One of the First Motorized Fire Trucks in Sandusky

An article in the December 24, 1913 issue of the Sandusky Register reported that the city of Sandusky had purchased a motorized fire truck for $9500 ($268,000 today) after testing it out thoroughly. The “motor propelled triple combination Ahrens-Fox fire truck” was approved by Board of Control in Mayor George Lehrer’s office, and it was then turned over to Fire Chief Al Hegemer. A mechanic from the factory was to remain with the new fire truck until members of the Sandusky Fire Department were properly trained in its operation.

The two tests of the new fire truck were conducted by R.S. Tucker of the Ohio Inspection Bureau, assisted by H.R. Farnsworth of the Sandusky Foundry and Machine Company. The engine pumped as high as 850 gallons of water, with 120 pounds of water pressure.

The Sandusky Register of December 31, 1922, said about the motorized fire truck being added to the Fire Department, “Jim and Prince, the gallant fire horses, were ousted then and the corn crib was replaced by a gasoline tank.” By 1914, there were two motorized fire trucks in use by the Sandusky Fire Department, as well as an automobile for the Fire Chief, “to ensure speedier runs by him.”

To read more about the history of the Sandusky Fire Department, see the Erie County Historical Society’s website, where the document “The Sandusky Fire Department: A Look Back at History, 1830-2002” is located.

Funeral of Captain Adam Hartung

Adam E. Hartung was a lifelong resident of Sandusky, Ohio, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Christ Hartung. He had a twin brother named Daniel, and both men were firefighters for the City of Sandusky.

On the evening of November 11, 1907 the fire department was summoned to a fire at the Catawba Candy Company.  Adam Hartung, of the No. 4 Company, slipped while attempting to climb onto the hose wagon and fell, hitting his chest on the iron rail of the dashboard. He continued to the fire, but after returning to the fire station he became ill. It turns out that as Adam fell, he suffered a broken rib and the broken rib punctured his lung. Mr. Hartung remained ill for several months. He died on March 23, 1908 at his home on Hancock Street in Sandusky, at age 49, survived by a wife and six children, three brothers and two sisters. His funeral was held at the family residence, and burial was at Oakland Cemetery. City of Sandusky firefighters served as pallbearers.

Adam Hartung had been a city firefighter for twenty years. According to The Great Book of Wildfowl Decoys, he also was a skilled carver of duck decoys. 

As you can see in the photograph, long ago someone noted that the funeral took place in 1896. After checking through the Ohio Obituary Index and Oakland Cemetery interment cards, it was determined that a child of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Hartung died in 1896, but Adam Hartung, Captain of the Sandusky Fire Department died in March of 1908. Don’t always trust handwritten records you may come across in your genealogical research. Be sure to verify dates against other records, as mistakes are often found.

Fireman’s Ball Held in Sandusky in 1839

On March 6, 1839 a Fireman’s Ball was held at Bradley’s Cotillion Rooms in the city of Sandusky. While we do not have specific details about Bradley’s facility, most likely the ball was held in an upper floor of one of the two story buildings then in downtown Sandusky. 

On the list of managers for the Fireman’s Ball were F.M. Follett, L.B. Johnson, and E.B. Sadler. In 1839 Foster M. Follett was the chief engineer of the Sandusky Fire Department. Mr. Follett would later serve as the Mayor of Sandusky and the Erie County Auditor. Leonard B. Johnson was an early owner of Johnson’s Island, which was the site of a prison camp during the Civil War. E.B. Sadler was a well-respected judge in Erie County.

Ellie Damm noted in her book Treasure by the Bay that the city of Sandusky used horse-drawn equipment for fighting fires until 1919. Several early fire stations were built of limestone, with space for the horses at the ground level, and quarters for the fire fighters and their equipment on the upper level.  Pictured below are fire fighters are standing in front of the old Number Four Fire Station, located on the northeast corner of Central Avenue and Osborne Street in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Sandusky’s Fire Department has been in operation since the 1830s. The very earliest firemen were equipped with substantial buckets filled with water, known as the “bucket brigade.” As time went by, fire engines were purchased, fire stations were built, and wells were dug throughout the city to supply water for the firemen. To read about the history of Sandusky’s Fire Department, visit the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center. 

