People Organizing the Return of the Tall Ships Committee (P.O.R.T.S.) is excited to announce the Battle of Lake Erie Bicentennial events in Port Clinton. The entire community will be celebrating the 200 years of freedom gained by Commander Oliver Hazard Perry’s victory some twelve miles from the mouth of the Portage River.
Ottawa County CASA and Joyful Connections are teaming up to host The Amazing Island Raise, Put-In-Bay style, on June 15. This is for all of the Amazing Race fans out there that want to solve clues, complete challenges and win great prizes while enjoying the fun and sun of Put–In-Bay.
Teams of 4-6 adults will race against one another to see who has what it takes to be an Amazing Race champion. Teams will ride the Miller Ferry to the Island where the clues and challenges will take place. Once the winner has been declared, the teams can remain on the Island to enjoy the rest of the day and return on the ferry when they are finished. The entry fee of $30 per person will cover the cost of transportation to the island as well as a team t-shirt. The fun will begin at 11 a.m. and the group will depart for Put-in-Bay at noon.
City officials Mayor Vince Leone, Fire Chief Kent Johnson, and Police Chief Rob Hickman installing new flag banners in historic downtown Port Clinton.
De Ann Louk, Executive Director of the Ottawa County Veterans Service Office, has been deployed since November 2012.
This past weekend the base in which she is stationed shadowed the 2nd Annual Pennsylvania National Guard March for the Fallen. De Ann marched the 28 miles in full gear to honor our local hero, Army SGT Keith A. Kline. Army SGT Kline gave his life 5 Jul 2007 in Iraq.
For more information on the 2nd Annual Pennsylvania National Guard March for the Fallen visit their website at www.pngas.net/event/2013MarchforFallen.
1812 was both the topic and the venue as Ottawa County Historical Society members and guests gathered at the Island House’s 1812 Food and Spirits Dining Room for their annual spring meeting.
War of 1812 scholar Louis Schultz of Sandusky and The Columbus Academy in Gahanna gave an informative presentation about the ‘Forgotten War,’ and displayed some of his extensive collection of related artifacts. Schultz is the author of the current War of 1812 on the Ohio Frontier exhibit at The Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont.
Schultz related many examples of how misdirection and missed communications, coupled with treachery both foreign and domestic, added to the difficulty of fighting the War. The necessity of traversing the Great Black Swamp made it difficult to get troops where they needed to be and to find food for both animals and men. When the battle of Lake Erie started, Commodore Perry overcame his own strategic blunders to win the day, though Schultz said the Battle had no real impact on the war. Although the British and Americans’ result was essentially a draw, it was the Native Americans who really suffered the greatest defeat, losing territory and influence.
The Ottawa County Historical Society welcomes new members interested in their mission of discovering and preserving local history. For information, visit www.thekeepershouse.org
