Chronicling the crayon's importance

SANDUSKY — A new book explores the vibrant history of a prominent factory standing in Sandusky for decades. John W. Kropf wrote "Color Capital of the World," a recently published piece analyzing his family ties to the former American Crayon factory on Hayes Avenue (Ohio 4) near Sandusky High School. Born in Sandusky, and a graduate of Huron High School, Kropf earned an undergraduate degree from Denison University in Ohio as well as law and master's degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. Today he's an attorney residing in Washington, D.C., who returns to Sandusky once a year. During his most recent trip, Kropf hosted a book discussion at the Sandusky Library, where people could ask him questions about the "Color Capital of the World." Here are some snippets about what people can expect from his writing: Q: Can you give some context into "Color Capital of the World"? JK: This is the story of the crayon. Following the Civil War, three entrepreneurial Sandusky families took their innovative ideas for school chalk from the family kitchen stove and transformed them into the American Crayon Co. "Color Capital of the World" tells this story through the eyes of one of the founding family's descendants, tracing the cycle of build, boom and bust. Readers will come away feeling a greater appreciation of the human story behind the crayon and the city of Sandusky that produced more crayons and paints than anywhere in the world. Q: Why was this something you wanted to write about? JK: I grew up with stories about the American Crayon Co. as part of my family lore, but it wasn't until 2013 I had the idea to write the book. That year, I read a series of stories in the Sandusky Register about the demolition of the crayon company factory on Hayes Avenue. Shortly after its demolition, my mother died, and I came back to Sandusky for her funeral where she was buried in Oakland Cemetery. Those two events signaled to me, in a personal way, the end of an era in Sandusky's history, and I wanted to share my collection of personal stories with Sandusky residents and others interested in the industrial heritage of the Midwest. Q: What does the book explore? JK: The era of innovation in which the American Crayon Co. was born and the three Sandusky families that came together to create and grow the company that became one of the most successful suppliers of crayons and other art supplies to schools and businesses throughout the world. Through the use of portraiture, broader Sandusky history and my own recollections, I tell the story of what American Crayon meant to Sandusky and my family — and all the costs that result when something great fades away. It has been described as a story of "memory, meditation and exposition blend seamlessly in this unusual and valuable work of history. Q: What message do you hope the reader takes away from your work? JK: An appreciation for the story of the crayon and for Sandusky's innovative industrial heritage. Q: How can people get the book? JK: Directly from the publisher's website: blogs.uakron.edu/uapress/product/color-capital-of-the-world and they can use a discount code that gives 30% off (crayon30) for their site only. (It doesn't seem to work on mobile devices or other booksellers.) It's also available from local, independent book stories and, of course, the big bookstores: Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Hudson Booksellers and Amazon. Last week, I saw copies on the shelf at Books-A-Million at the Sandusky Mall. Q: Is there anything else you would like readers to know? JK: The book is part of the University of Akron Press series on Ohio History and Culture. Former Register photographer Tim Fleck's photograph of the factory is included in the book. I will be back in northern Ohio for more book events in January and February • Jan. 11 — 7 p.m. at the Lakewood Public Library, Lakewood • Feb 26 — time to be determined at Phoenix Brewing, Mansfield History lesson The Sandusky Library's history blog provided some insight into the American Crayon factory, which was demolished due to years of neglect back in 2017: The American Crayon Co., steeped in Sandusky's colorful history as one of the premier and foremost manufacturers of school art supplies and other industrial products in the nation during its time, originally grew out of the need for high-quality chalk. It soon branched out of a humble kitchen into a national company primarily operated and concentrated in the city of Sandusky. It expanded over time by merging with and absorbing other companies and redirecting its product line focus and also established itself as a lifetime employer of countless Sanduskians. With the acquisition of Prang's Educational Co. around 1915, the American Crayon Co. adopted