Firelands in The Firelands

I just got back from a class at Firelands College BGSU in Huron Ohio. No, I am not going back to get that advanced degree that I would love to be working on but don't have time for. I was attending a class about Milan's Historical Museum in Firelands Elder College. I will be visiting the museum next week and will write about it in the future. Right now I want to talk about what a great gem Firelands College of BGSU is to the Firelands area.
Firelands opened its doors in the fall of 1968 and have been a vital part of the Firelands Area ever since. It offers many things besides education for traditional students. They offer many poetry readings and presentations that are open to the public as well as theater. There are many great things going on in our back yard:
First off it is a great place for traditional students to get their start in college. They have all the help that BGSU has, along with BGSU's curriculum. They have a financial aid office as well as full time class counseling. The students pay some of the lowest tuition's in the state and have smaller classes with most of their professors having their PHD. They get great education that works hand in hand with BGSU so that after they exhaust Firelands resources the student can attend BGSU with nearly a seamless transition. There are even many areas of study that the students can complete a four year degree. This appeals to the non-traditional students that attend the college. There are quite a few non-traditional students at Firelands and I can speak from personal experience that their programs work and a four year degree can be acquired from BGSU at Firelands College while maintaining a full time job.
There are many other thing offered at Firelands. Lately I have been attending Elder College classes there. Elder College is open to anyone over 50 and has a very low cost. There is a wide variety of classes and the teachers have a widely varied background, all are volunteers. I have had classes taught by college Professors, retired high school teachers, chefs, college students, public officials.... the list really is endless. If you have an abundance of knowledge about a subject they would love to have you present it. I've been to presentations on Johnson's Island, museums, cooking, history, digital photography etc.
Firelands also has classes in professional development. These can be tailored to a company looking to educate their workforce or they can be as simple as a non-credit class in MSWord and as complicated as six sigma certification.
For information on non credit courses including Elder College contact the Office for Educational Outreach at Firelands at 419-433-5560. Or go to www.firelands.bgsu.edu all the necessary information is available on line.

Fairport Harbor Lighthouse and Museum.

This morning I woke up and for some reason I thought of Fairport Harbor. Not just Fairport Harbor but, specifically Fairport Harbor lighthouse. Now the city of Fairport Harbor itself is an interesting place and has its own place in Ohio History. The City at one time was the greatest port on Lake Erie and handled more shipping than even Cleveland. Located on the Green River just East of Cleveland and North of Painesville it was a bustling harbor town that served the early coal and steel industry. Settled mainly by Finns the city still has a festival celebrating its Finnish heritage. It's been suggested that the climate and landscape of Northeast Ohio resembled Finland and early Finnish settlers let other Finns know that Fairport Harbor was a place they could thrive. The harbor was also the largest port of access for members of the Church of Latter Day Saints on their pilgrimage west. Over 3,000 of this pilgrims disembarked at Fairport Harbor.
The harbor was the last stop on the underground railroad for many escaping slaves. I can imagine the beacon of the lighthouse was a beacon of hope as well as salvation for these tired travelers.
The lighthouse itself was completed in 1825 however the construction did not take into account the type of soil on which it was built. Within ten years it began to sink and by the civil war it was in a terrible state of disrepair. A new lighthouse was proposed and approved. It was to be built on the same site and a temporary light was posted on a tower. The new light began operation in 1871.
The lighthouse is built on a rise above the harbor and is 102 feet over the water. It was outfitted with a third order Fresnel lens and shone a fixed beacon out over the lake. This lens can be viewed in the museum today. By WWI the harbor had changed to the point that the lighthouse no longer served its purpose and a new lighthouse was constructed on the Fairport Harbor west breakwater. This new light was finished in 1925 and it looked like the end for the original light. The town and area rallied twice to save the old lighthouse and at the end of WWII the Fairport Harbor Historical Society was formed to keep and protect the lighthouse.
The museum is located in the old keeper's house and is an excellent example of what a lighthouse museum should be. There is even the story of a ghost cat in the old keepers house. If you go be sure to ask about that. The museum is filled with memorabilia and old photos. It is well run and staffed by volunteers. It is an amazing place to learn of life on the eastern part of the lake during the formative years of Ohio.
If you are feeling active be sure to climb the 69 steps to the top of the old lighthouse. The view is definitely worth the energy expended. If the weather is good take a bathing suit as the light now looks over the Fairport Harbor beach as well as the west breakwater lighthouse.
If you are going you may want to check and make sure the lighthouse is open. They are closed in the winter but will open by appointment. In the summer they are open Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday, and legal holidays, 1-6PM. Cost is $3 or $2 for seniors.
The email is fhhs@ncweb.com.

