Historic Huron Home For Sale

In 2009, homeowner, Ina Townsend Young, hired Historical Research Partners to research the history of her home so she could present the written history to her husband, Kevin, as a Christmas gift. As with most houses, the history of the house located at 125 Center Street in Huron, Ohio, was quite interesting. The house was constructed around 1851 by master shipbuilder, John F. Squier. From 1854 until 1883, Squier built or modified 30 ships and tugs, but his most outstanding contribution to Great Lakes commerce was the propeller, Ohio, which he built in 1875. The Ohio was known as the first four-masted ship to sail all of the Great Lakes. Squier primarily built ships in Huron, but also worked in Milan, Toledo, Vermilion, and Lorain. Squier’s ship building career ended in 1883 when he constructed one of the last ships to be built in Huron, the Sakie Shepard.

John Squier and his wife, Maria, lived at 125 Center Street with their three children (who were all likely born in the house) until 1861. Over the next six years, the property changed hands many times until it was purchased in 1867 by prominent Huron businessman, Christopher Krock. Krock and his wife, Susan, lived at the Center Street home with their 7 children. Both Christopher and Maria lived there for the remainder of their lives.

The next long-term residents of 125 Center Street were Edward and Blanche Shaffer. The Shaffers purchased the home in 1919 and remained there the rest of their days. Shaffer was a self-employed fisherman. He constructed the interesting stone building that sits just to the northwest of the house. Shaffer used this sturdy structure as his ice house and as a place to store his catch until it could be sold or shipped.

In 1987, Kevin Young purchased the Center Street home and has lived there ever since. Currently, the home is for sale as Kevin and Ina seek to spend their retired years in a warmer climate. So, who will be the next resident to add to the rich history associated with this fine Huron home?

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/125-Center-St_Huron_OH_44839_M33772-02911

John Munson Boalt- A Life of Tragedy and Triumph

John Munson Boalt was born in Norwalk, CT, in 1814. His family settled in Norwalk, OH, in 1816, and then moved to Sandusky, OH, in 1824 where his father opened the Steamboat Hotel. In 1826, John’s father died, and the family returned to Norwalk. At the age of 14, John was orphaned; yet, he was an industrious young man, and soon found employment in Sandusky in the grain and shipping industry.

In 1842, John married Sarah Follett. Sadly, Sarah died in 1844 during childbirth, and their infant son, Edward, died six months later. John served on Sandusky’s first two city councils in 1845 and 1846. Around 1850, he moved to Milwaukee, WI, and then to Winona, MN. John returned to Sandusky in 1866 as a wealthy man and ordered construction of a new home located at 631 Wayne Street. The grand, Italianate-style home took two years to complete. John heavily invested in the Sandusky Wheel Co., a large producer of carriage wheels, and was named president in 1867. Upon completion of his new home in 1868, John again married, taking for his bride Francis (Fannie) Griswold. Through this union, three children were born, two of whom died in infancy.

In 1872, a fire destroyed most of the buildings and finished stock of the Sandusky Wheel Co. Presumably, this is why John filed for bankruptcy in 1873. Though John legally reached an agreement to pay his creditors a portion of what he owed them, he eventually repaid them in full, plus interest. From 1876 to 1880, John served as Postmaster for Sandusky. John died on May 4, 1890, at home at the age of 76. Services were held at the family home. Fannie Boalt moved from her home shortly after John’s death and rented the house until 1898 when she sold it.

Prohibition in Ohio

Much interest has surrounded the topic of prohibition due to the documentary by Ken Burns that recently aired on PBS. Interestingly, the stirrings for the prohibition movement began in Ohio. The first organized push toward prohibition began with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) which was organized on December 23, 1873, in Hillsboro, Ohio. Members of the WCTU prayed outside establishments that sold alcohol and often attempted to block the entrances. Members of the WCTU included women from nearly every sector of American life, but the majority of the members came from the middle classes and all had strong ties to evangelical Protestant churches. Though the WCTU is still in existence today, its members were unable to convince the majority of the American public to embrace prohibition.

The next organized movement in favor of prohibition came with the creation of the Anti-Saloon League in 1893. In 1894, Brookfield, Ohio, native and Oberlin College graduate, Wayne Wheeler, was named as leader of the Anti-Saloon League. Wheeler was both passionate about the cause of prohibition and was a well-organized leader. Wheeler’s focus was solely on prohibition, and he effectively applied pressure on politicians to further his cause. Despite Ohio’s strong history in raising prohibition leaders, Ohio did not vote itself dry until 1918. Nonetheless, the sentiment toward going dry in Ohio was always strong, and prohibition was often decided on a local level.

