Great Lakes History (View of the Harbor) Traditional Cache
Great Lakes History (View of the Harbor)
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This Cache is place in the Historic Ashtabula Harbor with permission from the Ashtabula Maritime and Surface Transportation Museum. Much history is found in this area along with beautiful views from Point Park. The historic life bridge which is also lit up at night, Coal docks, rail yards, working ore movers, conveyor over the river and at times ships can be viewed unloading.
Inside the museum there is a scale model of the harbor in the 1940’s and 50’s. There is also a scale model of a Wellman Electric Hulett the only model in the world.
Between 1899 and 1980 these were the true power behind the unloading of ships. These machines could move 17 tons of ore in one bite. In 1908 there were 8 active in the harbor.
There is a bucket from a Hulett Electric Hoist that can be viewed at Point Park. The 1st Hulett was constructed in 1898 in Conneaut, Ohio. Andrew Carnegie made a deal with the manufacturer to build it. If it worked, he would buy it. If it didn’t they would have to dispose of it. It was ready in 1899 and was steam powered. Later they were powered by electric DC power. The era of the Huletts died in the early 1980’s when ships began using self unloaders.
There are artifacts from the Car Ferry “Ashtabula” It hauled railroad cars from Canada to Ohio. It sank in Ashtabula harbor Sept 1958 in 27ft of water when it collided with the “Ben Moreell”.
You can see the Pilot house on display from the ship Thomas Walters with a intact working radar.
Also in the area is the American Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial honoring the US Navy Armed Guard, American Merchant Marine and US Maritime Service.
The lighthouse that sits in the harbor is being restored by the Ashtabula Lighthouse committee The original lens on display at the museum was made in France in 1896.
The museum itself was the home for the lighthouse keeper and the Coast guard Chief. This building was built in 1871 and added onto in 1898. It became a museum in 1984 and is dedicated to preserving maritime and surface transportation, Railroads, as well as the history of Ashtabula and the Great lakes.
Displayed around the Museum are a large anchor, bouy and a millstone from the harbor shipwrecks.
To visit the museum, its open Friday, Saturday and Sunday., during the summer and holidays. There is a nominal charge for the museum.
Please be respectful of the area and place cache back as found. Park is open dawn to dusk. No night caching.
Please feel free to walk around and take pictures.
This is the first in what I hope to make a historical series.
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