OAK HARBOR



A SHORT HISTORY OF OAK HARBOR

The history of Oak Harbor, Ohio, begins in October, 1832, when Joseph Wardlow staked a claim and plotted a Village some ten miles inland from the mouth of the Portage River in Salem Township. Because the land was on the eastern fringe of the Black Swamp, it had many marshy bayou areas and numerous creeks. Adjacent to the swampy area, on the higher ground, were stands of virgin timber, which included oak, walnut, elm, hickory, ash and poplar. Wild game, such as deer, turkey, partridge and waterfowl of all kinds were abundant. The settlement was incorporated on October 12, 1835, as the Village of Hartford. This was done perhaps to honor the State of Connecticut where many early Salem Township settlers came from. W. W. Wardlow became the first mayor of the Village of Hartford.

The early 1800's was a time of development in Ohio. Many men planned, plotted and promoted tracts of land in the hope of selling lots or even entire communities for a profit. Such was the case with the Village of Hartford. Joseph Wardlow sold his claim to Horace Walbridge and Ira Smith who were land speculators from Toledo, Ohio. They in turn passed the land to Adolphus Kraemer. Kraemer owned several pieces of property in Lucas County and operated a store on St. Clair Street in Toledo. He was an industrious man who dreamed of establishing a thriving, prosperous city and with his purchase of the Hartford area; he meant to realize his dream.

Having sold his holdings in Lucas County, Adolphus Kraemer brought his family to Hartford in 1838. Leaving the Toledo area, the family traveled by turnpike to Perrysburg, Ohio where they crossed the Maumee River. Then on to Woodville, Ohio on the Perrysburg-Fremont Pike. From there, no roads were cut through the timber, so he followed the north bank of the Portage River, going inland only to get around the many bayous and creeks. Arriving in Hartford, Kraemer settled his family and went about the business of improving his town. He had goods sent by boat from Toledo up the Portage River and opened a general store. Next to his store he built a saw mill. In addition, he also farmed, practiced medicine and law. By 1850, Adolphus Kraemer was the wealthiest landowner in Salem Township, with his holdings valued at two thousand dollars. In the early years of his Village's development, he would, until his death in 1885, be the driving force behind every improvement, be it the building of a school, donating land for churches, sponsorship of charitable doings, establishment of Village services, or influencing railroad locations.

One issue that Adolphus Kraemer was unable to resolve in Hartford’s favor was the placement of the county seat. When Ottawa County was formed on March 6, 1840, Port Clinton was named the temporary seat of justice. Kraemer thought his Village had a good chance to be made the permanent county seat and he even set aside a large tract of land for the erection of the court house in Hartford. Such was not to be the case and instead of the growth associated with a town being the county seat, Hartford would develop in another direction.

Sawmills and various lumber related industries were started to clear the timbers around the village. River traffic to the mouth of the Portage River, and beyond, moved the products to national and world ports. With the growth of the village, it became necessary to establish a post office. Because there were three other Hartfords in Ohio, the Post Office Department requested a name change. After much discussion, heated debate and research in the Post Office Directory, the name of Oak Harbor was chosen. "Oak" to emphasize the prominence of that wood in the surrounding area, and "Harbor", the importance of the river to the Village. Thus in January 1845, the Hartford Post Office ceased to exist and the Post Office named Oak Harbor came into being. The name of the Village itself was changed from Hartford to Oak Harbor on March 27, 1863. Oak Harbor was incorporated April 17, 1871.

From two or three cabins in the wilderness and only a dream of Adolphus Kraemer, Oak Harbor had, by 1850, become a community of thirty eight dwellings with one hundred eighty seven people. It had plotted streets, two churches, a school, lumbering, farming and some manufacturing. All but fifteen people over twenty years of age could read. Wood related products were becoming very prominent in the Village's economy. Many businesses were using the vast amounts of timber that surrounded Oak Harbor. Some of them were: Charles Roose Stave Factory, Adolphus Kraemer Saw Mill, Anspach Brothers Hoop Factory, John R. Hoans Planing Mill and Shingle Factory, and G. B. Heller & Company Wood Bowl Factory. After the Civil War, some one hundred sixty six workmen were employed by these businesses, and during a one year period four million barrel staves were shipped to eastern ports.

