Own a Piece of Sheffield Lake's Cottage Past

The driveway leads to your cottage

I went out to Avon Lake to pick up some firewood on Sunday morning, and on the way back noticed this lakefront cottage (highlighted above) right on US 6 in Sheffield Lake for sale. Its address is 5475 E. Lake Road.

According to the ERA Rath real estate site, the house dates to 1911 – making it a century home. There's also another house, and a garage included as part of the same property. So there's a built-in guest house.

Here is the real estate listing. For anyone who ever wanted to live on the lake in a nice little cottage, I think it's a bargain for $249,500 (although I'm sure the spouse wouldn't agree, though.)

I did a little digging at the library but couldn't come up with much. The earliest listings for E. Lake Road in the Lorain City Directory date from the late 1930's and the only thing listed at this end of Sheffield Lake in those early books is the 103rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry complex, which is right next door to the east.

The 5475 E. Lake Road didn't officially become an address apparently until around 1954, when several other listings in the vicinity appeared.

I suspect it was just a summer cottage (originally with no postal address) that eventually became a year-round home like so many others in Sheffield Lake. Its proximity to the 103rd O.V.I., which had its first reunion at its lakefront property in 1908, makes it a little interesting.

By the way, 5465 Lake – right next door to the west – is for sale too, (below).

There are several homes that are part of that property too, and they date from 1940. Unfortunately, the real estate listing indicates that they are tear downs. So it's goodbye for sure to a little bit of Sheffield Lake's past.

It will interesting to see if one buyer purchases both properties, combines them and puts a huge house on the lot.

You've got to admit, it's a great location. You can walk to the 103rd O.V.I. Pancake Breakfasts!