Mysterious Green Island?

Does Green Island hold a long lost secret?  A forgotten lighthouse lost in obscurity, overgrown with vegetation and now a state owned bird sanctuary.  In the 1820’s the island was known as Strontium Island because of the crystallized Celestine or Strontium discovered in the cliffs along the eastern side of the island, by Major James Delafield.   Delafield was an agent of the International Boundary Commission as established by the Treaty of Ghent.  In 1851 the U.S. Government purchased the island from Alfred Pierpont Edwards.  A frame lighthouse was completed by November of 1855.  The light was destroyed in a New Year’s Eve fire in 1863.  The lighthouse keeper Colonel Charles F. Drake and his family were the only residents of the island escaped with barely their lives; a storm of freezing rain ravaged the island the very night of the fire. The family dragged a feather bed into the privy and huddled beneath it  until a rescue party reached them. Rescuers moved the family to Put-in –Bay where they gradually recovered from their ordeal.  Colonel Drake’s hands and face were severely burned in the attempt to save his family.  In Harry Ross’s book Enchanting Islands of Lake Erie, he writes about the islands role in the Manhattan project.  Many local residents disregard the premise.  In 1990 Green Island was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park service.

Part two will be featured next month

GERMAN & ITALIAN P.O.W.s @ CAMP PERRY

 

          While working on our local Bataan collection; and, in my involvement with the Ottawa County Historical Society’s oral history project, it became quite clear that we needed more information in one central location regarding the German and Italian prisoners housed at Camp Perry.

 

          Donna Bovia, our late local author, created a legacy in print to those passed through the gates of Camp Perry. There are also newspaper articles from the Port Clinton Herald and Republican from October 1943 when the POWs first arrived until they departed in December 1945. These articles have been very useful in my research. The Italian prisoners were the first to arrive and they were settled into their five-man huts. The prisoners had their own mess hall where the meals were prepared by their own cooks. Prisoners also had their bakers, laundry and cobblers for shoe repair.

 

          German prisoners began arriving in June 1944. In July 1944 a larger group arrived after their capture in Normandy, France. All prisoners were put to work as farm laborers, if physically able (unwounded). Local farmers and fruit growers who were within a 50 mile radius of Camp Perry were provided with laborers. The prisoners were paid $.80 per day plus a basic allotment of $.10 per day. The local farmers, growers and others who were provided with the laborers paid the U.S. Government a fee of $2.00 per day for each worker. Anna writes that “in 1945 $2,000,000 was paid to the U.S. Treasury” from the German and Italian P.O.W.s working in the fields and at side camps.

 

          The prisoners also tended a 5 acres vegetable garden at the Camp which resulted in a $5,000 savings to the amount that was necessary to feed the prisoners. Over 1,000 bushels of potatoes alone was produced from the garden.

 

          The oral History Committee has collected a number of stories about this time period at Camp Perry. We are also interested in adding to these stories. If you are interested in contributing to our local history, please contact Connie Cedoz at the Ida Rupp Public Library, (419) 732-3212.

 

 

 

Sources

 

          Bovia, Anna L. and Maj. Gary L. Wirzylo. Camp Perry 1906 – 1991. The Hubbard Company, Defiance, Ohio. 1992.

 

          Ottawa County News. July 13, 1945.

Ottawa County Courthouse

The Ottawa County Courthouse is a picturesque building. I have answered many questions regarding the style, cost, etc. Here is a concise description of what I have discovered. The source of the following information is primarily newspaper articles.

            The structure is in the Richardson Romanesque style, constructed of North Amherst, Ohio sandstone and Pink Tennessee marble. Construction started in 1898 and was completed in 1901. The contract price for the Courthouse was $47,500; additions and changes brought the price to $60,000. This did not include the steam heat, furniture and other fittings. The total cost was $65,500. The cost of decorating the 3^rd floor Common Pleas courtroom exceeded $1,000.

            The tablet that records the name, company and regiment of every soldier and sailor from Ottawa County who served in the Civil War was paid for by the funds generated from a ¼ mill property tax levy which was approved by the voters.

            During construction a five ton stone was to be transferred from the south face to the north face. While the stone was being moved, a cable on the derrick parted and the stone & derrick fell. It fell on Conrad Balduf knocking him to the ground. Miraculously, Balduf was not seriously injured. The construction firm presented him with jersey cow. “Coonie” had just lost a milk cow shortly before the incident.

            In 1974, the Ottawa County Courthouse was added to the national Register of Historical Places.

          Etienne Brule was often treated as though he were a mythical character. The facts are these: there were no letters or diaries left behind by Brule to give us his account of life as one who literally became a native with the Hurons.

 

          Brule fully integrated himself, learning the language and the customs. It was in 1610 that Samuel de Champlain the exchange with the natives. Young Brule was 16 years old and he was one of eight who managed to survive the winter of 1608 and 1609 with Champlain in Quebec.

 

          Brule was aid to be strong and adventurous; often called “first runner of the woods.” When he did return to Quebec, he was said to be unrecognizable. The Frenchman was accepted as a native of the Metis Nation. He had an impact on Canadian history. It is accepted as local history that Etienne and his fellow travelers landed at the Toussaint Creek of the Portage River on November 1, 1615, All Saints Day. This tributary of the Portage River was named for the date of his discovery. Toussaint means All Saints.