Up until the 1870's, the Portage River was the only way for local businesses to ship their products. The first boat on the river was the "John Marshall", run by Adolphus Kraemer. The scow "Mary Berkhead", was, in pre-Civil War times, the fourth largest on the Great Lakes. It shipped white oak staves from the Charles Roose Stave Factory to Buffalo, New York. Poplar plank were also sent to Buffalo sometime later during the Civil War. Oak went by the Welland Canal to Scotland to be used for ship building. Thousands of cords of wood were sent to Cleveland, Sandusky and the Lake Erie Islands to be used for fuel for the Buffalo/Detroit steamships. A great number of the products from Oak Harbor manufacturing went down the Portage River and on to world ports.

Besides the commercial use of the river, numerous excursion boats docked in Oak Harbor. Worldly travelers of the time could go from Oak Harbor to Detroit, Cleveland, Toledo, and the always popular Lake Erie Islands. Two of the early vessels, the "Ferris" and the "Hayes", sometimes sold as many as seven hundred tickets for an Oak Harbor to Put-In-Bay excursion. As with any town that was by a river, the river was also used for recreation. Swimming, boating, fishing and ice skating were popular. Many 4th of July celebrations included swimming and boating races on the Portage.

By the 1880's, with a population of nine hundred eighty seven people, the majority being of German decent, many changes had taken place. Numerous churches were organized. The wooden one room school buildings were consolidated in 1875 into a large brick building on the corner of Walnut and Church Streets, then near the edge of town. The Ottawa County Exponent was founded in 1871 as a stock company that bought out the Port Clinton Republican. The Charles Roose Hose Company, formed in 1866, was supplemented with the formation in 1873 of Portage Fire Company #1. Adolphus Kraemer had used his influence to bring the railroads to Oak Harbor. They had originally been surveyed to bypass the village. The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern ran its first passenger train to Oak Harbor on March 12, 1872. The Wheeling & Lake Erie built through town in 1882. Most of the local businesses made great use of the railroads, terminating the commercial use of the Portage River. Many of the brick buildings in Oak Harbor were built at this time to replace the original wooden structures. Many streets were bricked and curbed. The last quarter of the 1800's was a fast changing growth period for the Village.

One of the most important changes was that the Village became an agricultural center, serving the surrounding area. Much of the land that originally supported virgin timber had, by this time, been cleared and turned into small farms. Many of the timber related businesses were still around, such as the Gordon Lumber Company, founded in 1868, the Oak Harbor Basket Factory, started in 1895, and the Anspach Brothers Hoop Factory. Other businesses were created in response to the needs of agriculture. Michael Thierwechter built a flour mill and grain elevator by the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad tracks. John Maggie and Henry Paffenbach, both from Elmore, built an elevator by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad in 1902. Jake Weller moved his pickle and tomato factory to Oak Harbor in 1898 from Cincinnati. In 1912, the Oak Harbor Fruit Company was formed by area farmers to sell the peach and apple crop of the area.

With the many timber and agriculture related businesses, of course, came many other enterprises typical of a Village of this era. Oak Harbor at one time had a glove and mitten factory, a glass factory, buggy factories, a whip factory, cigar factories, hatcheries, hardware’s, blacksmith shops, banks, hotels, coal yards, tile yards, brick yards, dairies, saloons, and general stores. The Thierwechter Company, founded in 1867 and moved here in 1877, was one of the largest general stores in the county. Another, the Kramb Company Store, dating from at least 1875, had the various dry goods, grocery, and clothing departments found at most general stores. It also had an ice house and a blacksmith shop.

Oak Harbor was indeed a growing town. The new town hall, with an opera house, was built in 1907, the new high school in 1911, the armory in 1913, and a Catholic Church in 1917. A municipal water system went into service in 1911. Natural gas, electric lights, and the telephone were available to its citizens. The new electric railroad, along with the other rail lines, was able to offer service to just about anywhere one would want to go. The Oak Harbor Business Men's Association, incorporated October 10, 1910, reported the following facts about the Village to prospective interested parties:

"An electric railroad (38 passenger, 6 baggage and express and 4 freight cars daily), two steam railroads (12 passenger trains daily) - L.S. & M.S. (New York Central Line) east and west, with a total of 90 trains every 24 hours, and the W. & L.E., north and south, with 6 passenger trains daily and a total of 20 trains every 24 hours. Situated 90 miles west of Cleveland, 25 miles east of Toledo. Has a $60,000.00 public school building, excellent grade schools - accredited High School, five churches, seven factories, two newspapers. Good hotels, Bell and Independent telephones, electric lights and power. Western Union Telegraph. American and Wells Fargo express. Two strong banks. Public library. Up-to-date water works system. Good fire protection. Good sewer system and river drainage. Miles of paved streets. Opera House. In peach, general fruit and vegetable belt. On the beautiful Portage River, near Lake Erie. Stone roads into town. Good motoring, boating, hunting, and fishing. Pleasant place to live, at low cost. Industries solicited."

