Kelleys Island in Erie County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Island House
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 7, 2019
1. The Island House Marker
Datus and Sara Kelley built their home here
in 1843, known as
the Island House. It was located up the hill from the
steamboat landing and
across
the street from the island store (the Lodge,
1854). In 1873, Jacob Rush bought the property and built a 102-room hotel.
This “pleasure resort” was 224 feet wide and three stories
tall. It featured many amenities, including a bowling alley, billiard
parlor, bath houses, laundry,
barber shop,
livery stable,
and a
dancing pavilion (the Casino) overlooking the lake. A fire destroyed
the structure in November 1877.
Later owners
of the property where the hotel stood were
Clara Fann and George Schardt in
1892,
Frank Stang in 1895,
Jacob Kuebler in 1899,
and John
Himmeline in 1905. Himmeline sold the property to the Village for
use as a park in 1925.Erected 2016 by William G. Pomeroy Foundation, Village of Kelleys Island, and The Ohio History Connection. (Marker Number 31-22.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment •
this page online
Location. 41° 35.637′ N, 82° 42.649′ W. Marker is on Kelleys Island, Ohio, in Erie County. Marker is at the intersection of East Lakeshore Drive and Division Street, on the left when traveling east on East Lakeshore Drive. It is in Memorial Park. There is a car ferry with frequent service from Lakeside Marblehead (a 34 minute ride), and a hydrofoil passenger ferry from Sandusky (a 20 minute ride). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 112 Division St, Kelleys Island OH 43438, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Inscription Rock (approx. ¼ mile away); The German Reformed Church / The Church Parsonage (approx. 0.3 miles away); Glacial Grooves State Memorial (approx. 1.6 miles away); First Congregational Church (approx. 3.8 miles away); USS Wasp CV7 Memorial (approx. 3.8 miles away); Danbury Township Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.8 miles away); Donald & Coralen Bettinger Park (approx. 3.8 miles away); Lakeside (approx. 3.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kelleys Island.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 7, 2019
2. Memorial Park, Site of the Island House
Photographed By 2
3. Division Street Looking North
There is a light coating of snow on the street. The empty lot on the right before the first house is where the Island Hotel stood before it burned and where Memorial Park is now.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 7, 2019. It was originally submitted on October 31, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 198 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 31, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 3. submitted on November 7, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
