Lake Erie Living Magazine - May/June 2022

O HIO • PEN N S Y LVA N I A • NE W YOR K • ON TARIO • M I C HI G A N

TALES Sail through time and get a peek at the fascinating history of our Great Lake.

$4.99 U.S./$5.50 Canada

Sonar Mapping Lake Erie

Celebrating Memorial Day

Lakefront Living May/June 2022

The Great Race is making a pit-stop in Perrysburg during its June cross-country competition, and you’re invited to the pit-stop party!

Located in historic downtown Perrysburg, the 120 racers and their crews will clock-out for the night and offer a car show/meet-and-greet, as well as our very own local car show on Commodore Square, tons of dining options, live music, free Kid Zone by Yark Auto, and fun for the whole family!

Tuesday, June 21 • 4:30-8:30pm Historic Downtown Perrysburg on Louisiana Avenue www.visitperrysburg.com for all the details

Upgrade Your Travel Experience!

REGISTER

INSTALL

SAVE

E - ZPass customers have saved over $650 million on tolls since 2009!

Now at over 400 retail locations visit ohioturnpike.org to f ind location near you

Ohio Turnpike - A Better Way To Travel ® www.ohioturnpike.org

@OhioTurnpike

contents

volume 16 • issue 2

Currents

10

A Living Wall Peeper’s on Kelleys Island pays respect to patriots with its Wall of Honor.

11

Salute & Celebrate Discover ways to embrace the lake on Memorial Day weekend.

On the Cover:

12

Charting Waters: Mapping Lake Erie The NOAA returns to the Great Lakes for the first time since the 1990s.

Departments

8

From the Editor

20

Map It Out Plan your next getaway with destinations that are just a short car ride away.

27

Feature

30

Traveling Through Time

Lakeside Living Peek inside the Westrick family’s captivating summer home on Chautauqua Lake.

Big Picture Take a ride at Cleveland’s Luna Park.

14

This year, Lake Erie welcomes the return of the fleet of Tall Ships.

Climb aboard during the Cleveland Tall Ships Festival, July 7 to 10, or Tall Ships Erie, Aug. 25 to 28. These four-day extravaganzas will include a variety of activities, from street performers, food vendors and craft beer to live music, children’s activities and more.

Dive into the past with fascinating tales of our treasured Lake Erie.

Lake Erie Living (ISSN 1940-4247) is published in March, May, July and September for a total of four issues annually by Great Lakes Publishing, 1422 Euclid Ave, Suite 730, Cleveland, OH 44115. Periodical postage is paid at Cleveland, Ohio and additional mailing office. Postmaster: Send address changes to LAKE ERIE LIVING, 1422 Euclid Ave, Suite 730, Cleveland, OH 44115. Subscription rates: US: $10 one year, $18.50 two years, $25.00 three years. Single issue $4.99. Canada and foreign add $10 per year. Ohio residents are subject to 8% sales tax. Copyright 2022 Great Lakes Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or pictorial content in any manner is prohibited. Printed in the United States. Unsolicited manuscripts cannot be returned unless accompanied by a properly addressed envelope bearing sufficient postage.

The magazine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork or cartoons.

4 Lake Erie Living May/June 2022

COVER: LAURA WATILO BLAKE, SONAR MAPPING: NOAA, PERRY’S VICTORY AND INTERNATIONAL PEACE MEMORIAL: NEW DEPARTURE FLIMS, BEACH: CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU

MAY/JUNE 2022

magazine

Chairman

Lute Harmon Sr.

President

Lute Harmon Jr.

Publisher

Paul Klein klein@glpublishing.com

Editor

Rachel Hagenbaugh editor@lakeerieliving.com

Copy Editor

Karen Learner Beis

Contributing Writers

Vince Guerrieri and Kristen Hampshire

Art Director

Stephanie Park spark@glpublishing.com

Contributing Artists Laura Watilo Blake

Production Manager Jennifer Roberts

Associate Production Manager Alyson Moutz Cowan

Account Managers

Julie Bialowas, Nichole Cardinale and Karen Hopkinson

Traffic Manager

Corey Galloway cgalloway@glpublishing.com

Director of Digital Strategy Jacquie Chakirelis

Developement Manager Daniel Klinzing

3835 West 12th Street | Erie, PA 16505 | (814) 836-1827

Subscriber Services

1-800-453-1015 lakeerieliving@emailcustomerservice.com

Chief Financial Officer George Sedlak

Operations Managers

Jennifer Roberts and Perry Zohos

Accounts Payable Coordinator Geli Valli

100%

vitamin S E A

relishinc.com 6 Lake Erie Living May/June 2022

Cleveland Magazine | Lake Erie Living | Ohio Magazine Community Leader Custom Publishing, Web Sites & E-newsletters

1422 Euclid Ave., Suite 730 Cleveland, OH 44115 (216) 771-2833 | fax (216) 781-6318 www.glpublishing.com

EAT LOCAL. DISCOVER DELICIOUS DINE-IN OR CARRYOUT PERCH OR WALLEYE DISHES AT YOUR FAVORITE SPOTS AROUND THE LAKE!

Award Winning Perch and Walleye WHERE THE LOCALS COME TO MEET!

FREIGHTERS LOUNGE FRIDAY NIGHT SPECIAL! Fresh hand-breaded PERCH with coleslaw and fries.

Open Daily at 7 am Private Room Available Carryout Available

113 W Main St., Marblehead, OH 419-798-5356

Enjoy outdoor dining and live entertainment!

Every Friday and Saturday!

• Bloody Mary & Mimosa Bar • 8 Rotating Craft Drafts • Wine & Cocktail Menu

MARBLEHEADGALLEY.COM

DINE IN CARRY OUT

NEW! ORDER ONLINE!

VillagePumpKIOH.com

103 W. Lakeshore Dr. • 419.746.2281

LOOK TO THE SKY IN SUMMER OF ’22 A T LO R A IN COUN T Y R E G IO N A L AIR POR T

from the editor

Tides of Time “Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.”

— Robert F. Kennedy

W

SPONSORED BY:

TROPHIES, FOOD, FUN AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! F O R M O R E IN F O RMATI ON C ONTAC T GAR R Y@LO R A I NC OUNTY .US 440- 406-3 119

8 Lake Erie Living May/June 2022

Rachel Hagenbaugh Editor

P.S. Do you know someone with a unique story to tell about life on Lake Erie? Have you found a hidden gem you want to share? Email story ideas of interesting people, places and all things around the coast to editor@ lakeerieliving.com.

LAURA WATILO BLAKE

PROPS, PISTONS & HOPS FEST JULY 2022

hen I was growing up, history was not my favorite subject. For 12 years, it was 45 minutes per day of facts and figures that went in one ear and out of the other. I remembered names, dates and destinations just long enough to pass the tests, but I didn’t actually absorb or take anything away from it. Maybe it was the way the information was presented to me, or maybe I was just a naive child who couldn’t comprehend the importance of what I was being taught.

Now, I realize history isn’t just a bunch of old buildings, ships, statues or artifacts. History tells the stories of those who created the world in which we live. People who dared to dream of a future beyond what they could see and accomplished so much with so much less than the tools we have available to us now.

