Rattlesnake Island (Lake Erie) facts for kids
Rattlesnake Island is a small island in Lake Erie, Ohio. It covers about 85 acres (34 hectares). You can find it near Put-In-Bay, about 11 miles (18 km) northeast of Port Clinton, Ohio. It's part of Put-in-Bay Township in Ottawa County. Rattlesnake Island is one of several islands known as the Lake Erie Islands. The island got its name from the rattlesnakes that used to live there. Some people also say its shape, with two small islets, looks like a rattlesnake's tail.
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Island History
In the late 1700s, the Lake Erie Islands were part of Canada. Great Britain claimed them. Later, around 1806, the Connecticut Land Company surveyed these islands. They were seen as part of the Connecticut Western Reserve.
War of 1812
Put-in-Bay was a very important spot during the War of 1812. Oliver Hazard Perry, who led the United States fleet on Lake Erie, met with General William Henry Harrison. They decided to use Put-in-Bay harbor as the American naval base. From this spot, Perry could watch the British fleet. He later fought and defeated them. Perry's victory gave the Americans control of Lake Erie. This brought peace to the islands.
Early Owners
In 1854, a woman named Abigail Dunning sold Rattlesnake Island to Horace Kelley from Cleveland, Ohio. Soon after, post offices opened on nearby islands like South Bass Island. On June 22, 1861, Rattlesnake Island became part of Put-In-Bay Township. For the next 20 years, the only known people living on Rattlesnake Island were the David Hammond family. They moved there from Vermilion, Ohio, and some of David's children were born on the island.
Modern Island Life
The island's modern story began around 1929. Hubert D. Bennett, who owned the Toledo Scale Company, bought the island. He built a lodge, a harbor, and an east-west landing strip for planes. In the 1950s, another landing strip was added. In 1959, James P. Frackelton and Robert C. Schull bought the island. They added more to it. But due to money problems, they had to sell the island in 1989.
Rattlesnake Island then became a private island. It was sold again in 1992 for $4.6 million. But in 1999, Frackelton and 65 other investors bought the island back.
The Rattlesnake Island Club
Today, only the 65 members of the Rattlesnake Island Club can visit the island. There are about 15 private lots on the island. The club controls who can buy land there.
Most members visit the island to use its private facilities. These include a bar, a restaurant, a large pool and hot tub, a health club, tennis courts, bocci courts, and miniature golf. Inside the main building, there's a racquetball court, a basketball court, a pool table, a dart board, a pinball machine, a card table, and even a suit of armor!
The island has two grass landing strips for airplanes. These strips also work as a small golf course. The pilot's lounge is also a pro-shop where you can get score cards and golf balls. Near the runway, there's a small cage with peacocks. Members and guests travel around the island in electric golf carts. There are also seven hotel rooms for members to stay in overnight. You can buy Rattlesnake Island clothing from a store near the restaurant. A second marina was added to the island recently.
Island Staff and Security
The summer staff, mostly from Eastern Europe, includes about 25 people. They have separate dorms for men and women. There is also a caretaker and a chef who live on the island all year. The island's workers are trained to recognize all members and their families. They also know which yacht each family arrives on. Any non-members are quickly turned away by security. Because the island is so private, many stories and myths have grown about it. The best place to see the island from a distance is from the top of the Perry Monument on Put-in-Bay.
To join the Island Club, a current member must leave, and the new person needs recommendations from at least two current members. Joining the club can cost between $90,000 and $200,000 at first, plus a monthly fee.
In the year 2000 census, only two people were reported to live on the island.
Rattlesnake Island Local Post
For a time, Rattlesnake Island had the only local post in the United States that was approved by the USPS (United States Postal Service). A local post is like a special mail service for a small area.
For many years, a Ford Trimotor airplane flew mail between the island and the mainland. From 1966 to 1989, regular USPS mail went through Port Clinton, Ohio. When the local post started again later, outgoing mail from the island went into the USPS system through Sandusky, Ohio.
The local post service began in 1966 and stopped in 1989 when the island was sold. The new owners did not continue it. It started up again in 2005. However, a notice on the official Rattlesnake Island website says that as of 2013, the local post is closed for good. The stamps from the Rattlesnake Island Local Post are listed in a special catalog for US local posts.
