The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Telescope February 31 The writer's glowing appraisal of Sandusky is typical of the local patriotism of the period when the Lake Erie cities were scrambling for their place in the wonderful promise of Young America. If it hardly relates to the sleepy town of today, it was not altogether the writer's fault, for Sandusky's railroad connections seemed to insure its future. Not until the fall of 1849 did the steamers London and Southerner begin running from Detroit to Cleveland in a similar service, connecting to a railroad reaching toward Pittsburgh; t hat, of course, grew into the Detroit and Cleveland Navigation Company which would greatly overshadow the Detroit-Sandusky line. But by 1853 Sandusky was host to Lake Erie's largest steamers, Mississippi and St. Lawrence, which for two seasons gave it elegant express service to Buffalo. Completion of a shoreline railroad link with Cleveland idled these steamers, however, and thereafter Sandusky's promise as a lake port was never so bright again. In early years, the anniversary of Perry's 1813 victory at Put-in-Bay became a day of regional celebration second only to the Fourth of July festivities. On September 10, each year, steamers would carry large crowds to Put-in-Bay from Detroit and Lake Erie ports for picnicking and ceremonies. As a fiftieth anniversary approached, festivities became increasingly lavish; in 1860 a mock naval battle was staged off Cleveland. This Detroit Free Press article of September 11, 1859, describes one of these Put-in-Bay excursions. The grand excursion to the scene of Perry's victory in the Battle of Lake Erie took place yesterday, and was attended by an immense concourse of people from the various lake ports. The Ocean left this city at an early hour, having on board about seven hundred excursionists, all of whom were provided with the necessities of life, stowed away in baskets and other receptacles. The weather was quite threatening, and a rainy day was somewhat anticipated, which prevented many from venturing out. The signs proved fallacious, however, and in an hour's time the sun came out and dissipated all fears on account of the weather. The boat was a good deal crowded, but everybody managed to find accomodations, and those who were so disposed had the benefit of the cabin floor and a band of music for dancing. A fine run down the river and lake brought the group of islands that bear the fame of having been the scene of our greatest inland naval engagement in sight, four hours from Detroit. At almost the same time, several steamers from other ports hove in sight, and all entered the spacious harbor of Put-in-Bay together, amid the roar of cannon and sound of martial music, with which the boats were amply provided. The scene was an enlivening one, and seldom witnessed in the quiet little bay which indents Kelly's Island (sic)--perhaps never since Perry's war dogs spoke in thunder tones and awakened the same echoes many years ago. There were thirteen steamers, the majority of which were literally covered with human beings, crowds of people swarming all over the decks, fore and aft, to the highest altitude of the hurricane deck and the pilot house, and even into the rigging where Young America ensconced