At Home in Early Sandusky, by Helen Hansen

On April 15, 1975, James R. Brown, then managing editor of the Sandusky Register, presented a copy of the book At Home in Early Sandusky to Virginia Altstaetter, president of the Board of Trustees of the Sandusky Library. The book’s author Helen Hansen and Barbara Wendt looked on.

Mrs. Hansen autographed books at a reception at the Follett House on May 4, 1975, in commemoration of the book’s publication. The Register made a generous contribution in financing the publication costs, in memory of former Register publisher, Dudley A. White, who had supported the idea that the Follett House could be restored as a living memorial to Sandusky’s past. The Follett House was placed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks on December 31, 1974, and opened to the public as a museum in early July of 1976, the summer that the United States Bicentennial was celebrated.

At Home in Early Sandusky was based on a series of articles in the Sandusky Register by Helen Hansen in 1958 and 1959, known as “Stately Old Homes.” Mrs. Hansen provided historical details for over a hundred of the older homes in Sandusky, illustrated with photographs. The first article in the book was devoted to the Oran Follett House. In Article 12, she wrote about the Joseph M. Root home on Adams Street.

Joseph Root house, 231 E. Adams St.

An index in the back of the book lists the individuals and businesses mentioned in the book. All proceeds from the sale of At Home in Early Sandusky went to the restoration of the Follett House Museum.

Because of Helen Hansen’s devotion to local history, we can learn a great deal about the homes and people of Sandusky’s past. Mrs. Hansen and Virginia Steinemann co-authored two volumes of  From the Widow’s Walk: A View of Sandusky, with even more historical information about Sandusky and Erie County. Visit the Sandusky Library to view these informative local history books.

Historic Views of the Southwest Corner of Monroe and Hancock Streets

    

When M.J. Bender opened a grocery store at the southwest corner of Monroe and Hancock Streets in Sandusky on February 18, 1891, a newspaper ad stated that it was “one of the finest and largest grocery stores in Sandusky.” Bender’s carried a full line of fancy and staple groceries, flour, and feed. The store was located on the site of Ohly’s old stand. By 1908 Mr. Bender moved his store to the corner of Hancock and Water Streets. For a brief time, sometime between 1910 and 1920, Wendt’s grocery was at that location.

   

In the 1920s and 1930s, the Lazarra and Maschari families ran a fruit market on this site. From at least 1940 through 1960, Otto’s Ice Cream was in business at 701 Hancock Street. This advertisement appeared in the Sandusky Register Star News on January 25, 1946.

         

By 1990 a flooring business was in operation at 701 Hancock Street. 

        

Many different businesses have been in operation at this busy Sandusky intersection. Some years, no business was at this location. To learn more about any specific location in Sandusky, visit the Sandusky Library to view historic Sandusky city directories. The street listings are helpful in determining what businesses were at what address at a given time.

Frank "Casey" Casserly

On December 29, 1890, Frank J. Casserly was born in Sandusky, Ohio, to Michael and Julia Casserly, who were both natives of Ireland. Frank Casserly was the manager of the Shamrocks baseball team in Sandusky in the 1910’s. The picture above is a portion of the 1914 championship team photo. Below is a postcard of the Shamrocks team, though Baldy Platt appears to be wearing a jersey from the Sandusky Tool Company team.

Front row: Walter Wendt, Whitey Metzgar, Manager Frank “Casey” Casserly, George Kimball and Elmer Brengardner

Back row: Butch Eckler, George Dahm, Walter Appel, Norm Troike, team secretary-treasurer, Alde Broderson, Gordon Osgood, Baldy Platt, and Roy Kerber

An article in the August 26, 1911 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal referred to Manager Casserly as “the Connie Mack of Sandusky.” In the 1930’s he managed the Eagles baseball team, and he coached area football teams as well. In the Spring of 1935, Frank Casserly was struck by an automobile, and was hospitalized for several weeks. The Eagles sponsored a benefit to help with his medical expenses. In the 1940’s and early 1950’s, he was a popular bartender at Stone’s Grill and Jax Bar on Columbus Avenue.

On November 20, 1954, Frank J. “Casey” Casserly died after a lengthy illness. At the time of his death he was secretary-treasurer of the Bartenders Local No. 804. He was past president of the Eagles Lodge. Mr. Casserly was survived by his wife Minnie, and two daughters, Nancy and Julia. Charles J. Andres Sons’ was in charge of funeral arrangements, and burial was at St. Joseph Cemetery.

Wendt's Economy Grocery

From about 1916 through 1919, Ervin H. Wendt ran a grocery at the corner of Market and Wayne Streets. The store sold groceries and also featured a delicatessen. Trucks bearing the Wendt’s name made deliveries to Sandusky customers.

In the 1916-1917 Sandusky City Directory, Ervin Wendt’s listing reads “The Economy Grocer.”

An ad in the June 1, 1917 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal stated that Wendt’s Economy Store could save customers enough money that they could that subscribe to the Liberty Loan, since Wendt’s store could save them the dollar per week fee.

The March 19, 1917 Sandusky Star Journal reported that Mr. Wendt owed his success to “perfect sanitation, courteous treatment, cash selling, and the handling of a distinct line of specialties…” In 1917, the Wendt grocery store employed four salesmen, a telephone operator and an adequate delivery force.

The Wendt store ceased operations in 1919, and Ervin Wendt moved to Cleveland, where he managed another grocery store. He was associated with Fisher Foods for thirty five years. Ervin and his wife retired in Pompano Beach, Florida.