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Harriet's House was built around 1878. This fourteen hundred square foot frame house was the home of John and Mary Esselbach. John Esselbach was Put-In-Bay's Chief of Police around the turn of the 20th Century. There are pictures of Chief Esselbach on horseback in front of the current City Hall keeping the "hoodlums" of the day in line! What do you think he'd feel about todays visitors to the Island? One thing is for sure, he'd need more than one horse! In 1936, John and Mary gave the home to their daughter Edna Esselbach. Edna Esselbach was a renouned, respected and "feared" teacher for over 40 years in the Put-In-Bay schools.
When she died in 1974, she did not have a will so her only living relative, a niece by the name of Harriet Tanchon inherited the house. Harriet and her family enjoyed many summer days at 247 Erie Street. In 2002, Harriet sold her summer vacation spot to Linda and Denny Rectenwald. Linda promised Harriet that she would call this new venture Harriet's House and a new business began on Put-In-Bay.
In the fall of 2004 the Rectenwalds began the expansion of this little Island paradise. A new 2400 square foot building was added to the property. The Island Suites welcomed their first guests in May of 2005. A combination of Island and local talent, along with a lot of personal sweat equity from family and friends made this new building a reality.
Many guests return year after year. You may arrive as strangers, but most leave as friends!
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