Oak Harbor, like every other town in the United States, did its duty during the First World War. Prior to the war, on July 1, 1916, its Company M, 6th Ohio National Guard was called up to serve along the Mexico-U. S. Border. It later became part of the 147th U.S. Infantry and eventually, during the war, served in Europe. On the home front in the summer and fall of 1918, many patriotic sings, lead by Professor J. Ballmer, Professor George Ashbacker, and Judge Carl Sperling were held at the local armory and in school house park. On November 11, 1918, parades formed, fire crackers were set off, and church bells rang to celebrate the signing of the armistice.

But all was not right with Oak Harbor. In the summer of 1918, cases of Spanish Influenza were reported in Ottawa County. By October, the disease was so bad that the Oak Harbor Board of Health closed all churches, schools, dance halls, pool rooms, and picture shows until further notice. The epidemic lasted through the 1918-1919 winter. An average of three people died every week. During the late 1920's and through the 1930's, some of the well known businesses in the village also closed. The Bauch Company, successor of the Thierwechter Store, went into receivership. The Kramb Company Store, forced into smaller quarters because of the hard times, went out of business for good around 1932. The Michigan Headliner closed and its buildings burned to the ground around 1930 just as the equipment was being tagged for auction. The village also suffered the cut off of passenger operations on the Ohio Public Service electric line, the last run was on July 11, 1939.

Even with the loss of those ventures, however, Oak Harbor began to regain some of its pre-war spirit. The auto, introduced to the village around 1905, had by the 1930's almost completely dominated over the horse and buggy. Gone or going were the blacksmith shops, the liveries, the carriage makers, and the harness shops. These were replaced by machine shops, garages, and auto dealers. The auto and its farm counterpart, the tractor, would reinforce Oak Harbor as an agricultural center. The auto made the village more accessible to the surrounding area and to its farmers. Many tractor sales & service businesses and farm implement stores were in the village at this time.

To make the town more accessible from the south, a new modern concrete and steel bridge was built across the Portage River in 1932. At the time of the dedication of the bridge, attended by State Governor George White, a celebration, the first Oak Harbor Fall Fair and Festival, was held. Combined with the Community Fruit Fair and the village's 100th year of founding, the Fall Fair was a three day event which was held October12, 13 and 14, 1932. A street fair, racing on the river, and various other events marked the start of a tradition that lasted in Oak Harbor for over thirty years until the first county fair was held in 1965.

Many improvements were made in the village itself by the 1930's. Two churches had built new larger structures. St. John's Church was dedicated in 1927 and St. Paul's Church was dedicated in 1930. The high school added a new gym/auditorium wing to its building. The National Bank of Oak Harbor was founded July 2, 1934. The United States Post Office finally acquired a permanent home in 1939 on Church Street. 1939 also saw the completion of the10 inch water line from Port Clinton Water Works to Oak Harbor. This waterline replaced the two fresh water wells the village had been using since 1911. The old wells were put on standby emergency status where they have remained to this day. Thus by the 1940's, Oak Harbor had once again become a modern, up-to-date, typical small American town.

World War II rekindled the spirit of patriotism in Oak Harbor. Everyone pulled together for the country's good. Housewives saved their grease for the production of munitions. Children gathered milkweed pods for floatation collars. A large scrap metal pile was amassed behind the high school. An airplane observation tower, built on top of the Huck Building, was manned by local high school students and practice air raid drills were conducted. Everyone in the village contributed in one way or another to the war effort. At the end of the war, on VJ Day, the people of Oak harbor stood outside in the rain to listen to the raucous celebration of church bells, sirens, whistles, and horns.

Following the war, the United States industrialized and so did Oak Harbor. In the area, Erie Proving Grounds and Brush Beryllium Company provided many men and women with jobs. In the village itself, with a population of 2370, the Oak Harbor Development Company, incorporated in 1950, spearheaded the drive for industry. Northern Manufacturing started production in 1952. The Anderson Boat Company in 1953, and Myca Products Company in 1955. Two of the older industries, the J. C. Weller Company and the Gordon Lumber Company were still going strong. By 1955, the value of the products manufactured totaled nearly $10,000,000. Products included boats, dehydrated alfalfa meal, processed foods, hardwoods for boat and dock construction, extruded rubber products, lumber and logs, CO-2 type factory fire systems, metal paneling, truck bodies, brackets and bracket holders for Fire trucks, roll formed metal moldings, butt seam and lock seam tubing, special shapes of metal stampings, metal for prefabricated windows, star sash balances, centerless grinding, thread rolling, truck decks, truck trailers, tanks, cannery systems, and "Brikcrete" building blocks.