Levi Till, Builder and Architect

Levi Till was born in Staffordshire, England in 1826 or 1827. (Sources vary.) He studied architecture in England, and later with an uncle in Mansfield, Ohio. By 1849, he was residing in Sandusky. Mr. Till is credited with designing and building the former home of Thomas C. McGee at 536 E. Washington Street in Sandusky.

While in some census records Mr. Till listed his occupation as carpenter, in the 1870 U.S. Census he stated he worked as a “builder and architect.” At this time, he and his wife Anna had four children in their home, ranging in age from 9 to 18.

 An article which appeared in the Sandusky Register of August 9, 1873, reported that “One of the finest jobs in iron work to be found in this or any other city” had just been completed at the residence of Rush R. Sloane. Mr. Sloane’s home was built in the 1850s by Samuel Torry, and was sold to Rush Sloane in 1854. In 1873, Levi Till designed the tower, cornices and piazza of Rush Sloane’s residence, with the construction work carried out by J.B. Weis and Company, of Sandusky.

In 1878, Levi Till designed of the former home of William Robertson, Jr., a Sandusky grocer.

    

Helen Hansen wrote in At Home in Early Sandusky, that “Neither time nor money was spared” in the building of this house. Charles Bauman painted each room in a different color, and the newel post and stairway came from Cincinnati. The original home had chandeliers made of cut glass and the hardware on the doors was made from triple plated silver. 

Another building that Levi Till designed was the old Number Three Fire Station on Meigs Street, which is now a law office.

Levi Till died on January 28, 1901 at his Meigs Street home in Sandusky. Funeral services were held ad the family residence, and burial was at Oakland Cemetery. 

To read more about the many historic buildings and homes in Sandusky, Ohio, visit the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center.

When Sandusky’s City Building was on Market Street

The building which began as Sandusky's Central Police and Fire Station building in 1890 served as Sandusky's City Building from 1915 until 1958. Local photographer Robert E. Frank took several pictures of the former City Building before it was razed in 1958. In the picture below, several businesses along West Market Street are visible, including Gray Drugs, Weber's Men's Wear, and Herman's Jewelers.

In a closer view, you can see the words "City Building" above the large doors on the street level. The lower level of the building originally housed horse-drawn vehicles for the city’s police and fire departments.

You can see the old city building in this picture postcard, which was taken from West Market Street looking east.

An image of Sandusky's former city building graces the cover of the Old House Guild's Downtown Architectural Walking Tour of Sandusky. 

Former Fire Stations at Market and Lawrence Streets

The first fire station at the corner of West Market and Lawrence Streets was built about 1873. For many years this station was known as Fire House Number 2. The large iron numeral that was on the building is now a part of the historical collections of the Follett House Museum. You can see the numeral 2 over the door in the picture above.

A new fire station opened in November of 1915 at West Market and Lawrence Streets, at the site of the former station.  Some of the stone from the old city hall on Market Street, which had been partially destroyed in a fire, was used in the building of the new station, helping to offset construction costs.  H.C. Millot was the architect for the new fire station, and Schnurr and Walsh Brothers were the contractors. The city greenhouse loaned flowers from the greenhouse for its grand opening. You can read all about the opening of the new fire station in the Sandusky Register of February 26, 1915.

      

Mound Photographers took this picture of the fire station at the northwest corner of Market and Lawrence in June, 1944. In the picture, from left to right, are: A. Boesch, W. Herb, L. Seitz, G. Rehfuss, Capt., S. Bickley, electrician, Wilson McLaughlin, Fire Chief, C. Owen, assistant chief, L. Speir, Lieut., W. Collumb, C. Keller, Lieut., A. Hansen, and M. Johnson. Chief Wilson McLaughlin was well known and respected in the city of Sandusky. He had a long career with the Sandusky Fire Department, from 1919 to 1959.  In 1945, Chief McLaughlin was awarded the second annual award of the Sandusky Safety Council.

An article in the February 27, 1945 issue of the Sandusky Register Star News reported that “Chief McLaughlin has given of himself without thought of renumeration or recognition and contributed mightily to the success of our campaign to make Sandusky and Erie County a safe place in which to live and work.”  The former fire station at Market and Lawrence Streets no longer serves as a fire station, since the opening of the new Sandusky Fire Station at 600 West Market Street in 2002. It is now privately owned. Visit the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center to read more about the history of the Sandusky Fire Department.

