Dr. James K. Douglas, Native of Berlin Township

Dr. James K. Douglas was born in August 1869 to James and Cornelia (King) Douglas. He grew up on his parents’ home along Lake Erie in the northern portion of Berlin Township of Erie County, Ohio.

In 1894 he graduated from the School of Dentistry at the University of Michigan. Dr. Douglas started practicing dentistry in Sandusky in October, 1894 in the old Kingsbury block. On December 30, 1894, he married Maora Hill, the daughter of George F. and Mary (Steen) Hill. Maora is seen below with a group of young women from Berlin Heights in the late 1800s. She is seated on the right side, in row of ladies at the bottom portion of the picture taken by I.G. Ferres.

By 1910, Dr. Douglas moved his office to the 400 block of Columbus Avenue in the building known as the Bliss building. Dr. Douglas remained at this location until his retirement in 1950. 

On October 17, 1951, several area dentists, who were members of the North Central Dental Society, met to honor Dr. Douglas for his over fifty years of service to his community as a dentist. Dr. James K. Douglas was a longtime member of the American Dental Association, and past president of the Ohio State Dental Association, the Northern Ohio Dental Association, the North Central Ohio Dental Society, and the Sandusky Dental Study Club. He was a member of the state board of dental examiners for a number of years. Dr. D.D. Smith was the toastmaster at the October event, where Dr. Douglas received an autograph book containing messages from all the dentists in attendance. 

On October 4, 1954, Dr. Douglas died unexpectedly at his home on Meigs Street in Sandusky. He was survived by his wife, a daughter, granddaughter, and sister. Dr. Douglas was buried in the West End Cemetery in Berlin Heights, Ohio.