Other advancements made in the village during the post-war period saw the replacement of older buildings and new construction in response to the demands of an increasing population. The school system built a new elementary school in 1957 to handle the baby boom. Churches also responded to this growth. St. Paul's Church built a new Sunday School addition in 1957 as did St. John's Church in 1960. The Methodist built a new church on the east side of town in 1961, and the Catholic Church opened a parochial school for grades one and two in September, 1966. The Oak Harbor State Bank, established in 1887, and Bassett's IGA started in 1898, both relocated into new larger structures. A new modern high school was opened on the west side of town in time for the 1975-1976 school year. Municipal services also kept up with the times. Utilities were improved and the village municipal building located on Church Street was erected in 1976. Twenty-four hour radio dispatching for police and fire protection was initiated. An Emergency Medical Service, using highly trained volunteers was formed in 1979. With these and numerous other improvements, the village's 2678 citizens were ready to enter the 1990's.

Oak Harbor in the 1990's has changed in some respects. No longer is the emphasis on manufacturing. While there are some small companies in the village, gone are the many varied enterprises that were here in the 1870's. The shift has also been away from agriculture. There are very few farm related businesses in town, unlike the early 1900's. Gone are the blacksmith shops, the machine shops, and the many stores that served the farmer. In their place are small specialty shops, convenience stores, and service businesses that compete for the more mobile population. The village is being influenced more and more by the outside world as many of its citizens look to nearby cities for their work, shopping needs and even for their entertainment and recreation.

But the dreams of the original citizens of Hartford are still alive today. They are visible in the churches, schools, the Apple Festival, and in the daily lives of the people. Much is being done to improve upon those dreams and yet to retain the spirit of the village that has grown from the swamp and the forest on the bank of the Portage River. If Adolphus Kraemer were alive today, he would be proud of the village he helped to create - Oak Harbor, "the biggest little town in Ohio".

Researched By: John C. Liske

ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY

Oak Harbor is located in approximately the center of Ottawa County in northwest Ohio, along the Lake Erie shoreline. The village of Oak Harbor is on the north bank of the Portage River and is 25 miles southeast of Toledo, 120 miles north of Columbus and 90 miles west of Cleveland. The area is accessible from two exchanges of the Ohio Turnpike and is intersected by four major highways: State Routes 2, 19, 105, and 163.

In addition to the village of Oak Harbor, there are several smaller villages. Benton Township includes the small villages of Elliston, Graytown, Rocky Ridge, Trowbridge, Limestone, and Blackberry Corners. It is mostly rural and includes part of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge.

Carroll Township also includes part of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Turtle Creek Bay and the Toussaint River. This township is also mostly rural, but it is becoming well known for the excellent hunting and fishing areas that it has. It includes locales known as Long Beach, Sand Beach, and Locust Point. The Davis Bessie Nuclear Power Station is located in the northeast corner of the township where the Toussaint River drains into Lake Erie.

Salem Township includes the village of Oak Harbor, which lies on the Portage River. This is the largest village and has over 200 businesses, a village government and services. This township has three of the school district's buildings. R.C. Waters Elementary serves students from K-3, the Oak Harbor Middle School serves students in grades 4-7, and the Oak Harbor High School serves students in grades 8-12. Each municipality also enjoys the service of fine fire and police departments. Toledo Express Airport and large commercial airports in Cleveland and Detroit are within an easy drive of the area. Thus, access to the school district and neighboring job markets make it an attractive place to settle.

There are many churches in and around Oak Harbor and all denominations work in a cooperative effort to sponsor events that involve all of the residents. The churches work closely with the school in scheduling activities so as to avoid as many conflicts as possible. Oak Harbor can also boast of a new public with over 40,000 volumes. In excessive of forty service clubs and fraternal organizations operate in Oak Harbor and the area, including the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Masons, Knights of Columbus, Grange, VFW and Legion, Lions and Boy and Girl Scouts to name but just a few. Within the school district there are also numerous parent support organizations including Athletic, Music, and Academic Boosters.

