Marblehead Lighthouse History RETURN
HERE'S THE STORY of Marblehead Light , Ohio
For the Confederate prisoners of war on Johnson Island, there was little solace from their daily drudgery, except for the occasional baseball game taught to them by their Yankee captors. During the Civil War, this tiny island on Lake Erie, just outside of Sandusky, Ohio, was transformed into a prison camp. More than 10,000 rebel soldiers were eventually incarcerated there, most of them captured officers. As they lay awake at night thinking of home, they may have been comforted by the ever-present flashing of nearby Marblehead Lighthouse.In a daring raid that marked the only Civil War battle on the Great Lakes, Confederate soldiers commandeered a passenger steam ship to try and free their brethren on Johnson Island. Their efforts, although certainly gallant, were thwarted by a heavily armed Union gun boat. While executing their escape to Canada, the commandos more than likely sailed within shouting distance of Marblehead Light. These waters have seen more than their share of American history. In September of 1813, just north of Sandusky, Admiral Perry soundly defeated the British in the Battle of Lake Erie. His decisive victory proved to be a turning point in the War of 1812. Eight years after Perry's triumph, a 55-foot conical stone lighthouse was erected at Bay Point, just east of Port Clinton. Marblehead was first lghted in 1821 to guide vessels in and out of Sandusky Bay. At some point during the 19th century, the original tower was raised an additional 10 feet, to accommodate a new lighting system. The original lantern was replaced by a highly-effective fourth-order Fresnel lens, sporting a prominent, flashing green light. Marblehead Light has faithfully served the mariners of Lake Erie for nearly two centuries. It is the oldest active station on the entire Great Lakes. Visiting the proud old tower today, you will find that it has changed very little. Although the beacon has been automated for sometime, it still serves a very important function, lighting the way for passenger ferries and commercial vessels. The tower is easily accessible to visitors, as is the keeper's dwelling, currently serving as a museum for the Ottawa County Historical Society. Standing on the solid stone beach, just outside of the tower, it is easy to understand how the lighthouse received its name and why it has stood for so long.