Massassauga Point, a former summer resort near Presque Isle state park in Erie, was a popular beach accessible to the locals before roads connected the peninsula to the mainland. It started as a small tavern and became a favorite spot for picnic parties, fishing, and steamboat passenger service. The property was later bought by a wealthy industrialist who invested in improving the area, including building a hotel, a larger dance hall, and a gravel roadway that became Peninsula Drive. However, the hotel caught fire and burned down after only four years.
Highlights
- Massassauga Point was a popular beach accessible to the locals before Presque Isle was connected to the mainland by roads.
- A small tavern built by Jake Graham gained popularity and became a favorite spot for picnic parties and amateur fishing.
- The area saw an influx of steamboat captains providing passenger service after the Mini Harris Steamboat was brought to Erie by Captain James Hunter.
- The property was bought by William L. Scott, a wealthy coal and railroad industrialist, who invested a great deal of money in improving the area, including building a hotel and a larger dance hall.
- Peninsula Drive, a gravel roadway, was added through an old Gorge that was previously used by a mining company to haul coal down to awaiting ships.
- The hotel caught fire and burned down after only four years, engulfing the entire structure and burning for nearly six hours.
- The hotel was run by Jake Graham's brother, William Graham, after David Johnson failed on his lease.
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26 ноя 2022