The community supports many family oriented events, but perhaps the biggest and best known is the Apple Festival. Thousands of people from all over Ohio come to Oak Harbor on the second weekend in October for this annual event. While the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce hosts the event; fire departments, craftsmen, and vendors from throughout the area are involved in the two-day event. A big parade, food, rides, talent show, 5K run, and dance are just a few of the activities that delight crowds over the weekend. It is also important to note that all three townships are an integral part of the "Vacationland" promotion for the entire county. With numerous marinas, campgrounds, and Black Swamp Bird Observatory; the entire area is a busy place during the summer months.

OAK HARBOR PUBLIC LIBRARY

Address: How to Contact:

147 West Main Street Phone: 419-898-7001

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449 Fax: 419-898-0747

E-Mail: oakharpl@oplin.lib.oh.us



BENTON-CARROLL-SALEM LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

The mission of the Benton-Carroll-Salem Local School District is to provide

an appropriate educational program and learning environment which will effectively

meet the educational needs of its students and citizens; and help its students

accomplish educational goals that are significant, durable and transferable

About Our District

The Benton-Carroll-Salem Local School District is located in Oak Harbor, Ohio, along the shore of Lake Erie. The district, located in central Ottawa County, is comprised of three townships, which are reflected in its name, and the Village of Oak Harbor and several smaller villages.

B-C-S is a moderate sized district spread out over 106 square miles, most of which is rural. Just over 2,100 students attend class in six buildings which consist of a high school, a junior high school, and one elementary building. Most of our students are bussed to school and the district operates a fleet of twenty-two buses plus five spares that travel over 1,600 miles per day.

The district is proud of its excellent facilities and is recognized as one of the "lighthouse" districts in the state of Ohio. Excellent resources allow B-C-S to offer a range of educational opportunities that meet the learning needs of its students. The property valuation per student is approximately $285,000, which provides just over $7,000 of operational monies per student.

Some of these opportunities included All-Day, Every Day Kindergarten, a comprehensive Reading program that is outstanding, a first-rate Computer Education program in grades K-12 and an Advanced Placement program at the high school that stretches the expectations for top students. In most cases, the pupil-teacher ratio is low and the 156 plus teaching staff members provide a nice blend between the experienced and new teachers. A significant majority of the teaching staff have earned an advanced degree in their field. Over 60% of our seniors advance to a two our four year school after graduation.

Students interested in vocational education may attend the Penta County Joint Vocational School as a junior or senior or they may take advanced vocational programs available at the high school. The school also owns a 90 acre farm that serves as a land lab for the Vocational Agriculture Department. Other attributes of the district include a natatorium, an all-weather track, and a 750 seat auditorium. All facilities are available for public use and the community takes great pride in the condition of its school. Wide venues of extra-curricular and co-curricular activities are also available to students in the district. Over 92% of our high school students are involved in at least one activity. The "Rocket" teams have also enjoyed great success in every area.

Schools are the common thread in our lives that bind us all together in the community. It is a place where we come together to play.....to grow.....to learn. We are proud of our schools and it shows.

BENTON-CARROLL-SALEM BOARD OF EDUCATION

11685 West State Route 163 419-898-6210

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

OAK HARBOR HIGH SCHOOL

11661 West State Route 163 419-898-6216

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

OAK HARBOR MIDDLE SCHOOL

315 Church Street 419-898-6217

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

R.C. WATERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

220 East Ottawa Street 419-898-6219

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

ST. BONIFACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

215 Oak Street 419-898-1340

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

RvI, INC.

