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Ottawa County Time Traveler Eastern Ottawa County Past & Present SEPTEMBER 2026 |
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by Linda Higgins “Port Clinton plans to have a museum sometime in the future, and the start is being made now. Mayor A. J. Davids has appointed Anton Bahnsen, Otto Heineman and Emil Histrup to serve on the museum committee which has just been organized. The plan is to have a place in the city hall building where exhibits of Indian relics and other historical matter can be displayed for the benefit of the general public. A number of relics have already been offered.” —The Peninsular News, November 22, 1930 About two years before the above notice was printed, Emil Hostrup (correct spelling!), then a member of Port Clinton Council, along with the DeLery Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution and others, began considering the possibility of a museum in Port Clinton. And two years after the above was printed, on February 23, 1932, the Ottawa County Historical Museum opened. At the same time, the Ottawa County Historical Society, with Mr. Hostrup as its first president, was also formed. The Society’s members, including the D.A.R., were instrumental in helping gather historical items for display, as well as in organizing and promoting initial and ongoing interest in the museum. The Ottawa County Historical Museum was originally housed on the first floor of City Hall. Volunteers worked endless hours setting up the purchased and donated cases and equipment for exhibiting historical artifacts. And in May of 1932, May Hesselbart was hired as the first curator. City Council paid her salary of about $8.40 a month and gave her a supply budget. Donations and other community support kept this endeavor on its successful path. The museum was moved into the basement of City Hall when the municipal courts expanded in the 1970s. Flooding would become a problem in that location. By 1975, the Port Clinton Area Heritage Foundation was formed to find a permanent location for the museum. The Foundation’s work over the next decade made possible the purchase of the John Belknap building on Third Street in 1986 with generous donations and promises of future contributions of time, money, and other support from within and outside the community. On May 15, 1988, the new county museum opened after extensive remodeling by local contractors and other contributors. Around that time the Ottawa County Historical Society and the Ottawa County Historical Museum became separate entities. An addition, named in honor of Lockwood and Mary Jane Zeis, major supporters of everything for which the museum stands, was built in 2009, courtesy of the Paul Fox Estate. In 2010, the name of the museum was changed to Ottawa County Museum to end any confusion of its mission with the Ottawa County Historical Society’s. The museum has thrived with enormous support from both the community and many outside the community. Of course, it could not have begun to be the success that it’s been without its curators. May Hesselbart’s lengthy and productive term ended when she died in 1963, and Marion Cleary took her place. Elizabeth Denney became curator in 1973, to be succeeded in 1992 by Barbara Bailey, then Jane Beckett, Eugene Van Voorhis, Vicki Aston, and Tom Day. In 2008, Peggy Debien became the curator and continues in that role today. An assistant curator, Kaitlin Phillips, was hired in 2025 to help, in part, bring this house of history’s riches into the technological age. She’s updating its online presence, making artifacts and photos readily available to the public when a visit isn’t an option. (theottawacountymuseum,org) The numerous artifacts represent periods ranging from long before this area was settled until the present and many serve as viable reference materials: maps, newspapers, family genealogies, self-published books, yearbooks, etc. Relics, large and small, give us a glimpse into the lives of those who greeted the settlers centuries ago, those who settled here, who fought the wars, who farmed the land and fished the waters, who made homes, those who became leaders, and those who supported those leaders and developed the area. Many of the museum’s visitors are able to verify or correct family histories, clarify dates of artifacts, or demystify the purposes of some relics. It’s a true community gem, supported through memberships, donations and grants; volunteers who give time, labor and materials; and dedicated, knowledgeable curators. 126 West Third Street, Port Clinton, OH 43452 Open Memorial Day through Labor Day on Tue / Wed / Thu, 12-3 pm; Labor Day through Memorial Day, open Wednesdays, 12-3 pm. Use this link to see or share the article online: Linda |
