Madison School

Madison School was constructed at the intersection of West Madison and Lawrence Streets in Sandusky between 1938 and 1939 as a federal Public Works Administration Project during the Great Depression. A P.W.A. grant contributed 45 per cent of the funding of the new schooling. The new school replaced a previous Madison School building that was over 70 years old in 1938. Dr. Frank J. Prout was the superintendent of Sandusky City Schools when the Madison School project was begun, but by the time the new Madison School opened, Dr. Prout had become president of Bowling Green State University, and Karl Whinnery was the school superintendent.

Original Madison School, demolished in 1938

The new school, constructed in the English style, was designed by Sandusky architect Harold Parker. The old school was torn down by Strouse Wrecking Company of Castalia. The general contractor for the new Madison School was Petersen-Hiss. Other local contractors involved in the project included Brohl and Appell Plumbing and Heating and Diamond S Electric. There were eight classrooms in the new school as well as a stage and assembly room. Ohio artist George Dinckel painted a mural in the music room, which featured historical images of music throughout history. Gregorian monks, children in a choir, comic opera singers and a troubadour were included in the large painting.

A stage and piano were at the front of the assembly room in Madison School.

Several area businesses were sub-contractors in the construction of Madison School.

Numerous companies placed advertisements in the November 12, 1939 issue of the Sandusky Register to congratulate Sandusky City Schools on the opening of the new Madison School.

Former school superintendent Dr. Frank J. Prout and 1939 school superintendent Karl Whinnery both spoke at the dedicatory service and open house for Madison School held on November 12, 1939.

Madison School is no longer in use in the Sandusky City School system, since three new elementary schools were constructed during the “Building Better Dreams Facilities Project” undertaken in recent years. By reading about the Madison School project in the 1930s, we can see the ongoing dedication of community leaders to providing excellent educational facilities for Sandusky’s youth. The Madison School project also provided job opportunities for employees of local companies during the challenging times of the Great Depression

Sandusky High School’s Centennial Reunion

The Centennial Reunion of alumni of Sandusky High School was held on May 28, 1955. Tickets to the banquet were sold for $2.00 per person.

Reunion events included a band concert on the Sandusky High School lawn at 4:00, dinner at the Junior High School at 6:15, a program at Strobel Field at 7:45, and a dance at 9 p.m. at the Junior High featuring the fourteen piece band of Jimmy Dulio. During the program at Strobel Field, several special people were introduced to the crowd.

Charles E. Frohman served as the Master of Ceremonies. Principal Wallace Glenwright and Mayor Richard Fuller both gave remarks of welcome. Former school administrators James T. Begg, Frank J. Prout, Karl E. Whinnery, and Wayne C. Blough were introduced. Retired teachers attending the reunion were Miss Lucy Carter, Miss Elsie Denham, Miss Bessie Taylor, Miss Edith Howell, Miss Berta Jackson, and Miss Marie Reiff. Superintendent Carl L. Mackey spoke to the Sandusky High School alumni, and several musical numbers were presented. Harold C. Kaufman directed the A Cappella Choir and led the choir in three songs, including “Halls of Ivy.” The combined band and choir of Sandusky High School performed the Battle Hymn of the Republic. The program ended with a musical benediction sung by the high school A Cappella Choir.

The Sandusky Register Star News of May 28, 1955 contained a special feature devoted to the Centennial Reunion.

A copy of this special edition newspaper is housed at the Sandusk y Library Archives Research Center. Included in the special feature are pictures of graduating classes, a history of the one hundred years of Sandusky High School, and brief biographical sketches of outstanding graduates of Sandusky High School. An article entitled “A Century Stream of Teaching at Sandusky High” began with this paragraph:

Tennyson’s quotation “Men may come and men may go, but I go on forever,” referred to a little flowing brook, might also be applied to the stream of education which has been flowing through Sandusky High School for the past 100 years, and which, from all indications, will flow on indefinitely.

The newspaper issue contained commemorative ads from many businesses, including this advertisement from the Ohio Bell Telephone Company.

William A. Richardson, Educator

William A. Richardson was born in Port Clinton, Ohio, on February 17, 1869 to David and Paulina Richardson. William’s father was born in Scotland, and his mother was born in Bavaria. After working as an educator in Port Clinton, Mr. Richardson went to Sandusky High School, serving from 1901 until 1935. From 1914 to 1921, he served as principal of the school. For several years, Mr. Richardson taught algebra and geometry at Sandusky High. 

A newspaper article that highlighted his long career stated that “Richardson is a teacher heart and soul. He feels that an instructor has a real job, whose ability comes mostly through experience and a born liking and aptitude for imparting knowledge. He has spent his entire life, in and out of school, perfecting himself in his job.” 

On January 12, 1941, William A. Richardson passed away, after a lengthy illness. Karl A. Whinnery, then the superintendent of Sandusky City Schools, stated: “With the death of W. A. Richardson, Sandusky loses one of its finest citizens. He served the Sandusky High School for thirty five years, one of the longest terms in the history of the school. The quality of his work was entirely in keeping with the length of his service. He was held in the highest regard by both the teachers and students.”

WLEC Radio Began Broadcasting in 1947

Now a part of BAS Broadcasting Ohio, WLEC Radio began broadcasting on December 7, 1947. At that time WLEC was operated by the Lake Erie Broadcasting Company, an affiliate of the Mutual Broadcasting System. The premiere broadcast on WLEC featured a program which commemorated the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

This picture was taken on the first anniversary of WLEC Radio in 1948. From left to right are: Bill Frankel, Al Heiser, John Kohler, Marie Pascoe, Father Hartman, Ed Gangware, Karl Whinnery and Jay Wagner.

 Marie Pascoe is seen on the left side in the picture below. In the 1950s, she narrated radio programs on WLEC Radio using the name Nancy Lake.

Jay Wagner and Dan Appel are on either side of the Landes twins during a WLEC broadcast.

  

 In 1958 WLEC Radio took its mobile studio the dedication of the City Building.

Below is a picture of WLEC Radio staff from the 1970s.

Do you have any special memories of listening to WLEC Radio?