Ogontz Fire Company and Firefighting in Sandusky

On June 4, 1870, Richard C. Cuthbert was given a certificate from the Fire Department of the city of Sandusky for a life membership in the Ogontz Fire Company, No. 1.  Mr. Cuthbert had served with the Ogontz Fire Company for twelve and a half years. The certificate was signed by Henry J. Hertel and Joseph C. Whetstone.  The Ogontz Fire Company, No. 1 was begun by volunteers in 1834, at a fire station located at the foot of Hancock Street. “Bucket brigades” had been in use in Sandusky in the early 1830s, under chief fireman Henry H. Wilcoxsen. The early fire stations were built so that the animals that carried the horse drawn vehicles could be housed on the street level of the station.  The picture below was taken at the Central Fire and Police Station which was on Market Street in the 1890s.

The Sandusky Library Archives Research Center has two publications that chronicle the history of the Sandusky Fire Department. A souvenir booklet published in 1896 documents the Sandusky Fire Department and Division of Public Safety, up to that time. Included are several pictures of officials of the Sandusky Fire Department, and a listing of forty two call boxes that were placed throughout the city in 1896. The publication was published “in the interest of the Firemen’s Pension Fund.”

Jim Martin, a retired Sandusky firefighter, produced two booklets of his research on firefighting in Sandusky, entitled The Sandusky Fire Department: A Look Back at History. The first volume covers from 1830 to 2002, and a second volume describes events between 2002 and 2004. This publication includes a history of the department, a listing of the individuals who served as Fire Chief, and a breakdown of major fires in Sandusky throughout the years. The “Last Alarm” page of the booklet lists the names and dates of death of those firemen who died in the line of duty. Visit the Sandusky Library Archives Research to learn more about our historic Sandusky Fire Department.

Central Avenue was once Miami Avenue

In the 1818 plat map of Sandusky, the street we now call Central Avenue was known as Miami Avenue. By the 1890s, Miami Avenue was renamed Central Avenue. This street runs diagonally from  the west side of Washington Park to Monroe Street, and then at Monroe Street it runs in a north-south direction to north of North Depot Street. For many decades, local residents have found that Central Avenue provides an efficient route to get from downtown Sandusky to key places on Sandusky’s near western side. 

If you take Central Avenue to West Osborne Street, you will soon find yourself at Osborne School.

                   

If you take Central Avenue south to North Depot Street, after you turn right, you will come to Sandusky’s Amtrak Station.

In the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, there was a fire station located at the northeast corner of Central Avenue and Osborne Street, known as Fire Station Number 4. This fire station was razed about 1930.

Two churches are located on Central Avenue. St. Mary’s Catholic Church was established to meet the needs of Sandusky’s Catholic residents of German heritage. The current parish was built in the 1870s, and is the largest church building in the city of Sandusky.

             

Before moving to its current location at Mills Street, St. Paul Lutheran Church was at the southeast corner of Central Avenue and Tyler Street. A number of other Protestant churches have met at this location in recent years.

       

A previous Sandusky History blog post featured a picture of horse racing on Central Avenue.

Now primarily residential, Central Avenue continues to be a vital thoroughfare for area residents. Visit Sandusky Library to view historical Sandusky city directories to learn more about our community’s past residents, businesses, and cultural institutions. 

Enoch Weller, Sandusky City Fireman and Civil War Soldier

Enoch Weller was born in 1828 in the state of New York.  By 1860 he and his family were residing in Sandusky, Ohio. According to historical files in the Archives Research Center, in 1860 Enoch Weller was chief engineer with the Sandusky Fire Department. On June 3, 1861, he enlisted as a First Lieutenant with the 24^th Ohio Infantry, for three years’ military service during the Civil War, eventually achieving promotion  to Captain. On January 2, 1863, Captain Weller was killed in action at the Battle of Stones River in Tennessee.

The remains of Captain Enoch Weller were returned to Sandusky, Ohio. His funeral took place on February 8, 1863. Members of several local organizations attended Captain Weller’s funeral, including the City Council, the Fire Department, Masons, the Jaeger Band, Union Band, and Hoffman’s Battalion Band. Rev. T. F. Hildreth officiated at the Methodist Church. Following the funeral, a procession marched from the church to Oakland Cemetery.  An article in the February 9, 1863 Sandusky Register reported that “the procession was one of the largest and most imposing ever witnessed in this city, and was alike honorable to the living and the dead.”

