Russells Point

Two photo-postcards produced by Harry Mansfield in 1908. Mansfield signed his cards with the letter “M” and the year. It is unclear what the men shown in these postcards were doing.

*From the looks of it, these houses may have been on the south side of the road, opposite of Andrews Hotel and Cottonwood Resort.*

The houses in this postcard look very similar to those in the postcard above, except for the house in the foreground which has a different roof and front porch. Even the “sidewalk” is very similar in both cards.

*Another unidentified road in Russells Point, photographed by Harry Mansfield in 1910.*

The trailer park is on an island created by digging a channel, and accessible via the bridge to the left of the Major Marine storage building in this aerial view. The building with the flat roof in the foreground is the Wedge Resort. Old U.S. 33, now State Route 366, runs directly along the lakeshore; the new highway is visible in the lower left corner. Comparison of the GoogleEarth image to the right (2021) with the postcard above shows a striking loss of trees.

Major Marine, established around 1930, offered complete marine services, including boats for sale or rent, a full line of marine hardware, paints and supplies, and dock and storage space. The gasoline pump in front of the building provided gas for highway travelers; a second gas pump was located at the docks for serving boaters.

Late 1940s view of the Indian Lake Community Church with the Post Office to the left, and the Parsonage to the right of the church. The church, located along the road leading to Orchard Island, started in 1923 as the Union Sunday School. The present church was built in the 1930s and has been remodeled at different times and now features two bell towers The Parsonage was built in 1944 and moved elsewhere in 1987. The Post Office has been replaced by some metal building.

The Lake Motel was located at the southwest corner of Orchard Island Road and East Main Street. In 1921, Pat Sweeney built a hotel at that location, called the Acme Hotel. Later it was called the Ellmor and the Parker House. Around 1950, Joe Carter purchased the building and converted it into the Lake Motel, preferred by many people over the more fancier and larger hotels, just because it was small. The property was razed to make room for a branch office of the Bellefontaine Federal Savings & Loan. This bank was taken over by Sky Bank in the early 2000s, which was subsequently taken over by Huntington National Bank in 2007. Cars in the parking lot are the typical big automobiles of the late fifties and are evidence of the prosperous economic times.

In August 2019, while having breakfast at **The Landing**, I learned the history of this building from the following facts printed on the menu. **The Landing Tavern** is the oldest continually operating business in Russells Point. History and photos indicate this structure was built in 1924 and operated as **Rosemary’s Bar B Que**. The Smoke House was next to the building. In 1932 this site became the **Rainbow Room** featuring dancing girls. The fence was painted with rainbow designs and the dancers changed costumes in what is now the business’ office next door. During the war years, 1940 through 1945, this was **Katie’s Kitchen**. Katie Groff served no alcohol but had a thriving food business despite wartime rationing. Locals recall Katie being cited for using canned dog food in her chili. The citation didn’t seem to hurt her sales as the line streamed out the door on Chili Day. In 1945 Jack Stone acquired the business and renamed it **Stone’s Bar**. Later, Stone sold to Bob Marsh from Dayton and Marsh subsequently sold to Bill Arnold from Cleveland. In 1950 indoor plumbing arrived and the outhouses were closed. At some point thereafter a wall was added to separate the bar from the dining area. Around 1959 Johnny Lotts and his brother-in-law Art acquired the business and renamed it **Johnny and Art’s**. Soon after Art moved on to other things and Johnny’s wife joined him in the business. Predictably, the name was changed to **Johnny and Betty’s.** Johnny aggressively defended the business with a shotgun during the riots of 1961. While Johnny continued to own the premises he began to lease the operation and in 1973 Art and Noreen Meyers began to operate it. Just a year later, Mel Qua leases the business and it becomes the **House of Qua**. What a change! For the first time the establishment is a Chinese restaurant. In 1975, Johnny Lotts sells the business to Jim Hodges who operates several bars in Dayton. Jim reopens as **The Landing**. In 1984 Louis Ann Kopus, a successful local lady, buys the business and renames it **Loisann’s Landing**. She operates successfully until 2001. At that time the business is acquired by Don Eggenshwiller, and once again becomes **The Landing**. In May 2014, Don Eggenshwiller sells the business to Shel Lahr, a 3rd generation restaurateur from Upper Sandusky, Ohio. His family operated **Wood’s Steer Barn**, a popular fine steak, prime rib and seafood establishment. In September 2017, Shel sold the business to Bruce Huhn and Shel’s daughter, Julie Lahr. The business subsequently suffered an electrical fire in December and much of the building’s interior had to be updated. **The Landing** finally returned to full operation on August 31, 2018.

*The Photo Inn Variety Shop was next to The Landing, at the corner of Main Street and Clearmont Avenue. It is a vacant lot now.*

In the early years, there was considerable interest in sailing and in the Indian Lake Yacht Club. The earliest newspaper accounts of organized sailing events date back to the 1910s, but it seems that the Yacht Club died slowly out in the late 1930s. According to its website, the current ILYC claims that it was founded in 1945 as a family oriented sailing and social club. In 1948, a clubhouse was built on an island now fully connected to the mainland, with boat docks and a picnic shelter on an adjacent island, connected by a footbridge.

The Indian Lake Roller Rink on Taylor Street in Russells Point was built in 1939 by Harry Lawrence and Madge Volz, and is one of the few attractions that remains in business. It is presently known as the Indian Lake Rollarena and offers spacious accommodations for a serious work-out or for a more relaxed outing. Kids are welcome to join in the fun at this club where adults can feel like kids again!

In 1921, the Catholic clergy in Bellefontaine started holding Sunday services in the coliseum on Orchard Island. By 1927 the original church building was constructed; Sunday Mass was celebrated during the summer months only. As the Catholic population grew, year-round services became a necessity. In August, 1956, the Tabernacle with its sacred contents was stolen from the church’s Sanctuary. It was never recovered. On February 11, 1961, just after renovations of the Sanctuary had been completed, the entire interior of the church was gutted as a result of arson. Religious services were continued at the dance hall of the amusement park. On July 29, 1962, the new and expanded building was dedicated.

*St. Mary’s of the Woods Catholic School is now a Parish Hall where weekly religious education as well as weddings and events are held.*

*Indian Lake Villa Retirement Living on Lincoln Boulevard*

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