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by Lorrie Halblaub In this series we are taking an historical look at an area that covers approximately a mile of Main Street in downtown Marblehead. Heading east from the Village limits, we will discover the facts and the stories of how Marblehead became what it is today. [This is article #18] This is a continuation of the story of the former Ben Richmond Gallery that was featured in last month’s article. When the gallery opened in 1981, Ben and his wife Wendy, probably had no idea that Ben’s art would be so popular that they would end up buying 6 buildings and building 4 new buildings in Marblehead. But let’s start at the beginning. Ben Richmond was born in Hinton, West Virginia in 1949. His family moved to the Toledo area where he met his future wife, Wendy, at Lake High School. After college, Ben worked as a Graphic artist for Champion Spark Plug Co. in Toledo and then at the American Crayon Co. in Sandusky. They moved to Marblehead around 1977. Though he was creating graphic art as a job, he was drawn to the world of fine art. He perfected his dry brush water color style that sometimes took 40 hours per painting to create. After a trip to Maine, Ben and Wendy realized that Marblehead, Ohio looked a lot like Maine, and they began to dream of creating a business here. When they opened their gallery, Ben quit his job and worked on his art full time. Wendy managed the business side of the gallery. Ben looked at buildings and every day scenes in Marblehead, saw them through the eye of an artist, and made them into paintings that told a story. Eventually they started the first gift shop in the Village and sold his art on clothing, cups, posters, and more. At the same time he was creating and selling prints of his latest paintings. They built the two buildings on the north side of main street across from the gallery, and the small one next to the gallery when they ran out of space. Every building he built or bought was remodeled to look like it was from an East Coast sea town. They eventually bought a home on Lake Street with a view of the lake. And they built a small building near the Coast Guard Station where Ben created his award-winning artwork, always with a view of Lake Erie for inspiration. He branched out into doing a few sculptures, writing two books of poems, prose and sketches titled Kindred Spirits and Time Passages. He also wrote a book of fiction, Raven’s Cry that had an interesting twist. If one found all the names of Ben’s paintings that were woven into the story, they could send in an entry for a drawing to win a trip to Chicago. Other people picked up on Ben’s marketing of Marblehead. Other artists and gift shops started businesses in the Village. The Richmonds were the catalyst that changed Marblehead from a quarry town to the tourist town that it is today. Former Richmond Shops across from and next to the former Richmond Gallery  413 W Main St, Marblehead 414 W Main St   414 1/2 W Main St After opening a gallery in Bar Harbor, ME, Ben and Wendy moved to their beloved Maine in 2012 where they live today. You can use this link to read or share this article: Lorrie |
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Erie Ending (A novel)
by Christy J. Kendall
When environmental activist Connie King is murdered on a wildlife refuge on the southwest shore of Lake Erie in Ohio, the Refuge Manager, Angela Martin, says goodbye to her nemesis with relief and a twinge of guilt. But the Sheriff accuses a beloved volunteer of the crime, and Angela and another volunteer, Lilly Weathers, investigate. Through shady real estate deals, Connie enhanced her bank account, not the environment. To save herself, and others, Angela unwittingly puts herself in the path of a killer. Meanwhile, Angela's love life comes to a crossroads that could tear her apart. Will Angela make the right decision? Right or wrong, if she survives, she'll pay.
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The Ottawa County Museum has over 18,000 historical pictures online. |
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If you haven't signed up for the library's newsletter on adult programs at the Ida Rupp Library, here are two upcoming events you might like to attend - and maybe sign up to get that newsletter to see all the programs offered. Monday, October 6th, 6-7 pm The Science of Ghosts Blending history, folklore, psychology, and environmental research, this talk invites skeptics, believers, and the simply curious to take an open-minded look at one of humanity’s oldest mysteries. Join author, parapsychologist, and clinical counselor Brandon Massullo for an engaging look at ghosts, hauntings, and the scientific study of paranormal experiences. Parapsychology is the academic field that investigates unusual human experiences such as apparitions, hauntings, telepathy, near-death experiences, and claims of communication with the deceased. This presentation explores how researchers have studied mediumship and attempts to communicate with the dead, as well as academic fieldwork conducted at allegedly haunted locations. Monday, October 12th, 5-6 pm From Farm to Fermenter: The Story and Science of Twin Oast Brewing Join Twin Oast Brewing co-founder Cory Smith for a look at the brewery’s history, from its beginnings on Catawba Island to the challenges and decisions involved in building and operating a modern craft brewery. Along the way, Cory will explain the brewing process in approachable terms, including ingredients, fermentation, and the techniques brewers use to create different beer styles. Stop in the library, check out the website (idarupp.org), or call (419-732-3212) to get more information. |
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