Until the late 17 th  century, records show no vessels other than birch canoes were used to cross Lake Erie. These must have been incredibly dangerous trips for those Native Americans and French traders, but danger was a way of life for everyone of that time.   When migration began in earnest here, the French explorer, Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle, ordered the first vessel built to make journeys with cargo to trade and sell, as well as for passengers traveling for

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.   The next block of Main Street Marblehead goes from James Street to Frances Street and is home to three businesses and our local library. This land used to house Greisser’s Coal and Fuel Oil Company.  It was also one of the

The first Roman Catholic Mass in the area was served in the late 17 th century on Middle Bass Island for the Huron Indians, the region’s first known Catholics. They lived around Lake Erie and its islands, having been converted to Catholicism by Jesuit missionaries from Detroit and Canada.   Mass was offered again in 1749 to the Hurons at their settlement near Sandusky Bay. The Indian missions were abandoned when the Jesuits moved on. The French-Canadian missionaries, however

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 the 9 th  article in the series.]   The next building at 806 West Main Street, east of Madam Rosie’s Boutique and Gallery, has had many uses.  It was once Brown’s Department Store, Bob Anderson’s electric shop, the h

When the Ottawa County Museum opened its doors in 1932, Laura May Hesselbart greeted the public as its curator. The Port Clinton native was born to Herman and Mary Hollinshead Hesselbart on May 20, 1876. She graduated from Port Clinton High School in 1896, then studied music at Oberlin Conservatory. She taught piano for 20 years, was a member of Trinity Methodist Church, and became a charter member of Fortnightly Club in 1901. She was the first honorary member of the Port Cli

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 the 8 th  article in the series.]   10. East of Jamestown Tavern’s parking lot is 818 West Main Street, a yellow house and the beginning of the St. Marie buildings.  That house was the site of the home of Louis St. M