Dave and Darrel's Excellent Adventure.
This blog is not entirely about Simon Girty, its about an event that took place in the late 70's on an island near the site of Girty's trading post (circa.1770s) on the Maumee River. The island; "Girty's Island." The event a surreal experience that created a lifelong memory for me, one I'll never forget.
A friend of mine, Darrel Young, first introduced me to Fort Amanda around 1970. I'd lived in Lima since 1964 and had no idea of what Fort Amanda was or even where it was located. To be honest, up to that point I had no interest in local history but his passions for the subject were contagious and I soon found myself reading everything I could find about the subject. I spent countless hours chatting with local historian Frank Hackman about the history and ended up buying a metal detector and scouring the countryside for treasure (or at least some rusty old artifacts).
As Darrel and I continued our quest for knowledge of local history, we began to focus on the story of Simon Girty. One of the stories involved a trading post built by Girty on the north bank of the Maumee River shortly after the Revolutionary War. In the middle of the river south of his home was a densely wooded 40 acre island that Girty used as a safe haven in the event of an attack on his post.
Before I go any further lets look at 3 issues; 1) "Who was Simon Girty," 2) "Why was I on Girty's Island in the first place" and 3) "What was the surreal experience?"
See an opportunity for an excellent adventure, we strapped my canoe to the top of my car and headed north to Defiance.
Crossing the Maumee in Defiance, we turned right on East River Drive (Rt. 424) and traveled east 12 miles. We stopped at the house near the site of Girty's old station to see if we could get permission to go out onto the island. The owner said he wasn't sure who the owned the island propert only that it was someone in Toledo. We asked if he thought the owner would have any problems if we went out onto the island just to look around. He said "be my guest. You know about the dead horses out there don't you?" Of course we hadn't so he went on to tell us that years before, some people went out on the island and killed a couple horses. He didn't elaborate and we didn't say anything. He then told us that during Prohibition there was dance hall on the island and a raft connected to a cable took partiers out a dance hall dancing and probably some bootleg whiskey. He went on to say they stopped having the dances in the late 20s when someone was murdered on the island. As we were walking back to the car he said, "I'd never go out there, You know the plaace is haunted." Darrel and I chuckling all the way back to the car. Little did we know what was in store.
A friend of mine, Darrel Young, first introduced me to Fort Amanda around 1970. I'd lived in Lima since 1964 and had no idea of what Fort Amanda was or even where it was located. To be honest, up to that point I had no interest in local history but his passions for the subject were contagious and I soon found myself reading everything I could find about the subject. I spent countless hours chatting with local historian Frank Hackman about the history and ended up buying a metal detector and scouring the countryside for treasure (or at least some rusty old artifacts).
As Darrel and I continued our quest for knowledge of local history, we began to focus on the story of Simon Girty. One of the stories involved a trading post built by Girty on the north bank of the Maumee River shortly after the Revolutionary War. In the middle of the river south of his home was a densely wooded 40 acre island that Girty used as a safe haven in the event of an attack on his post.
Before I go any further lets look at 3 issues; 1) "Who was Simon Girty," 2) "Why was I on Girty's Island in the first place" and 3) "What was the surreal experience?"
Who Was Simon Girty
Simon Girty
1741- 1818
Anyone familiar with the name "Simon Girty" knows that Girty was not the kind of individual you'd necessarily want to be friends with or one you certainly would not want to be an enemy of. He served as an interpreter and liason between the British and the Indians during the Revolutionary War.
The following discription of Girty found in a book written by Consul W. Butterfield (1890) titled;
"History of the Girty's." In it he wrote:
The following discription of Girty found in a book written by Consul W. Butterfield (1890) titled;
"History of the Girty's." In it he wrote:
"No other country or age, ever produced, perhaps , so brutal, depraved, and wicked a wretch as Simon Girty. He was sagacious and brave; but his sagacity and bravery only made him a greater monster of cruelty. All of the vices of civilization seemed to center in him, and by him were ingrafted upon those of either. He moved about through the Indian country during the Revolution and the Indian war which followed, a dark whirlwind of fury, desperation and barbarity. In the refinements of torture inflicted on helpless prisoners as compared with the Indians, he 'out-heroded Herod.' In treachery he stood unrivaled. There ever rankled in his bosom a most deadly hatred of his country. He seemed to revel in the very excess of malignity toward his associates. So horrid was his wild ferocity and savageness, that the least relenting seemed to be acts of positive goodness--luminous sparks in the very blackness of darkness!"Girty was a gifted linguist and a trained interpreter fluent in eleven native languages. In physical appearance he was described as six feet tall with impressive build, large head and black eyes. It's said that near the end of his life he was in a great deal of pain suffering from several different physical ailments. In fact one of his wishes was that he be able to die in battle so he could die quickly. He never got that wish. He eventually died in Canada at the age of 77.
