Berardi Brothers are Honored in San Marino

 

Photo credit: Dr. Daniele Cesaretti

Roberto and Leonello Berardi were the sons of Adam and Teresa Berardi, natives of the Republic of San Marino. The Berardi family emigrated to the United States in 1927, having left from Genoa, Italy on the ship Conte Biancamao. In 1930 the family was living on McKelvey Street in Sandusky, in a section of town known as “Little Italy.” This area was located along Milan Road, bordered by Finch Street and Boalt Street. 

Sadly, both sons of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Berardi were killed during World War II. Leonello, often called Nello, was killed in action in Italy in 1944. Roberto died in Germany in 1945. A plaque honoring the memory of the Berardi brothers was erected in the Fiorentino Cemetery in San Marino. A front page article in the Sandusky Register of April 5, 1961 reported on the memorial in San Marino.

At the dedication of the marble monument in San Marino on March 25, 1961, Dr. Frederico Bigi stated, “As citizens of the world’s oldest Republic, they took with them the spirit of Liberty as they traveled to the world’s youngest Republic, and showed their devotion to Liberty by laying down their lives to uphold freedom.”

To read more about Roberto Berardi and Leonello Berardi, see the website of the American War Memorials Overseas, Inc. The final resting place of Adam and Teresa Berardi is at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio.

Memorial Day: Memorials to Local Soldiers

 

The archival collections at the Sandusky Library contain a number of items that memorialize soldiers of the United States. The poster above is dedicated to Company I of the Third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, which was organized in Monroeville.

The paper above gives the order of a ceremony (possibly in 1932) in honor of Spanish American War veterans. George Schiller, who contributed to the program, was the last surviving local veteran of that war by the 1950s. 

In 1945, a temporary memorial to those from Erie County who died in World War II was erected in Washington Park:

These First World War era Boy Scouts have assembled to honor the dead on Memorial Day:

Memorial to President Ulysses S. Grant

While we cannot be certain that any Sandusky residents attended the dedication of the Memorial to President Ulysses S. Grant in Washington D.C., Mrs. John T. Mack bequeathed the program from the dedication exercises to the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center. 

Civil War veterans in both blue and gray attended the ceremonies, which took place on the 100^th anniversary of the birthday of President Grant, one hundred years ago, on April 27, 1922. Princess Cantacuzene, born Julia Dent Grant, the granddaughter of former President Grant, and her daughter Princess Ida Cantacuzene unveiled the Memorial. A parade made up of soldiers, sailors, and Marines participated in the ceremonies, which included a 21 gun salute and “doves of peace” being released.

According to the April 28, 1922 issue of the Sandusky Register, President Harding addressed a crowd of 15,000 people in President Grant's birthplace, Point Pleasant, Ohio on the former President's 100th birthday, April 27, 1922. President Harding praised Grant as a great hero and military leader.

After President Grant died on July 23, 1885, the city of Sandusky conducted a memorial to the late President on  August 8, the same day as his funeral in New York city. Businesses and private homes in Sandusky were draped with black cloths to pay respects to former President Grant. Flags were at half-mast on boats in the port of Sandusky as well as at government buildings in the city. A parade took place from Market Street to Biemiller’s Opera House; hundreds of mourners were turned away from Sandusky’s memorial service because the Opera House was filled to capacity. I.F. Mack presided at the service, and music was provided by the Great Western Band.

Isaac Foster Mack, 1837-1912

 

Rev. David J. Meese, of the First Presbyterian Church, spoke about General Grant’s boyhood days. Rev. George H. Peeke, of the First Congregational Church, spoke of Grant as an ideal hero. Rev. F. K. Brooke, of Grace Church, spoke about the peace in the United States as evidenced by those who mourned Grant from both the northern and southern states of the United States. Other speakers of the day included Rev. A. B. Nicholas, A.H. Moss, Homer Goodwin, and F. W. Alvord. When the Honorable Oran Follett spoke, he alluded to Shakespeare as he said in part, “We have met today to praise, not to bury, the man who had the courage and ability to lead us to a great victory.” 

Oran Follett, 1798-1894

The Great Western Band played a final song, and the audience dispersed after the McMeens Post of G.A.R. left in a group.

Great Western Band

Visit the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center to learn more about the history of the former residents and businesses of Sandusky and Erie County, Ohio.

