Historic Fremont

Walking Tour

This map was created in celebration of Sandusky County’s bicentennial in 2020. Local historians Larry Michaels and Mike Gilbert provided the information. Michaels provided photos. The layout is by Kristina Smith.The map was organized and designed through a partnership between the Sandusky County Bicentennial Committee, Sandusky County Historical Society and Hayes Presidential Library & Museums.

Take a walk through the downtown and surrounding area of historic Fremont, Ohio.

Following this map, you can see what the city streets looked like during the days of horses and buggies in the 1800s and the commerce of the mid 20th century. See the places that helped to shape the city.

Some points of interest look similar to their historic photos, and some are covered by empty lots or new buildings.

Photo above: Aerial view of downtown Fremont, circa 1930.

6. Downtown Historic buildings, 1860. This photo gives a view of one of the oldest business

blocks in downtown Fremont. It has been known as Moore’s Block, Lesher’s Block and Russell’s Block. Today, it houses restaurants Elroy’s Deli and Scarpetta’s Italian Restaurant.

7. Downtown historic buildings, east side of Front Street, circa 1960. This view shows

businesses on Front Street between Croghan and Garrison streets. Note Woolworth’s, Lytle’s and Crosby’s Shoes in the photo. Today, the block houses restaurants, offices and

the Live Edge Center, among other businesses. 8. The Comfort Station, 1959. This little

brick building once stood at the end of Croghan Street where it intersects with Front Street was a newsstand that had public bathrooms and shoe shine service. It operated from about 1921 to 1970.

9. First National Bank, late 1800s. This bank was founded by local businessman Sardis Birchard,

uncle to President Rutherford B. Hayes and builder of the historic Hayes Home. It was open from the 1860s to the 1960s. The bank was torn down and is today a parking lot for Fremont Federal Credit Union.

12. Baumann Meat Market, 1918. The Baumann Meat Market is pictured at left on

Armistice Day, the day World War I ended on Nov. 11, 1918. Today, the site is a parking lot for Croghan Colonial Bank. The building at right is today is Croghan Colonial Bank.

18. Fabing House, 1874. Frederick Fabing, who made his money in the California Gold Rush, built this Victorian home in 1859 at the corner of Park Avenue and Garrison Street. Today, the home is used as office space for a business.

10. Downtown businesses, circa 1970. What is now Huntington Bank has replaced the

businesses seen here on the northwest corner of Front and Croghan streets.

11. Brainard House, 1905. Dr. Daniel Brainard built this federal-style showpiece home in 1837 at the corner of Croghan and Arch streets. Later, it housed the Fremont Journal. Today, Croghan Colonial Bank stands on the site.

13. View of Croghan Street from Birchard Public Library, 1922. This view shows Croghan

Street during a parade, likely for the centennial of President Rutherford B. Hayes’ birthday on Oct. 4, 1922. The buildings still stand today.

14. Sandusky County’s first courthouse, circa 2010s. This building housed Sandusky

County’s first courthouse and was located back from Croghan Street. It was built in 1823. Today, it is an apartment building.

15. Daughters of the American Revolution House, 1860s. This home, located on Justice

Street behind the Elks building, was the home of Civil War officer William Haynes. The George Croghan Chapter of the DAR bought it in the 1940s.

16. Sandusky County Courthouse, early 1900s. This postcard shows the current county

courthouse and standpipe, which served as a water tower, across the street in what is today a park. The courthouse was built in 1843 and was expanded through the years. The standpipe

was built in the 1880s and torn down in 1929.

17. Former Fremont Ross Middle School, circa 1950s. First the site of the Union School,

Fremont Ross High School was built on this lot in 1909. It then became Fremont Middle School when another high school was built in 1958. It was torn down in 2012.

19. First Presbyterian Church, 1850 and 1873. This photo shows the original and rebuilt buildings. The original church was built around 1850. It was torn down and rebuilt in 1873 and still stands today.

20. Hayes United Methodist Church, 1883. This church was built in 1883. President Rutherford B. Hayes paid a quart of the cost to build it. His wife, First Lady Lucy Hayes was a devout Methodist. The church still stands today.

21. Buckland House, 1860. This home was built in 1853 by Civil War Gen. Ralph Buckland, a local attorney and law partner of President Rutherford B. Hayes. It still stands on the southwest corner of Park and Birchard avenues.

22. June House, late 1800s. Diagonally across Park Avenue from the Buckland House, the June House no longer stands. David June built it as a wedding gift for her daughter. Today, the site is the garden for the Sandusky County Historical Society at the corner of Park and Birchard avenues.

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1. Dryfoos and Jackson Houses, early 1900s. At the far right corner of Park and Birchard avenues was the home of A.H. Jackson,

owner of the Jackson Underwear factory that was in downtown Fremont and other locations. The middle house belonged to the Dryfoos family, who owned a clothing store on Front Street. At far left once

stood a boarding house where E.J. Conger lived. He helped to capture John Wilkes Booth, assassin of President Abraham Lincoln.

2. Jackson Annex and Garage, early 1900s. The Jackson Annex, an upscale apartment complex for women who worked at the Jackson

Underwear plant, still stands at the corner of Arch Street and Birchard Avenue. The Jackson Garage, (center), was once the Ball Livery.

3. Anderson Block, early 1900s. The buildings at Arch and Garrison Streets were known as the

Anderson Block and once housed G.I. Stine Motorcycle, Longanbach Grocery, Matthews Optometry and other businesses through the years.

4. Downtown buildings, circa 1960. These historic buildings, located on the southeast

corner of Front and Garrison streets, have housed several businesses throughout the years. Pictured here are Revco and Montgomery Ward. The Jackson Underwear Plant

was once housed here. Today, Fremont Athletic Supply occupies one of the buildings.

5. Masonic Hall, late 1800s. The Masonic Hall, built by Ralph Buckland in 1853, still stands on Front Street. It now houses CoCoBeans Candy, the Uniform Shop and other businesses. It is one of the oldest buildings in downtown Fremont. Today, note the sketches of people in the upper windows.

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