Also appearing on the February 9, 1862 of the Sandusky Register were "Resolutions from the Sandusky Fire Department on the Death of Major Weller." The Resolutions read:

At a meeting of the Fire Department of Sandusky, Ohio, held February 8^th, 1863, the committee appointed by the Chief Engineer to submit Resolutions expressing the feelings of The Department on The Death of Major Weller, reported the following, which were unanimously adopted. Whereas, through the dispensation of an allwise Providence, Major Enoch Weller, of The Fire Department of Sandusky, has given up his life in defense of his country, therefore be it:1. Resolved that as a Fireman we have lost one of our most noble, active, upright and faithful members, one whose loss cannot be repaired or forgotten by the whole Fire Department.2. Resolved, that as a brother Fireman none were brave, as a Fireman none were more competent to command, as a Chief he maintained his position with honor, his loss we deeply regret and long shall mourn.3. Resolved, that in rallying to his country’s call, none felt a deeper interest, none showed a nobler or more energetic spirit. As a soldier he was skillful and brave, when he unsheathed his sword, he did it for the right his country and he wielded it with an earnestness that showed he fought for his country.4. Resolved, that we tender to the family of the deceased our heartfelt sympathy in this deep affliction. They have lost a most worthy husband and father, one who was kind to all and beloved by everyone.5. Resolved, that as an evidence of our regard for the memory of our deceased brother we wear the usually badge of mourning, and drape our engine house with crepe for the period of thirty days.6. Resolved, that these resolutions be published in the Sandusky Register and Bay Stadt Demokrat. Also, a copy presented to the widow of the deceased by our Chief Engineer, C. J. Parsons.CommitteeS.M. White, Jr.M. HickA. BauerE. Goodspeed

Ohio State Firemen’s Tournament, September 1868

The Ohio State Firemen’s Tournament was held in Sandusky, Ohio on September 10, 1868. Firemen who traveled to Sandusky by railroad were issued half fare tickets, and their engines and other equipment were transported at no cost, according to the Committee of Arrangements. Bells rang at 6 a.m. for the gathering of the firemen. Twenty three fire companies from all over Ohio attended the Tournament, with an estimated total of eighteen hundred firemen in all. A reception for visiting firemen was held between 7 and 9 a.m., and the parade began at 9 o’clock. Chief Marshal was John H. Williams.

The Great Western Band, along with the Sandusky Fire Department, Chief Marshal, Sandusky Mayor and other elected officials met at East Washington Street, near Columbus Avenue to form the First Division of the Parade. Representatives from Rochester, Buffalo, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Naugatuck, Connecticut were also with the First Division. The Second Division, which met on West Market Street, included Assistant Marshals, the Sandusky City Band, and representatives from Fire Departments from Elyria, Norwalk, Oberlin, Delaware, Fredricktown, Mansfield, Newark, and Zanesville. The Fremont Band, and firemen from Fremont, Dayton, Kenton, Urbana, Tiffin, Toledo and Clyde made up the Third Division. Prizes were given for several classes of steam fire engines, hand engines, hose companies and hook and ladder teams. A moonlight excursion to the Lake Erie Islands was held in the afternoon aboard the Evening Star. In the evening a Firemen’s Ball was hosted by the Hecker Hook and Ladder Company at Norman Hall. The Sandusky Daily Register of September 11, 1868 reported that the event was “the finest Firemen’s Tournament ever held in Ohio….The shining machines decked with flowers and evergreens, the gay uniforms and clanging bells, the numerous bands, stirring music, waving banners, martial step, and crowds of cheering spectators altogether formed a pageant at once imposing and attractive.”

In August of 1871, the Sandusky Fire Department was awarded this silver speaking trumpet as a prize at the Firemen’s Tournament held in Norwalk, Ohio. The trumpet is now in the collections of the Follett House Museum.

Company 3 of the Sandusky Fire Department won a trophy on June 22, 1910. (For what exactly the trophy was given is unknown.)

Sandusky Fire Department Youth Competition(?)

We don't have any specific information about the pictures below, taken by C. W. Platt, but it appears that it could be a friendly competition between two different stations of the Sandusky Fire Department in the late 1890’s. In each photo a daring young man is atop a ladder, while the other boys are all holding onto a fire hose. The top photograph was taken at the Central Fire Department on West Market Street.

Another team is standing in front of Fire Station No. 4 at the corner of Central Avenue and Osborne Street. The boys are wearing shirts labeled “Globe Clothing.”

