North-Coast

Miller Boat Line Announces New Ferry

September 19, 2018

Miller Boat Line announced today that construction had begun for a new ferry that will expand their service line between Catawba, Put-inBay, South Bass, and Middle Bass Islands. The boat will be christened next year with the name Mary Ann Market in honor of the family matriarch.

The new 140 foot long, 38.5-foot wide ferry will accommodate 26 standard sized vehicles or 600 passengers and will join Miller’s present fleet of four passenger/vehicle ferries. Miller Ferries operate between the peninsula of Catawba to Put-in-Bay (South Bass Island) and also to Middle Bass Island, Ohio; two of Ohio’s popular Lake Erie resort islands. The M/V (Motor Vessel) Mary Ann Market will feature enhanced propulsion and maneuverability, the main deck will be ADA accessible passenger cabin and restroom, and a 20% increase in cargo capacity over Miller’s largest vessel.

The vessel will be built in modules and assembled at Fraser Shipyards beginning fall 2018 and throughout 2019. Miller Boat Line President Billy Market states, “We chose Fraser due to their enduring high quality, integrity, value, and with consideration of recommendations from industry professionals including marine surveyors, lake Captains, and engineers.”

Today Miller Boat Line is owned and operated by Bill and Mary Ann’s children, Julene Market, Billy Market, and Scott Market, and also Billy and Scott Market’s children work within the company. The family states, “We look forward to welcoming the new M/V Mary Ann Market, it will be a proud and nostalgic moment to see her operate alongside the other island ferries.”

“Cat Bay Tunnel” Set to Open

April 1: The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced this morning that construction of the tunnel connecting South Bass Island with the Catawba Peninsula is ahead of schedule and expected to open in time for the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend. Memorial Day historically is the weekend when activities typically heat up on the islands and Marblehead Peninsula.

The Cat Bay Tunnel as it has become known, will include 3 lanes of traffic that travels the 2.85 miles from Catawba to the southwest tip of South Bass Island. ODOT spokesman noted it took five years to build and cost more that $75 million to complete with no loss in human life. Although the tunnel was bored through solid limestone, the tunnel was sealed with 12” of a special concrete mix designed to last more than 150 years. The entire trip will take just five minutes and cost drivers $10 per trip. An annual pass is available for $200 and includes unlimited to and from travel, even when the lake freezes over.

Governor Kasich is slated to cut the ribbon at at 9:30 a.m. on May 27. When asked to comment on this momentous event for the millions of visitors expected use the tunnel in the coming years, the governor quipped, “I hope they’ll still appreciate me come November.”

The Cat Bay Tunnel is expected to increase tourist activity both for Put-in-Bay and the Catawba Peninsula which has in resent years has already seen an increasing amount of residential development. Put-in-Bay has long been an island destination unlike anything else in mainland North America. Regulars to the island compare it with the Florida Keys, but without the heat and hurricanes.

The new connecting tunnel is expected to dramatically effect the 3 ferry lines serving the Marblehead Peninsula and South. Today the trip from Catawba to South Bass Island by ferry takes less than 20 minutes travel time and up to an hour wait time if a passenger just misses the ferry. Most effected by the direct drive tunnel is the Miller Boat Line which services Put-in-Bay and Middle Bass Island.

When asked how this was going to effect their business, a Miller Boat Line spokesman, Wanda Baker said, “Sure, it’s going to hit us in the pocket book. But, we knew this day was coming and I think everyone will be surprised with our new schedule of special event trips that will be an attraction in their own right. I think everyone will love our moonlight drive-in theater trips where a full-length movie will be shown in its entirety, will be shown as the boat circles the islands. It’ll be just like grandpa’s drive-in movie stories. I don’t think anyone else will be offering anything like this.”

In a long tradition of celebrating certain events, the one that most comes to mind is a particular day in April, much like today, when all reason can be suspended and almost anything can be believed. We hope you have a great and enjoyable fools day.