Sandusky Mourns President Garfield

 

President James A. Garfield died on September 19, 1881, after having been shot on July 2, 1881.  Born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio in 1831, he became president of the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (now Hiram College) in 1857, and was elected to the Ohio Senate in 1859.  Garfield served as a general in the Civil War, and after the War he was elected to the United States Congress. In 1880, at the Republican National Convention, James A. Garfield became the “dark horse” candidate for the presidency. He was elected President on November 4, 1880. Author James Baird McClure wrote in his book General Garfield: From the Log Cabin to the White House, that Sandusky Register editor I. F. Mack rode with James Garfield in the train to Cleveland, immediately after Garfield secured his presidential nomination in Chicago in 1880. 

The Sandusky Register carried several feature articles about the funeral of President Garfield from September 20 through September 27, 1881. A detailed list of the groups participating in the funeral procession appeared in the paper, as well as an account of the hymns sung, scriptures read, and government officials in attendance. A delegation from the Sandusky Masons, the Erie Commandery, marched in the procession. A number of tributes to President Garfield also appeared in the Register.

On September 25, 1881, the First Presbyterian Sunday School held a commemorative service for the deceased president.

O. P. Cowdery spoke about Garfield’s boyhood; U.T. Curran’s address was about Garfield, the educator; while W. F. Converse spoke on Garfield as a statesman.

The back of the program from the Presbyterian service featured President Garfield’s favorite hymn, “Ho, Reapers of Life’s Harvest.”

At the dedication of the Garfield Memorial, on May 30, 1890, I.F. Mack commanded a group of Sandusky Civil War Veterans who were at the service in Cleveland. The Great Western Band

from Sandusky sent twenty five musicians to participate in the procession. The full text of the dedication of the Garfield Memorial can be read at Google Books. On July 3, 1948, the Sandusky Register Star News featured a syndicated column entitled “Let’s Explore Ohio: Mother of Presidents.”  The column mentions the home of James A. Garfield and his tomb at Lakeview Cemetery.

 

Mary Elizabeth Seibert Fernau

Below is a tintype of Mary Elizabeth Seibert, who was born in Sandusky about 1865.

By 1904, Mary Elizabeth Seibert had become the wife of Henry Fernau, who was a painter and interior decorator. They lived at what is now 620 East Adams Street.

Descendants of Mary Elizabeth and Henry Fernau donated several family photographs to the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center, allowing us to have a visual record of Mrs. Fernau throughout several years.

The funeral card for Mrs. Fernau, who passed away on January 6, 1925, features a touching poem.

A precious one from us has gone

            A voice we love is stilled:

A place is vacant in our home,

            Which never can be filled.

God in his wisdom has recalled,

            The boon his love had given.

And though the body slumbers here

            The soul is safe in heaven.

An obituary for Mary Elizabeth Fernau, found in the 1925 Obituary Notebook at the Sandusky Library, stated that she was “a woman of estimable traits and many relatives and friends will mourn her departure.” Funeral services for Mary Elizabeth Fernau were held at the family residence on Adams Street, and burial was in Oakland Cemetery.

Memorial Ribbons in Honor of President McKinley

Author and local historian Hewson L. Peeke donated two memorial ribbons which had been issued in honor of President William McKinley, who died on September 14, 1901, after having been shot by Leon Czolgosz on September 6, 1901. The body of William McKinley lay in state in Buffalo, New York and at the White House in the nation’s capital before being returned to Canton, Ohio for funeral services and burial. In Sandusky impressive funeral services were held at the Opera House on Thursday, September 19, 1901. A Masonic parade took place in downtown Sandusky, while businesses closed out of respect for the deceased President. Many government offices and places of business were decorated with patriotic and mourning bunting.

Speakers at the Sandusky Opera House memorial service in honor of President McKinley included Judge Charles Reed, Mayor J. J. Molter, T.W. Bookmyer, E.B. King, H.M. Linn, John T. Mack, Theodore Alvord, the Rev. Clement G. Martin, and the Rev. Winfield Baer. Hymns sung at the service were “Nearer My God to Thee” and “Lead Kindly Light.” Thousands of individuals also attended the funeral in Canton, Ohio. The entire National Guard of Ohio was mobilized to participate in the funeral, including Company B of the Sixth Regiment, Ohio National Guard, of Sandusky, under the command of Captain C. B. Wilcox.

Two years after the death of President William McKinley, a statue of the former President was unveiled in front of the Lucas County Courthouse in Toledo, Ohio. 26,000 residents of Toledo raised funds for the statue through subscriptions. According to an article in the September 15, 1903 issue of the Sandusky Register, the men of Company B of the Sixth Regiment, Ohio National Guard, from Sandusky were present at the unveiling of the monument on September 14, 1903.