The Peter Loretz House (Circa 1885) on Fitchville River Road is now the home of his great grandson, John Nolan. Pictured are Mary Louise Loretz, Rueben Loretz, Gertrude Loretz Conry, and Louise Loretz Millhouse.
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The Kenneth Buckley home as it appeared in the early 1800's. It was formerly the Humphrey's on the Gibson Tract and was remodeled in 1949.
The Thomas House on Railroad Street is now owned by Gary Pickett.
The Riverside Echo, Wakeman's first newspaper, was published in 1873 followed by The Wakeman Press, in 1875, edited by G. H. Mains. The subscription rate was $1.00 a year. Average value of an acre of land in Huron County was:
1826 - $ 2.08
1835 - $ 3.25
1841 - $ 3.24
1846 - $ 12.24
1853 - $ 21.22
The first railroad from Vermilion to Ashland was begun in 1837 and never completed. Many settlers lost money when it failed. The building of the first successful railroad brought the first Irish settlers to Wakeman.
The Early Irish Settlers
About the time many families were moving into Ohio from Pennsylvania, Connecticut and other Eastern states, many Irish immigrants were landing on the shores of the Eastern states and following along the building of the railroad. They built cabins and settled along the railroad tracks, bringing their families on return trips from the East. Many traveled on horse back or in wooden wagons. Some followed along Lake Erie in the winter on hand made sleds, coming here from Maine or New York State. Following so many hazardous days and weeks on the ocean they were so happy to see land they would come ashore and set up temporary homes until word of a job in the new land would give them a fresh hope for the future.
The Robert Bement House was the home of many early doctors in Wakeman,
including Dr. Beeman of "Beeman's Chewing-gum Fame."
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The M. J. Conry House on Townline Road is now owned by Jack Conry.
The railroad from Cleveland to Toledo was built between 1850 and 1855. Nearly all the original Irish immigrants that founded St. Mary's Parish came from Connaught, County Galway or County Clare, Ireland.
The first Irish settler to venture this way was Thomas Conry followed by Patrick Cashman from Vermont. Some following suit were the Ford families, the Donahoes, and the Murrays. They spent their first winter in a railroad box car and later built shanties or cabins along the track clearning. This are is now known as Green Street, Butler Road, Townline Road, better known as "Little Dublin", Fitchville River Road, then known as Canfield Road. Many branched into farming as clearing the forests progressed; building fine homes, and barns, setting out orchards, rearing families that any parent was proud to possess. Gardens flourished with potatoes, cabbage, parsnips, corn, etc.
The religious needs of this little settlement were served by Father Healy from Elyria, Ohio beginning in 1852. Mass was offered in the cabins of settlers with people using a hand car or walking the railroad tracks to attend prayer services.
In 1860, the parishioners became members of the Norwalk, Ohio Mission area. In 1870, the first building for St. Mary's Catholic Church was built. The first structure was a wood building 30 X 42 feet. In 1892 a 22 foot addition with bell tower was built. The first couple married in the new building was Michael Connolly and Mary Collins. Other names of first families forming this Parish unit were Murray, Dunn, Ford, Conry, Cashman, Ward, Burke, Mockler, Nestor, Moroney, Hogan, Brennam, Dugan, Raferty, Rooney, Fahey, Kelly, Logan, Cutherie, and Daugherty.
Property for a cemetery was purchased in 1874 and laid out on one acre east of the church. Most of the families mentioned above will be found buried in this cemetery. Many families lost children during the harsh cold winters and women died in childbirth. Those who survived raised large families and built lovely farm houses, many of which are still in use today. Some of the farmsteads today are the homes of fourth and fifth generations.
Many educated their children to be leaders such as priests, teachers, nurses, bankers, lawyers, nuns, policemen and excellent farmers. The Fay brothers and Dunn family settled on farms east of the village. There they bred and raised Holstein cattle worthy of becoming an important part of the foundations of the Holstein Friesian Association of present times.
These settlers were a solid, hard working stock of people. Many came to America with little formal education and only a small chest of personal belongings. They had very little money but they possessed a great faith in God and in themselves. Determined to keep their faith in God, they preyed and worked together and hoped for the day they would have their own church building in which to sing and pray.
Names and dates of early pioneers based on History of the Firelands by W. W. Williams 1879. Other sources are: Firelands Pioneer, Volumes I & II, 1858-1878; History of Wakeman Township, Dr. F. E. Weeks after 1917; History of Huron County, Ohio, Volume II-A.J. Baughman, 1909.
The Conry log cabin was typical of early Irish settlers' first homes.
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