The more time I spend cruising the Lake Erie coastline, the more I think about the stories of those who came before me — the lighthouse keepers, ship captains, pioneers, inventors, abolitionists, farmers, blacksmiths, carpenters and many more who shaped this region and set the groundwork for one of the region’s most valuable treasures.

In this issue of Lake Erie Living, get a sneak peek at some of Lake Erie’s fascinating tales — from the role of the Great Lakes in the country’s social, economic and political landscape to the variety of shipwrecks that remain underwater to this day. But, it’s not enough to simply dip your toes in the past. In the pages that follow, we offer nearly a dozen destinations to discover an appreciation for the region’s rich history, from the National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo and Erie Maritime Museum to the Niagara Military Museum and Historic Bridge Street in Ashtabula.

Don’t let the adventure stop there. Map out a day, weekend or extended stay in Western New York or Pennsylvania. Whether you’re looking to dive into the dining scene, get out on the water, explore the great outdoors or discover a cozy home away from home, the possibilities are endless.

As the weather heats up, the lake and all of its grandeur are just a short car ride away. So get ready for an amazing season — you don’t want to miss one minute of Lake Erie living.

Dedicated to the lifestyle, places, events & people of the Lake Erie region.

O HIO • PEN N S Y LVA N I A • NE W YOR K • ON TARIO • M I C HI G A N

O HIO • PEN N S Y LVA N I A • NE W YOR K • ON TARIO • M I C HI G A N

IT’S ALL WOOD: HOME DÉCOR’S BIGGEST TREND HITS THE LAKE LakeErieLiving.com

2022 TRAVEL GUIDE

BESTof LAKE The Very Best Places to Beach, Dine, Fish, Shop, Skate, Sip, Paddle or Just Enjoy the View

ERIE

RETURN OF THE PIPING PLOVERS HIGH-RISE APPLE PANCAKES PRESQUE ISLE LIGHTHOUSE TOURS

TALES Sail through time and get a peek at the fascinating history of our Great Lake.

PLUS Destinations to shop, dine and stay at some of the coastline’s best beach towns

Sonar Mapping Lake Erie

Celebrating Memorial Day

Lakefront Living

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Visit lakeerieliving.com or call 1-800-453-1015.

currents

Living Wall

By Kristen Hampshire

10 Lake Erie Living May/June 2022

A

living organism is how G Hemminger describes the Wall of Honor on Jason and G Hemminger the north side of the bar at Peeper’s on Kelleys Island. It started with a showcase their few framed photographs and American pride.

American pride “My husband, Jason, and I have always shared a passion for America, in front of the Wall of Honor down-home roots and small towns,” Hemminger says. at Peeper’s.

The Wall of Honor celebrates patriots of yesterday and today who serve the country. It’s all about “people who are the roots of the U.S.,” Hemminger says.

The first photographs were of the Hemmingers’ fathers and grandfathers. The wall piqued interest, and now there are about a dozen photographs on display. “Our goal is in 20 years to have every ounce of our walls plastered,” she says.

Peeper’s is the only island spot to Hemminger’s knowledge that offers a 10% military discount.

The couple bought Peeper’s, formerly Bag the Moon, four years ago and established a smoked meats and signature cocktails concept.

“We use woodland lump charcoal, which means we have to man our smoker,” Hemminger describes. The Lolli Pops, which are five smoked chicken drumsticks, are a top pick. Peeper’s also is known for its brisket, which is served up as a Burnt Ends meal glazed in house barbecue au jus or as a sandwich with creative combinations like a brisket philly. Americana sides include smokey beans, tater tots and cornbread.

But, don’t ask for fish. Or, if you do, accept Hemminger’s and the staff ’s recommendations for other island spots. “We try to never do what anyone else is doing,” she says, adding that supporting other small businesses is also a passion.

“We love the diversity of Kelleys — if you want to go barhopping or camping, fishing, hunting or just take your dog for a walk, you can do that,” Hemminger says. “We have something for everyone.”

The Hemmingers encourage anyone to send in photographs for the wall. Email it to peepersbar@gmail.com or send a message via the restaurant’s Facebook page. Hard copies can be mailed to Peeper’s, Kelleys Island.

CASEY REARICK MAIN IMAGE: LAURA WATILO BLAKE, WATER: ISTOCK

Peeper’s on Kelleys Island honors patriots with a growing wall of framed photographs that salute their service to the country.

SALUTE & CELEBRATE

For many, Memorial Day weekend marks the opening of all things Lake Erie. Here, we highlight a few of the many festivities taking place.

Light Up the Sky 5K Run/Walk

Popular at Put-in-Bay

Be a part of the excitement of one of the island’s busiest weekends of the year. Special events will include firearms and Carronade demonstrations, as well as Memorial Day Services, which will be held at the Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial. Don’t miss special performances put on by some of the island’s most popular entertainers. visitputinbay.org/event/put-in-bay-memorial-day-weekend

Main Street Port Clinton Walleye Festival

Gather at Waterworks Park in Port Clinton, Ohio, for this 41st annual event featuring more than 130 vendors, along with free concerts, a fishing derby for kids, a parade, educational activities, carnival rides and delicious walleye dishes. historicportclinton.com

VETERANS FERRY FOR FREE Miller Ferry will provide free passage to Put-in-Bay or Middle Bass Island for active U.S. military and veterans May 28 to 30. millerferry.com

Lace up in Presque Isle, Pennsylvania, for a Sunday run that benefits the Presque Isle Harbor Fireworks. The Light Up the Sky 5K Run/Walk will take place May 29. presqueisletwp.org

Fish-for-Free Day

Catch the fun of fishing on Fish-for-Free Day. On May 29, anyone can legally fish on Pennsylvania waterways without a fishing license. That includes trout/ salmon and Lake Erie permits. fishandboat.com/fish/ fishingregulations/pages/fishforfreeday.aspx

Luna Pier War Memorial

Pay a visit to this World War II memorial on Harold Drive close to North First Street in Monroe, Michigan.

It was erected in 2016 and listed in the historical marker database. hmdb.org/m.asp?m=172350

“BEST NEW MUSEUM” IN THE COUNTRY- USA TODAY

SHORES & ISLANDS OHIO

Jamestown, NY The Perfect Family Day Trip!

in Lucy’s Hometown

LAUGH ALL DAY!

In Our Two Museum Experiences Images of Lucille Ball/Desi Arnaz licensed by Desilu, too, LLC. All rights reserved.

Plan your trip at ComedyCenter.org or call 716.484.2222 203 W. 2nd St, Jamestown, NY

lakeerieliving.com 11

currents

W Charting Waters: Mapping Lake Erie The NOAA makes its return to the Great Lakes to capture highfrequency, 3D sonar images and update navigational charts.

By Kristen Hampshire

hat lies beneath? That’s a question the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will explore when it sends the deep-water hydrographic survey ship Thomas Jefferson to Lake Erie for a six-month mission April to October.

The goal is to update navigational charts and collect data for state and federal scientists.

The last time a NOAA ship visited the Great Lakes was in the early 1990s — so the mission is long overdue.

