Elyria in Lorain County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Ambassador William Graves Sharp

Photographed by Craig Doda, October 24, 2026

1. Ambassador William Graves Sharp Marker, Side One

Inscription.
William Graves Sharp lived at this location before and after his tenure as Ambassador to France during World War I. He was born to George Sharp and Mahala Graves Sharp in Mount Gilead, Ohio, on March 14, 1859. As children, Sharp and his twin brother George moved to Elyria with their mother and grandparents, William and Ephra Graves. An Elyria High School graduate, Sharp earned a law degree from the University of Michigan in 1881. He was a journalist, lawyer, industrialist, and Lorain County Prosecutor. Serving three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, Sharp introduced the first legislation providing for airmail service. Shortly before the outbreak of World War I, President Woodrow Wilson named Sharp as ambassador to France. He served from December 4, 1914, to April 14, 1919.

Ambassador Sharp oversaw aid to refugees, helped citizens of the combatant countries, monitored conditions in prison camps, and represented American interests. In 1916, he directed the American investigation into the torpedoing of the French steamer Sussex by a U-boat. The investigation led to Germany's "Sussex Pledge" to give warning to

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passenger and merchant ships before attacking. After Germany's resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare and the publication of the "Zimmermann Telegram" in 1917, the United States declared war. Ambassador Sharp acknowledged the ovations of the French Parliament at the reading of the declaration. After resigning the ambassadorship, Sharp returned to Elyria. He died November 17, 1922, and was interred in the Graves mausoleum at Ridgelawn Cemetery. His former home was incorporated inside the north end of the Washington Avenue Christian Church in 1951.

Erected 2020 by Elyria Historical Association; Washington Avenue Christian Church; The Ohio History Connection. (Marker Number 35-47.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Communications • Government & Politics • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 14, 1859.

Location. 41° 22.321′ N, 82° 6.369′ W. Marker is in Elyria, Ohio, in Lorain County. It is at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Harrison

Ambassador William Graves Sharp Marker, Side Two image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, October 24, 2026

2. Ambassador William Graves Sharp Marker, Side Two

Street, on the right when traveling north on Washington Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 Washington Ave, Elyria OH 44035, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Cleveland,

on the Lake Erie Shore,

and in the Western Reserve.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: United States Post Office (approx. 0.3 miles away); Elyria Korean War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Elyria Vietnam Conflict Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); U.S.S. Maine Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Soldier’s Monument (approx. 0.3 miles away); Elyria War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); In Memoriam (approx. 0.3 miles away); United Spanish War Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map

Ambassador William Graves Sharp Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, October 24, 2026

3. Ambassador William Graves Sharp Marker

of all markers in Elyria.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 28, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 28, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.