History of Croghan Day Celebrations

2018
Day of the Event - Thursday, August 2, 2018
Speaker - Mike Gilbert of Fremont speaking about "An Opportunity Siezed: George Croghan and the Battle of Fort Stephenson.

Day and Time of the Event - Tuesday, August 1, 2017.
Speaker was Larry Michaels of Fremont, speaking about the Battle of Fort Stephenson.

2016 
DAR wreath laying only.

Day and Time of the Event - Saturday, August 1, 2015
DAR wreath laying only.

Day and Time of the Event - Saturday, August 2, 2014
Children's activities were held on the Library lawn. The DAR wreath laying also took place.

Fort Stephenson Bicentennial
Dates and Time of the Event - Friday, August 4 - Sunday, August 6, 2013
A three day historical festival was held on the grounds of the former Fremont Middle School. The festival featured a re-enactment of the Battle and historical lantern tours.

Day and Time of Event - Saturday, August 4, 2012 at 6:30 pm
Speaker - Abbey Scranton Woodman presented her research on the Whittaker family that warned Colonel Croghan that an attack by the British was imminent.
Ms. Woodman has continued her mother Nancy Scranton's work on a book titled James and Elizabeth, telling the story of the events leading up to the historic battle.
Music - Genoa American Legion Band.

Day and Time of Event - Saturday, August 6, 2011 at 6:30 pm
Speaker - Lt. Col. Ret. Thomas Hoffert, US Army
Music - Genoa American Legion Band.

Day and Time of Event - Saturday, August 7, 2010 at 6:30 pm.
Speaker - Mike Gilbert, history teacher at Fremont Ross High School and student A. J. Mehlow.
Music - Genoa American Legion Band.

Day and Time of Event - Saturday, August, 2009 1 at 6:30 PM
Speaker - Roy Wilhelm, retired editor of the News-Messenger.
Music - Genoa American Legion Band.

Day and Time of Event - Saturday, August 2, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Speaker - Ed Danzinger, Native American history and Ohio history professor at Bowling Green State University.
Music - Genoa American Legion Band.

Day and Time of Event - Saturday, August 4, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Speaker - Sue Judis, Park Ranger at Perry's Victory and Peace Monument, Put-In-Bay, Ohio.
Music - Genoa American Legion Band.

Day and Time of Event - Saturday, August 5, 2006 at 6:30 pm
Speaker - Mary Stockwell, History Professor and Department Chair at Lourdes College,
author of books on Maine, Massachusetts, and Ohio.
Music - Genoa American Legion Band.

Day and Time of Event - Saturday, August 6, 2005 at 7:00 pm
Speaker - Gerald Bazer, author and retired professor from the University of Toledo and Owens Community College.
Music - Genoa American Legion Band.

Day and Time of Event - August 7, 2004, 7:00 pm
Speaker - Randall L. Buchman titled "And the Indians Too."
Mr. Buchman is a Professor Emeritus of History at Defiance College.
Music - Genoa American Legion Band.

 
Day and Time of Event - August 2, 2003, 7:00 pm
Speaker - Fred Folger on "The British Are Coming - And the Indians, Too!"
Mr. Folger is a retired social studies teacher and area historian.
The celebration featured the firing of "Old Betsy", as well as a quartet singing patriotic and gospel songs, a children's choir, and wreath-laying ceremony.

 
Day and Time of Event - August 2, 2002, 10:00 am
Speaker - Larry L. Nelson on George Croghan and the War of 1812.
Speech entitled: George Groghand and the War of 1812
Mr. Nelson is the site manager of the Fort Meigs State Memorial and adjunct assistant professor at Firelands College of Bowling Green State University.
He has written books on Ohio history, which include A History of Jonathan Alder: His Captivity and Life with the Indians, The Sixty Years War for the Great Lakes, 1754-1814,
A Man of Distinction Among Them: Alexander McKee and the Ohio Frontier, and Men of Patriotism, Courage, & Enterprise: Fort Meigs and the War of 1812.

 
Day and Time of Event - August 2, 2001, 10:00 am
Speaker - Gerard T. Altoff
Mr. Altoff is the Chief Ranger and Historian at Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial, Put-In-Bay, Ohio. He has researched the soldiers and sailors who fought at the Battle of Lake Erie
and has written several books on the War of 1812 including Amongst My Best Men, Deep Water Sailors, Shallow Water Soldiers, Oliver Hazard Perry and the Battle of Lake Erie, and A Signal Victory: The Lake Erie Campaign, 1812-1813.

Day and Time of Event - August 2, 2000, 10:00 am
Speaker - Bob Gillmor
Featured Event - The Return of Old Betsy. 
Old Betsy , the cannon used to defend Fort Stephenson, was restored by Bob Gillmor. 
Mr. Gillmor owns the Cannon Foundry, is a maker and restorer of cannons. He is also an avid Civil War re-enactor and is from Old Fort, Ohio.

Day and Time of Event - August 2, 1999
Speaker - Michael Bassett, American University student.

Day of Event - August 2, 1956.
Featured Events - The memorial service in 1956 commemorated the 50th anniversary
of the re-burial of Col. Croghan's remains at the site of his victory.

Day of Event - August 2, 1953.
Featured Events - The State of Ohio celebrated the sesquicentennial of its founding in 1953. The Croghan memorial service was held by the DAR at Fort Stephenson Park (on the site of Birchard Public Library) at 1:00 pm.
Several DAR dignitaries and the president of the US Daughters of 1812 spoke.

Days of the Event - July 31 to August 6, 1948.
Featured Events - Fremont celebrated its Centennial Jubilee in 1949, with the events surrounding the Croghan Day celebration. Included in the events of the week were a historical spectacle called the "Fremont Cavalcade", 
depicting the history of the city, sacred music concerts, youth day events, dedication of the World War II service plaque at Rodger Young Park, 
semi-pro baseball games, amateur boxing, diving exhibitions, barbershop quartet concerts, and merchant's exhibits.

 
Day of Event - August 2, 1948.
Featured Events - On July 7, 1948, representatives of the community lodges, service clubs, and other civic organizations began planning the events. 
The one-day event featured an aerial salute and flag-raising, DAR exercises, parades, games at Rodger Young Park, swimming and diving exhibitions, band music, fireworks, and a community dance.

Day of Event - August 2, 1906.
Featured Events - This was the most impressive Croghan Day celebration to date.
In 1906, the remains of Col. Croghan, who had been buried in a family burial plot in Kentucky,
were interred at the base of the Soldier's and Sailor's monument in Fort Stephenson Park.

 
Day of Event - August 1, 1885.
Featured Event - The Soldier's and Sailor's monument in Fort Stephenson Park was the focus of the 1885 event. 
A monument that cost $7,000 had been erected at the historical site to honor soldiers and sailors from the area. 
National salutes, processions, and festivities were part of the celebration. The President of the United States, Grover Cleveland, was present for the dedication.

Day of Event - August 2, 1860.
Featured Event - Cassias M. Clay, one of the great orators of the pre-Civil War era, was the featured speaker.

 
Day of Event - August 2, 1852.
Featured Event - The highlight of the 1852 event was the return of "Old Betsy",
the cannon used to defend the fort, to the original site of the battle.

Day of Event - August 2, 1839.
Featured Event - The first celebration of the anniversary of the victory was held in 1839.
A message from Col. Croghan himself was read at the celebration.