“Our focus will be on primary ports, commercial and recreational traffic, and other factors like fisheries and habitat management,” says Tom Loeper, NOAA’s Great Lakes navigation manager.

The vessel was commissioned in 2003 and has been in service on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, says Matthew Jaskoski, the ship’s commanding officer and lead hydrographer. Overall, NOAA covers about 3.6 million square nautical miles, resulting in about 1,000 charts.

The 208-foot Thomas Jefferson carries a crew of

PICK A DATE. PACK YOUR BAGS. VACATION IS BACK. Summer is bright in Ohio Wine Country — and the sun is definitely shining now. Here, you can tour dozens of local wineries on convenient shuttles, then unwind at our resort or private cottages. Enjoy the escape you’ve definitely earned in Ohio’s original summer resort town.

THELODGEATGENEVA.COM (866) 554-0015 12 Lake Erie Living May/June 2022

PA R K YO U R S E L F HERE THIS SUMMER.

about 35 commissioned officers and mariners.

“It’s a very capable ship in terms of endurance and can stay away for 45 days at a time,” Jaskoski says. “It is equipped with a full suite of modern high-frequency sonars used for 3D modeling that we can use to get very highresolution, detailed images.”

Sonar captures everything from small rocks to obtrusions on the sea floor. Technology has evolved significantly since the last Lake Erie charts were created. Even 30 years ago, sonar mapping ships emitted a single beam of sound to gather information for charts.

“Our capabilities now are a full swath that stretches out about three times the water depth, and we get relatively complete 3D coverage of the sea floor,” Jaskoski says. “It’s more detailed and more accurate.”

Focus areas will include the sandy peninsula around Presque Isle State Park in Pennsylvania and a concentration on the Cleveland Harbor, where the Thomas Jefferson will be docked when not working offshore. It will travel to the Lake Erie Islands, specifically areas around

The Thomas Jefferson will travel from Norfolk, Virginia, down the St. Lawrence Seaway to Lake Erie.

Put-in-Bay and Kelleys Island where there is heavy ferry traffic. The Detroit River leg will include attention to the river bottom and work south by the Ambassador Bridge and tunnel between the U.S. and Canada.

To capture the sonar images, the vessel moves back and forth in a grid pattern, much like mowing a lawn, Jaskoski describes.

The Lake Erie effort is a continuation of NOAA’s commitment to the Great Lakes.

“Survey work like this is very labor and equipment intensive,” Loeper says. “We try to do a survey once and use it for many different products.”

Data gathered will identify lake health concerns, such as harmful algae blooms, and can help drive ice forecasts. Jaskoski adds, “We will be gathering valuable data for multiple users, and at the end of the day, it’s primarily for safe navigation of mariners.”

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

LOCALLY OWNED SINCE 1947

Custom

WINDOW TREATMENTS & FLOOR COVERINGS Shop Small ALL SEASON LONG

2124 Cleveland Road - Sandusky, OH 419-626-4495 - shblindsfloors.com

EXPERTS AT CREATING WINDOWS YOU WILL Love

lakeerieliving.com 13

traveling

ERIC TISCHLER

time 14 Lake Erie Living May/June 2022

The Great Lakes

,

as a whole, contain 84% of the available surface freshwater for North America.

“And, there’s a story in every drop,” says Chris Gillcrist, executive director of the National Mu-

through

seum of the Great Lakes, in Toledo.

Since Moses Cleaveland, who surveyed the land that eventually became his namesake city, laid eyes on what was regarded as an inland sea at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River in 1796, Lake Erie had become an integral part of American history.

“The Great Lakes — and Lake Erie in particular — play such a huge role in the cultural landscape — social, political, economic — of the U.S.,” Gillcrist says. “At every stage of America’s historical development, the Great Lakes have been integral in shaping that development.”

Dive into the past with fascinating tales of our treasured Lake Erie.

By Vince Guerrieri

The Great Lakes were — and are — important shipping corridors, which made them strategically important in the War of 1812. The most famous event on the Great Lakes in the war took place on Sept. 10, 1813, when the vaunted British Navy met American forces near Put-in-Bay, on South Bass Island in Lake Erie’s western basin.

The Americans, commanded by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, had more ships, but they were smaller, and several were sunk initially by the British. But, Perry transferred command to the Niagara and was able to force the British to surrender in what became known as the Battle of Lake Erie.

Afterward, Perry sent a message to American Commander William Henry Harrison: “We have met the enemy, and they are ours.”

Lake Erie had an important, if less well-known, role in the run-up to the Civil War. Fugitive Slave Acts made nowhere in the U.S. safe for runaway slaves, and a network including freed slaves and abolitionists formed to guide them to safety: the Underground Railroad. The only safe place was Canada.

“They weren’t crossing the border in North Dakota,” Gillcrist says. “They were coming to Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan — which means they typically crossed the Great Lakes or one of their tributaries.

“Many people don’t realize the last stop on the Underground Railroad was usually the hold of a schooner crossing a Great Lake, and that was usually Lake Erie,” Gillcrist adds.

Continued on page 18 lakeerieliving.com 15

MADE BY HISTORY Discover DOSSIN GREAT LAKES MUSEUM, DETROIT

For generations, Belle Isle has been a popular destination for the Motor City. Since 1960, it’s been home to the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, detailing the industrial and recreational history of the Great Lakes. It’s home to the pilothouse of the William Clay Ford, a freighter built for the auto company. The museum also features the restored Gothic Room of the City of Detroit III, a sidewheel steamer that cruised Lake Erie in the first half of the 20th century. detroithistorical.org/dossin-great-lakes-museum

destinations to learn more about Lake Erie’s past.

Located near the banks of the Detroit River, the church was built in 1849 and relocated 900 feet to its current site in 1955. Prior to the Civil War, the church was a stop on the Underground Railroad (on the other side of the river is Windsor, Ontario; a tunnel found underneath the church was incorporated into the Detroit-Windsor tunnel). Each March, the church holds a blessing of the fleet, and every November, near the anniversary of the Fitz’s sinking, there’s a memorial ceremony for those who died on the Great Lakes. marinerschurchofdetroit.org

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE GREAT LAKES, TOLEDO

If you’re looking for a one-stop shop detailing the history of Lake Erie, this is the place. From their formation as glaciers receded during an ice age and importance in the early settlement of America to their modern role for shipping and recreation, the Great Lakes are spotlighted at this museum. Docked next to the museum, along the Maumee River, are the Lake Tug Ohio, a tugboat that was used as a tow boat or a fire boat for more than a century, and the James M. Schoonmaker, a freighter that was named “Queen of the Lakes.” nmgl.org

16 Lake Erie Living Travel Guide 2022

Tony Packo’s, Toledo

Immortalized by Jamie Farr (himself a Toledo native) as Cpl. Klinger in MASH, the restaurant opened in 1932 in Birmingham, the city’s Hungarian neighborhood, specializing in native cuisine like chicken paprikash and Packo’s famous Hungarian hot dogs. The walls are festooned with foam hot dog buns with signatures of famous patrons, a tradition started by actor Burt Reynolds in 1972. tonypacko.com

