Otto Herbster Panorama courtesy of Steven Nemec
Many sources claim to tell the Put-in-Bay Story, but primary sources can be difficult to find. However, The Perry’s Victory Memorial, Charles Frohman’s 1971 book, and Jay Cooke’s The Gibraltar Records, 1865-1905 are easily accessible, and a Middle Bass Island Web site offers quick links to a plethora of historical insights.
One particular text from 1968, discovered on the Internet Archive, deserves attention for its comprehensive detail: THE PUT-IN -BAY STORY Told From Top-of-the-Rock, by Ruth Dickerman Moizuk. The book is remarkable because the theme emphasizes “Put-in-Bay is not only a historical island, it is a way of life!”
Twenty-first century life of islanders and visitors on South Bass Island contrasts markedly from the observations noted by Ms. Moizuk, and that is exactly why delving into her book is exciting and meaningful. Our contexts of human experience change so rapidly that it behooves us to explore history as we measure and evaluate what we value as important.
PiBDaily™ offers the full PDF text for your review and contemplation. If time-travel appeals to you, make time for “The Put-in-Bay Story!”