PORT CLINTON – Sometimes history begets history. On April 21, several dignitaries gathered at the Ottawa County Courthouse for the “Ottawa County Heritage Trees: Planting History Dedication Ceremony” in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. The ceremony marked the planting of a Swamp White Oak as part of the AM-250 Ohio Heritage Trees initiative that will plant White Oaks in every Ohio county.
But the story behind the story began when Ottawa County building and grounds workers began digging the hole for the White Oak prior to the ceremony. As they dug into the ground in the small spot they chose for the tree, they encountered an old brick with remnants of mortar still clinging to its edges. It is believed the brick is from the original courthouse, which was built around 1840, that was replaced by the current, circa 1901 courthouse.
“We have a picture of fellas sitting around the courthouse lawn cleaning mortar off of bricks from the old courthouse,” said Ottawa County Museum Curator, Peggy Debien. “We know they did use some of the bricks from the old courthouse for the new courthouse, so that’s probably what it was from.”…