ERIE GARDENS: THE BEGINNING - Linda Higgins

World War II created high demand for new manufacturing industries, as well as expansion of established industries. Safer industries were located in and around cities and the more dangerous, such as ordnance manufacturing and testing, were located in areas like Port Clinton, considered rural.

By October 1940, Erie Ordnance Depot was reported to be expanding to include more military members and civilians. Anti-aircraft guns and new types of anti-aircraft shells were to be shipped to Port Clinton for testing at the Depot and Camp Perry. Housing would be needed for workers building and working at warehouses and munition dumps.

In September 1941, a “Declaration of Taking” stated that the Federal Works Agency would use eminent domain to take 23 acres northwest of Port Clinton city limits for “necessary public purposes.” $8,730.05 was set aside for the purchase, located partially in Port Clinton with most in Bay and Portage townships. The National Homes Corporation of Lafayette, Indiana, would build 100 houses for $280,960, and the Federal Works Act Defense Housing Division would supervise the construction. The agreement between the federal government and local authorities covered “any improvements thereon” and a 6-inch gas line that ran through the property. Sewage logistics were understandably complicated, but federal and local governments cooperated to satisfactorily solve problems.

By December 26, 1941, the newly named Erie Gardens had 100 homes slated for occupancy in January 15, 1942, after a federal inspection.  The main street was named Portage Drive and the others A through F Streets. More housing was still needed, so the district director for the Federal Housing Administration asked Port Clinton property owners to help by adding on to their homes to house war workers. FHA Conversion Loans of up to $5,000 per owner were made available.

Another “Declaration of Taking” was approved in June of 1943 for 200 more units. Some of the lands that were condemned and acquired by eminent domain had crops growing on them. This was no small sacrifice, clearly, but the transfer was recorded in November of 1943. Although they would have one to three bedrooms, the buildings would necessarily be of lesser quality and the utilities (refrigeration, cooking, heating) less modern.

When the war emergency ended in July of 1947, the Erie Gardens manager reported that Federal Public Housing law required the project be disposed of within two years. Because the homes were all occupied, the American Legion offered to purchase the entire project. No decision regarding disposal had been made by 1948, and Port Clinton City Council voted against having multiple ownership of homes. A number of Erie Gardens renters, civilians and veterans, didn’t have the money to fix up or buy the homes, many of which didn’t meet city housing standards.

The city would annex the part of the Gardens outside city limits and the federal government would pay for street improvements and repair all units for prospective buyers, spending several thousand dollars. The Public Housing Authority notified the city in October of 1955 that, prior to annexation, 15 buildings or 32 families would have to be moved in order for three streets to be widened and a 30-foot alley to be paved.

Occupants were given first chance to buy their houses, preference given veterans. Next, veterans living outside the division had priority, and non-tenants who were not veterans were given last priority. The down payment was 10%, the balance to be paid over 15 years; no interest rate noted. Under federal regulations, any unoccupied buildings are declared “surplus” when a municipality acquires such a project, and the school district bought those at $1 apiece. The federal government would spend $79,500 on improvements and the city would do the rest. The Public Housing Authority offered 19 homes for investment rental purchase. City Council voted for annexation in April of 1957.

Ottawa County Museum’s curator, Peggy Debien, was the source of information for this article. Her family moved to Bataan Lane in Erie Gardens in 1957, their two units costing $7,475. After Peggy left, her parents stayed on until 1976.

Peggy’s research sources included the Gardens administrator’s office, Ida Rupp Public Library, the Ottawa County Museum, the Ottawa County Recorder’s Office, the Toledo Public Library, and online government documents. However, even better resources are our current neighbors throughout the Port Clinton/Catawba area who happily share their memories of the early Erie Gardens experience.