NEWS

Reporter recaptures 'Lost Sandusky' in new book

Daniel Carson
Reporter

FREMONT – There's the Sandusky of today, dominated by Cedar Point Amusement Park, downtown revitalization efforts and the heavy commercial buildup of chain stores and restaurants along U.S. 250.

And then there are the destinations and attractions of the city's past, with the region's residents still remembering favorite places such as the Blue Hole, Crystal Cave, the M. Hommel winery and dozens of other landmarks of Sandusky's past.

Veteran News-Messenger and News Herald reporter Kristina Smith explored the some of the city's lost, but not forgotten, treasures and industries in "Lost Sandusky," a new book scheduled for release June 8.

Arcadia Publishing and the History Press contacted Smith in late 2013 about writing the book as part of their "Lost" series of books.

"I was really excited they called me. I was excited about the idea because Sandusky has so many different historical aspects," Smith said, noting the city's extensive marine history, ties to the Underground Railroad and the numerous industries that flourished in Sandusky

Smith took about a year to research and write the 160-page book, with a lot of her time spent combing through the Hayes Presidential Center's library and looking through the archives there for historical photos.

She said she liked that the book allowed her to look at so many topics related to the city's history, including the still-ongoing debate over whether the 18th century Fort Sandusky actually was based in Erie or Ottawa County and Sandusky's former status as the world's largest freshwater fish market at one point as well as the largest ice producer west of the Hudson River.

Smith said the Hayes Center had large pictures of people shaving ice that she used in the book, with commercial fishing businesses using icehouses along the Sandusky Bay in the city to keep fish cold.

One of Smith's favorite parts of the book involved a chapter looking at Sandusky's lost tourist attractions.

She said The Blue Hole in Castalia is one attraction still fondly remembered by residents and tourists who visited it. Smith said she had heard about The Blue Hole, attached to Cold Creek, but didn't know much about it until she started research on the book.

"All these people would come see this big hole of water with (seemingly) no bottom," Smith said.

An urban legend existed that a horse and buggy went into the Blue Hole and never came out, Smith said. She said Native Americans in the area thought the body of water had therapeutic healing powers.

The Blue Hole opened to the public in 1925 and closed in 1990.

Other attractions covered in the book include the Johnson's Island Pleasure Resort and the M. Hommel Winery, which Smith said was famous for its champagne, which was used to christen boats and attracted a lot of celebrities.

Smith said Charles Dickens visited Sandusky briefly during a 1842 trip and stayed at the Exchange Hotel. Dickens took the train to Sandusky but wouldn't leave the train until after dark.

Smith said the book also includes a Village of Venice chapter, as well as several pages devoted to Sandusky's wineries and breweries. There are two chapters devoted to the development of Cedar Point and a family that built their own summer home on a sandbar near the Cedar Point peninsula.

Smith will host a book signing and discussion on "Lost Sandusky" at 2:30 p.m. June 14 at the Hayes Presidential Center.

dacarson@gannett.com

419-334-1046

Twitter:@DanielCarson7