Several vintage photographs and a history of the Sandusky Fire Department, as well as information about significant fires fought in Sandusky, are found in the historical collections of the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center.

Sandusky’s Silsby Steamer

The postcard below was created by Sandusky photographer E.H. Schlessman. Three gentlemen are standing next to an 1869 Silsby steam engine. Mr. Hegemer is the man in the center of the picture, and the other two men have not yet been identified.

James H. Wichman wrote in an article in the September 23, 1955 issue of the Sandusky Register Star News that by 1859 there were sixty volunteer firemen in Sandusky, Ohio. During the Civil War over half of the volunteer firemen enlisted to serve in the Union Army, so new fire fighters had to be recruited. In 1865 a steam engine was purchased from the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company of Manchester, New Hampshire at a cost of over $4,000. Silsby steam engines, made by the Silsby Manufacturing Co. of Seneca Falls, New York were purchased by the Sandusky Fire Department in 1868 and 1869. A history of the Sandusky Fire Department, housed in the local history collections of the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center, states that the purchase of these three steam engines along with a hood and ladder truck helped move the fire department towards a reorganization of the entire department. Inquire at the Reference Services Desk to view A Look Back at History, two booklets which provide an interesting history of the Sandusky Fire Department.

Horse-Drawn Fire Engines in Sandusky

Photographer Edward H. Schlessman took the picture below of a horse drawn fire engine traveling down Central Avenue in the first part of the twentieth century.

Another picture by Mr. Schlessman features a fire engine rushing to a fire on Market Street. The office of E.R. Hinkley, Veterinarian and the jewelry store of Charles A. Bogert are visible in the background.

These fire fighters are standing in front of the old Number Four Fire Station, located on the northeast corner of Central Avenue and Osborne Street in 1910.

Ellie Damm noted in her book Treasure by the Bay that the city of Sandusky used horse-drawn equipment for fighting fires until 1919. Several early fire stations were built of limestone, with space for the horses at the ground level, and quarters for the fire fighters and their equipment on the upper floor.

Michael and Wilson McLaughlin, Sandusky Fire Fighters

Captain Michael McLaughlin and his son Wilson McLaughlin are both pictured below, in the photograph of Fire Station No. 5 located at Tiffin Avenue at West Madison Street for many years. (This building is now privately owned.)

Sandusky’s Fire Station Number Five was built around 1906. Ellie Damm pointed out in her book Treasure by the Bay, that since the city fire fighters still used horse-drawn equipment at this time, the fire station was designed for use by both men and animals. The lower portion of the building housed the horses which were used to carry the fire fighting equipment and firemen.

On Thursday, February 8, 1934, Captain Michael McLaughlin died in the line of duty while fighting a fire on Perry Street. He was overcome with smoke while battling the blaze, and was carried out of the burning building by his son, Wilson. He was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital, but efforts to revive him were fruitless. Capt. McLaughlin had been a member of the Sandusky Fire Department for 32 years. He was a friend of the community, and he originated the idea of repairing broken toys at Christmas time, and giving them to children in need. He worked at Fire Station No. 5 for 28 years. You can read the resolution by the City Commission of the City of Sandusky which honored Captain Michael McLaughlin on page 15 of the 1934 Obituary Notebook found in the Archives Research Center of Sandusky Library. It read in part: “Having been with the fire department for a great many years both as a member and a captain, he displayed a keen interest in the duties before him his every act and decision was marked by sincerity, courage and integrity which fact was demonstrated when he lost his life while serving his community in his line of duty.”

Wilson “Slip” McLaughlin, son of the Captain, was also a longtime Sandusky fire fighter. He died in November of 1984, after having served the community for fifty years. He had been the state fire marshal for four years, and was formerly an Erie County Commissioner. Wilson McLaughlin started the annual Fireman's Shoe Fund for needy children. He was an honorary life member of the Sandusky Safety Council and the State and National Association of Fire Chiefs.

Visit the Archives Research Center to learn more about the many men and women who have served Sandusky and Erie County throughout the years. Newspapers, county histories, and many other reference sources can assist you in researching the many past and present residents of our community.

Pictured below is Fire Station No. 5 in the 1980s.