Despite being a nasty, vicious and ruthless individual, Girty is still a part of our nations history and like so many historic figures, their legacies are sometimes tainted because they were based on biases, myths and folklore. That said I encourage readers to browse the net where they will find volumes of information about the man and judge for themselves. Who knows, is it possible that history and writers have indeed been unkind in their writings about Girty for over 200 and in fact find that he was a descent, God fearing family man? Nah!
See an opportunity for an excellent adventure, we strapped my canoe to the top of my car and headed north to Defiance.
Crossing the Maumee in Defiance, we turned right on East River Drive (Rt. 424) and traveled east 12 miles. We stopped at the house near the site of Girty's old station to see if we could get permission to go out onto the island. The owner said he wasn't sure who the owned the island propert only that it was someone in Toledo. We asked if he thought the owner would have any problems if we went out onto the island just to look around. He said "be my guest. You know about the dead horses out there don't you?" Of course we hadn't so he went on to tell us that years before, some people went out on the island and killed a couple horses. He didn't elaborate and we didn't say anything. He then told us that during Prohibition there was dance hall on the island and a raft connected to a cable took partiers out a dance hall dancing and probably some bootleg whiskey. He went on to say they stopped having the dances in the late 20s when someone was murdered on the island. As we were walking back to the car he said, "I'd never go out there, You know the plaace is haunted." Darrel and I chuckling all the way back to the car. Little did we know what was in store.
We went to the south side of the river, parked our car at a pull off and paddled around to the northeast end of the island. That's where things got interesting.
Once ashore, we had to literally hack our way through the brush. It was so overgrown and the weeds were head height. As we pushed our way through the brush about 200 feet, we came upon what looked like a wrecked automobile. On closer examination, it looked like one of those cars that can be driven on water, at least that’s what it reminded us of. We pushed on another 300 yards and finally came to a clearing and there in front of us was what looked like an old stone cottage.
On closer examination, it looked like something built in the early 20’s or 30’s. Everything was grown up around it and the windows broken out yet when we went up on the porch and peered in through the windows we could see that it was a house with all the furnishing intact. What still sticks in my mind is seeing an old TV set with a framed picture of some people (in sepia) sitting upright on the TV. It looked as if people just abandoned the home and left everything there.
Once ashore, we had to literally hack our way through the brush. It was so overgrown and the weeds were head height. As we pushed our way through the brush about 200 feet, we came upon what looked like a wrecked automobile. On closer examination, it looked like one of those cars that can be driven on water, at least that’s what it reminded us of. We pushed on another 300 yards and finally came to a clearing and there in front of us was what looked like an old stone cottage.
On closer examination, it looked like something built in the early 20’s or 30’s. Everything was grown up around it and the windows broken out yet when we went up on the porch and peered in through the windows we could see that it was a house with all the furnishing intact. What still sticks in my mind is seeing an old TV set with a framed picture of some people (in sepia) sitting upright on the TV. It looked as if people just abandoned the home and left everything there.
The Tool Shed
We went around to the back of the house and saw an old shed. When we went inside we could see that it was full of old woodworking tools, dozens of them, many of which I’d seen at farm auctions. It looked like an old workshop. I remember wondering why anyone would leave and not taking such valuable tools with them.
The Skeletons
When I stepped outside, my friend said, “Dave, look over here.” I walked over to him and there in front of us scattered around on the ground were the skeletons of the dead horses the farmer had told us about.
Standing there, I looked up and what I saw was surreal. It was an old house that could have been a movie set for the “Adams Family.” It was one of those kind of old homes with the square towers.
