103rd O. V. I. Camp Week 2021 Wraps Up

If you happened to drive through Sheffield Lake last week, you might have noticed all the cars parked on the grounds of the 103rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. That’s because it was Camp Week 2021, which wrapped up yesterday.

Here’s hoping the organization had a lot of fun and fellowship at this year’s annual reunion, which had a Halloween theme. (Note the word ‘Haunted’ added to their sign on U. S. Highway 6.)

It’s still incredible that this one-of-a-kind Civil War organization is located right in Lorain County, where the descendants of the soldiers honor them 365 days a year in their unique community overlooking Lake Erie.

Did you know that there’s an excellent Civil War museum located right on the 103rd O.V.I. grounds? It’s open during special events (like the Pancake Breakfasts) and by appointment.

To learn more about it, here’s an article that I wrote for the Black Swamp Trader & Firelands Gazette back in July 2009. It appears here through the courtesy of that publication.

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103rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Museum Keeps Their Memory Alive

By Dan Brady

There's a popular movie series in which the artifacts and displays in a museum magically come to life and as a result, make history interesting and exciting. Well, at the 103rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Civil War Museum in Sheffield Lake, it's the tour guides who provide all the magic that is needed to achieve the same result. That's because the guides are direct descendants of the Union veterans being honored. Let's find out how a group of Buckeye soldiers not only helped to preserve the Union, but a precious Civil War legacy in Sheffield Lake as well.

It was back in August and September 1862 that the 103rd Regiment O.V.I. was organized in Cleveland, Ohio to serve in the Union army. Approximately 1,000 men enlisted from Cuyahoga, Lorain and Medina counties to form the regiment, which was under the command of Colonel John S. "Jack" Casement.

The 103rd O.V.I. fought in several major engagements, playing an important part in the battle of Kennesaw Mountain and several others, including Resaca, Georgia.

After three years of strenuous service in the war, the men of the 103rd became very close. Thus when the war ended, a group of the men decided to hold an annual summer reunion to renew their friendships. The first reunion was held in 1866.

Early reunions were one and two-day affairs with only the veterans present. Eventually, the wives and families of the men were invited, and the reunions evolved into weeklong camps. Tents were erected to sleep and cook in, and rousing campfires were enjoyed at night with songs and skits.

Eventually, the surviving members of the 103rd realized they needed to plan for the future. An organization known as the Sons and Daughters of the 103rd was formed. As described in the August 27, 1898 Lorain County Reporter, the Sons and Daughters of the 103rd "are taking upon themselves the responsibilities of the older generation little by little. For they realize that the time is coming when there will be no reunion except they perpetuate it.”

Another important step taken for future generations was to buy land for a permanent reunion site. Four acres of lakefront property were purchased in Sheffield Lake in 1907, with the first reunion at the new location in 1908.

At first, the 103rd O.V.I. grounds were a military-style camp with tents. In order to make the families more comfortable during the reunions, permanent structures were added in subsequent years. These included barracks, a mess hall, a dance hall and cottages. These are the handsome white buildings that are still visible today from U.S. 6, attracting the attention of passers-by.

Today, the 103rd O.V.I. lives on through its descendants, who continue to hold its annual reunion each August on the grounds at 5501 East Lake Road in Sheffield Lake. Membership in the Sons and Daughters Association is limited to the descendants of the soldiers. Many of these descendants live in the cottages year-round.

It's this group of dedicated descendants who volunteer as guides at the 103rd O.V.I. Museum, which is housed in the former barracks. The guides have a unique historical perspective as they proudly talk about their ancestors and present a wonderful collection of artifacts, including Civil War uniforms, shells, bullets, rifles, revolvers, caps and swords. 

Photographs of past 103rd reunions line the walls. There's even a Civil War cannon on display outside.

While touring the 103rd O.V.I. Museum, I spoke with Deborah Wagner, the curator, and asked her what it was like to live on the grounds with so much history of the 103rd surrounding her. "I wake up every day and can't believe I'm so lucky to be a part of this," she replied. "I'm so proud of what they accomplished."

The 103rd O.V.I. Civil War Museum is open by appointment only and during certain special events. For more information or to schedule a tour, call (440) 949-2790.