 

          Here he trapped muskrat and beaver for the fur trade with the natives. In 1629, Brule was killed by the Hurons for a betrayal that he committed. He was stabbed, dismembered and his remains were consumed by the villagers, as was their custom.

 

          Brule was born in 1592 in Champigny-sur-Marne, France. He died a Toanche, on the Pentanguishene Peninsula, Ontario, Canada.

 

 

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

 

Nabagon

            Legends and lore are a very significant part of any culture, especially those cultures with a history involving Native Americans. The legend of the Nabagon is one of those poignant stories worth telling.

            Legend tells us that Nabagon was a brave, young Ottawa Indian warrior who prized courage and valor; and was loved and respected by his tribe. Nabagon’s adventures were known by all those who knew him and his prowess was never in doubt.

            The young brave had an encounter with a panther that proved to be his demise. Nabagon saved a youngster from an attack by the panther. Nabagon was grievously wounded with deep cuts across his chest and back from the panther’s claws. Nabagon became feverish from the infection in his wounds. Nabagon died a few days after the attack from the infections.

            After the attack, the tribal chief asked the tribe prophet to pray to the Great Spirit to save Nabagon’s life. The following is the final part of the Nabagon legend: after the panther attack, the young brave helped Nabagon to his feet. Nabagon went to remove his tomahawk from the panther and it took all of his strength to remove the tomahawk. The legend states that it was the Great Spirit in the form of the panther trying to call Nabagon to the Great Spirit. For it is also stated that the body of the panther was never found and thus it was never killed.

            Days after the death of Nabagon a cliff (outcropping) of limestone took on the appearance of Nabagon; just as though he had posed for the carving. The tribe looked on his visage and knew that forever more he would stand as The Watcher to keep his tribe safe and those who would come after him.

Sources:

Holt, Pamela. The Legend of the Indian Head. Catawba Island Magazine, October 6, 2009.

Heinsen, Victoria King. Ghosts and Legends of Lake Erie's North Coast (OH) (Haunted America). August 2010.

Did you know? John Brown, Jr.; Put-In-Bay resident

John Brown, Jr. was the oldest child of the abolitionist John Brown and his first wife Diantha Lusk.

Mr. Brown served with the Kansas 7^th Cavalry as a Captain of Company K. In 1862 John Brown, Jr. moved to Put-in-Bay where he lived the remainder of his life. Mr. Brown died May 5, 1895 and he was buried on the Island with the full rites and ritual of the Science Lodge F & AM.  The 1880 census lists Brown as grape grower and lived with his wife, Wealthy, and children John and Edith. Edith later married Thomas Alexander, an actor and mayor of Put-in-Bay for many years.

At Brown’s funeral services many individuals offered glowing eulogies for Mr. Brown. Judge E. M. Colver gave the eulogy. Judge Colver paid a glowing tribute to Mr. Brown, stating “his name was connected with the greatest pages of America’s history.” The judge continued, “He was a disciple of truth and his life exemplified that great truism, ‘an honest man is the noblest work of God’ ”

Sanduskian James M. French paid tribute to John Brown, Jr. on behalf of the people of color of Ohio. He spoke of the sacrificial spirit of the Brown family. “The lesson to be carried away is that we should have a renewed inspiration for progress and advancement in our civil and educational lives, to show our appreciation for what was done in our behalf.”

During the Civil War, Brown warned the Union troops on Johnson’s Island of the impending raid to free Confederate officers imprisoned there. Later, he organized a militia company to assist in the defense of the island. He filled his home with memorabilia of Kansas and his father and defended John, Sr.’s, character against all public criticism. It has been written that Brown, Jr. was aware of his father’s plan to conduct the raid at Harper’s Ferry. Brown, Jr. was instructed by his father to move “tools” for the raid to a secret location. In 1858, the “tools” were to Conneaut, Ohio and from there to Cherry Valle Village. The Senior Brown also instructed Brown, Jr. to recruit “likeminded” individuals from Pennsylvania in the areas of Gettysburg, Bedford, Chambersburg and Uniontown.

Brown also had a brother, Owen, who also participated in the assault on Harper’s Ferry. Owen escaped to Put-in-Bay where he remained for twenty years. Owen lived in a small cabin on his brother’s land; he spent the winter months on nearby Gibraltar Island serving as the caretaker of Jay Cooke’s summer home.

According to Roger Long, late of Port Clinton and a noted Civil War historian, the people of Put-in-Bay often noticed Owen carrying a basket with a checkered napkin as a cover. Most thought Owen was carrying his lunch while working for Jay Cooke. In reality, Owen was carrying a firearm to protect himself, if necessary.

The papers of John Brown, Jr., including many letters, are found at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center. The Genealogical Project of the Lake Erie Islands Historical Society features a page on its website dedicated to the Brown Family.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Brown_Junior. Retrieved Aug 19, 2012

http://www.rbhayes.org/hayes/mssfind/286/brownjohnjrwebpage++.htm. Retrieved Aug 19, 2012.

Sketches and Stories of the Lake Erie Islands. Ryall, Lydia J., The American Publishers Co., 1913.