Volunteer Bay – Part 2

So how long has the Spanish War Veterans' summer camp community at Volunteer Bay been there? This article from the December 31, 1921 edition of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reveals some of the details.

As the article notes, “Spanish War Veterans of Ohio are planning to establish a summer camp on the shores of Lake Erie, two miles west of Vermilion, with cottages for 325 veterans and their families, according to announcement made yesterday by W. A. Grigsby, 521 Caxton building, who with George Vaughan, chapter of Cramer Camp, No. 6 S. W. V., is promoting the project.

“We have forty-two acres under option,” said Grigsby. “We plan to lay this out in 325 lots. Thirty-three lots have been sold to veterans. A strip of land 300 feet long and 250 feet wide has been retained for common use as a bathing beach and campaign ground. A grove of several acres also will be used as a campaign ground in common.

“An eleven-room house now on the land will be converted into a club house and hotel.

“Our idea is to make this a resort where Spanish War veterans can send their families for the summer and where they can spend their vacations. Arrangements probably will be worked out to enable organizations of veterans throughout the country to use the resort at times.

“My own idea is to make of this land a mecca and headquarters for Spanish War veterans throughout the nation.”

By the summer of 1922, there were already newspaper reports of the Spanish War Veterans enjoying their new property. 

Under the heading, “SPANISH WAR VETERANS TO PICNIC – Promise Old Fashioned July 4 Celebration at Vermilion,” a small article in the Plain Dealer of June 25, 1922 noted, “An old fashioned celebration is promised for the annual Fourth of July basket picnic of the Spanish War Veterans at Stop 137, near Vermilion.

“Spanish War veterans from all over the state and their families have been invited to attend. The program includes boating, foot racing and baseball games.”

An article in the Plain Dealer published on July 5, 1922 reporting on Cleveland’s holiday celebration of the day before mentioned the Spanish war veterans' activities out at Stop 137.

Just as envisioned, the Spanish War Veterans camp was made available to a variety of veterans groups and their families. An article in the June 30, 1923 Chronicle-Telegram noted, “Arrangements were made for a picnic of all Lorain County Spanish War veterans and their families to be held at the Volunteer Bay Resort, early in August."

This small item from the social pages of the August 14, 1927 News Journal notes an upcoming weeklong visit to Volunteer Bay by Mrs. Ralph Gretzinger and Mrs. T. A. Barrett, and their children.

And this one from the August 14, 1929 Plain Dealer noted that Mrs. Lena Hall and Mrs. Mary Weller were going to be hosting women’s auxiliary groups (of both the Grand Army of the Republic and the United Spanish War Veterans) at their summer homes at Volunteer Bay.

Next: Into the 1930s and 40s