Wilhelm: River, shipping was key to local development over the years
Roy Wilhelm
It’s hard to imagine just how important the Sandusky River was to the economy and development of the area through the years.
Sure, in recent years, it has had important value for its fishing and recreation, but some anecdotes provide some real perspective on the early importance of the river.
• According to Meek’s “History of Sandusky County,” as many as 14 lake vessels were in port in Lower Sandusky at one time.
• In 1820, the state legislature appointed Israel Harrington “a commissioner in connection with Alexander Morrison to lay out and open a state road commencing near the house of William Drake at the northern boundary of Delaware County, from thence the nearest and best way to Croghansville to the head of ship navigation in the county of Sandusky.” Croghansville, of course, was the name of the early community on the east side of the river before the town was incorporated as L