About Our History

The History of Sandusky, Ohio NAACP

It is the consensus of those who were close to the Sandusky Branch of the NAACP that the changes which occurred in the field of civil rights began in the early 1950s. The records available and the memories of those involved put the reorganization of the local chapter at about 1949. We did indeed find that there had been an organization before 12/10/42, showing approximately 20 black females being trained at the Philco plant on Warren Street in Sandusky. The plant was scheduled to open in January and employ about 200 workers. It was the only Philco plant in Ohio to hire only black workers. In the same picture was Harry B. Dennis, organizer of the local NAACP. It’s assumed that the organization faltered after a few years.

During World War IL, large numbers of blacks not eligible for the draft were recruited from the south to come to Sanduskyto work in foundries and produce steel for the war effort. Almost all who came here for employment opportunities could hardly tell they had left the south because the signs of segregation were so apparent. Black travelers coming through Sandusky had to seek respite with another black family or sleep in their cars. Cafeterias at five-and-dime stores would sell blacks food, but would not allow them to sit and eat.

Housing was so scarce that some men who came here for work began making plans to leave because they could not find housing for their families. The owners of Farrell Cheek Steel and other businesses got together with city officials to apply for public housing. Funding was approved but the city decided to build one project for whites and one for blacks. McArthur Park housing for whites went up first. Fairview Park for blacks went up after the other was nearly finished. These housing patterns began to institutionalize segregation in the school and led to open discrimination in housing.
It was during this time that black veterans started coming home from the war and were not welcomed in local veterans organizations. Blacks were still required to sit on the balcony at movies and could not buy or eat a meal in a restaurant. Fred Dixon, a veteran of both World Wars, became fed up with the situation ad began walking the black neighborhoods, encouraging residents to organize against the blatant injustice. Heeding M.r Dixon’s call, a few concerned blacks met in Second Baptist Church to organize. Rev. Richard Ashburn accepted the position of President. One of the first things
they did was to renew the charter.

Housing, jobs, integrated public accommodations, and the hiring of black teachers led the priorities of the fledgling branch. Abreak came to help relieve the housing shortage for blacks. A white developer approached Rev. Ashburn about building housing for blacks on a tract of land he had acquired off Cleveland Road, now called SunnysideAcres. The need was there but the idea was a form of segregation because the whites were still not interested in integrated housing. The NAACP and black residents decided the blacks would be hurt more if the offer was turned down.

Sandusky NAACP History continued
The NAACP provided the legal work and expertise in filling out applications at no cost, whether the applicant was a member or not. What became a near disaster was that no bank or lending institution in the county would finance the mortgages. The Union Savings and Loan of Bellevue came to the rescue to finance most of the mortgages. Following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. blacks in some cities took to the streets to pillage and burn property as a form of protest. Leaders of the Sandusky NAACP walked the streets to calm the fears of its citizens and the city remained unscathed. Finally, a Human Relations Commission was formed and the NAACP had an ally in the struggle for equal rights.

The NAACP and the Human Rights Commission worked well together, gathering the necessary statistics on the incidence of poverty in the country. They lobbied the Erie County Commission to submit a proposal to the U.S. Government for a community action agency. The application was accepted and received funding. The commissioners provided an office in the courthouse to get the agency started. It was also a cooperative effort to get a housing authority started to provide housing for low-income residents. Once again, the county came through with the approval once the city declined. The two groups helped to draft the Fair Housing Law for the City of Sandusky. At that time, it was considered to be one of the best in the state. There were many changes made at that time, to improve the lifestyle and economic well-being of the minority population.

In the 1970s, Sandusky Fire and Police departments were lacking in the hiring of a requisite number of black and woman police officers and firefighters. With full community support and under the leadership of NAACP President Emmanuel Irby and board members Mary Rather, Attorney RB Oglesby, Clarence Seavers, and the Sandusky Unit of the NAACP retained attorneys Ron Ruskan and Avery Friedman to file a lawsuit against the city of Sandusky, Ohio. The named plaintiffs were Ricky Keaton and Bobby Graves.
Blacks who had been pilots, engineers, former police officers, and college graduates were for one reason or another denied employment with the city of Sandusky. With the testimony of many, including city employees and NAACP members, Police Captain Floyd Churchwell, Police Prosecutor Robert B. Oglesby, and Fireman Lieutenant Tony Bonner, the NAACP won a consent decree between the city to hire more black police and firemen. White police officers also testified on behalf of the NAACP and against the city of Sandusky.

Based on the lawsuit filed by the NAACP in the late 70’smany blacks and women owe the fact that they were hired into the safety forces of the city of Sandusky to the NAACP. To date, retired Lieutenant Tony Bonner still actively participates in the NAACP, and is presently an officer and member of the Executive Committee.

Many of the city employees directly involved or indirectly involved in the lawsuit remained dedicated, faithful members and officers of the Sandusky NAACP until their deaths.

The NAACP is proud of the members of the community that stepped forth to take leadership of the Sandusky NAACP. We salute and give honor to the past and present leaders.