Hide Article Text (OCR)
When I Aviis quite a small lad—perhaps ten or twelve years old—we had a mast terrific northeast storm at Venice. The hamlet was swept away, scarcely a cabin being left standing when the fury of the storm abated. The houses on the bay shore were only a few feot above the ordinary level of the water in the bay and Lake Erie. In this storm the water swept almost everything from its place and the people had to seek shelter on the neighboring high lauds.As the water in the bay was shallow, much deeper than now, the villagers : bnilt a long log flock for almost a half a mile out into the bay, where vessels could come to discharge their passengors and cargo. This dock was almost completely swept away. True, there were here and thore a few logs left, but they only showed their crooked ends and looked more like beacons to warn theiunwary navigator than like once a long and considerable wharf or dock. It has never been rebuilt. I was at home when the storm took place, but I came to the ; creek the next day and went with my ! father to see the ruined village and the destruction that the storm had made. The scene where the y ill age of Venice stood was certainly one long to be remembered, for the destruction was most complete.“The first store iu Sandusky was located right on the bank of the bay shore at a point about where the lumber yard of Bennett Bros, is now located. Jacob Raup was the proprietor. He kept—' v . \ i. .nt* oLm.I It.wlto were fortunate enough to get a gold piece by chance, and which was kept as n keepsake. Most of the money in this section was from two banks at Detroit until the Ohio State bank began in Sandusky. As change was scarce, merchants often had to issue tokens on paper and a few of copper. These tokens passed anywhere in this vicinity and vrere generally* receivable for anything except customs and taxes.“The shoemakers and blacksmiths were the busiest men in this part of the country, for each had all they possibly could do and were among the most thrifty and comfortable of all the residents.“Nearly every set tier had his barrel of whisky, and it was offered to visitors and friends as cider was later, and in some sections now, yet there was scarcely any drunkenness in these early days to speak of, as the liquor was pure and good. It could be bought for 17 to 20 cents per gallon.“The only printed ballots we had at election was the name of candidates for state officers, with space below for the voter to add such names as he desired for county and township officers. Election days were usually considered a holiday and the voters, after discharging their duty at the polls, gathered in groups along the voting place, spun yarns, talked about crops anrhprospccts for the coming year. The vonnger voters got together and often witnessed impromptu wrestling matches ahd feats of suppleness and strength.” Rivkt.
Newspaper Details
Sandusky Star
Sandusky, Ohio, US
Wed, Sep 21, 1898
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Kathleen W.
NA, 21 Oct 2023
Other Publications Near Sandusky, Ohio
Sandusky Register
Daily Commercial Register
Sandusky Clarion
Sandusky Daily Sanduskian
Sandusky Star
