A group of Wolcott Keeper’s House volunteers traveled to Dundee, Michigan, May 13th, to participate in their second Hearth Cooking class with Georgeann Brown. Brown operates a cooking school in her restored farmhouse, called ‘un coup de main,’ French for ‘a helping hand.’ The trip was part of an Ottawa County Community Foundation grant to complete pantry furnishings, and train docents in frontier fireplace cooking and food history to enhance Ottawa County residents, and visitors’ understanding of life on the Firelands frontier. Brown came to the Keeper’s House in August of last year for the first class, using the House’s restored fireplace to make an early 19th century ‘Sunday dinner.’ This time, the emphasis was on ‘fast food,’ recipes suitable for a series of demonstrations during the weekday tours for the summer season, and special demonstrations for area organizations.   Besides making fritters, donuts, and gingerbread over (and under) hot coals, the group made a diced apple cider drink and fried, salted cucumbers from Brown’s authentic recipes. They also enjoyed a tour of the house, with its many antiques and historic cooking implements.

Attending were Ray and Georgette Marchar, Lois Tuttamore, Suzanne Lavoie, and Kathy Leonard.  The group plans to meet at the Keeper’s House soon to gather a menu and plan a schedule for future demonstrations. The restored home of the Marblehead Lighthouse’s first keeper, at 9999 Bayshore Road, is open during the summer season weekdays from 1:00-5:00, and on the second Saturday of each summer month, concurrent with the Marblehead Lighthouse schedule. The House is a project of the Ottawa County Historical Society, and is supported through donations, grants, and fund raising activities.

Ray Marchar tends the apple fritters.

Ray and Georgette Marchar, instructor Georgeann Brown, and Lois Tuttamore prepare frontier snacks.

Ray Marchar and Suzanne Lavoie prepare punch

Windy weather drove the ceremony inside, but the May 9 dedication of the colorful “Kid’s Cabin Murals’ at the Wolcott Keeper’s House proceeded as planned. Visitors to the site at 9999 E. Bayshore Road near Marblehead took pictures of the new murals and inserted their faces into photo silhouettes of first lighthouse keepers Benajah and Rachel Wolcott. The project was designed by Jodie McCallum of Jodie & Company Gallery in Marblehead, and underwritten by the Port Clinton Rotary Foundation.  The design was transfered by Dennis Kennedy, then the colors mixed and applied by Danbury Public School art students under the direction of art teachers Sande Measimer and Lea Mark with assistance from Grant McCallum. Jerry Davenport did the lettering and applied the Rotary logo.

Rotarian John Madison noted that the Rotary was involved with the Keeper’s House since its purchase in 1989 when the late Earl Wiseman, also a member of Rotary was president of the Ottawa County Historical Society. Rotarian Ro Chapman, along with Karin Messmer, brought the Wolcotts’ stories to life with their reenactments as Benajah and Rachel. The late Bob Armbruster and Harry Holzapfel were key participants in the docent program that keeps the history alive for visitors to the House. Nearly two dozen Rotarians have been active with the Keeper’s House over the years.

The Daisy Day festivities at the House included music by John Wilkie, children’s entertainer and Lakeside summer resident, and free balloons were available for young visitors.

    The summer season for the Keeper’s House starts on Monday, June 1, and it will be open for tours from 1:00-5:00 Monday through Friday until  August 28. Visitors are welcomed to visit the outdoor murals anytime. The Keeper’s House is a project of the Ottawa County Historical Society, and is supported by donations, fund raising, and grants.