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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY 73
"The first attempt at founding a colony was made in 1854, but it
was not altogether successful. The fact that some of the experimenters
AA'ere not prepared for the free love theories- urged by Frank Barry, and
his immediate circle of friends was considered a sufficient, reason for
not entering upon anything of a practical sort till further agitation
should develop all parties concerned tothe proper point. The staid substantial
orthodox citizens of Berlin Heights and surrounding country
regarded-Avith considerable alarm the advent in their midst of a class of
people so shameless as to oppose the sacred institution of marriage and
carry into practical operation the doctrine of Free Love. While Hie
Free Lovers Avere intent on carrying out their principles, holding meetings
and conventions, receiving and entertaining large numbers o,f visitors
from all parts of the country, dancing oil Sunday in the ball room of" the
hotel within hearing of the most popular church, Avalking out together
and making other manifestations Avithout asking leave of Hie priest or
the county clerk—Avhile these irregularities and immoralities AA'ere being
practiced, and inost Avorst AVIIS surmised, the leading citizens AA'ere organizing
an opposition. As the Free Lovers could not get into the papers as
advocates'of their doctrine they seemed to conclude that it Avas better to
be kicked than not noticed at all; so they and their friends in other places
Avrofe sensational articles for publication in ridicule and denunciation of
themselves, evidently delighted to be able to get so much gratuitous
advertising. A single confederate Avho belonged to the reportorial staff of
fhe XCAV York Tribune succeeded in getting column after column into
that journal and the Herald, in which he sbreAvdly mingled some of the
most ably expressed sentiments of Free Love with ostensibly adverse
criticisms. In the meantime an indignation meeting was called at the
Presbyterian Church in Berlin Heights Avhich Avas largely attended by
the morality loving people of that section of country. But Satan came
also in Hie shape of a score of Free Lovers, some of whom Avere better
speakers than any in the ranks of the opposition and the indignation
meeting amounted to little more than a three hours' discussion of Free
Love. This result rather delighted the Free Lovers, as-they had everything
to gain and nothing to lose. The friends of good order then resorted
to the IIIAV. A car load of Free LoA'crs of both sexes and every
variety of temperament Avere captured and taken tft Sandusky and arraigned
before the Mayor on the charge of having Anointed certain statutes
for the protection of good morals. Frank Barry AVIIS relied oh as
the most important witness, for he AVIIS believed to be fanatically honest,
and be AVIIS supposed to be perfectly familiar with all the inside manifestations
of the movement. It AVIIS discovered hoAvever, that the offenders
had.ii Avay of not knoAving anything about each other's'doings, and the
AATIOIC Aveek AA'as spent trying to convict some of them of overt acrs committed
contrary to IIIAV. At length the prosecution AVIIS abandoned, the
Free Lovers coining off first best, having had a AA'cck's board and comfortable
lodging at a good hotel Avithout expense to themseh'es. One day
as Frank Barry AVIIS driving toward the Post Office with several bushels
of Free Love documents for the mail, dreaming of no harm, but rather