Port Clinton Millstones

 

 

          There are two huge millstones located in the Adams Street Boulevard that have a local significance. The first stone is located across from St. John’s Lutheran Church, just south of Second Street.

 

          The stone was forced ashore at the South end of Fulton Street from Sandusky Bay. The stone, measuring 2’ x 3’ and weighing approximately 3800 lbs, was forced ashore about 1920 during a winter ice storm. Ice formed in the Bay and the stone was forced ashore by the current of the Bay. It came ashore on the farm of Henry Rohde and had been turned upside down. The stone has three bowl shaped indentations; one measuring about nine inches in diameter and the other two slightly smaller.

 

          The existence of this stone was first brought to the attention of Port Clinton by Emil Heiser. Mr. Heiser had been a resident of the Bay area for many years and thought that the stone was significant. The City of Port Clinton decided to move the stone to the Adams Street Boulevard (1,000 feet south of the Harrison Trail) near St. John’s Church. Washington’s Birthday 1933 was chosen as the date for the move.

 

          The second stone was moved to its location just south of Perry Street across from the former Garden at the Lighthouse. The stone was moved to this location from the property of Col. S. M. Lockwood.  Lockwood was instrumental in developing the gypsum industry in this area. The stone, appears to be of similar size to the Indian Millstone, was used in the milling operations by the gypsum industry; milling stone into plaster for use in drywall.

 

 

Sources:

 

          Millstone is placed in park on Washington’s Birthday. ---------, Port Clinton, Ohio, February 24, 1933.

 

          Gordon, William & Mary. A Historical Walking Tour of Downtown Port Clinton. 2004