Aerial View of Sandusky in 1958

On August 3, 1958, photographer Thomas F. Root took this aerial photograph of Sandusky, looking toward the shoreline and Columbus Avenue. Several Sandusky landmarks which still stand can be seen in this picture. Saints Peter and Paul Church and Zion Lutheran Church are to the south of the Erie County Courthouse. Towards the east, the Feick Building and the Masonic Temple are visible. The familiar I.O.O.F. building, Stone’s block, and Hubbard’s block are located in Sandusky’s downtown. One building in this picture that no longer stands is the old City Hall, north of the courthouse, on West Market Street. (Two towers of different heights can be seen on the former city building.) City Hall was built in 1890 to serve as the city’s central fire and police station, and went to serve as Sandusky’s City Building from 1915 to 1958. An image of the old city building graces the cover of the Downtown Architectural Walking Tour of the Old House Guild of Sandusky. The Downtown Architectural Walking Tour features brief descriptions of 48 historic buildings in Sandusky. To learn more about the historic architecture of Sandusky, see Treasure by the Bay, by Ellie Damm, in the Sandusky Library’s local history book collection.