Special Education Facility

8200 West State Route 163 419-898-5250

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

AREA COLLEGES

FIRELANDS CAMPUS OF BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY

One University Drive 419-433-5600

Huron,Ohio 44839 800-322-4787

OWENS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

PO Box 10,000 419-661-7777

Toledo, Ohio 43699-1947 800-GO-OWENS

TERRA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

2830 Napoleon Street 419-334-8400

Fremont, Ohio 43420 800-334-3886

PRE-KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION

KERSTEN’S KORNER NURSERY SCHOOL

11969 West State Route 105 419-898-0099

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

RAINBOW ACRES EDUCATIONAL DAYCARE CENTER I

115 Portage Street 419-898-1310

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

ST. JOHN’S NURSERY SCHOOL

122 West Ottawa Street 419-898-6474

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

CHURCHES

GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH

325 South Toussaint Portage Road 419-898-4002

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

LAPOINTE METHODIST CHURCH

7285 West Harbor Road 419-898-5971

Port Clinton, Ohio 43452

OAK HARBOR ALLIANCE CHAPEL

11805 West State Route 105 419-898-7165

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

OAK HARBOR UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST

769 North Locust Street 419-898-6700

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

OAK HARBOR UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

360 East Ottawa Street 419-898-8481

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

ST. BONIFACE CATHOLIC CHURCH

215 Church Street 419-898-1389

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

ST. JOHN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

122 Ottawa Street 419-898-6474

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH

450 North Rocky Ridge Road 419-898-1058

Rocky Ridge, Ohio 43458

ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH

9789 West Oak Harbor SouthEast Road 419-898-0908

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

ST. PAUL’S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

165 Toussaint Street 419-898-0852

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

HALL RENTALS

AMERICAN LEGION POST 114

221 West Park Street 419-898-5888

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

CARROLL TOWNSHIP COMPLEX

11080 West Toussaint East Road 419-898-9621

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

COMMUNITY MARKETS VFW MEMORIAL HALL

251 West Main Street 419-898-4891

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

EAGLE’S NEST HALL

210 Jefferson Street 419-898-4362

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

OTTAWA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS HALL

7870 West State Route 163 419-898-1971

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

SALEM TOWNSHIP HALL

11650 West Portage River South Road 419-898-4126

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

AREA VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

CAMP SABROSKE

4405 North Toussaint South Road 419-898-6741

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

OTTAWA COUNTY RIVERVIEW HEALTHCARE CAMPUS

8180 West State Route 163 419-898-2851

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

RIDERS UNLIMITED

3140 Behlman Road 419-898-6164

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

AMERICAN LEGION POST 114

2206 North Toussaint 419-898-0092

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

Meets 1st Monday of the month at American Legion

BOY SCOUT TROUP 316

500 North Locust Street 419-898-4362

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

Meets Sunday evening at Eagle’s Nest

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

325 Benton Street 419-898-2416

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

MASONIC LODGE

539 Benton Street 419-898-2957

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

Meets 2nd & 4th Wednesday of the Month at Masonic Lodge

OAK HARBOR ATHLETIC BOOSTERS

Meets 3rd Wednesday of the month at the High School

OAK HARBOR CONSERVATION CLUB

9755 Gordon Road 419-898-9923

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

OAK HARBOR LIONS CLUB

PO Box 144 419-898-2797

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

OAK HARBOR POLICE AUXILIARY

146 N. Church St 419-898-2055

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449 Chief Steve Weirich

OTTAWA COUNTY AGRICULTURE SOCIETY

7870 West State Route 163

Oak Harbor, OH 43449

ROTARY CLUB OF OAK HARBOR

PO Box 431 419-898-9765

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION

514 Church Street 419-898-6997

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

VFW POST # 8732

251 Main St. 419-898-2396

Oak Harbor, OH 43449

VILLAGE OF OAK HARBOR – PUBLIC UTILITIES

WATER DEPARTMENT

The Village of Oak Harbor’s Water Department was established in 1911. The water department operates a Class I water distribution system consisting of approximately 22 miles of water mains and 1800 service taps. The department operates and maintains two water towers in the village and one at Lake Winds Industrial Park. Two remote pumping station, one in Lacarne and one at Lakeshore Drive in Port Clinton. Also a high service reservoir and pumping station in Oak Harbor that maintains the village water supply. The village of Oak Harbor receives its water from the Ottawa County Regional Water Plant in Port Clinton. Oak Harbor is also a partner in the Regional Water Project. The water department crew installs and maintains all water taps, mains, valves, fire hydrants, records, maps of the system and collects water samples per E.P.A. standards. The water department crews are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to assure the integrity and safety of Oak Harbor’s water system.

POWER DEPARTMENT

Oak Harbor’s Public Power distribution system operates a 12,470-7,200 Volts Y system. We currently receive service from the Toledo Edison (First Energy) substation on Portage River South Road and State Route 105 (Feeder #1238 Oak Harbor). Oak Harbor public power is a member of Amp-Ohio, the organizing body for municipal utilities. Amp-Ohio offers safety programs, Lineman training and professional services to its member communities. Some of the local municipal utilities Oak Harbor’s crews works with are Elmore, Genoa, Clyde, Woodville, Pemberville, Bradner and Milan.

STREETS & PARKS DEPARTMENT

The employees of the Oak Harbor Street Department oversee the maintenance and upkeep of Oak Harbor’s three main parks.

