Dustbowl Bandit’s History and Demise Shared at ELO Business
EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio — It was Oct. 22, 1934, and Public Enemy No. 1 had just met his match outside the city on Sprucevale Road, at the hands of local police officers and federal agents. His body was later brought to a downtown funeral home.
Yesterday and today, that historic event is being remembered during an open house at The Sturgis House, 122 W. Fifth St., which is now a bed and breakfast owned by Carrie Ann Williams.
Originally built at the turn of the century by the Erlanger family, the Victorian mansion was later purchased by E.G. Sturgis for use as a funeral home.
It was here that the body of Charles Arthur “Pretty Boy” Floyd was tended to after his fatal encounter with officers on the farm of Ellen Conkle, where he had emerged and eaten a meal after escaping officers in Wellsville.
Although his mother requested that her son’s body not be displayed, Floyd was embalmed in what is now the basement and laundry area and placed on display in what is now the dining room, according to Williams.
Kelsey Hedrick, a St. Clair Township police officer who has explored the history of Floyd’s exploits in the area, said upwards of 20,000 people viewed the body before it was transported to Akins Cemetery in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, for burial.
Over the years, The Sturgis House has been used for various purposes, including retail shops and apartments. In 1993, Frank Dawson and his family refurbished the house as a bed and breakfast.
Williams purchased the home two years ago in October, finding it already decorated and furnished, though she said some appliances needed replacement and work was done on bathrooms, roofing, and masonry.
Most recently, Williams had the Victorian home’s exterior trim painted in decorative pastel hues, complementing the original brick and white trim.
The interior decor features Victorian-era wallpaper, tin ceilings, and period-appropriate furnishings and light fixtures. The house offers four bedrooms, six bathrooms (including en suites and a jacuzzi), queen and full-size beds, and the option to rent the entire house with no minimum stay required.
“We get a lot of people who stay one night, and some people stay full weeks,” Williams said. Guests come to the city for weddings, funerals, and events like the Fiesta tent sale at Homer Laughlin Pottery across the river. Some rent the downstairs, which includes a parlor and dining room, for baby and wedding showers.
Williams said some guests use The Sturgis House as a base for day trips, with walking maps available showing local attractions and eateries.
For more information, visit www.sturgishouse.com, where photos of accommodations are available, or call 330-382-0194 to reach Alicia or Lisa Board, who manage the facility and its guests.
With the 90th anniversary of Floyd’s death approaching, Williams reached out to Hedrick to discuss how to commemorate the event. It was decided that Hedrick would share his historical insights during a two-day open house, which continues Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
As with many aspects of the Pretty Boy Floyd story, visitors to the bed and breakfast Monday shared their families’ recollections of the day the Dust Bowl bandit came to the county and died.
Hedrick and East Liverpool attorney Tim Brooks are also the producers of the documentary “The Last Run of Pretty Boy Floyd,” produced by 28th Parallel Productions, based on statements from those who were present at the time.
The event is free, and refreshments are provided.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