PERRY’S VICTORY AND INTERNATIONAL PEACE MEMORIAL, PUT-IN-BAY

Arguably the most consequential event on the lake was the Battle of Lake Erie, a naval engagement off of Put-in-Bay during the War of 1812. For the war’s centennial, a cornerstone was laid for a monument, and three years later, it opened. It remains the world’s largest Doric column, 352 feet tall, and commemorates not just the battle — a total of six sailors killed in it are interred under the monument; three American and three British — but also the peace between the U.S. and Canada that remains to this day. (The border between the two countries is still the longest unsecured border in the world.) The views from the top are not to be missed. nps.gov/pevi

DETROIT HISTORICAL SOCIETY, MEGAN LEIGH BERNARD, TONY PACKO’S, NEW DEPARTURE FILMS, SHORES & ISLANDS OHIO

Mariners’ Church of Detroit

Niagara Military Museum, Niagara Falls Niagara Falls was an important location in the colonial history of America, both during the French and Indian War and the War of 1812. That history is told at the Niagara Military Museum, located in the former Niagara Falls Armoury. The museum also tells the story of Canadian military history with 19th and 20th century artifacts, from the Fenian Raids into Canada to the Royal Rifles fighting in Hong Kong in World War II. nmm.life HMCS Ojibwa, Museum of Naval History, Port Burwell

Originally intended for the British navy, the HMCS Ojibwa became a part of the Canadian sub fleet, patrolling the North Atlantic at the height of the Cold War before its ultimate decommissioning in 1998. It was ultimately transferred to the Elgin Military Museum, and in 2012, it made the trek inland through the St. Lawrence Seaway, ultimately lifted out of the water and transported to its current home, where it’s available for tours. Plans are being made for an adjoining museum as well. hmcsojibwa.ca

NIAGARA MILITARY MUSEUM, NYS DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CHRIS CANNON, LAURA WATILO BLAKE

ASHTABULA MARITIME AND SURFACE TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM At one point, the lakefront was dotted with lighthouses.

Many of them had a nearby house for the lighthouse keeper.

One such home, in Ashtabula, has been turned into a museum detailing the history of the town, which was once home to one of the busiest harbors in the world. Highlights of the museum include a display related to Ashtabula’s tragic train disaster of 1876, a six-foot model of the Titanic and one of the few working models of a Hulett ore unloader, invented by a man from nearby Conneaut. ashtabulamaritime.org

Historic Bridge Street, Ashtabula While you’re in Ashtabula, check

out Bridge Street. During the port’s heyday, the street was filled with bars, pool rooms and other places where men could play hard after working hard.

Now, Bridge Street features a variety of shops, bars and restaurants — from casual fare like Briquette’s Smokehouse to more formal cuisine like Rennick’s Meat Market. historicashtabulaharbor.com

BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY NAVAL AND MILITARY PARK

In 1976, officials from Buffalo’s memorial naval park and the city’s urban renewal agency asked for a decommissioned battleship for a naval park. They got the USS The Sullivans, a World War II destroyer named for five Iowa brothers who served on the same ship and were killed in action when the ship was torpedoed and sank. The museum is also home to the USS Little Rock, a guided missile cruiser, and the USS Croaker, a Gato class submarine. The museum focuses on Western New York’s history during wartime and hosts a variety of other combat transportation, from tanks to airplanes (some of which were built in the area). buffalonavalpark.org

ERIE MARITIME MUSEUM

Oliver Hazard Perry built his lake fleet in Erie, Pennsylvania, the only freshwater port in the commonwealth.

Today, in a former power station on the lake shore, the Erie Maritime Museum commemorates the city’s nautical history, focusing on the War of 1812. Collections include model ships, documents and artifacts from the U.S. Coast Guard and its predecessor, the U.S. Lifesaving Service, and tools that show how ships for the War of 1812 were made. But, the showstopper is the Brig Niagara, a replica of Perry’s flagship, docked nearby. eriemaritimemuseum.org lakeerieliving.com 17

Continued from page 15 The post-Civil War era saw the rise of industry in American cities — particularly those that provided easy access to shipping.

The cities along Lake Erie benefitted. In 1900, Toledo was the third-largest city in Ohio. At the time, Cleveland was still one of the largest oil refining cities in the world, and the Silicon Valley of its day. It was estimated that the city provided more patent applications per capita than any other. Buffalo boasted more millionaires per capita than any other city, its businesses lit by electric power from nearby Niagara Falls. In fact, Buffalo quickly became known as the “Electric City.”

Even small cities became prosperous.

Sandusky quickly became known as the ice capital of the Great Lakes, harvesting thick sheets as the lake froze over in the winter.

Ashtabula became one of the busiest ports not just in America, but in the world. Lake Erie’s ports even changed the way ships were built. When George Hulett of Conneaut invented an enormous unloading apparatus in 1898, it revolutionized unloading ships.

Soon, the Hulett unloaders could be found at just about every port on the Great Lakes, and shipbuilders actually redesigned ships to make unloading more efficient.

The most famous event on the Great Lakes in the war took place on Sept. 10, 1813, when the vaunted British Navy met American forces near Put-in-Bay, on South Bass Island in Lake Erie’s western basin.

Taken during the 2019 Tall Ships Festival, this image highlights the Port of Cleveland as a destination for recreation, business, sports, transportation, real estate and more.

Get Ready for a WILD Time!

3/22 EZ

$3.00 Off General Admission (Ages 7 years+)

Children’s Admission (3–6 years)

Valid for up to 6 people with coupon. May not be used in combination with any other offer. Expires 12/4/2022.

267 S. Lightner Rd • Port Clinton, OH 17 miles west from cedar point • 1-800-521-2660

AFRICANSAFARIWILDLIFEPARK.COM 18 Lake Erie Living May/June 2022

ISTOCK, AERIAL AGENTS

Now Double the Giraffe!!

New Playground

$2.00 Off

The Great Lakes could sustain life — and just as easily take it away. It’s estimated that there were at least 8,000 shipwrecks across the Great Lakes.

When Franklin Roosevelt spoke of the Great Arsenal of Democracy, he was no doubt talking about the cities along Lake Erie. General Electric made howitzers in Erie, Pennsylvania.

General Motors made bombers in Cleveland.

Bell made aircraft in Buffalo. And of course, the Jeep was made — in enormous numbers —

by Willys-Overland in Toledo.

But progress comes at a price. The Great Lakes could sustain life — and just as easily take it away. It’s estimated that there were at least 8,000 shipwrecks across the Great Lakes.

That number’s a guess, Gillcrist says. Some ships were raised and reused, and it wasn’t until the 19th century, when wrecks started getting news coverage — and insurance claims — that better records were kept.

Of that 8,000, Gillcrist estimates a quarter oc-

curred on Lake Erie. It’s the southernmost Great Lake, with the busiest travel. Gillcrist said some railroad car ferries would cross the lake two or three times in a single day. It’s also the shallowest of the Great Lakes, he says, so navigation can be difficult.

Also, storms come up in minutes, not hours — like on Oct. 20, 1916. That day, known as “Black Friday,” two pressure systems converged, and combined with what was called a minor hurricane, sank four ships, resulting in the deaths of a total of 49 crew members.