Veteran’s Memorial Park is located on Finke Road on the East side of town. The facilities at this park include 3 little league ball diamonds, one softball diamond with a concession stand, two full-size basketball courts, two tennis courts, skateboarding area, sledding hill, roller blade/ice skating rink, a multitude of playground equipment as well as a “Tot Lot” for pre-school age children. Two restroom facilities are available at Veteran’s Park and two open air shelter houses with full electric service and lighting. Both have charcoal grills in very close proximity. The buildings can be reserved by calling the Oak Harbor Police Department at 419-898-2055. Donations are accepted.

Town Hall Park is located on Church Street near the municipal building, Post Office and Oak Harbor Hotel. The theme of this park reverts back to the good old days of public square. There are picnic tables in the quiet green space along with new spruce pines and oak trees as well as large shady trees. Plans are currently underway for reconstruction of an 1870’s log cabin on the property by the Oak Harbor Lions Club and the Village of Oak Harbor. The planned construction period will coincide with the celebration of Ohio’s Bicentennial in 2003.

Flat Iron Park gets its name from its shape. Located at the West entrance of the village, it is bordered by Water, Main and Toussaint Streets. A gazebo built “by the community, for the community” in 1976 has served as a site for weddings, picnics, organizational meetings and life Nativity scenes at Christmas time. This park also serves as a well known county landmark with a memorial to local veterans of WWI in 1919 and rededicated to all veterans of all conflicts in the late 1980’s.

Garbage:

The Village of Oak Harbor is contracted with Republic Services. Residents should contact them directly to set up service, answer billing questions, etc. The “blue” bags can be purchased at the Utility Office during business hours. Republic Services can be reached by calling 1-800-686-2454.

Mail:

The post office is located at 126 Church Street. Contact the office for home delivery or box rental. Their phone number is 419-898-4501.

Utilities:

The Utility Billing Office is located at 146 Church Street in the Municipal Building. Office hours are 8:30am – 4:30pm. Payments can be made by mail drop-box and drive-thru. To report power outage call 419-898-3881 weekdays 7:30am- 4:00pm. To report a water or sewer problems, call 419-898-1823. If after hours, call the Oak Harbor Police Department at 419-898-2055.

Cable:

Time Warner – Contact them directly at 1-877-772-2253 to set up service or for billing questions.

Income Tax:

Tax Administrator is available Monday- Friday from 8:30 – 4:30pm. The Village income tax rate is 1%. The filing deadline is April 15th.

Brush:

Brush pickup is the 3rd Monday of each month. Brush must be curbside by 7am the Monday of the pickup. Failure to do so will result with the brush not being picked up until the following month.

Leaf Pick Up:

Contact the Street Department at 419-898-1823

Shelter House:

A shelter house can be reserved by contacting Oak Harbor Police Department at 419-898-2055. Donations are accepted.

Village Web Site: oakharbor.oh.us

Zoning:

Zoning permits are required for a variety of situations, including but not limited to new homes, additions, signs, fences and swimming pools. Contact the Village Administrator/Zoning Inspectors office for details at 419-898-5561.

VILLAGE OF OAK HARBOR POLICE DEPARTMENT

Chief of Police - Steve Weirich 419-898-2055

The Oak Harbor Police Department is a 24 hour a day operation, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We do not close for any holidays. We have 4 full time Officers and several part-time Officers that fill the 7 day weekly schedule. We also have an Auxiliary Police Department who’s Officers work for the Village of Oak Harbor for $1.00 a year. A number of the Auxiliary Officers are certified by the State of Ohio as Police Officers and are entitled to carry firearms and act as full fledged Police Officers. In addition we have a crew of full and part-time dispatchers to cover the 24 hour a day shifts.

At the present time we are dispatching for the Oak Harbor Police Department, Carroll Township Police Department, Portage Fire Department, Mid County EMS, Carroll Township Fire, and Carroll Township EMS. We are a dispatch center for the E911 emergency system. We also have a LEADS terminal for entering and inquiring about stolen cars, license plates, missing and wanted persons and various other things. This terminal is connected to the Bureau of Criminal Identification, Attorney General's office, State of Ohio, and also the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in Columbus, Ohio, and the National Criminal Identification Center, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington D.C.

