Vince Edwards Visits Sandusky

On May 27, 1962, the actor who played “Ben Casey” on television, Vince Edwards, visited Cedar Point on Esmond Dairy Day. The actor is pictured with the 1962 Dairy Princess from Columbus, Ohio. Before his television career, Edwards had an Ohio connection, as he had been a champion swimmer as a student at Ohio State University in the late 1940s.

The front page of the May 28, 1962 Sandusky Register reported that 9,000 fans mobbed the popular actor, including two women who fainted. Thirty-five patrolmen from Cedar Point, as well as Mr. Edwards’ personal bodyguards were all on duty at the time. Edwards was quoted as saying, “I’ve seen larger crowds, but this was the wildest.”

Mr. A.C. Routh, Jr., manager of Esmond Dairy, and a Cedar Point official are pictured here with the famous actor.

Nettie Baumeister Buder, Popular Performer

Pictured above is Nettie Baumeister at the age of 21. Miss Nettie Baumeister was born on January 27, 1899 in Sandusky, Ohio to Albert and Laura Baumeister. She graduated from Sandusky High School in 1917. Nettie studied vocal music with Alma Harris Rogers, and she was a featured singer in several recitals. In the early 1920s Nettie was a popular performer in local amateur theatrical productions sponsored by the Kiwanis, Elks, church groups, and other civic organizations. At a large meeting of the Sandusky Chamber of Commerce in the spring of 1920, Nettie sang a solo, and she was forced to sing two encores, because the crowd enjoyed her performance so well! For many years Nettie was a secretary/receptionist for the Erie County Farm Extension Bureau.

On June 4, 1924, Nettie Baumeister married Edwin J. Buder. They had two sons, one of whom died while still in elementary school. Nettie Baumeister Buder was a lifelong member of Grace Episcopal Church, and she volunteered for forty years at the Grace Church Thrift Shop. She taught bridge, and was twice elected as president of the Women’s Association of the Plum Brook Country Club. Nettie was once honored for her many years of service in the former Memorial Hospital Guild. On November 30, 1996, Nettie Baumeister Buder died at the age of 97. She was buried at Oakland Cemetery, next to her husband Edwin, who had died in 1980. Nettie was survived by her son, Dr. Joseph Buder, four grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, and a step-grandson. Nettie Baumeister Buder lived a rich life, having brought joy to hundreds through her musical talent and many years of community service.

Katharine Hepburn and Ann Harding’s visit to Sandusky and Put in Bay

On the front page of the October 28, 1940 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal, reporter Harold Detlefsen wrote a feature article about two movie stars who made a visit to the Lake Erie Islands area on Sunday, October 27, 1940. (Harold and his wife would later found the RFD News.)

In conjunction with a promotional tour for the movie “The Philadelphia Story,” Katharine Hepburn, her brother, and actress Ann Harding made a stop in Sandusky while traveling from Cleveland to Detroit. The group traveled in the Hepburn Lincoln town car which had New York license plate number H-97. They visited the Sloane House hotel, where Ann Harding told the housekeeper that she was a direct descendant of Rush Sloane, for whom the hotel was named. She said she was also related to Jay Cooke. (To date, these family connections have not been confirmed.)

Despite cool weather, the visitors took a speedboat ride to Put-in-Bay. Sandusky resident Herb Barber was at the helm of the boat, owned by Worthy Brown, Inc. Ann Harding was familiar with Put in Bay, as she had formerly lived there while married to actor Harry Bannister. Mr. Detlefsen said that in spite of inclement weather, Katharine Hepburn said to him, “R-E-A-L-L-Y, I’ve had the most wonderful time here.” Miss Hepburn also autographed a photograph for the reporter. Harold Detlefsen said that the driver of the boat did not know the identity of his passengers until after their boat trip. In fact, only a few area residents got a glimpse of Katharine Hepburn and Ann Harding. Mr. Detlefsen stated that after seeing and speaking with Miss Hepburn, he felt he had “seen real glamour!”

Three Aspiring Entertainers

Nettie Baumeister Buder, Heenan Elliott, and Helen Fisher are pictured below in front of a stage backdrop from a play in which they were performing at Cedar Point, around 1918.
Sadly, Helen Fisher, who later married George Reynolds, died in 1922 at the age of 25.

Nettie Baumeister married Edwin Buder, and was the mother of Dr. Joseph and Thomas Buder. She was a lifetime resident of Sandusky, and was involved in many local musicals and civic affairs. She was a 50-year member of Grace Junior League, volunteered at the Grace Church Thrift Shop, and was a member of the former Memorial Hospital Guild. Nettie lived until the age of 97.

Heenan Elliott was the husband of Freda Black Jenkins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Black. Heenan Elliott appeared on television shows, and was in several movies. He also traveled as a speaker with the Chautauqua Circuit. In 1926 Heenan Elliott was the secretary of the Catawba Candy Co., where his father-in-law, Leslie Black, served as company president. Heenan and Freda eventually moved to California, where Heenan served as president of the San Fernando Valley Real Estate Board. The Elliotts lived in California until their deaths in the 1970s.
Above is a photograph of a man driving a wagon from the Catawba Candy Company, which operated in Sandusky from 1905 until 1933.