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Spring is Upon us...lets head to the Lake!
Cabin fever really did a number on me this year. I think I just about cracked, and won't publicly swear that I didn't. Granted I'm very blessed to have a beautiful log home & woods surounding, so when people hear I'm snowed in there's not much sympathy coming my way, but oh what a difference a day of sunshine and lunch on the lake can make in one's psyche!
Nothing, I tell you, nothing, puts me in a better mood than lunching lakeside at Buckeye Lake. The sound of the water, boats going by, the always electic mix of people, the great company of my family and friends...you just can't find that anywhere else this close to Columbus. Such a treasure, and a hidden one at that! So many people I come across have no idea of this rare gem that is a short drive from Columbus (my old haunt and current workplace).
I take tremendous pleasure in introducing C-bus'ers and out-of-towners to the lake. Many of them are astounded that such a "cool" place has been around for so long and they never knew about it or thought to come out, all the while they're hopping in their cars and driving much longer than 30 minutes to get pancakes at the nearest I-Hop. Throw the rich history of the lake into the mix and they're flabbergasted and often left sitting there with their mouths hanging open, spewing drool. I always try to give them just enough to keep them wanting to come back and beggin for more.
I spent many weekends here as a child, as my great -grandfather was a immigrant who settled in the village and had a boat dock on the lake. Nothing else from my childhood carries such fond memories. So today, 30+ years later I have found myself drawn back into it's fold and know this is where I belong.
Sayer Brothers
The year 1904
Alexander's Landing
The year 1870
Alexanders Landing was Originally known as Hamilton Place.
Located on South Bank Road in Millersport, Ohio
Donald Alexander's great, great Grandmother operated the business as a boat rental and boat landing, hotel and stable. It was known as a resting place for canal travelers and gathering place for local folks. The business name was changed to Alexander's Landing in 1925. Alexanders Landing was named a historical landmark by the Greater Buckeye Lake Historical Society in June 2004.
Alexanders Landing Marina has been a Family owned business right from the start.
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• A great place to take a break since 1870
• Became Alexanders Landing in 1925
• Alexanders began selling Mercury Boat Engines in 1947
• Became a Gold dealer for Mercury / Mercruiser since 19__?.
• Added a new pier and pump out for boats in 2002
• Became a historical landmark in 2004
• A web site was added to help serve customers in February 2006. |
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Many generations of families in Central Ohio and on the lake know them well and have been depending on Alexanders for boats, motors, parts, service, storage and their extensive knowledge of boats.
| Photos from the year 1996 | |
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The Yacht Club
The year 1906
The Buckeye Lake Yacht Club was formed in 1906.
The reservoir's hidden trees and debris became a big problem especially in 1906 when a group of recreation minded gents came together to form the Buckeye Lake Yacht Club. The "stump skippers", as the yachtsmen sometimes refer to themselves, worked long and hard to reduce the hazards to the boats caused by the skeletons of old trees left in the former reservoir. The Yacht Club today is still a vigorus group of 400 members, headquartered where it has been since 1912 on a small island known as Watkins Island, which is connected to the North Bank by a bridge. It is a private club and the only Island Yacht Club in America. The Yacht Club sponsers several sail boating contests and an antique wood boat parade.
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These are photos of the club back then. |
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Buckeye Lake Designated as a State Park
The year 1949
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources became a reality and Buckeye Lake became a State Park
On May 21st In the year 1949, the General Assembly in the state of Ohio designated Buckeye Lake as a state park. The amusement park began to decline in popularity by the late 1950s and continued to deteriorate in the 1960s. The crowds that had once flocked to the park had disappeared, and buildings were torn down one by one. Visitors to Buckeye Lake today can find one remaining remnant of the old Buckeye Lake Amusement Park, a fountain that is located at the Buckeye Lake State Park's North Shore Ramp and park on rt. 79.
The Buckeye Lake Historical Society has a great Museum just a short distance west of the park with many old pieces from the park and other interesting items from the time.
Middle Wall Removed
The year 1920 ?
holder page for the removal of middle wall to open up the lake and join the two reservoirs
notes.. need info for wherle mansion, Thorn Twp abt 1920...
Buckeye Lake Recreation
The year 1902 is when Buckeye Lake had it's first actual Hotel built to stay in. By 1910, Buckeye Lake had 2 parks or amusement parks on its north shore side by side, as well as a number of hotels, restaurants, and other concessions that catered to tourists. In addition, speakers drew huge crowds as part of a traveling Chautauqua Assembly.
In the 1920s, members of the Ku Klux Klan leadership spent their summers at Buckeye Lake, and local newspapers attest to KKK rallies that attracted thousands of people to the area.
View a Photo Gallery of the Amusement Park 
The Wooden Roller Coaster was added to the big park in 1931, named 'The Dips', and it was fun to ride because it went out over the water. It was not huge like the ones today, but it was fun. A lot of us remember it well.
The Railroads
The year 1902
In 1902 the Columbus, Buckeye Lake and Newark Traction Co(CBL&N), a standard gauge rail line, ran 34 miles from Columbus to Reynoldsburg, Kirkersville, Hebron and Newark with a branch from Hebron to Buckeye Lake. In 1904 the line was built from Newark to Zanesville, a total of 30 miles. It acquired the CBL&N in 1906 and It became part of the Ohio Electric Railway Co in 1907 and back to CN&Z ownership in 1918.
The Ohio Electric Railway Company, formed in 1907 with the consolidation of 14 smaller interurban railways, was one of Ohio's largest interurban systems. It connected Toledo, Lima, Dayton, Columbus, Cincinnati, Newark, Zanesville and Buckeye Lake providing efficient passenger service to scores of small towns in Ohio. The line evolved into the Cincinnati and Lake Erie Railroad and expanded its services. However, business conditions of the 1930s led to the complete replacement of interurbans with buses by 1939. The company changed its name to Cincinnati & Lake Erie Transportation, and it was absorbed by the Greyhound system in 1947.
Columbus & Buckeye Lake & Newark Interurban Rail Car
The image above had to be downsized because Internet Explorer will not display images properly.
Please file a complaint with Microsoft to fix their crappy browser.
Buckeye Lake was born
The year 1894 ?
Holder page for the transformation and renaming of the Licking Summit Reservoir to Buckeye Lake
Licking Summit Reservoir
The year 1830
Holder page for the construction of the dyke forming the Licking Summit Reservoir
reservoir was completed in 1832
, but the good stuff is up there ^