But, because the Great Lakes are freshwater, many of those shipwrecks remain underwater and relatively undisturbed. In 2018, divers were able to locate the Lake Serpent, a ship that had sunk in 1829, identifiable by the carvings on its bow.

There’s one great shipwreck that has eluded divers for more than a century. The Marquette & Bessemer No. 2 set out from Conneaut for Port Stanley, Ontario. The 338-foot-long ship, carrying a load of 30 fully laden railroad cars, never made it. A lifeboat was found, but no trace of ship ever was.

“How can that have not been found in the shallowest and smallest Great Lake?” Gillcrist says. “There are still many shipwrecks to be found, and that’s both the challenge and the excitement for us.”

imeless & picturesque, the covered bridges of Columbia & Montour TCounties in Central Pennsylvania harken back to simpler times. Home

to an incredible twenty-five covered bridges, the counties are only a half day trip away from most of the major cities in Ohio. A few days in the quiet countryside are the perfect way to get away from the toils of daily life, and the historic bridges will serve as a reminder that sometimes, it’s the simple things in life that can make you happiest.

Learn more & plan your trip by visiting:

iTourColumbiaMontour.com lakeerieliving.com 19

map it out

Spring into Summer As the weather heats up, Western New York and Erie, Pennsylvania, promise an abundance of adventures without much windshield time, from chartering a boat to horseback riding, exploring the region’s dining scene and much more.

By Kristen Hampshire

Erie, PA DINNER & MYSTERY

Located on Peach Street in Erie, the Station Dinner Theatre is home of the original A Canterbury Feast and the longest-running medieval dinner theater in the country. Originally a restaurant built into a converted railroad sleep car, the theater opened in 2003. This summer, catch A Ghost of a Chance in May, The Sweet Delilah Swim Club in June, SnakeEye Sam’s Saloon Showdown in July, Watchin’ Waldo in August and A Canterbury Feast in September, October and November. canterburyfeast.com

Park at the Beach

CELLAR TIME

Arundel Cellars & Brewing Co. is housed in a late 19th century barn that was used as a cider mill for three generations. Check out the Sunday Afternoon Music Series from 1 to 4 p.m. or live performances every Friday night in July and August. As for what’s on tap, the Lake Erie inspired Small Craft Advisory wheat-and-citrus beer is billed as mild and refreshing. Off the vines, sample Young Love from estate-grown Niagara grapes that produce a sweet white. arundelcellars.com

Presque Isle State Park is the state’s seashore, with 11 beaches where you can surf, swim, boat, fish and play. Explore trails that are designed with shorter legs in mind — most are shorter than 1 mile. If you’re a birder, Presque Isle is a top spot. You can stay the night at one of the park’s campsites. dcnr.pa.gov/stateparks

20 Lake Erie Living May/June 2022

ISTOCK, YOUR SAILING ADVENTURES

PIRATE ADVENTURES

Join a crew, go treasure hunting and stave off enemy attacks aboard Scallywags Pirate Adventures. Take a family-fun cruise with an interactive story — or if you’re 21+, book a Wobbly Pirate happy hour cruise. Scallywags also offers charter experiences. The Pirate Experience 90-minute fun cruise includes a scripted show that draws everyone in. Activities include ship-to-ship water cannon battles, face painting, games and a dance party. Kids are sworn in as pirates and leave the dock with treasures after the Presque Isle Bay tour. scallywagspirateadventures.com

Sail Away

Spend the afternoon sailing Lake Erie with a four-hour customized charter experience, or book a sunset tour complete with wine, cheese and gourmet meats. Your Sailing Adventure casts off the 33-foot rig Sotto Voce with a galley, salon and two cabins under deck. Set sail from Wolverine Park Marina. yoursailingadventure.com

ROOMS WITH VIEWS

Mini cottage, hotel room or suite? The choice is yours at Lakeview on the Lake, where you can rent Annie’s Retreat, which features a master bedroom, full kitchen, great room and private deck overlooking a pool and playground. Or, book a stay at Lake Erie Hotel with sunset views. Mini cottages come complete with a front porch, Adirondack chairs, a full-sized bed and the basics. lakeviewerie.com

Love

TAKE TO THE WOODS

Asbury Woods is more than 216 acres and includes 5 miles of trails, plus programs like challenge hikes, iNaturalist training, make a grapevine wreath and more. Tune in to Monday Music in the Woods or take on the low ropes course.

The preserve is simply a peaceful place to walk and spend time with family. asburywoods.org

SIGN UP TODAY

Get the latest updates on events around the Lake Erie region delivered straight to your inbox with The Splash email newsletter.

lakeerieliving.com

lakeerieliving.com 21

map it out

STAY & PLAY

Western New York

TAKE TO THE LAKE

Camp out or book a resort with room service. After a day (or more) of play in Western New York, the lakefront region offers a wide range of accommodations to suit your budget and preference.

Hidden Valley Camping Area in Jamestown is close to the National Comedy Center and has 225 sites with water, electric and cable TV. You can also reserve a 50A site, gray water sites or mobile sewer service. Aside from the creature comforts, Hidden Valley has a pool on the property, offers activities and games, hayrides and laundry facilities. Forget an essential? Check out the camp store. The younger set can burn off energy at the playground. tourchautauqua.com/ destinations

SAFE · FUN · AFFORDABLE · CLOSE · ERIE, PA

Sunset Bay Beach offers 5 acres of sandy beach on the Lake Erie shore, plus tons of amenities and loads of entertainment. Make it a relaxing day on the sand or a lively night on the water. From volleyball courts to a video game arcade, ice cream shop, deli and waterfront bars and restaurants, there’s something for everyone.

Check out the Sunset Bay Beach Club and Cabana Sam’s Beach Bar & Grill for free live music, lunch, dinner, late-night snacks and cocktails. tourchautauqua.com/destinations Barcelona Harbor Beach boasts wide beaches and recreation that includes kayaking, picnic areas and trails. Plus, you can soak in a Lake Erie sunset. City Pier Park at Dunkirk Harbor is open yearround and includes one of the county’s new ADA-accessible kayak launches. Pack a picnic or grab a bite at the Dunkirk Boardwalk Market and sightsee from the city pier. tourchautauqua.com

Saddle Up

Chautauqua County is home to many horseback riding trails to explore the landscape on your own or with a guide. The Chautauqua County Equestrian Trail System includes more than 20 miles of trails in Charlotte, Cherry Creek and into Boutwell Hill State Forest to the Cockaigne Ski Area. Guided rides are available at Cockaigne Resort’s wilderness outpost. The resort is family friendly. Children must be at least 8 years old for the one-hour guided rides, and those under the age of 7 can participate in bridle-led rides. Double D.A.B. Riding Stables offers trail rides, sunset rides, pony rides, lessons and day camps. There’s also a petting farm on-site with goats, llamas, donkeys and miniature horses. tourchautauqua.com/play

22 Lake Erie Living May/June 2022

Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron offers patios and lake views. Nightly turndown service, indoor and outdoor pools and the Lakehouse Tap and Grille are a few available amenities.

