Lakeside in Ottawa County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Administration Building

Lakeside Heritage Trail

— Lakeside Chautauqua 150 Years 1873 - 2023 —

Administration Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, August 7, 2025

1. Administration Building Marker

Inscription. The first community building in the "Mission" style, this has been Lakeside's operations center since it opened in 1922.

Erected 2023 by Lakeside Heritage Society. (Marker Number 15.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1922.

Location. 41° 32.646′ N, 82° 45.007′ W. Marker is in Lakeside, Ohio, in Ottawa County. It is at the intersection of Walnut Avenue and West 3rd Street, on the right when traveling south on Walnut Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 222 Walnut Ave, 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 least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Post Office (a few steps from this marker); Carrie Barge Cottage (within shouting distance of this marker); Central/Hoover Auditorium (within shouting distance of this marker); The Brick Store (within shouting distance of this marker); Richards House (within shouting distance of this marker); The First Methodist Church in Lakeside (1875) (within shouting distance of this marker); Methodist Episcopal Chapel (within shouting distance of this marker); Same Time Next Year at Richards House (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lakeside.

Also see . . .

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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 Lakeside’s timeless mission…

To enrich the quality of life for all people, to foster traditional Christian values, and to nurture relationships through opportunities for renewal and growth – spiritually, intellectually, culturally and physically – while preserving Lakeside’s heritage.

With the new year, we welcome Lakeside’s 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. 15. Administration Building. Then
The original Administration Building was built in 1879 at 222 Walnut Ave. The growing crowds of people each season necessitated the construction of a new Administration Building. In 1920, plans were drawn and construction began on a $50,000, Spanish Mission style structure that would finally be opened in 1922 after several delays. The old

Photographed by Craig Doda, August 7, 2025

2. Administration Building Marker

Administration Building was occupied by the Methodist Book Concern until it was demolished in 1954.

The new building was first called the Administration Hotel and sometimes the Auditorium Hotel. The first floor housed the Association offices, a public telephone, a Western Union telegraph office and later a postal substation. The original entry area was set up similar to a bank with two teller windows where people could purchase tickets, pay bills and complete other financial business. A separate teller window was used by the gatemen who reported and banked their receipts. A large vault was located behind the teller windows and in 1936, 50 deposit boxes were installed in the vault. Men and women also could join a social club for a “very low membership fee” and use the facility for chess, checkers, ping-pong, dartboard, pool and reading. The second and third floors had 28 hotel rooms with running water (eight with private shower baths) plus general use bathrooms.

In 1962, in response to increased visitors and the need for year-round meeting facilities, the Slack House (an adjacent wood frame building built in the 1880’s) was razed for the addition of more hotel rooms, meeting space and renovations to the older hotel rooms. The new hotel became the Fountain Inn, with its entrance on Maple Ave.

Now
The present Administration building houses a front desk

Photographed by Craig Doda, August 7, 2025

3. Administration Building Marker

reception area, a conference room, copy room, realty office and eight administrative offices. Seven additional offices and a copy room are located on the second floor wing. The adjoining Fountain Inn has 46 hotel rooms, all with private bath and shower facilities. The entry includes a large lobby, front desk area and the Aigler meeting room. The Fountain Inn is also home to the popular restaurant Ooh La La, known for its fresh sandwiches, quiches and homemade pastry. (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 70 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 11, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.