Ghoul Runnings to rededicate historical marker

FREMONT – In 1971, the Sandusky County Historical Society erected a historic marker along the Sandusky River to celebrate the Native American history there. Native Americans traveling the Sandusky River would avoid the river's swift and sometimes dangerous lower rapids in what is today Fremont by bringing their canoes ashore. They would follow a footpath, called a portage, from the river and carry the canoes along this path until they could reenter the water beyond the rapids. The portage became part of the Sandusky-Scioto Trail, which later was a military route during the War of 1812 and then called the Harrison Trail. To honor and mark this trail at the river, the historical society created and placed the historical marker at the Portage Trail Canoe Livery, which today is Ghoul Runnings Kayak Adventures, located at 1773 S. River Road, across from the Fremont Reservoir. Over the next more than 50 years, the marker was largely forgotten and eventually fell over. After Beth and Bob Turner started Ghoul Runnings in 2021, they were working on the property and found it in a rather dilapidated state. Knowing the importance of the property, they had the marker cleaned up and again placed in the area for future generations to see and learn the history. "It was my family, including my brother-in-law, Tom Kashmer, brother Tom Myslinski and two other friends, Dave Daubel and Ray Arndt, who are all deceased that originally started and ran the Portage Trail Canoe Livery and Broken Paddle Campgrounds for 25 years," Beth Turner said. "To have this business come full circle back into our family is karma at its finest and a dream come true." The Turners will dedicate the refurbished marker during a special event, "History Being Made Again," at 11 a.m. Friday, May 10, at Ghoul Runnings. The public is invited to attend, and refreshments will be served. There will also be door prizes. The Chamber of Commerce of Sandusky County will have a ribbon-cutting, and local officials, including the Sandusky County Visitors Bureau, will attend. Julie Mayle, Hayes Presidential Library & Museums curator of manuscripts, also will say a few words about the portage and its importance to local history. The Sandusky-Scioto Trail continues from the river through Spiegel Grove, the grounds of Hayes Presidential, and is marked on the property. For information on the marker and event, contact Beth and Bob Turner at 419-455-4364 or ghoulrunnings2021@gmail.com.