The DoubleTree in Jamestown’s historic downtown is newly renovated and also offers an onsite restaurant. The convenient location is near the National Comedy Center, Northwest Arena, Reg Lenna Center for the Arts and Chautauqua Lake. tourchautauqua.com

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU, ISTOCK

Rent a rig and spend the day tooling around on Lake Erie at Chautauqua Marina. It’s open seven days a week during the season from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and offers a large fleet of pontoon and power boat rentals. chautauquamarina.com

A full suite of B&Bs includes the 1850 farm home Great Tree Inn Bed & Breakfast, set on a 10-acre property with free-range chickens and ducks, goats, pigs and mini donkeys.

The inn, with seven themed guest rooms each with private baths, is close to wine country and the Chautauqua Institution.

Hanover Hideaway’s 20-acre pine-tree filled property includes a fishpond and green space next to a vineyard. It’s minutes away from Sunset Beach. Maple Springs Lake Side Inn has a private beach and docks with slips. tourchautauqua.com

1

2

3

4

1. Oliver’s Rooftop Restaurant & Bar

3. Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park Resort

Panoramic views and delicious cuisine are waiting for you at Oliver’s Rooftop, located atop the Hampton Inn & Suites on Erie’s Bayfront!

Come and enjoy the views of Presque Isle Bay, the Bicentennial Tower and the historic US Brig Niagara.

Enjoy weatherproof fun at Splash Lagoon, where it’s always 84 degrees! Swirl down thrilling slides, ride the FlowRider Indoor Surf Machine and splash in the massive wave pool! Book an overnight package and stay at one of our connected hotels!

130 E. FRONT ST. · ERIE, PA 16507 · 814-920-9666 · OLIVERSROOFTOP.COM

8091 PEACH ST. · ERIE, PA 16509 · 1-866-3-SPLASH · SPLASHLAGOON.COM

2. Great Lakes Beach Glass Festival

4. VisitErie

The Great Lakes Beach Glass Festival will be held Oct. 8 and 9, 2022, at Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, Pennsylvania.

For more details, visit relishinc.com.

3835 W. 12TH ST. · ERIE, PA 16505 · 814-836-1827 · RELISHINC.COM

Located on the southern shore of our namesake lake, Erie is your destination for a lakefront getaway! Erie is home to Presque Isle State Park, featuring seven miles of sandy beaches.

Explore our vibrant downtown, Bayfront district, wine region, restaurants and so much more! Plan your itinerary with the ‘Hello Erie’ app, and make your escape to Erie, Pa. 800-524-3743 · VISITERIE.COM

Request Your Free Erie Adventure Guide! VisitErie.com.

PROMOTION

map it out

Western New York

LAUGH IT OFF

Discover your favorite way to make people laugh, from participating in television skits or stand-up comedy to making your own cartoon or meme.

The National Comedy Center celebrates the art of comedy, delivering an immersive and interactive experience with entertainment for all ages.

F

rom vaudeville to viral memes, slapstick humor to standup, the National Comedy Center is the country’s official cultural institution and museum dedicated to telling the story of comedy and preserving its history.

“What makes the National Comedy Center a really unique destination is how immersive the experience is,” says Gary Hahn, vice president of marketing and communications. “We help you curate your own comedy experience based on the kind of comedy you like best.”

Inside the 37,000-square-foot facility, you’ll find more than 50 innovative exhibits — an interactive journey through comedy history. The discovery begins when you set up a “humor profile” based on your interests. Information is digitally stored in a laugh band with an RFID chip you’ll scan at exhibits so they’re tailored to suit the audience in the room.

Much like a comedian “reads the room,” the exhibits do the same. “Then, it will deliver a stand-up performance or show TV and movie clips based on finding the commonalities of the people currently at the exhibit,” Hahn explains, adding that interactive technology make the museum one of the most advanced in the country. “What we’re trying to do is pull back the curtain and show that comedy is a true art form — it’s a craft that these artists hone for years and years.”

If only Lucille Ball could experience it. The vision was hers — a hope that her hometown of Jamestown would become a destination for comedy. When the town leaders approached her in 1989 to have a museum devoted to her and I Love Lucy, she was appreciative, but said, “I’d rather you create an institution that celebrates the art form of comedy, not just my work.”

Overall, Hahn says, “As you walk through, it’s a good feeling — especially now, coming out of COVID-19, everyone just wants a place where they can laugh.”

— Kristen Hampshire

Don’t Miss

Check out a variety of exciting exhibits and summer events at the National Comedy Center.

ACT THE PART

Select classic television and movie comedy scenes, such as Saturday Night Live, I Love Lucy, Anchorman and Dumb and Dumber, and place yourself in the center of the action using green screen technology.

KARAOKE LOUNGE

Choose among the greatest all-time stand-up routines, and like singing karaoke, you take the stage and deliver the routine.

LAUGH BATTLE

Face-off with friends, where jokes are served up on the screen. Your job? Make the other person laugh or crack a smile. “We use facial recognition technology to see if you laughed or smiled, and if you did, you lose a point,” Hahn explains.

MAKE A MEME OR CARTOON

Discover if you have what it takes to make people laugh by creating your own memes and comic strips.

Touch-screen monitors provide inspiration and help along the way.

LUCILLE BALL COMEDY FESTIVAL

From Aug. 4 to 7, discover more than 50 live events, including appearances by Jeff Foxworthy on Aug. 5 and David Spade, Rob Schneider and Kevin Nealon on Aug. 6. Tickets are on sale now.

Visit comedycenter.org to purchase tickets.

This new exhibit, debuting July 1, will showcase hundreds of never-before-seen archival materials, including interactive stations featuring audiovisual clips, creative papers, photographs and dimensional artifacts that chronicle the late comedy legend’s remarkable seven decades as a writer, director, author and performer.

24 Lake Erie Living May/June 2022

LAURA WATILO BLAKE

CARL REINER: KEEP LAUGHING

1

4

TourChautauqua.com - 866-908-4569

3

2

5

Chautauqua: YOUR SUMMER VACATION DESTINATION Request a free travel guide today and plan your adventure! Summer fun is closer than you think. This summer take a Western NY road trip to the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Region. Discover the unrivaled natural beauty of our many lakes, waterways and trails as well as experience one-of-a-kind cultural attractions. Start planning your vacation today!

1. CHAUTAUQUA MARINA BOAT RENTALS & SALES A full-service marina offering boat rentals,sales, dockage, storage, fuel and a showroom, Chautauqua Marina is open 7 days a week during the season. Chautauqua Marina is a YAMAHA Certified Five Star Dealer. Mention this ad and receive $25 off your power or pontoon boat rental. Fun in the Sun! 104 W. Lake Road, Mayville, NY 14757 716-753-3913 ~ chautauquamarina.com

2. THE FARM BELL Come in and browse our selection of wicker furniture, Lee Middleton Dolls, Chautauqua Tees & sweatshirts, Minnetonka moccasins, antiques and new & vintage jewelry. Our baskets make unique gifts. We have a barn full of ways to tell someone you care. Open 10-5 daily thru Labor Day. Call for winter hours.

3. GUPPY’S RESTAURANT & TAVERN Owners of Guppy’s Restaurant & Tavern, Doug & Christy Spegar are providing a new, safe and totally unique experience! Dine in a ski gondola offering a private new fun way to dine!

