Kris Klees, right, hosted a fundraiser on June 27 for the Ottawa County Museum at his business, Three Legged Dog, with the help of Kristina Tilson, who organized the event. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

PORT CLINTON – Kris Klees said that the Ottawa County Museum was grateful that the building that houses his Three Legged Dog gaming bar in downtown Port Clinton was being restored, so when the business opened, the museum gave him a flash drive full of local photos. Soon, some of those photos depicting downtown Port Clinton and local Lake Erie scenes will be printed on canvas and hung throughout the bar.

Now Klees was grateful, so he hosted a fundraiser for the museum at the bar on June 27. The event featured live music, history displays, raffles, and fun.

“They were appreciative we got a historical building open,” Klees said. “This building was one of the first grocery stores, in a sense. Farmers would come in here and trade.”

Klees said the building was built by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in the 1850s, and the third floor is still wide open as it was when the group held meetings there. The first floor, which now houses Three Legged Dog, was completely remodeled.

“We tore down 100-year-old lathe and plaster and uncovered the windows,” Klees said.

Ottawa County Museum staff, board, and volunteers were grateful for the fundraiser hosted by Three Legged Dog on June 27. Shown here are, from left, board member Dottie Douglas, board member Dave Barth, Curator Peggy Debien, board member George Wight, volunteer Sande Campbell, and volunteer Linda Kresser. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

The event raised about $2,500 for the Ottawa County Museum. Curator Peggy Debien said the donation will go into the museum’s general fund.

The museum, which is dedicated to preserving and promoting local history, has had a busy summer already, said Assistant Curator Kaitlin Phillips. The staff and volunteers have greeted many visitors, created displays, and reached a new audience through social media.

Museum Curator Peggy Debien announced at the event that the museum’s new website went live on June 26. The website creates enhanced access to Ottawa County history through its online collection of nearly 20,000 local photos. Volunteer Chuck Grindstaff dedicated years to scanning and cataloging photos.

And there are more to come.

Ally Klees checks out the many raffle prizes at the fundraiser at the Three Legged Dog. Her uncle, Kris Klees, owns the business. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“The Ottawa County Community Foundation gave us money to scan another 20,000 photos,” Debien said.

The Ottawa County Museum staff and board are very grateful to Three Legged Dog for hosting the successful fundraiser, which was organized by Kristina Tilson.

“I was just saying that I wish someone would host a fundraiser for us, and Kristina walked in the door and told us that Three Legged Dog wanted to,” Debien said.

For more information on the Ottawa County Museum, visit its new website at www.theottawacountymuseum.org. For more information on Three Legged Dog, visit https://threeleggeddogpc.com.