Wilhelm: Put-in-Bay has key role in history

The popular tourism and vacation living destination of Put-in-Bay and South Bass Island has a rich history dating back hundreds of years.

In “Sketches and Stories of the Lake Erie Islands,” copyright 1913, Lydia J. Ryall, had this to say:

“Interest in Put-in-Bay, spreading rapidly from the first, has grown year by year, until with each return of the outing season, thousands of patrons, forming an endless concourse, wend their way to Put-in-Bay, from points covering practically every portion of the United States. Tourists from foreign lands are also frequent. As viewed during the outing season, a more lively place would be hard to find than the little center."

More than 100 years later, the message remains true.

Nearly 200 years ago, Put-in-Bay was a key destination

About 100 years earlier, its role was different.

According to Put-in-Bay.com, Put-in-Bay Harbor was used by Commander Oliver Hazard Perry as a base of operations.

"From the Bass Islands, he could quickly sail to Sandusky Bay for conferences with (General William Henry) Harrison or scout the British forces at Fort Malden (Amherstburg, Ontario), in the Detroit River. … The British fleet under Captain Robert H. Barclay was sighted by a lookout in the masthead of Perry’s flagship, the brig Lawrence, at 5:00 a.m., Friday, 10 September 1813.

“The Battle of Lake Erie began at 11:45 a.m. and ended a few minutes after 3:00 p.m. British supremacy on the lake came to an end with the capture of the entire enemy fleet of six vessels. The conflict began eight miles northwest of Put-in-Bay and reached its climax at West Sister Island, fourteen miles away. The triumphant American captain dashed off a short note on the back of an old letter to William Henry Harrison, making Put-in-Bay history.”

“Dear General — We have met the enemy and they are ours..."

It wasn't long before Put-in-Bay became famous for other things.

Prior to 1900, the island was already a tourist destination

According to "Visit Put-in Bay," a publication of the Put-in-Bay Visitors and Convention Bureau,“From the 1850s to the 1900s, numerous steamships, including several holding upwards of 1,500 passengers, included Put-in-Bay as a regular stop. Hotels were constructed for the tourists, and many were treated to the largest, the Hotel Victory, a 300-by-600 foot building with 625 guest rooms. At the time, the Hotel Victory was the largest hotel in America, with the first-ever coed swimming pool. When the cornerstone for the Hotel Victory was laid, seven steamboats brought over 8,000 people to Put-in-Bay.”

After financial troubles and changes in ownership, the huge hotel met its end with a fire that reportedly could be seen across the waters of Lake Erie as far away as Detroit in 1919.

Tourists kept coming with ferry boats replacing steam ships and new attractions and accommodations replacing or joining the old.

Back in 1913, an anonymous visitor’s comment was shared in Lyla Riall’s book:

“The scene at sunset, beautiful and as glorious as if the gates of the Celestial country had opened, and I wonder if anything will ever seem so lovely to me again?”

Today’s attractions cover a wide range, including that island beauty.

Roy Wilhelm started a 40-year career at The News-Messenger in 1965 as a reporter. Now retired, he writes a column for both The News-Messenger and News Herald.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Wilhelm: Island was key location in War of 1812