In 1999 in the Village of Oak Harbor, the Officers handled 148 accidents. These ranged from very serious accidents to minor fender benders that must be reported to the State of Ohio. The Officers and Dispatchers took 843 complaint reports. These complaints vary from dog complaints to attempted murder. The Dispatchers answered the Oak Harbor Police phones 13,358 times. They also answered Carroll Township phones 5,189 times. All of the accidents and complaint reports are extra work, over and above the normal patrolling policy of the Police Department, where the Officer would write traffic citations for speeding, red light violations or other traffic related offenses. Citations issued for traffic were 215 and there were 127 arrests for criminal charges. This does not indicate investigation time spent by the Officers on the more serious cases where follow up has to be done. Another job is the writing of parking tickets and enforcing the no parking zones around the Village of Oak Harbor.

This is really only the tip of the iceberg. The Oak Harbor Police Department does many public services for the Village that are often not noticed, such as vehicle unlocks, helping people get into their homes when they lock themselves out, checking on loved ones who have left the area and did not arrive on time, funeral escorts, and house watches when Village residents are on vacation. We also put on many programs on safety, drugs, finger printing and alcohol to classes in the entire Benton-Carroll-Salem School District.

VILLAGE OF OAK HARBOR – ADMINISTRATION

146 Church Street

P.O. Box 232

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449-0232

Office Hours: 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. Monday through Friday

MAYOR

Quinton Babcock 419-898-5561

ADMINISTRATOR

Randy Genzman 419-898-5561

FISCAL OFFICER 419-898-5561

Amy Drummer

ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY

Deb DiMasso 419-898-5561

SOLICITOR

Jim Barney 419-898-5561

INCOME TAX ADMINISTRATOR &

UTILITY BILLING SUPERVISOR 419-898-1611

UTILITIES BILLING CLERK

Kim Galway 419-898-3231

STORAGE FACILITIES

OAK HARBOR MINI STORAGE

3547 South State Route 19 419-898-6001

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

NORTH SIDE MINI STORAGE

750 North Locust Street 419-898-1560

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449 800-265-4517

T & J HEATED STORAGE

2640 South State Route 19 419-898-2809

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

REAL ESTATE RENTAL

Allan & Pam McKean 419-898-3095

Jerry Schultz 419-898-4062

Adam Snyder 419-898-4339

Snyder Rentals LTD

Norm Frisch 419-898-8010

Burdine Rental Properties 419-898-1350

Roger Carpenter 419-898-4362

Gina & Dan Miller 419-707-3276

Turtle Point Marina and Resort 419-898-2003

Carolyn & Larry Heintz (Nicole) 419-704-2157

Mary Greear 419-898-4912

Denny Laub 419-367-3712

Joyce Gates 419-707-0673

(Efficiency apartment – rent short term on Church Street)

AREA HOSPITALS

HB MAGRUDER HOSPITAL

615 Fulton Street 419-734-3131

Port Clinton, Ohio 43452

FIRELANDS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

1111 Hayes Avenue 419-557-7400

Sandusky, Ohio 44870

PROMEDICA BAY PARK HOSPITAL

2801 Bay Park Drive 419-690-7900

Oregon, Ohio 43616

PROMEDICA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

715 South Taft Avenue 419-332-7321

Fremont, Ohio 43420

PROMEDICA TOLEDO HOSPITAL

2142 North Cove Boulevard 419-291-4000

Toledo, Ohio 43606

ST. CHARLES MERCY HOSPITAL

2600 Navarre Avenue 419-696-7200

Oregon, Ohio 43616

ST. LUKE’S HOSPITAL

5901 Monclova Road 419-893-5920

Maumee, Ohio 43537

ST. VINCENT MERCY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

2213 Cherry Street 419-251-3232

Toledo, Ohio 43608

ST. VINCENT’S MERCY MEDICAL CENTER

2213 Cherry Street 419-251-3232

Toledo, Ohio 43608

UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

3000 Arlington Avenue 419-383-4000

Toledo, Ohio 43614

AREA CONTINUING CARE FACILITIES

RIVERVIEW HEALTHCARE CAMPUS

8180 West State Route 163 419-898-2851

Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449

EDGEWOOD MANOR NURSING HOME

1330 Fulton Street 419-734-5506

Port Clinton, Ohio 43452

GENOA RETIREMENT VILLAGE

300 Cherry Street 419-855-7755

Genoa, Ohio 43430

OTTERBEIN NORTH SHORE RETIREMENT LIVING COMMUNITY

9400 North Shore Boulevard 419-798-8203

Lakeside-Marblehead, Ohio 43440 800-248-4074

THE VINEYARD ON CATAWBA

3820 East Vineyard Village Drive 419-797-3100

Port Clinton, Ohio 43452

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