Estes School-Kelleys island School

528 Division Street

During the 1830's there were as many as five schools on the island. In 1901, a new centrally located school building was built on Division Street. In 1901, Mr. James Estes, donated $15,000 for construction and the building was completed in 1903. In 2000, a library, multi purpose room, kitchen and three new classrooms were added. The student population has dwindled over the years, allowing for the Kelleys Island School Board members to use the schools tax dollars to promote a community center for Island landowners and a STEM School program for High School Students across the state. Current students, either travel to the mainland for school or attend classes online.  

Introduction

A driving tour around Kelleys Island can be done with many beginnings. It can be done by car, bike, golf cart or for the fitness fanatic, by foot. The one sure thing is to just enjoy the history and the nature that makes Kelleys Island the breath taking gem that it is. The islands diverse landscape and location in Lake Erie is prime for some of the most awesome sunrises and sunsets you will see any where. Take it all in, get out enjoy the trails, the beach, the people and the history. There is so much to explore, let's go!

Veteran's Memorial Park

Downtown-Corner of Division Street/Lakeshore Drive

This area was once known as “Killiam Slashings.” Killiam and his group were on the island, before the Kelleys arrived, working a lumber enterprise. The steamboat Walks on Water would stop for firewood during its route between Detroit and Buffalo. When the steamboat caught fire and burned, Killiam’s timber enterprise was abandoned. The cleared land then became the beginning of the ‘downtown’ development area. The Island House Hotel was the second enterprise here. It served as a boarding house for intermediate visitors as well as a stopover point for those travelers waiting for connection vessels to Sandusky. A fire in 1877 completely destroyed the hotel. 

LaFarge/Kellstone Quarry

Bookerman Road

Lafarge North America, the owner of the Marblehead quarry purchased the Kellstone quarry on Kelleys Island in 2004 from a company called Kellstone. The Kellstone quarry annually produced more than 1 million tons of limestone, most of which is shipped to downtown Cleveland via barge for sale as aggregate. The now closed quarry encompasses about 200 acres on the southwest portion of Kelleys Island off of Bookerman Road. It is completely closed to the public and represents the final chapter of the history of quarrying on the Island.

Historic photographs show the original loading dock which was replaced by a more modern conveyor belt system.That system is still in place and is visible

from The West Bay Inn.The limestone was mined by drilling holes for explosive charges. Depending upon how the charges were placed,either huge slabs of limestone fell apart or large quantities of aggregrate were dislodged.After a warning siren was heard, the explosions took place and a large portion of the Island would shake like a miniature earthquake,much to the dismay of residents close to the quarry boundaries.

Prior to Lafarge and Kellstone, the original abandoned quarry had completely filled with lake water and for many years was a very favorite swimming hole for islanders to enjoy.

Kelleys Island State Park

North End of Division Street

Kelleys Island State Park was cobbled together from properties acquired by the state of Ohio, including lakefront property and the beach purchased from the village of Kelleys Island, the north pond and adjacent land, and the historic East Quarry, formerly mined by the Kelleys Island Lime & Transport Co. The glacial grooves near the north shore were set aside as a State Memorial in 1932. Kelleys Island became a state park in 1956.

Sweet Valley Winery/Monarch Winery Ruins

Private Property-Please observe from the road only !

The ruins visible across from the cemetery are what is left of the Sweet Valley Winery, later known as Monarch Winery. Prohibition pretty much ended the wine economy on Kelleys Island.

Kelleys Island Cemetery

Across from the VFW Post on Division Street

The cemetery of Kelleys Island is a treasure to explore. Many grave markers are of very historical individuals who originally settled and laid to rest on this site. The first burial in the cemetery was for a John McDonald. He cleared the land for the cemetery and was buried in 1851 at the age of 26.

4H Camp

403 Ward Road

For over 60 years The Kelleys Island 4-H Camp has provided thousands of children, teens and adults a unique camping experience on one of Lake Erie’s most beautiful islands.

The Kelleys Island 4-H Camp provides a combination of traditional camping activities with innovative outdoor programming. In addition to such mainstay camping activities as hiking, swimming, archery and canoeing, a variety of educational and social development programs are offered as well. These include nature study, art and photography, astronomy, geology and history. Programming has been expanded from the original 4-H camping activities to include activities for families and adult groups.

The main focus of the Kelleys Island 4-H Camp is the many outdoor adventures it provides youth of all ages from throughout the state. In addition to 4-H members, high school athletic teams and marching bands, church groups and inner city youth groups have all enjoyed the one-of-a-kind camping experience provided at the Kelleys Island 4-H Camp. The camp currently handles groups ranging in size from 75 to 200.

The Kelleys Island 4-H Camp receives no state funding; it is completely self-sufficient and all its funds are derived from camping fees, and donations from friends and alumni of the camp. The camp is supported by a very active volunteer group that maintains the facility and completes most of the renovation projects.

Charles Herndon Gallery

The main gallery is located at:    114 Laylin Lane

The gallery annex is located at: 110 Laylin Lane

In 2000 Chuck Herndon built his first gallery on Kelleys Island, in a two-story 48x35 foot building.000 Chuck Herndon built his first gallery onKelleys Island, in a two-story 48x35 foot building.

In 2002 he built an annex to the main gallery.It is a two-story building of approximatelythesame size as it's older sister. However, even together, they strain to accommodate a smallfraction of "Chuck"s work.

Since 2000, he has been developing asculpture garden in a ten-acre area around the galleries. 

Kelleys Island Historical Preservation Corporation

729 East Lakeshore Drive

August Schaedler started his winery in 1866 on the southeast shore of Kelleys Island. His wine cellar had a capacity of 20,000 gallons. By 1879, he was producing 12,000 gallons of wine per year. He built a second wine cellar in 1890 that gave him a total wine storage capacity of 55,000 gallons. In 1892, Louis Rhein, a wine maker from France, became an equal partner with Schaedler in the wine business. With a wine storage capacity of 80,000 gallons, their company was one of the largest producers of wine on the island. The 28 acres of vineyard the company owned produced one third of the grapes they needed to produce wine. They grew mostly Catawba and Delaware vines. 
 

About 1900, the Schaedler Winery became part of a group of wineries that was known as the Union Wine Company, established in 1863. The Union Wine Company ceased operation in 1911.  The winery closed during Prohibition and while closed, both Schaedler and Rhien died.  The winery never reopened.  

The August Schaedler Winery now houses the Kelleys Island Historical Preservation Corporation, and is open to the public by appointment by contacting 419-746-2784