We just stood there for a couple minutes staring at the old place because it did indeed look spooky plus it just didn’t look like it should be there. As we got closer to the house, we again stopped in our tracks because off to the left was a large round building. We went inside and instantly saw that it was an old skating rink. Turns out it was the old dance hall where the murder had taken place. We went inside and talk about spooky. What remains in my memory to this day was seeing some old glass aquariums sitting on a counter, a rack with some packets of seeds, an old crank cash register and a 4 wheeled surry, yes with actual fringes on top. I think Darrel and I were both speechless. We felt like we had walked into the twilight zone.
Leaving that building we walked over to what I describe as the Adams family house. There was no paint left on the structure and like the other house, it was covered in weeds and vines. When we walked inside, like the first house, all the furnishings were still there. What struck me was the fact that it all looked like solid wood and I remember everything had a thick coating of dust. I decided to go upstairs and I warned Darrel, “Do not yell while I’m up there or I’ll go straight through the ceiling.”
When I got upstairs, I went into one room and the bedding was still on the bed. A dressing table with a large round mirror sat in one corner of the room and on it was what I found out later was a device used to measure hems on a dress. Looking around I found a school grade card laying on the floor and if I remember correctly, it was from the 1950’s. I couldn’t get over the fact that it looked like someone woke up and said, I’m leaving and left everything behind. Things were beginning to feel very weird.
Next I went into what must have been the master bedroom and I saw one of those large trunks that you see in old movies on the back of carriages or stage coaches. I didn’t open it, still thinking I was trespassing and to be honest, was a little afraid to open it not nowing what might be inside.
Next I went into what must have been the master bedroom and I saw one of those large trunks that you see in old movies on the back of carriages or stage coaches. I didn’t open it, still thinking I was trespassing and to be honest, was a little afraid to open it not nowing what might be inside.
I saw a pair of coveralls hanging on a peg on one wall and when I took them down, I saw a large hole in the wall with hundreds of bees. Apparently the bees had eaten through the walls.
When I came back downstairs, we looked in the kitchen area and the dishes were still in the cupboards, silver in the drawers and pots and pans in the pantry . Keep in mind, this wasn’t like someone had just gone on vacation, this looked like someone years earlier had just up and left the island.
When I came back downstairs, we looked in the kitchen area and the dishes were still in the cupboards, silver in the drawers and pots and pans in the pantry . Keep in mind, this wasn’t like someone had just gone on vacation, this looked like someone years earlier had just up and left the island.
The Dance Hall
As we left the Adams House, directly to our front was the dance hall the farmer had told us about. In the early 19th century, a cable ran from the north shore of the river to the island that was used to pull rafts loaded with people across the river. Inside the first thing that caught my eye was what I'd call a surry with the fringe on top. Looked to be in perfect condition.
Another thing I spotted in the dance hall was an old crank cash register, Beside it was a rack of various garden seeds.
I have never forgotten that day on Girty’s Island because everything seemed surreal to me and still does 40 years later. It was an unnerving yet interesting experience. Nothing made sense. Without being melodramatic here, it just looked like people woke up in the middle of the night and left the Island and left everything behind.
I do remember thinking at the time that I didn’t want to advertise the experience too much fearing people might go to the Island and take things or damage things. In fact, this is the first time I’ve written anything about our experience and am doing so now only because I’ve heard all the buildings are now gone. I am thankful for the experience as it allowed me to enjoy the day with a very dear friend and history buff who I hope, though now in ill health, shares the same interesting yet weird memories that I do.
This blog is dedicated to my very dear friend Darrel Young of Lima, Ohio whose love of history "rubbed off on me," and whose friendship and the adventures we shared together throughout the years have helped create some of the best memories of my entire life.
I do remember thinking at the time that I didn’t want to advertise the experience too much fearing people might go to the Island and take things or damage things. In fact, this is the first time I’ve written anything about our experience and am doing so now only because I’ve heard all the buildings are now gone. I am thankful for the experience as it allowed me to enjoy the day with a very dear friend and history buff who I hope, though now in ill health, shares the same interesting yet weird memories that I do.
This blog is dedicated to my very dear friend Darrel Young of Lima, Ohio whose love of history "rubbed off on me," and whose friendship and the adventures we shared together throughout the years have helped create some of the best memories of my entire life.