s uncle, Henry Weier, operated a scrapyard business at 1024 Hancock St., which had been started by their father. When the two Weier brothers died in the 1920’s, Leroy continued the family business until shortly before his death in 1971.

Leroy Weier was also the co-owner of the Lake Shore Tire Company. His business partner was Fred Brost. The company operated from about 1915 to 1931. It began as a tire company, but by 1927 it became a sporting goods store.
Leroy married Laura Lechler in 1921. They had no children. Around the beginning of World War II, the Weiers began buying property in Middle Harbor and West Harbor in Ottawa County. Leroy was an avid hunter and outdoorsman. An excerpt from a 1969 letter by Leroy Weier appeared in the April 22, 1974 Sandusky Register. Leroy wrote: “The marshes I have known have been the greatest source of pleasure and relaxation and hobby, that have filled my entire life; one must love the feel of cold wind in the face and hear the ripple of freezing water lapping the side of the hunting boat to absorb all the ingredients that nature puts into the thrill we call wildfowling…:”

Before their deaths, the Weiers sold their Ottawa County property to the State of Ohio, and the land now is part of East Harbor State Park. Seven local organizations benefited from the Estate of J. Leroy and Laura J. Weier. The $600,000 was distributed to three area hospitals, the Firelands Council of Boy Scouts, Firelands Council of Camp Fire Girls, and the Sandusky Y.M.C.A.

An early scene from the Weier Brothers Scrapyard is pictured below: