Charles J. Stark, Newspaper Man

Charles J. Stark was born in Wooster, Ohio in 1882. He was a graduate of Ohio State University, and served as President of Penton Publishing Co. in Cleveland for many years. About 1911, Charles J. Stark married Penelope Mack, daughter of Sandusky newspaper publisher, John T. Mack. Charles J. Stark came to the Sandusky Register in 1942, serving as Vice President. Later he was General Manager, and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sandusky Newspapers until his retirement in 1965.

In the 1960’s, Charles J. Stark was President of The Robert A. Taft Memorial Association of Erie County. The purpose of this non-profit organization was to “perpetuate the ideals” of the late Senator, Robert Alphonse Taft. The group had annual dinners, and donated books on constitutional government to local school libraries. During some years, honor students from the various public and parochial schools in Erie County were invited to attend the annual dinner. By the end of the 1970’s, The Robert A. Taft Memorial Association was dissolved. Charles J. Stark died on December 17, 1978. He and his wife, Penelope Mack Stark, who died in 1974, are both buried in Knollwood Cemetery, Mayfield Heights, Ohio.

John T. Mack, father-in-law of Charles J. Stark, began his association with the Sandusky Register, first working with his brother I. F. Mack.
In 1874, John T. Mack bought an interest in the paper, and he became the business manager of the Sandusky Register. In 1909, I. F. Mack withdrew his connection with the Register, and John T. Mack became publisher and editor of the Sandusky Register. Son Egbert H. Mack was secretary and business manger, while another son, John D. Mack served as treasurer. John T. Mack remained at the helm of the Sandusky Register until his death on July 8, 1914.

To learn more about the Mack family and its longtime connection with the Sandusky Register, see Sandusky's Editor, by Charles E. Frohman, which focuses on I. F. Mack. This book is available at the Archives Research Center of the Sandusky Library.

Kiwanis Christmas Party, 1926

On Tuesday, December 21, 1926, the Sandusky Kiwanis Club hosted a party for forty-five children from the Erie County Children’s Home. The festivities took place at the chapel of the First Presbyterian Church. Each club member was responsible for one of the youngsters’ gifts. J. F. Starkey, dressed as Santa Claus, gave each child a gift of candy, nuts, and oranges. Christmas carols were sung by all. Heenan Elliott entertained the children by doing impersonations. At the end of the luncheon, the children sang a song of thanks to the Kiwanians.

In 1926, Mr. and Mrs. John Ritter were in charge of the Children’s Home. The committee responsible for the Kiwanis Christmas program was made up of: W. P. Bittner, Dr. A. J. Funnell, and Dr. H. L. Brown. Mrs. Clara “Ma” Bock, the club’s caterer (pictured below), was given a pin by the Kiwanis Club members at the Christmas party.
At the time of the Kiwanis Christmas Party, the children whom they hosted resided at the facility pictured below. The Erie County Children’s Home opened at its Sycamore Line location in May, 1901. The home closed in 1960 because of increasing operating expenses to maintain a facility not filled to capacity. The photo below was taken by Robert E. Frank, when the building housed offices for Erie County’s Sanitary Engineering division. The former Children's Home building is now privately owned.