The Keeper's House, Marblehead, OH
Posted by: 
Web-ling
N 41° 30.876 W 082° 44.518
17T E 354640 N 4597349
Home of the first keeper of the Marblehead Lighthouse
Waymark Code: WM773J
Location: Ohio, United States
Date Posted: 09/12/2009
Views: 4
The Benajah Wolcott House is now a museum owned by the Ottawa County Historical Society. The home has been restored to its early-1800's condition, and shows visitors what life was like 200 years ago.
One of the first settlers on the Marblehead Peninsula was Benajah Wolcott (1762-1832). He married Rachel Miller on March 10, 1822. On June 24 he was appointed keeper of the newly completed lighthouse on Marblehead. Both the lighthouse and Wolcott's home were built by William Kelly of limestone from an early quarry a short distance from the back of the house. The government appropriated funds for the building of the lighthouse itself and for a home for the keeper.
Benajah Wolcott was keeper of the lighthouse until his death due to the cholera epidemic of 1832 at the age of seventy. At this time the Treasury Department appointed Benajah's wife, Rachel, to become the first female lighthouse keeper on the Great Lakes on October 25, 1832.
The home is the oldest surviving home in Ottawa County.
Theme:
Local History
Street Address:
9999 East Bayshore Road
Marblehead, Ohio 43440
Gift Shop: yes
Hours of Operation:
open afternoons till 5:00pm
Museum Size: Small
Relevant Web Site: [Web Link]
Food Court: Not Listed
Cost: Not Listed
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Visit Instructions:
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