We have something for everyone to enjoy!

4663 Rte. 430, Bemus Point, NY 14701 716-386-4422 ~ guppystavern.com

4. PEEK’N PEAK RESORT Experience summer at The Peak! Climb through the Aerial Adventure Ropes Course, golf on the championship-caliber Upper Course, and relax at the Pool Complex and Serenity Spa. Overnight packages at The Inn and mountainside condos are available!

1405 Olde Road, Clymer, NY 14724 716-355-4141 ~ pknpk.com

5252 Rte. 430, Dewittville, NY 14728 716-386-4033 ~ 716-386-4033 PROMOTION

5. WEBB’S CAPTAIN’S TABLE RESTAURANT A friendly meeting place on Chautauqua Lake, Webb’s Captain’s Table specializes in locally sourced, classic American cuisine with indoor and outdoor seating, as well as an upscale carryout service featuring grab-and-go foods, gourmet coffee and curbside or boatside pickup.

115 W. Lake Road, Mayville, NY 14757 716-753-3960 ~ webbscaptainstable.com

16th Annual

North American Sea Glass Festival

Treasures of the Great Lakes

Western New York

Eat & Drink

Maumee Bay Lodge & Conference Center

May 21–22, 2022 Lectures • Exhibitors • Contest

www.seaglassassociation.org

A digital edition of

A fine family spot, Guppy’s Tavern serves up a reasonably priced menu with nightly specials and favorites like a giant stromboli. Dine in a gondola cabin at this Bemus Point spot. Each gondola seats six adults and includes Bluetooth so you can cue up your own mix. guppystavern.com

If you’d rather sip brews than wine, tour the growing craft beverage scene in Chautauqua County. Create your own trip and try some of these spots: Five & 20 Spirits & Brewing/ Mazza Chautauqua Cellars in Westfield; 21 Brix in Portland; and Big Inlet Brewing in Mayville. tourchautauqua.com/ destinations

Play a round of golf and make the Bemus Point Golf Club & Tap House your 19th hole. Check out more than 20 beers on tap and a full menu that includes artisan sandwiches, gourmet burgers and a ton of appetizers. bemustaphouse.com

is available online at lakerieliving.com

TALES Sail through time and get a peek at the fascinating history of our Great Lake.

Sonar Mapping Lake Erie

Celebrating Memorial Day

Lakefront Living

26 Lake Erie Living May/June 2022

SHOP A BIT

Confections and ice cream — why not splurge at Webb’s Candies (above left), known for its hand-dipped chocolates and favorites such as goat milk fudge, pecan frogs and sponge candy. The Mayville store also sells Perry’s ice cream. webbscandies.com Chautauqua Bookstore on the Institution’s grounds at Bestor Plaza offers a diverse range of books, magazines, gifts and cards. Plus, you can purchase recorded lectures and program materials. chautauquabookstore.com

ROBERT MAZZA INC., CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU

O H I O • P E N N S Y LVA N I A • NE W YOR K • ON TA R I O • M I C H I G A N

lakeside living

Bound for Bemus Point

Discover the Westrick family’s captivating home away from home on Chautauqua Lake.

DAVE BRYCE PHOTOGRAPHY

By Lynne Thompson

E

ddie and Bria Westrick’s journey to their vacation home was a long one. They spent more than a year searching for the perfect lakeside retreat, someplace within a two- to three-hour drive of their suburban Pittsburgh abode. In August 2017, a real estate agent drove the couple to Bemus Point, New York. The village on Chautauqua Lake, with its charming shops, restaurants and horse-

drawn buggies, reminded them of Cape May, New Jersey, their three children’s favorite summer destination.

“We like to go out to dinner, we like some music, we like some fun,” Bria Westrick says.

“Bemus Point’s little downtown area offered all of that.”

After the Westricks parted ways with the real estate agent, they returned to a property on Lakeside Drive where they’d spotted a

handwritten for-sale-by-owner sign by the road. The .6-acre lot was so overgrown that it almost looked unbuildable. A short walk through the brush and pines revealed 200 feet of lakefront and a breathtaking 180-degree view of the water.

“We don’t agree on much,” Eddie Westrick says. “But, we both instantaneously agreed on this piece of land and the location.”

The couple engaged Robert Gaskill of lakeerieliving.com 27

lakeside living

28 Lake Erie Living May/June 2022

BRINGING THE OUTDOORS IN

With a mixture of colors, textures and accents, many homeowners are trying to bring the outdoors inside. “You’re seeing more neutral colors,” says Julianne Lee of Catawba Interiors.

“Softer ones, too, with more earth tones to them.”

Exposed wood in interior design remains popular. Shiplap also is used often for exterior or interior use, as an accent wall or taken all the way up to the ceiling. “Texture is important when you’re trying to bring the outside in,” she says.

Furniture, pillows and other accessories are also being textured now, says Clare Opfer, director of sales and marketing for S&H Blinds & Floors in Sandusky. “The trends we are seeing in the industry are currently meeting form with function,” she says.

Opfer says a lot of kitchen tile — such as backsplashes — are now more textured, giving a more natural, rocky feel. She’s also noticing a lot of earth tones in carpeting — as well as patterns. “People think of carpet, and they want it to be brown or gray cut pile,” she says. “We are seeing that carpet manufacturers are making subtle patterns that bring in elements of the exterior, such as the shades of grass to lava eruptions, and the movement in patterns such as rippling water or urban garden prints.”

Wood accents are an added touch inside and outside. Lauren Glinn, sales manager for Wayne Homes in Sandusky, notes that a lot of people are looking for wood porch posts or other accents on the exterior, and many kitchen cabinets are being installed with natural wood finish. Luxury vinyl flooring remains wildly popular — and can be made to simulate wood, thanks to high-definition printing.

Solid and engineered wood flooring remains an option, Opfer says, and it has closed the gap in price. Supply chain issues have raised the price of luxury vinyl flooring, which is usually produced abroad and imported. Most natural wood flooring is made in North America and is not subject to the same tariffs (or potential shipping issues).

CREDIT

Gaskill Architecture in Portersville, Pennsylvania, to design what Bria Westrick wanted — a departure from the family’s traditional primary residence.

“We let him have a lot of free reign with his design,” she says. “But, I said to him, ‘I want to feel like when I’m going there, I’m going on vacation.’”

Gaskill responded by designing a stunning 3,600-square-foot sanctuary clad in cedar siding, cultured stone, a patina metal wall panel and topped by a standing-seam metal roof. Banks of windows frame views of Chautauqua Lake from every angle. In fact, the lake greets the Westricks and their guests at the double front doors through a window on the opposite entry wall.

“One of the most important things about that design was establishing the visual and physical connection to the water,” Gaskill says.

That extended to the houses across the street. The greatest challenge Gaskill faced was designing a place that would not obstruct their owners’ lake views. He met it by utilizing the lot’s slope, proposing a low-profile structure that put the garage, formal entry, three bedrooms and two full baths on street level and the open kitchen, dining area and great room, along with a mud room, laundry, full bath, powder room and master suite, on the level below. The result, which appears to be a singlestory abode from the street, provides walk-out access to the lake. “[Eddie and Bria] were OK with putting their kitchen and main living space on the lower level because it wasn’t their primary residence,” he says. “The everyday need of bringing in items from your car, in the garage, to the kitchen wasn’t as much of a concern.”

