Historical society seeks Ottawa County items

PORT CLINTON — The Ottawa County Historical Society announced that progress has been made with its book project in celebrating the 175th anniversary of Ottawa County’s founding on March 6, 1840.

In May of this year, the Society committed to producing a first-class, hard-cover coffee-table style book, which is scheduled for release in the summer of 2016. The book will be in the format of a photo-driven narrative.

A team of researchers has been working throughout the county and has been given access to archives at libraries, museums and historical collections as well as personal collections of Ottawa County residents. The book’s intent is to be both historically accurate and inclusive in scope.

As the project team begins to assemble the book, editors anticipate the possibility of asking for additional materials that may lie in files, on closet shelves and in attics or barns, which could add to the richness of narrating local cultural heritage.

Artifacts such as maps, photographs and other similar items may help to complete the story of how Ottawa County became what it is today.

The team expects to avoid asking to physically borrow any of these materials. With portable scanning and photographic technology, researchers will come to contributors’ homes or place of business.

Those willing to grant access to such potential resources can easily call or leave a message at 419-732-8871. The project’s email is: ottawacountybook@hotmail.com. Someone from the project team will return a call or email to discuss what items are available.