Girty's Island, Maumee River

Sorry I know nothing of the Turkeyfoot region other than some reference to it on line.

I did go out to see Girty's Island today from the road. What a mess! From what I could see, a huge tangle of trees, weeds, and whatnot that looked like it was soaked in a lot of mud. It looked so different in the early autumn!

I also heard mention of the cannon story while I was checking to see if I was looking at the right place...

Here is something on Turkeyfoot?
toledoblade.com -- History on the rocks: Researcher says Turkey Foot Rock is upside down

I'm watching an old Daniel Boone movie tonight, and guess who was portrayed as a major bad guy... Simon Girty! The name of the movie is Daniel Boone, Trail Blazer.

Just found it interesting. That led me to search for a little more information....

Re: Jacob Teter/ Update, Samuel G Teater Simon Girty

Not sure that is all correct, but has some interesting connections... And talks about the Girty's

The name Gibson is also in my family tree, so I'm going to have to do a bit more research on that line... It's a very difficult one to trace though.

I went to the Henry County Ohio courthouse on Friday, and was told that Girty's Island belongs to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

I am a Girty, on my father's side and I claim Simon Girty as a distant uncle of mine. Yes, I have read of Girty Island in a History of Ohio book I found in the reference section of the Toledo, Lucas Co. Library. I have also read many Historically based novels that have had details of the escapades and movements of the Girty brothers. (James A. Thom, "Warrior Woman") I pass across the Maumee River each morning going to work and looking at the mist on the water it brings to mind "Girty Island" and all of the actions of those times. This morning I googled "Girty Island" and found this site. Good luck in your search. If I discover any more factual information I will pass the references on to you.
Simon Girty is often referred to as a "Scoundrel" but we must remember who wrote in those times, well off white men who had their stolen native lands and property to protect from the Girty's who ran with the natives trying to preserve their right to exist in their native lands. (I am also part Cherokee.)

My husband's grandmother's parents owned this island in the early 1900's, and she did a nice history and map of the island. It had amusements and a dance hall, refreshments along with the beach and lodging, and ferrying transportation for visitors. I will try to get this typed and copied so you can view it for comparison today.

Good Lord, if you could get me a copy of the map showing the lay out of the park words could not describe how thankful I would be.

I contacted a very nice gentlemen from the Henry County historical Society over the winter and he sent me a a write up with pictures that someone sent to the historical society. Your husband must be related to the Voights I am guessing.

This past Saturday, I spent four hours walking the entire island. Leaving the island was bitter-sweet for me. I discovered a lot and a lot of pieces of the puzzle are still missing. The saddest part was knowing this park (and the island itself) truly is a historical sight on the Maumee River and so little of it remains because of the Maumee River. I only hope that my postings will help keep this history alive.

The write-up I received placed structures as it related to the ferry landing. My husband was the one that found the ferry landing. One very large timber remains and a short piece of cable anchored in the ground. A tree still stands that shows the marks where the cable once wrapped around it.

Just to the west of the landing, I found what remains of what I believe to be the ice house. Going north from the ferry landing, I found an old arch which I believe may be the entrance to the park, leading to the house. I have not found any remains of the house as of yet. I believe in later years, this area may have been farmed and the foundation covered. If you can find out if the park entrance did have an arch, then I will know the area behind it is where the house once stood. The pictures of the house that I have may have been taken while standing under this arch. Without the house location, I am missing the location of the refreshment stand that stood next to the house. The area behind the arch has trees, but they are young enough to tell me they weren't there a 100 years ago. To the northwest of the arch, I ran across the strange foundation I found last fall. With the information I received this winter, I believe this to be the stables where visitors stabled their horses while on the island. Next to this structure, I uncovered a coil of cable which I am sure was used for the ferry. North of the stable, I found a very small foundation, which I haven't a clue what it is. I was hoping this was one of the three cottages, but no way to know for sure. Along with the cottages, there was the dance hall, bowling alley, race track and I am totally lost as to where any of these once stood. The write-up states that one cottage still stands because it was make of stone, but I did not see it and I was all over the island.

I did make it to the beach area where the bath houses once stood, but being at the head of the island I am sure the Mighty Maumee took those remains a long time ago. I did find an entire skeleton of what I believe to be a very, very large hog/sow that was once buried about 5 feet down and with the flooding this spring was unearthed. This has both me and my husband stumped. The park would may have served roasted pig, not buried it. Do you have any ideas?

I do have some very good pictures of everything I discovered that I would be happy to pass along to you. Your husband's family may want to have these as it is part of their family history.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

And to my other fellow explorers who have helped me with this historical search, yes, I am still going strong and loving it. As for the ghost of Mr. Simon Girty, he must be resting in peace in the great beyond since I did not see him. For this, I am glad.

I am in agreement with "Oneguyinohio" that Simon Girty may have been the first activist noted in history, not a "Scoundrel". The way I see it, the Native Americans would have used a few more Simon Girtys. Someone to stand for what is right and not take their land.

I read an article that stated that if it was not for the Greenville Treaty, that Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin would not have became ours (I guess meaning the British would have gotten them during that time in history). Do you know anything about this? How does taking land from the Native Americans, which the Treaty did, make a difference in getting these sates?

I think it is a reference to the claim that the British had on the lands at the same time period. When the French were defeated through an alliance with the Native Americans, the British claimed those lands. At about the same time, the British policy began not giving any support to the tribes that had assisted the British... Nor did the British share in the claim of the new lands... Those policies drove a wedge between the Native Americans and the British. The small United States was able to exploit the division between the British and Native Americans when at the Treaty of Greenville, the native americans relinquished claims to the land.... This is probably the source of the statements you discussed. It gave the United States a claim to those lands, while ignoring the British claims to it...

The link below goes into a lot of detail about various treaties and policies... Hope it helps...
Native American Treaty Signers in the Great Lakes Region

Thanks for the information, I will check it out. Maybe it will help me understand why the Native Americans where told where to live vs. Everyone living together as neighbors. Those were tough times to live, you would think that the more people in a community, the easier it would hae been on those people.

I also read where you posted that the DNR now owns Girty's Island (I am glad you made it over here!). Did it say as to when they bought it? Did you get a list of who hands the island passed through?