The back of the house was tricked out with a stamped stained-concrete patio poured in a zigzag that created distinct areas for a pool and fire pit, as well as dining and lounging.

The surrounding wall, faced in cultured stone and capped with limestone like the fire pit, is high enough outside to comply with local pool-fencing codes but low enough inside so it doesn’t impede lake views.

The Westricks also left the decorating to Gaskill’s team.

“The exterior design completely links into the interior design,” Gaskill says.

To achieve that goal, Douglas-fir roof rafters were left exposed. Walls of the stairwell from the street-level entry to the lower level — a feature strikingly illuminated by rectangular metallic-glass pendants — were covered in the

same cedar and tile selected for the exterior.

Gaskill’s team achieved a measure of symmetry on the lower level by using that same tile to finish a great-room fireplace at one end and a hood shroud over a 48-inch Thermidor-brand range at the other. Contractors faced the large kitchen island and dining area wet bar in cultured stone — yet another exterior material that injected a major shot of texture. Durable polished stainedconcrete floors blur the line between indoor and outdoor living spaces, particularly when the Westricks open two sets of folding doors.

“People get out of the pool and walk right in,” Eddie Westrick says. “We don’t have to worry about anything.”

Gaskill’s team outfitted the kitchen and bar in medium-gray laminate cabinetry with an exposed grain. The pattern in the quartz countertops, particularly on an island punctuated by a sink, resembles the movement of water.

“The concept of the island as the center, the movement of the pattern of the countertop, and the water is really just to emphasize the connection to the lake,” he says.

The team furnished the home with selections from Restoration Hardware. Taupe-leather

counter stools provide seating at the island and bar, white linen-look chairs at a wood-topped steel dining table, a wheat-colored sectional in the great room. Gaskill points out that the end tables are actually sections of an I-beam finished to match the exposed structural columns and beams.

“The wood [pattern on the coffee table] is

actually very close to the wood pattern in the cabinetry in the kitchen and the bar,” he adds.

Pieces from a metal outdoor collection sporting charcoal cushions were arranged on the patio and pool deck.

“It feels so nice to go there,” Bria Westrick says of the result. “It really feels like things just flow so perfectly.”

DAVE BRYCE PHOTOGRAPHY

LOVE YOUR HOME.

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM FOR INSPIRATION TO MAKE YOUR HOME UNIQUELY YOURS. 2830 East Harbor Road Port Clinton, OH 43452 · catawbainteriors.com Hours: Mon.–Fri. 10am–6pm Sat. 10am–5pm · Closed Sunday 419-734-5888 lakeerieliving.com 29

big picture

Luna Park, located in the Woodland Hills neighborhood, was often referred to as Cleveland’s “fairyland of pleasure.”

T

he March 1905 edition of the SWP, a newsletter for dealers of Sherwin-William Paints, detailed a project nearing completion “at the beginning of the picturesque swelling hills through eastern Cleveland,” that was using Sherwin-Williams paint exclusively — and a lot of it.

It was an amusement park in Cleveland’s Woodland Hills neighborhood, one of two amusement parks opened that year by impresario Frederick Ingersoll. The other was in his hometown of Pittsburg (at the time, the city had dropped the familiar H at the end; it would return in 1911). Both would be known as Luna Park, festooned with thousands of lights and no shortage of attractions, including a funhouse called Chateau-Alfonse, a slide that looked like a woman’s shoe, a swimming pool 30 Lake Erie Living May/June 2022

and roller coasters.

Luna Park was also home to a stadium, called Luna Bowl, seating more than 20,000 people.

Among those who played there were the Cleveland Tigers, a Negro League baseball team; multiple soccer teams and several early pro football teams, attracting such visiting gridiron stars as Benny Friedman, Ernie Nevers and the “Galloping Ghost” himself, Red Grange.

Ingersoll, who developed coin-operated games and designed roller coasters, at one point owned 44 amusement parks, all with the name Luna Park. In fact, in some languages, the word for amusement park is “Lunapark.”

Ingersoll sold the Cleveland park to local construction magnate Matthew Bramley in 1910. The following year, Ingersoll filed for bankruptcy. The New York Times said his assets

were three suits, worth $75, and $179,668.84 in liabilities.

The park continued its innovations, including a wave machine in the pool in 1920. Ultimately, it closed in 1929, done in by declining attendance due to a variety of factors, chief among them being the lack of alcohol sales due to prohibition. But Luna Park had outlived its founder. Ingersoll died in 1927 in Omaha, Nebraska, in an apparent suicide.

The park was sold at a sheriff ’s sale in 1931, with much of it being razed shortly afterward.

The last vestige, the roller rink, burned in a 1938 fire that injured nine firefighters (Fire Capt. Roy Haylor died of a heart attack at the scene as well). Today, it’s the site of the Woodhill Homes.

— Vince Guerrieri

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, PRINTS & PHOTOGRAPHS DIVISION, DETROIT PUBLISHING COMPANY COLLECTION.

Early 1900s Luna Park

Spend a few days in

DOWNTOWN FREMONT! MAY 7 Cinco De Mayo Festival Front Street Live Cornhole Tournament

JUNE 4 Front Street Live Cornhole Tournament

JUNE 18

JUST CHARGE IT & GO. #ELECTRIC −14-inch wheels

−Large trunk capacity

−Front-wheel drive

−Fully electric chargeable on any 110 Volt outlet

−Adjustable seats

−Only available in America −Fully customizable −13 Colors Available

CALL: 1-888-834-0492

Farmers Market Car Show

JULY 2 Car Show

JULY 16 Farmers Market Upcycle, Repurpose, & Reuse Event

JULY 23 Front Street Live Cornhole Tournament Check our website for additional events, rain dates, times and details.

DOWNTOWNFREMONTOHIO.ORG

MOKEOHIO.NET

DELIGHT IN EVERY BITE

A Euro/American Bistro style restaurant with 20 craft beers on tap. Located in a 122 year old structure in the historical district of downtown Fremont.

209 GARRISON ST., FREMONT, OH 43420 THE-GARRISON.NET - 419-333-8260

Eat. Drink.

Relax.

Scarpetta’s is the place where great cooking and fantastic vibes meet. Our food is nutritious, delicious, and affordable, and we welcome diners young and old. Try it yourself-make a reservation or stop by today!

SCARPETTAS.COM - 419-333-8293

Happy 200th Birthday, President Rutherford B. Hayes!

Join the celebration!

Details at rbhayes.org

Build it how you want it.

Best of

LAKE

ERI 2 02 1

The American dream can’t simply be bought. It has to be built. From the ground up – on land you own. So it’s personal and a perfect reflection of you. Wayne Homes has been helping families just like yours build beautifully crafted custom homes for five decades. Yeah, we’re proud of the homes we build, but you won’t see it in our prices.

Because this dream is for everyone. Now what’s yours?

Learn about building a custom home on your land at WayneHomes.com

|

Sandusky: 866-649-8678