Benajah Wolcott House facts for kids

The Benajah Wolcott House, also known as the Keeper's House, is a historic stone building located on the Danbury-Marblehead Peninsula in Ohio. It's found north of Sandusky Bay, close to Marblehead, Ohio. This house is the oldest surviving home in Ottawa County. Many historians believe it was where the Wolcott family lived during the 1820s. It's important not to confuse this stone house with the wooden lighthouse keeper's house next to the Marblehead Lighthouse, which was built later in 1880.

The Benajah Wolcott House: A Historic Home

What's the Story Behind the House?

The Benajah Wolcott House has a long and interesting history. It was lived in from 1822 until 1987. In 1989, the Ottawa County Historical Society bought the house. They worked hard to restore it. Today, it serves as a historical museum. Visitors can take tours and attend special events to learn about its past.

Was it Really the Keeper's House?

It's a bit unclear if the stone 'Keeper's House' was truly the home of Benajah Wolcott. He was the lighthouse keeper for the Marblehead Light (Ohio) from 1822 to 1832. Records show that the Wolcott family bought the land from Seth Steel in the early 1830s. However, official property records don't show Benajah Wolcott as the landowner himself.

The house is about 2 miles from the lighthouse. Benajah Wolcott's own property in the area was on a different piece of land. A local tradition says that Wolcott had the stone Keeper's House built as a wedding gift for Rachel Miller when they married in 1822. He also owned property in Sandusky, Ohio. After their marriage, Wolcott might have lived in this house between shipping seasons. After Wolcott passed away in 1832, Rachel and their son continued to live there. They stayed until 1896, when the house was sold to someone outside the family.

Old Stories and Legends

There are some old stories about the land where the Keeper's House stands that have turned out not to be true.

The War of 1812 Story

One story was about the War of 1812. Some local historians once thought this land was where Wolcott's first log cabin stood. They believed that during a conflict in September 1812, many Ohio soldiers and local people found safety inside this cabin. However, it was later discovered that a man named Paterson owned that cabin, not Wolcott. Also, Wolcott himself said his first home was not a log cabin. He said it was a frame house that was destroyed by Native Americans or the British military at the start of the War of 1812.

The Lighthouse Walk Legend

Another local story claimed that Benajah Wolcott walked the 2 miles from this house to the Marblehead lighthouse every night to light the beacon. This story is also a legend. In reality, Wolcott might have lived in a different stone house that was right next to the lighthouse. That stone property was later replaced by the wooden lighthouse keeper's house in 1880.