Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Sandusky Polka























The Sandusky Polka was composed by Ida T. Reeder in 1852, and was published by Stayman and Brothers in Philadelphia. You can view the entire musical composition at the Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, 1820-1860 Collection from the Library of Congress. According to the website of the Sandusky Historic Site in Lynchburg, Virginia, Charles Johnston, built the fine brick house in the early part of the nineteenth century. He named it Sandusky to commemorate a narrow escape he had in 1790, when he and his companions were held captive by a party of Shawnees at an encampment near Lake Erie, near the frontier settlement of Sandusky, Ohio. Click here to read the history of this beautiful home in Virginia. During the Civil War, Union General David Hunter made Sandusky his headquarters. Future presidents Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley were among General Hunter's staff members. Ida T. Reeder, who wrote both the Sandusky Polka and the Sandusky Waltz, was related to the Hutter family, who owned the historic Sandusky home in Lynchburg, Virginia, for several years. View images of the Historic Sandusky Home here.

3 comments:

Yvonne said...

Hi Dorene,

Just want you to know that I love following your blog - even if some days I have to play catch-up! You are amazing and I have learned so much! Yvonne

Dorene from Ohio said...

So glad to hear you are still following:) Have a great summer!

Unknown said...

We've actually recorded the Sandusky Polka onto a CD in our gift shop!

The song was erroneously dedicated to Emma Hutter, Ida's other Aunt at Poplar Forest. When Ida found this out she cried for hours.