Schoepfle Garden Lorain Metro Parks

The fact that spring is right around the corner has put me in the mood to review a place that is a regular spring stop for me. Just west of the Vermilion River, in Birmingham, Ohio, there is a lovely park by the name of Schoepfle Garden. It is part of the Lorain Metro-parts system and is a very well maintained, function botanical garden. It has around twenty display areas with ample parking. There are many floral views and scenic displays. Be prepared to walk and look about. There are great pathways and a pond or two. You may want to pack a lunch so you can take your time and really commune with the nature presented. Spring is a time for flowers and they have many of them on display as well as many topiaries and trees. They have many trees that are not indigenus to the Firelands area. As I have said it is a well maintained area and everytime I have been there the pathways have been well kept and easy to negotiate. There are 70 acres to walk in so comfortable shoes are a must. The park is named after Otto B. Schoepfle. He bought the property in 1936. Apparently he was much taken by the botanical gardens he had visited in Europe. He built this one in homage to the European ones he had been to. He donated the entire property, including his house, to the Lorain Metro Parks in 1969. I recommend bringing a camera as you will get spectacular photos at most times of the year. Even though I really like the garden in springtime my favorite time to visit is in the summer. The last week of June and the first few weeks of July are when the hostas are blooming and they are stunning. This is a great place to stop when we are out and about on the motorcycle. We like to pick up a sandwich at deli and ride to the garden to dine beneath the trees. You can hear the Vermilion River at most places in the garden and its tranquil murmuring gives a great sense of peace to the already relaxing park. The entrance to the garden is on Market Street in Birmingham, it is the first street west of the Vermilion River on SR113. It is very easy to find and to get in and out of. The Schoepfle Garden is a singular area of the Firelands and I have not seen its ilk any where nearby. Enjoy your time there and let me know what you think.

Something Special.

I was privileged to partake of two of the greatest assets in the Firelands Area last week. On Thursday night I attended a concert by the Norwalk High School Band. Okay, I admit to a certain bias when it comes to the Norwalk High Band but I have really put that aside for this writing. The current band, while maybe not the best ever, is very, very good. They opened with two percussion ensembles followed by a trio. Then they swung into the full band. I am not a musician by any means but I have been around musicians and music long enough to know a few things. The first is that several of the pieces that the NHS band played last Thursday were college level pieces. They usually have a few musicians in the school that can easily handle college level music. I would think most high schools do. But to even attempt it with the entire band shows a level of playing ability that rises above average. And they nailed it. I know that they have had trouble in practice with one of the pieces that they played. The fact is that the band did what all people that excel at anything do, they rose to the occasion and played it with no errors that I could detect. Unfortunately I believe this was their last concert of the year so you will have to wait for the 4th of July parade to hear them and I'm afraid that the marching version of the band is incredibly different than the concert one, specially in the Enrsthausen Performing Arts Center.
Which is the second great asset that I want to talk about. What a great asset to the area. Wow! Not many small towns have a public stage with the height that will allow the raising of the curtains let alone being able to fly scenery and back drops. Anyone that has had to go to a concert at the old Norwalk High School building will remember the horrible sound quality of that auditorium. After all in is a gym and an auditorium and it really doesn't do either well. Now that it is a fifth and sixth grade building I feel sorry for the poor children in the sixth grade orchestra. They try their best but if you have someone noisy next to you they will cover the sound of almost anything coming from the stage. The room just eats sound. Not so with the Ernsthausen Performing Arts Center (EPAC). The stage is made to project to the audience. The room itself is made so that sound travels around in it and isn't absorbed by the walls. The stage has reflective sound shells flying above it that push the sound out into the room instead of letting it get lost in the rafters above the stage. if you are sitting in the balcony you can hear every note of a flute solo. Great place to hear NHS Band, Choir, or Orchestra. It's good for the community as several dance academies use it for their recitals. Other area schools use it for performances. and it doesn't just sit empty all week waiting. The EPAC is used by NHS for Band and Orchestra classes through the week as well as for special assemblies and presentations. Next up is the NHS Musical, "The Music Man", starring many of the students I just heard in concert. Wow, they play and sing! It Starts March 12th and I already have my tickets! Come enjoy more of what the area has to offer.

