George W. Melville was an artist, designer, and engraver. He was born in Sandusky, Ohio to Mr. and Mrs. William Gordon Melville in February, 1856. An early example of Melville’s work is found in the 1882 Sandusky City Directory, which features an engraving of the pump house and standpipe of the Sandusky Water Works.
The Melville engraving below lets area residents know that Sandusky photographer W. A. Bishop has his studio all on the ground floor. This image appears on the back of a photograph taken by W. A. Bishop of a Marsh family member.
By the late 1880’s, George Melville had moved to Chicago. He illustrated and published
Gems of Wonderful Chicago and the World’s Fair and
a book about the first twenty-four mayors of Chicago. He also created panoramas of the
World’s Fairs in St. Louis, Portland, and San Francisco. His last years were spent in California, where he lived in Hollywood and was active in the St. Thomas Episcopal Church. He died in California in 1928.
Helen Hansen provides historical background information about the Melville family in Article 23 of
At Home in Early Sandusky. At times, some family members went by the double last name of Melville-Milne, in accordance with Scottish tradition. The
home of William Gordon Melville-Milne is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
As noted in Helen Hansen's article #23 in "At Home in Early Sandusky," the Melville-Milne House at 319 Lawrence, was bought by my brother John Daniel in 1974. He and his wife Ann and their daughters Valerie, Louisa and Emily lived in the house until the 1990's.
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