Lakeside in Ottawa County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Lakefront Bandstand
(Steele Memorial Bandstand)
Lakeside Heritage Trail
| | Lakeside Chautauqua 150 Years 1873 - 2023 | |
Photographed by Craig Doda, August 7, 2025
1. Lakefront Bandstand Marker
Since 1881, this space has provided a vital location for the enjoyment of music.
Erected 2023 by Lakeside Heritage Society. (Marker Number 8.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1881.
Location. 41° 32.754′ N, 82° 44.937′ W. Marker is in Lakeside, Ohio, in Ottawa County. It is at the intersection of Kenton Row and Lake Front Drive, on the left when traveling north on Kenton Row. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 103 Kenton Row, Lakeside Marblehead OH 43440, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Lake Erie Shore and in the Toledo Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Midwest, on the Great Lakes, and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Welcome to the Lakeside Heritage Trail. One hundred and fifty years ago, the founders of Lakeside stood on the shores of Lake Erie envisioning a place for the faithful to gather in community. Since then, millions of people have been beckoned to this beautiful, peaceful sanctuary to deepen their connection to Lakesides timeless mission
To enrich the quality of life for all people, to foster traditional Christian values, and to nurture relationships through opportunities
Photographed by Craig Doda, August 7, 2025
2. Lakefront Bandstand Marker
With the new year, we welcome Lakesides 150th Anniversary a time to honor the past, celebrate the present and look to the future. This exciting Sesquicentennial Celebration connects us to the mission through enriching religious life programs, educational lectures, cultural arts performances and recreational activities. (Submitted on August 11, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio.)
2. 8. Lakefront Bandstand. Then
The Steele Memorial Bandstand/Gazebo is the third structure of its kind to exist in Lakeside. The first bandstand, which dated back to 1881, was a simple wooden box, uncovered and elevated on stilts. The first bandstand, and the one that came after it, stood where the current Miniature Golf course is now.
The second bandstand was more sophisticated, as it included a roof, sat lower to the ground and had the round shape of a gazebo. From 1916-1962, this bandstand hosted a concert in the park at 3 p.m. every day. The concerts ended in 1963 when the bandstand was taken down to make way for
Photographed by Craig Doda, August 7, 2025
3. Lakefront Bandstand Marker
Music returned to Central Park in 1979 when the Steele Memorial Bandstand was constructed in memory of Fritz and Karlyn Steele. Fred Fritz Steele III, a third generation Lakesider, and his wife Karlyn had tragically died the previous year in a car accident. Special care was taken to ensure the memorial would be fitting and personal. The gift of the bandstand honored their love for music, and to provide the intimate touch, the family commissioned their friend and renowned architect, Orville Bauer, to design it.
In 1980, the bandstand began use for daily Vespers, and beginning in 1981, events expanded to include Sunday concerts, much like we have today.
Now
During the Covid pandemic, Lakesides indoor programming was suspended at Hoover Auditorium and weekly entertainment was shifted to the bandstand, proving once more its enduring importance as a multipurpose outdoor venue. Lakesiders young and old have come to enjoy a variety of entertainers there, pulling up their golf carts, dancing between the benches and greeting friends and neighbors for an
Photographed by Craig Doda, August 7, 2025
4. Lakefront Bandstand Marker
As a welcome spot on Ohios Most Beautiful Mile, the Steele Memorial Bandstand/Gazebo is the setting for worship events, weddings, lectures, author visits and nature programs. Many Lakesiders choose the bandstand as the focus of their paintings, a shady spot for family reunions or a stage for a marriage proposal as well. (Submitted on August 11, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 83 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 11, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
