The influence of the Ernsthausens

The Ernsthausen name is an old one in the city of Norwalk. Students know the name walking into Norwalk High School's arts center and community members read it on the city's recreation center when driving down Republic Street. But who are the Ernsthausen family and what did they do? Trucking business grows According to the city of Norwalk's website, in 1912, John Ernsthausen and Rolla Fader started the Norwalk Truck Company which later became the Norwalk Truck Line. According to Cliff Cannon, who works on Norwalk's park and recreation commission, the truck line was one of the largest in the country at its peak. Cannon said Ernsthausen planted his roots in Norwalk because of its distance from Toledo and Cleveland. It was a good halfway point for his trucks to run between the cities. He originally ran a produce business, then found trucking to be a major expense. "Instead of sending his produce one was and getting nothing for it, he got a few trucks and started hauling stuff back," Cannon said. "He decided that was much more lucrative than being in the produce business." Then the Norwalk Truck Line was born. After making his impact on the trucking industry, the business was passed around and later sold to another freight line in the 60s. The buildings used by Ernsthausen's trucking business still stand today. Cannon said the Huron County Board of Elections building was the last headquarters in Norwalk. The original headquarters, where Ernsthausen's office was, was in a building on Water Street and Woodlawn Avenue. 'A very generous man' In addition to his success in trucking, he used his profits to make a difference in the city. Cannon described Ernsthausen as "a very generous man." Ernsthausen's company influenced Norwalk Schools' nickname, The Truckers. According to the school district's website, in 1946, Ernsthausen sent an assistant to the school's football practice to meet the coach and team. The assistant proposed that Ernsthausen would buy new uniforms, helmets, pads, jerseys, pants and shoes for the team. He would also throw in new uniforms for the marching band if the district changed its name from Raiders to Truckers. A passage posted on the school district's website recounts what happened next: "Well boys, what do you think?" football coach Grant Walls said, calling for a show of hands. The vote was unanimous. As one senior football player noted, "There wasn't any question about it. We had leather helmets that were so beat up and old, you could fold them and put them in your back pocket. A lot of us didn't have (football) shoes; we had to take what we could find from a big pile of old shoes in the equipment room." Thus the Truckers were born. The team with the unique name and brand-new blue-and-gold uniforms debuted at Whitney Field in September 1948. There is also a performing arts center at the high school with the Ernsthausen name. It was the result of an investment of more than $3 million by the John F. and Doris E. Ernsthausen Foundation, something the district is "forever grateful for," the Norwalk Schools website states. "(Ernsthausen) and his wife never had any children and if they would have that would have changed everything," Cannon said. "Norwalk became their children." Sharing the wealth today The Ernsthausen Foundation, which Cannon said still has money in it, has ties to Baldwin Wallace University. According to Lynden Ramsey, Norwalk's parks and recreation superintendent, the foundation was set up to benefit Norwalk's community programs and facilities. The foundation and the Ernsthausen name continue to impact the city. The foundation, with support from the city, created the Ernsthausen Community Center in 1989. The community center, also known as the Ernsthausen Recreation Center, is still operating today. Ramsey said before the facility was built, the recreation center was small and located behind the city's library. She said the facility was a huge asset to the city. "When this opened, you look through the history and the council meeting notes, it took a lot to get to this point," Ramsey said. "We're blessed to have something this size in a city of our size." Ramsey said the center is always adapting and adding to its original features. In 1994, an indoor pool and weight room were added to the original structure. Amenities just in the aquatic center include a therapy pool, a competitive pool used to host local school districts' swim teams, a whirlpool, a steam room, a splash pad, an outdoor pool, swim lessons and ramp entrances to the pools. Other amenities at the facility include a playground, family locker room, cardio machines, basketball courts, volleyball courts, additional basketball hoops, a track and racketball courts. The center also has classes for its visitors including Zumba, stretching, swim lessons, gymnastic lessons and the Silversneaker program, a program to help seniors stay in shape at the gym. More information on the center's features can be found on its website, norwalkrec.com.