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

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

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

October is Polio Awareness Month and October 24 th  is World Polio Day. At one time, poliomyelitis raged throughout the world. Today,...

In 1901 Buck’s Opera House was built at 105 Madison Street, the second building from Perry Street, for about $12,000. That building, now...

Little is known about the house on Buckeye Boulevard before it became Rosie’s Place. It was demolished in February of 2024. But while...

Among the Civil War artifacts displayed at the Ottawa County Museum in Port Clinton is a framed Medal of Honor certificate. It was...

Numerous reports regarding the 1986 Pro-Am Walleye Tournament proclaimed it the “best ever.” Participants stated they caught and released...

Soon after World War II, Port Clinton became home to the first marching baton corps in the United States. After his military service...

If you’ve ever had to wait awhile for the light to change while heading west out of Port Clinton on Rt. 163, you may have had some...