How about some wine? The Firelands and its surrounding area have quite a number of wineries. Not that it is surprising as the area is conducive to the growth of the type of grapes used by the wine industry. There is something about the lake effect on the weather that makes the season right for wine grapes. While the area may not be ready to compete with the Ashtabula area wine making in this area is on the upsurge. Off the top of my head I can think of 9 wineries in our area. Let me know if I miss any. There is Firelands Winery on Bardshar Rd. just outside of Castalia, Mon Ami on Catawba Island, Heineman's Winery on Put in Bay, Kelly’s Island Wine Company on Kelly’s Island, Quarry Hill Winery and orchard on Milan Rd. just north of Berlin Heights, Hermes Winery on SR 4 south of Sandusky, Matus Winery on Gore Orphanage Rd. in Wakeman, Paper Moon Vineyards in Vermillion on SR60 just north of Route 2, and the New D&D Smith Winery in Norwalk just off of SR61 south across from the armory.
Now I am sure that I have missed some or many as some wineries seem to enjoy being hidden but I believe this rounds out a nice sampling of what the area has to offer. Now I am not a big wine connoisseur, I’m more of a taste and spit kind of guy, but these wineries have more going for them than just the fruit of the vine. Most offer entertainment and it’s been my experience that the entertainment is usually not as loud as one might find in the local watering hole. Over this fall and winter I’ve enjoyed many single guitar acoustic acts at the area wineries and every one of the wineries has been pleased to serve my soda when asked for. This has been pleasant but I believe the real fun starts when the weather breaks. There is nothing quite like sitting outside at a local winery and hearing local talent sing under the stars. I know that Matus and Paper Moon will light a small bonfire on cold nights. There is something about a cracking outdoor fire with acoustic music that just makes a summer night come alive. You would not believe the wealth of talent that is out there for these establishments to choose from. There are single player acts, duos, trios, and groups. They are all usually very entertaining and yes I have my favorites but that will be another blog in the future.
Don’t wait for the weather to break. Even if you aren’t into wine, my wife isn’t, you can have a great time visiting the wineries. During the day many of them have tours and they are always glad to provide you with tastings. Most of them have websites that can be found by a simple web-search and their websites will usually provide maps and directions along with updated hours of operation and entertainment schedules.
Let me know the wineries I missed and which ones you like. I may go in more in depth to some of the more historic in the future. Cheers, enjoy!

Best Keep Secret in the Firelanpt

I have just been exposed to what is probably the best kept secret in the Firelands' area. Did you know that there was a museum at the Ohio Veteran's Home? Yes there is. It is a war museum with displays from all wars back to the civil war. The displays of the WWII, Vietnam, and Korea bring back memories of the past for those old enough to remember the days that the US were involved in in each. Much of what is there is uniforms and equipment. But there are also letters and personal accounts from soldiers in the field. Right now there is a two room display dedicated to Johnson's Island, the former Civil War POW camp. It is complete with models of the camp and buildings as well as numerous photos from the Island. Several stories of the time are related on the walls and in individual displays.
I was with a large group and didn't have time to really dig into as much as I would have liked but one thing that truly is a gem is the library. Built with donations of material, from ever since the OVH was begun in 1888, there are many documents that are of incredible historical significance. A friend of mine who has spent time at the museum showed a bookcase full of bound volumes that are full of letters, official and personal, collected and organized, from the Civil War Era. They are locked up behind glass to protect them but I'm sure access can be arranged for the true Civil War buff. The library takes up two of the large rooms on the second floor and would take a life time to get tired of. This is an amazing asset to the Firelands' area.
Of course, as with many historical sites, the museum is in danger of being closed. Not immediately but it's future is endangered as the administration of the OVH lacks the foresight to see the value of having a museum on site. After all, their business is providing a home for veterans, not running a museum. There will also always be a threat of the property becoming too valuable to keep protected as a historical site. Mainly because it does have a long frontage on US 250 right across from one of the growth areas of Erie County.
I recommend that you visit the site soon and support it. This will guarantee that you get to see it and your attendance may help to preserve the museum as it will show community interest.
The museum can be accessed from US 250 and there is parking right in front of it. The hours are 10-4 daily. It is closed on Thursday and Friday.