Sandusky’s Central Fire and Police Station, 1890

In 1888, Sandusky’s leaders saw the need for a new building to house the city’s police and fire departments. Following a “series of complications” the contract for the new building was awarded to A. Feick and Bros. The new Central Police and Fire Station was built of native blue limestone, and trimmed in Michigan red sandstone. It had a frontage of 81 feet, and a depth of 120 feet. The main tower was 94 feet high. The building was on the south side of Market Street, between Columbus Avenue and Jackson Streets, just a few doors down from the U.S. Post Office and Customs House.

On October 9, 1890, the new building was opened for inspection. The October 10, 1890 Sandusky Register front page article reported that at the inspection, “the firemen and police patrolmen were attired in their best uniforms and wore their happiest smiles.”

The large new structure was divided into two sections, one for the police department and the other for the fire department. It included space for storing the police patrol wagon and the fire department equipment. Offices for the city marshal and captain of the police were on the second floor. There were enough prison cells for sixteen males and four females. In the basement of the building was a department known as the "tramps' reception room." The Central Police and Fire Station also had offices for the city electrician and the mayor's court. The fireman's chamber was spacious enough to hold thirteen beds and thee sliding poles. Food for the horses necessary for the horse-drawn vehicles was stored in the hay loft. On the third floor was a large hall to be used for holding large public gatherings.

Steam heated the new building, and there was lighting by both gas and electricity. Furniture for the new Police and Fire Stations was provided by J. Krupp & Son, Kugler & Marquart, and Deck & Andres, all local firms. Carpets, linoleums and mattings were purchased from John J. and George A. Esch. The article in the Sandusky Register continues with brief biographies of several Sandusky firemen and policemen, and gives further details about the contractors of the new building.

Below is a photograph of the Central Police and Fire Station in 1901. The building is draped with flags and mourning ribbons following the death of President McKinley who died on September 14, 1901. Several firemen and policeman can be seen outside the station. A. Steffenhagen’s saloon is to the east of the Central Police and Fire Station.

The building which began as the Central Police and Fire Station building in 1890 went on to serve as the City Building from 1915 until 1958. The new City Building on Meigs Street was dedicated in May, 1958.

The Irish in Erie County

During the first half of the nineteenth century thousands of Irish emigrated to the United States. The potato famine of 1845 left devastating conditions in Ireland. The Irish immigrants had hopes of starting a new life in the United States. Often the only jobs available were among the least desirable. As a result many Irish born workers built the canals and railways of America and worked in dangerous mines. Besides working difficult jobs, the Irish often faced discrimination. They encountered signs that said “HELP WANTED – NO IRISH NEED APPLY.” As a result the Irish found solace in churches and community organizations. Eventually the Irish were assimilated into American culture, along with thousands of other immigrants from many other countries. Today Americans of Irish descent are still known for their humor, love of family, and their sometimes feisty personalities. St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated in America since 1737.

One of the earliest Irish immigrants in Erie County was John Beatty, who was one of largest land owners of the Firelands. John Beatty led a group of fourteen families from Connecticut to Perkins Township in 1814. He was Mayor of Sandusky from 1833 to 1836. His brother-in-law was Rev. William Gurley, an early Methodist minister was licensed to preach by John Wesley, the “father of Methodism.”

Father R. A. Sidley (below) was born in Ireland in 1828. He was the priest of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Sandusky from 1863 until 1871. Father Sidley oversaw the building of the church which still stands today at the southeast corner of Columbus Avenue and Jefferson Street. Father Sidley left a bequest of over $13,000 for the building of a new school, which was completed in 1907. The auditorium of the new school was named “Sidley Memorial Hall” in honor of Father Sidley. For many years Sidley Hall was used for concerts, commencements, as well as amateur and professional dramatic productions.

Leonard Johnson, another local Irish immigrant, bought Bull’s Island in 1852. The name of the island was later changed to Johnson’s Island. During the Civil War there was a Prisoner of War Camp located on Johnson’s Island.
Wilson “Slip” McLaughlin, who was Chief of the Sandusky Fire Department for many years, was the grandson of Irish immigrant, Michael McLaughlin. “Slip” is in the center of the group pictured below at the fire station located at the corner of Meigs Street and Sycamore Line. Mr. McLaughlin’s obituary in the November 24, 1984 stated that he was a “champion of the underprivileged and public” and a public servant for fifty years.
Descendants of Irish immigrants to Sandusky and Erie County still live and work in Sandusky today. A walk through St. Joseph’s Cemetery will bring to mind many of those Irish Americans who have gone before us.