Birds of a Feather

Ohio’s north coast is known by birders world-wide for being a paradise of activity every spring as migrating birds stop for a rest at the many marsh lands. Last week we were up to the cottage and enjoying the brisk winds of late winter and decided to drive over to Magee Marsh to see if any eagles were nesting. It was great seeing so many active pairs nesting.

I say this only to put you in my mindset when on Saturday morning, a particularly foggy Saturday morning, I glanced out the window and saw my neighbor carrying two flamingos under each arm. Things that might seem unusual someplace else, at the lake nothing seems that far removed from normality.

I watched Tom carrying these two large birds over to Jim’s side yard where an entire flock of flamingos were patiently waiting underneath one of Jim’s bird feeders. Back in the city, I used to feed the birds but the bird food also attracted squirrels. One year a pair of those squirrels decided to setup housekeeping in my attic by pulling back the attic vent and having babies nestled in all that warm pink insulation. How cute is that?

Not very because one day one of these cute little babies chewed through 120 volt house wiring that not only gave him a shock, but shut down the power requiring an electrician to come out and repair the damage. Saying it was a nightmare doesn’t put that particular spring into perspective.

So you see, I’m not a big friend of squirrels. I once asked Jim about why he liked to feed so many birds and of course those squirrels, who had already learned to shake one particular feeder just right, so they could get an extra helping of sunflower seed. Jim said he does it for his cats who spend the day watching all the activity through his large picture window. He said it was like his cats were watching TV. I thought maybe it would be cheaper to just hire someone to come in and train his cats to actually watch TV instead of going through I don’t know how many pounds of bird seed every week just so the cats could watch birds and squirrels.

Tom set his two flamingos down under the feeders. It was quite the sight. Ten or twelve of the giant pink birds standing erect, patiently waiting. Tom, satisfied he had accomplished his goal, started back just as I stepped outside to investigate further.

“Mornin’ Tom,” I said. “Nice spring morning eh?”

“Oh yeah. It’ll be a great day soon as this fog lifts,” he replied. “Did you have a good winter?”

“Oh yes. Much better than last year.”

“Yeah. I heard last winter was really something. Naples was nice though. Didn’t miss the cold one bit.” he said glancing back at the birds.

“You know when I looked out here this morning, in the fog and all, I was thinking to myself, ‘I didn’t know flamingos migrated this far north.”

“What?” Tom paused a second. “Oh, right. No, these are for Jim’s wife. It’s her birthday today. It’s like a little tradition. Last fall was my birthday and Betty over on 2^nd Ave got word about it and dropped them birds off in my yard. Now it’s Jane’s turn to find them a home.”

“Yeah, that’s good. Good to see you again.”

“Hey, I smoked some pork yesterday. You want me to bring you over some later?”

“Ah that’d be great. I love it.”

“I didn’t put any spices on it, just the smoke. Twenty-four hours. Never did it before, but I do say, I think it turned out pretty good. Just shredded it with a fork. Amazing. I’ll bring some over later.”

I nodded.

“Oh say. When’s your birthday?”

I nodded again and grinned.

“See you later Tom. Good to see you survived the winter.”

Tom gave a little wave as he headed back to his house. Good to be back.

Marblehead Lighthouse Festival

Last week was the Mablehead Lighthouse Festival. This year the weather was great. If it had been a week or so earlier, there would have been some real excitement. The Saturday before there six foot waves crashing over those big rocks around the point. It was pretty dramatic. But last weekend, it was picture perfect with great crowds.

The lighthouse, the star attraction was packed to capacity. I used to try and make it in and take the climb up to the top, but it hasn’t been a good year for me and stairs so I skipped that thrill. I did make it over to the Lighthouse Keeper’s House on the south side of the peninsula.

For those few Ohioans who haven’t visited the Keeper’s House, it dates back to the early 1800s when the lighthouse first started operating. Today, there’s another house that was built about 60 or 70 years later that’s right next door to the lighthouse. But the keeper’s house was built by Benajah Wolcott who first purchased the entire Marblehead Peninsula back in the early 1800s and it was Benajah that was the first lighthouse keeper. Everyday he walked the 2+ miles to and from the lighthouse to check on the light and refill the fuel tank.

