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CEDAR POINT
CHAPTER XVI
SANDUSKY (CONTINUED)
In 1821, Peninsula Point, a promontory jutting out tOAvard Cedar
Point from the shore this side of Marblehead, AVIIS a prominent landmark.
The Avater of the lake floAVed into the bay through a narroAv
strait, not over 100 rods wide, formed by the projecting points. One of
the oldest inhabitants of the city, Mr. B. F. DAvelle, Avould tell of standing
on Peninsula Point Avith'Miis rifle, and shooting at geese on Cedar
Point. At this time the point in question rose above the Avater's level
fifteen feet in great sand banks Avhere foxes burroAved and raised their
young. These banks Avere just in the rear of the sloping beach and'
beyond lay a strip of tall timber land, Avith a stretch of prairie reaching
out to the other shore. Then the Avater began to encroach on the point,
and a marsh AVIIS formed that threatened to break off the peninsula from
the mainland. A crib of rocks and sand at considerable outlay of labor
and capital Avas constructed to save it, but it AVIIS useless, and point and
crib went under together, and sand banks and trees AA'ere lost to vieAV
beneath the rolling waves. At the present time Avhere the bold peninsula
reared its head fifteen feet above the Avater, the AVIIVCS of old Lake
Erie lie from six to ten feet in depth. In 1867 Mr. DAVCIIC walked across
this spot on the ice forty or fifty rods from shore, and saAv through
the transparent ice the remains of the old crib.
Cedar Point was then a bit of wild land seven miles long, sheltering
by its long arms Sandusky Bay. It AVIIS covered with timber and a sandy
beach edged the shore. There Avas at that time no large amount of navigation
on the lake, and no lighthouse reared its head on the point to Avarn
of danger.
The Sandusky Clarion of January 30, 1830, contains the folloAving
advertisement: "For Sale:—All of that valuable tract of land commonly
called and knoAvn by the name of Cedar Point—this point of land in all
1200 acres, (one of the peninsulas that form Sandusky Bay,) embraces
many advantages to the speculator or farmer, it being principally covered
with cedar, pine, oak(elm, Avhite Avood, bassAVOod, and other timber,
not necessary to mention; together Avith tAvo prairies, AA'here can be cut
Avith ease one hundred tons of hay. The pine grove is young and thrifty.
And a good part of the cedar is fit for staves and shingles—the land fit
for cultivation after having been cleared is about 80 acres. The fishing
ground is probably the best within the boundary of the spacious harbor
of Sandusky Bay—call and see—F. Devoe."
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