and incorporated Prang Educational Co.'s mission to make art accessible to the common American household and child by way of the public classroom, thus cementing its historical impact on a local and national scale. In 1835, Dr. Francis F. Field, a dentist in Waltham, Massachusetts, experimented with chalk, which was later developed into a commercial product by Parmenter, Powell & Powers Co. to become known as Waltham Crayons. Similarly, Marcellus F. Cowdery, the first superintendent of Sandusky's Public Schools, frustrated by existing chalks constantly scratching slate boards, encouraged his brother-in-law, William D. Curtis, to formulate an improved chalk. In the 1860s, Curtis began conducting experiments in the kitchen of his small home, located on Hayes Avenue near Polk Street, and was able to create a few sticks of pure white, processed chalk. Plentiful gypsum and limestone deposits, used in the production of this chalk, were conveniently located nearby, alongside Sandusky Bay. Initially, the business remained small and was operated out of Curtis' kitchen, as he peddled the product from house to house. The invitation of John S. Cowdery, Marcellus's brother, into this new business venture, sparked company growth, as, by 1869, John Cowdery's cellar on Columbus Avenue became the center of operations for chalk production for the Mississippi and Ohio River Valley markets. In the late 1860s, the American Crayon Co. had made the first tailor's chalk, the first carpenter's chalk, and, in 1878, created the first railroad chalk. Originally labeled as the J.S. Cowdery Manufacturers, the company quickly renamed itself Western School Supply in 1884 after expanding production facilities in 1881 near Hayes Avenue and Polk Street to meet the growing demands for school-related products. In 1890, the Sandusky-based Western School Supply Co. merged with Tiffin Crayon Co. and the Parmenter Crayon Co. in Waltham, Massachusetts, to officially form and establish the American Crayon Co. On Oct. 4, 1901, a fire destroyed the company's original Sandusky plant and a larger one on Hayes Avenue south of the New York Central Railroad tracks was opened in September 1902. The revitalized company began purchasing additional art supply companies in New England and the Midwest. World War I interrupted commercial trade between many nations including the U.S. and Germany. Prang's heavy reliance on German chemicals and products to manufacture its own items was impeded by decreased availability before and during World War I. These circumstances pushed Prang Educational Co. and American Crayon Co. into a merger in 1913. The combined companies organized their own small independent watercolor factory in Sandusky called Kroma Color Co. American Crayon Co.'s complete takeover of the Prang Educational Co. around 1915 gave them the rights to use the unmistakable "Prang" trademark of the "Old Faithful" geyser at Yellowstone National Park as their advertising logo symbolizing quality, value and tradition. The American Crayon Co. manufactured a long line of crayons, chalks, blackboards, erasers, watercolors, pencils, paste, cleaners and other more industrial items, such as chalk for tailors, carpenters, textile mills and railroad stockyards. The growing success and popularity of the American Crayon Co. led to its prosperous operation at the original Sandusky plant through the 1920s to the 1950s. In January 1957, the American Crayon Co. became an affiliate of Joseph Dixon Crucible Co., based in Jersey City, New Jersey. The news was followed by high hopes and promises to continue labor operations in Sandusky and deter little from the existing setup. The unpredictable nature of business and changing economy led to the Bryn Mawr Corp.'s 1984 purchase of American Crayon's parent company, Joseph Dixon Crucible. Dixon Ticonderoga, established much earlier than American Crayon Co., produced similar products but tended to focus more on industrial supplies. Although predictions and negotiations continued and were meant to reassure the ongoing operation of the Sandusky plant following its acquisition, gradually labor and plant operations along with a host of selected employees were outsourced to Canada and Mexico. Eventually, all the operations were progressively moved out of the original Sandusky plant, and it closed its doors in 2002 after 167 years of service in Sandusky, Ohio as a loyal and long-term employer in the community. Sandusky officials now own the site, demolished in 2017. Officials continue to analyze the best possible uses for this land, totaling 6 acres. American Crayon Co. opened a new world of art to young children and provided a major source of employment for the local community, earning itself an important place in Sandusky's history of development and business.