The house is the oldest known residence still standing in Ottawa County and is a fine example of a “hall-and-parlor house,” an early American home design and last weekend it was staffed by a several folks dressed in period attire and cooking applesauce and cabbage cakes. When I asked what the most common question people inquire about, one of the ladies said: “That’s easy. Why did Benajah build his house so far away from the lighthouse?”

“And…” I asked.

“Simple. He was a farmer, and the soil on this side of the peninsula is better for farming. The soil on the lighthouse side isn’t worth anything for farming. So he built his new house here, and walked to the lighthouse. Plus, he didn’t have to light the light during the winter months when the lake is frozen.”

“Never thought about that before. Good answer”

The Spud Bar

I have a small cottage up on the Marblehead peninsula and my wife wanted some new plants put in on the side yard. I told her no problem. She went over to Barnes Nursery on Catawba and picked up four boxwoods. It was a warm Saturday afternoon, I figured it would take no more than a couple hours at most. It took me about 5 minutes to dig through the extremely thin layer of top soil before I hit limestone. No matter how hard I tried to chip at it, nothing.

Then my neighbor Tom stopped by. “Those are going to look good, once you get ’em planted,” he said with just the hint of Kentucky twang.

“Yep,” I said. “the problem is that bed rock.” He peered into the shallow depression. If Tom was a spitting man, I’m sure he would have right at that moment… but he wasn’t and he didn’t.

“What you need is a spud bar.” I’ve been in the trades for a few years, but never heard of a spud bar and I never knew if ole Tom was kidding or if he was on the level. Sometimes Tom can really lay one out without me even see its coming. He could see I was puzzled.

“Yep. A spud bar. I don’t have one myself, but Bob Sachet–he’s got one. If you’d like, I could ask? He’s got just about every thing tucked into his shed. Yep, spud bar. That’s the ticket.”

“Spud bar? Sounds like some Idaho hangout?” I say with a little grin.

“Huh?” Tom says like I’m stupid. I guess I am since I’m the one that doesn’t know about a spud bar.

“Ole Bob, he sure is one that doesn’t do anything if he doesn’t have to do anything. His dog is the same. I think that ole mutt has to lean against a tree to lift his leg. I’ll go see if Bob can find that spud bar. That’s what you need. That limestone around here is always everywhere you want to dig.” And with that Tom started off down the road. I’m kind of new here (3 years now) but I’ve never heard of Bob Sachet, or his dog, but Tom seems to know him. Tom seems to know just about everyone and everything about everyone. I kinda like Tom– he’s what my grandpa would call a good ol’boy.

Forty-five minutes later I can see Tom walking back. He’s got a long metal bar slung over his shoulder. A spud bar no doubt.

“There you go,” he says handing me the long heavy bar. “I used that bar to dig some fence holes some time back. It’s not easy, but it works. Limestone– everywhere. I don’t know how a tree can grow here and stand up.” With that he takes the long bar and straddles the depression where my wife wants me to put the boxwood. “Use it like a jack hammer. Raise it up and slam it down. That pointed end will cut through that limestone in no time.” A few quick strokes, sure as he said, a big chunk of limestone came out revealing a deep chasm big enough for the boxwood with room to spare.

“Thanks Tom. I never would have thought…”

“Yep. Spud bar. I think Bob used it for ice fishing to chop a fishin’ hole. Sure as heck he never used it for diggin’ holes in the ground. That’d be too much like real work,” he paused a moment admiring the future boxwood home.“I don’t know where the name came from. Maybe it was used to plant potatoes.”

I thanked Tom and he turned and walked off down the road. “Let me know when you’re done. I’ll get it back to Bob.”

By the time my wife got back from shopping down in Port Clinton I had all four boxwoods planted in a neat row. I’m sitting in one of our Adirondack chairs admiring my work. “Well look at you. I thought you’d still be digging holes. You know there’s lots of limestone around here?”

“Yeah, I know.”

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