Test Your Knowledge of Erie County History!

Here’s a list of 25 questions that will test your knowledge of Erie County history. Just for fun, take the test and see how you measure up. Check back on future visits to www.eriecountyohiohistory.org to take the test again. We will be adding new questions on a regular basis.

See how you rate:

Rank Number Correct

25

23-24

21-22

18-20

Five golden stars

17 or Fewer

This man, first name Charles, was born in Sandusky, Ohio on July 9, 1844. His brother, Henry, then 18, was killed in the Civil War, and is buried in Oakland Cemetery. Charles then enlisted in the U. S. Army. He married Laura Cooke, daughter of Jay Cooke, who financed the Civil War. He opened a finance business, and at the age of 94, took on a partner. When he died on October 24, 1945, at the age of 101, he was among the oldest veterans of the American Civil War. Who was this remarkable man?

On the intersection of Tiffin Avenue, Washington Street, and Camp Street was a famous Tavern called The Balcony. It was once used by a U. S. Presidential candidate for a speech. It was made famous by a former silent film organ player. He entertained audiences for years with bawdy songs. The proprietor’s name was?

What company opened the first supermarket in Sandusky? It was located on East Washington Row.

This printing company is the only printing company to be shut down by the Federal Government because of a book they printed about the people President Lyndon Johnson supposedly had killed. It was only the printing company— NOT THE PUBLISHER.

This Sandusky City Commissioner championed saving the Cholera cemetery in the west end. At one time, Pigs were slaughtered there.

This doctor from Birmingham invented a chewing gum brand. Was it?

Erie Countians over 80 remember the big bands, and the ball rooms where they played.

This man oversaw installing the nuclear reactor at NASA Plumb Brook.

This person financed the installation of a park at the foot of Wayne Street. It featured "The Boy with a Boot" statue, "Maids of the Mist" statues, a fountain, and electric lights. Was it?

Because it had a stone hearth, many considered it the best bakery in Sandusky during the time it operated.

This winery made wine legally all during Prohibition. In the 1940's the business was turned over to the son-in-laws of the owners. They did not get along, and the business died.

This Sandusky man and graduate of West Point had his foot blown off during the Vietnam War. Besides being a great athlete, he had an incredible sense of humor.

This Sandusky High School track star set a record in 1938 at the Ohio State Track Meet that will never be broken. It was in the discus. The next year, the weight of the discus was changed to its present weight. Can you name him?

This man who had a yellow limestone house (now a museum) in Sandusky published the Lincoln Douglas Debates.

Margaretta Township got its name because the founder's mother, sister, and nieces were named Margaret. Who was the founder?

This Sanduskian was considered the best trap shooter in the United States during the 1940s.

On March 18, 1932, this 100 to 1 underdog from Sandusky won the Light Heavy Weight Championship of the World.

The great English novelist Charles Dickens wrote about what he discovered in Sandusky. What was it?

This man established a record for flying his bi-plane in 1910 from Euclid Beach to Cedar Point Beach. Who was this aviation pioneer?

This man was the Executive Officer under Jack Kennedy on PT 109 when it sank in the Pacific in 1943. He saved many lives. He does not (but should) have a park named after him in Sandusky.

At one time there was a bustling unincorporated community north of Berlin Heights. It had two stores, two saloons, a post office and a sawmill. In the fall of 1980, 25 thousand bushels of wheat were shipped out of this location. Virtually no businesses exist there today. However, the old terminal station from the Lake Shore Electric terminal is still there. What is the name of this community?

This man worked for a dollar a year during World War II, and his company helped develop bullet proof glass for fighter planes. He also had an estate in Margaretta Township, where he raised trout. He became chairman of the board of Owens-Illinois in Toledo. Who was this patriot?

During the War of 1812, in the Battle of Lake Erie, you could see the smoke from the ships’ cannons from:

Brothers Ira and Datus purchased a large tract of land in what became Erie County in the early 1800s for $1.00 per acre. They changed the name of the land they purchased to their last name. What did they purchase?

What famous American writer set some of his short stories at Cedar Point?