Arthur L. Hoover, son of local inventor, Isaac W. Hoover, and secretary of the Hoover Manufacturing Company of Milan, Ohio, embraced the cause of prohibition. Hoover’s interest in prohibition likely was due to a number of reasons including his job and his faith. Hoover’s livelihood came from the manufacture of potato diggers and other potato-related machinery. Alcohol consumption by employees often led to accidents and decreased productivity. Hoover first became Secretary of the Erie County Vote Ohio Dry Committee and was later named Secretary for the state-wide organization. During his tenure, Hoover discovered a “Blind Tiger” in Huron. (A “blind tiger” was a low-class establishment that illegally sold alcohol. The owner would charge an entrance fee to see an attraction, such as an animal, and then would provide a complimentary drink.) The October 25, 1915 issue of the Sandusky Register reported this incident as follows: “That a “blind tiger” is openly running in Huron is the charge made by A.L. Hoover, chairman of the county temperance committee. Chairman Hoover said Sunday that he reported the matter to the county liquor license commission and asked that its members investigate. “It is a matter of common knowledge in Huron that the “blind tiger” is in operation. The beer sold is obtained from an Erie county brewery.” asserted Hoover.” Apparently, Huron did not readily embrace prohibition!

Prohibition was enacted on a national level on January 17, 1920 after the 18th Amendment to the United States constitution was ratified. After 13 years of increased crime associated with the illegal sale of liquor and no decrease in consumption, the 18th Amendment was repealed, and the freedom to legally choose whether to consume alcohol was again restored to the American people.

McCormick Junior High School Officially Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

On June 15, 2011, McCormick Junior High School, formerly known as Huron School, was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is third property in Huron, Ohio, to be listed on the National Register, the other two structures being Christ Episcopal Church and the Huron Lighthouse. When McCormick School was completed in 1943, it was the first “architectural concrete” school constructed in Ohio. The school was constructed in the Art Moderne-style, an architectural style not common for public buildings. Due to McCormick School’s unique architectural attributes, it qualified for the National Register listing under Criterion C- architecture.

The National Register nomination was completed by Lisa Yako of Historical Research Partners of Huron at the request of the Huron Board of Education. Though listing on the National Register of Historic Places puts no restrictions on what can or cannot be done with the building, listing does highlight the unique attributes of the structure and its place in the history of both the Huron community and the nation. McCormick School is truly an architectural gem, and this has now been confirmed by the National Park Service. The nomination process from the preliminary questionnaire to the final listing took approximately one year.

The Great American Porches of Huron’s Old Plat

Picture this: a hot summer day, a fresh lake breeze, and the chirp of crickets and the song of cicadas. Next, add a dose of tangy lemonade to be shared with good friends. Where would you place this scene? For me, the perfect setting is a beautiful front porch equipped with a squeaky swing and some wicker furniture. For centuries, Americans stayed in touch with friends and neighbors while staying cool on their front porches. The exact origin of the porch is unknown. In America, the addition of a front porch took hold first in the South where its function was two-fold: to cool the house by sheltering the interior rooms, and to provide a place for all social classes to relax and escape the intense heat of the sun.

Following the Industrial Revolution (1820-1870), porches became more commonplace due to greater affluence and machines that made building a house less difficult. In addition, shorter workdays afforded Americans more time to enjoy their families and their homes, while also enjoying the outdoors.

In Huron’s Old Plat neighborhood, the houses with the most impressive porches appeared during the Victorian Period (1840-1900). These porches typically contained elaborate spindle work and were often painted with multiple colors. Porches, which provide a link to the outdoors, fit well with the Victorian Period’s emphasis on healthful living and outdoor activities. Further, the rapid spread of tuberculosis during this period drove people outside in the pursuit of fresh air.

In subsequent years, the popularity of the front porch continued as house styles changed. Most houses for the next 50 years after the Victorian era contained porches. In the Old Plat, front porches are also found on houses built in the American Foursquare and Craftsman styles.

As our modern society progressed and air conditioning and televisions became more common, people withdrew to the indoors. In addition, houses in the post World War II society were being mass-produced without much regard for ‘extra’ architectural elements. People began to crave their privacy and no longer used their porches as a means of staying in touch with neighbors. Though porches did make a comeback for a brief time period, it is doubtful whether they will ever regain the importance they once held. Interestingly, there is a movement to re-establish the popularity of front porches and some planned neighborhoods are even requiring front porches as a means of neighbors connecting with one another. All in all, front porches remain a beautiful reminder of a simpler time and beckon us to sit down and watch the world go by.