 Sharon's Personal History Sharon is a married mother of 4 children. Three sons named Tim, Tom, and Mitchell and a daughter named Tessa. Steve Hill, her husband, does beautiful carpentry work here in Ohio and in Washington D.C. His skills will come in handy around the restaurant as the building is 160 years old.
While researching the origins of a structure in Grand River (Richmond) Ohio currently known as Brennan's Fish House we came across a 1957, 250 page, special edition of the Painesville Telegraph entitled "Welcome to the New Era". This New Era was the anticipation of the economic impact on the area caused by the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway. I personally recall this event and the flurry of optimistic speculation as to its impact on all of the Great Lakes ports. Unfortunately, nothing of substance happened here or elsewhere along the shores of Lake Erie aside from the introduction of the Zebra Mussel. This starry eyed anticipation has repeated itself throughout the years is characterized in this location and to the business(es) that is now Brennan's Fish House.
The First New Era
In 1832 Thomas Richmond, a young New Yorker, got word of a terrific property bargain along the Grand River close to the harbor. Being a New Yorker familiar with the economic impact of the Erie Canal he quickly closed this property deal and subdivided it into lots and lobbied for his canal and a "New Era". Unfortunately for him Ohio politics got his canal dug in Cleveland and the Bank Crisis of 1837 left Tom broke. The population that had reached 200 quickly shrank to 0 and the church and the houses built there were either moved or cannibalized for their lumber.(1)
The Second New Era
In 1889 Frank Jerome a [whee/er-dealeij land speculator got wind of the impending extension of the B & 0 Railroad through Richmond (Grand River) to Fairport Harbor and the impending construction of two large warehouses and a grain elevator near River Street.(2)
He quickly bought up every piece of then "worthless property" including lot #32 on which a hotel would stand for pennies on the dollar. Henrietta Hendrickson sold lot #32 and three other lots that she had inherited for $800. Frank quickly resold lot #32 alone for $1450 to August Wolff who in turn resold it to Otto Guetschow for the same $1450. It would seem that August Wolff was either a contractor or a frontman for Otto Guetschow. One of the deed witnesses was W.M. Sullivan who probably owned or managed the infamous Sullivan's Saloon operating out of the hotel.(3)
In 1890 Otto apparently bought into this New Era concept because he erected the Grand River Hotel on lot #32 which included a saloon and eventually a barbershop. The anticipated "boom" turned into a "fizzle" and the hotel served mainly as a saloon and "House of Ill Repute" for the warehousemen, railroad employees, fisherman and fish packers working there. This had to be a "tough area" with a clientele like this.
Maps from 1892 show the Grand River Hotel and many neighboring saloons. By 1904 business had fallen off leaving only the Grand River Hotel, 1 competitive saloon, a fish net store, 1 fish company, a town hall and a jail.
Otto lost the Grand River Hotel in 1902 through foreclosure on non-repayment of a loan that had the hotel as the security. The foreclosure suit asked for $6984.25. It was sold to Louis Seelbach for $5000. (Over $142,000 and $102,000 respectively in 2006 dollars 4).
In 1917 Louis' widow (and the heirs in her care) sold the hotel to George and Martha Evans, which eventually turned into Evans Lunch.
The name, Grand River Hotel, appears on the 1911 Sanborn Fire map.
By 1919 the name Net House appears and was eventually noted as a "Restaurant" on the 1930 map. (Robert Evans could not recall the Net House or Grand River Hotel name.) (5)
The Evans' and their 10 children resided in the building and operated a weekend restaurant until after WWII. In 1953 the ownership was passed down to their son Melvin and his wife Frances. Melvin and his brother Robert operated the restaurant for a short period of time. In 1957 a tragic automobile claimed the life of Melvin.5 Melvin's widow remarried (Gerald Gress) and continued to operate the restaurant under the Evans' name.
In 1968 Evans Lunch turned into Harry's Lunch. Harry Jones is responsible for the conversion of the restaurants theme to "Lake Erie Nautical".6 Harry's became Brennan's Fish House in 1974 . Tim and Betty Brennan's sold their restaurant to Riverside Hill LLC (Sharon and Steven Hill) in 2006 after 32 years of successful operation.
The New Era
Today the name Brennan's Fish House still remains only the owner operator is new. The area is known for it's popular dining establishments. As recreational facilities continue to be developed there is hope that the future will finally bring a New Era of growth and prosperity.
1. "Here is Lake County" by Janice M. Ashtrom, pg. 32
2. "The Historical Society Quarterly", May 1968, Vol. 10
3. "The Telegraphic", April 24, 1965
4. "Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis" web page, \!\/hat is a dollar worth? 5. Interview with Robert D. and Sara Evans, August 22, 2006
6. "Harry Switches to Sea Relics" The Telegraphic, January 20, 1973
Note: AI/Italicized dialog is based on hearsay and conjecture.
Dennis and Barbara Rezabek August 2006
Richmond and the Grand River Hotel Timeline
1832 Town of Richmond established.
First church, first school built.
1835 First Newspaper, Grand River Record, numerous saloons.
1836 Richmond tears down town when Cleveland receives the new canal.
1853 Gideon Meggs builds glass and iron factories (never used).
1876 Lime kilns built and operated.
1890 Fishing industry at peak, B&O Railroad extension,
Grand River Hotel built.
1891 Warehouses and Grain Elevator built.
1903 Grand River Hotel's owner loses hotel in foreclosure.
1917 Hotel sold to the Evans' becomes Evans Lunch.
1953 Evan's sells the business to his son Melvin
1968 Evans Lunch sold to the Jones' becomes Harry's Restaurant
1974 Harry's sold to the Brennan's becomes Brennan's Fish House.
2006 Brennan's Fish House sold to Riverside Hill LLC, name retained.
Dennis and Barbara Rezabek August 2006
|
|
