STONE LABORATORY Ohio’s North Coast Campus of The Ohio State University

Welcome to Gibraltar Island and Stone Laboratory. The Ohio State University’s northcoast campus is the oldest freshwater biological field station and research laboratory in the United States. Since its establishment in 1895, significant research has been conducted by both student and professional biologists on the ecology of Lake Erie and the Great Lakes region. The summer instructional program incorporates both basic and applied field studies in biology, geology, and natural resources. Classes take advantage of the Laboratory’s unique location on Gibraltar Island in western Lake Erie to provide students with practical field experience. Students have opportunities to conduct individual and group research projects in a variety of natural and human-made aquatic habitats. During the 1990s, students from 71 colleges (40 from Ohio) and 265 high schools (260 in Ohio) took courses for college credit at Stone Laboratory. Research focuses on environmental and economic issues of the Lake Erie region. Major spawning grounds in the island region afford opportunities to study fishery problems. Lake Erie provides an ideal setting for the study of pollution issues, shoreline erosion, the introduction and impact of exotic species, and population studies of native species. The Laboratory’s island location on the border of the Western and Central Basins is perfect for train- ing in the investigation of these topics and many others. Spring and fall programs provide opportunities for student groups (grade 5 and older) and adult groups to participate in educational tours, and aquatic ecology workshops and field trips. A variety of activities are offered to meet the needs of each group. this program accommodates over 170 groups and 5,500 individuals, annually. Conference facilities are also available. Please be our guest in this self-guided tour of Gibraltar Island. The tour covers about one quarter of a mile and takes about an hour to complete. It is intended to provide you with an overview of the history, heritage, and future of Gibraltar Island and Stone Laboratory. Stone Cottage Built in 1930, Stone Cottage houses instructors, visiting sci- entists, and laboratory guests.

Dining Hall Built in 1929, the Dining Hall, along with Stone Cottage and Gibraltar House were part of the first University develop- ment on Gibraltar.

To the west on South Bass Island’s Peach Point is more of The Ohio Dedication Stone State University’s research complex. This commemorates the gift of Originally a federal fish hatchery, Gibraltar Island to The Ohio State Peach Point Laboratory now houses University by Julius F. Stone. an analytical chemistry laboratory, holding tanks for aquatic organisms, offices, general field support space, and, depending on the season, an Ohio State University bookstore.

Bayview, our main office, is located across the road from the Peach Point Laboratory. There are also two Glacial Grooves cottages nearby that house the Look carefully along the Laboratory Manager and instruc- shore for deep-cut striations tors. The former Coast Guard running northeast-south- Lighthouse, located near the Lime west. These glacial grooves, Kiln Dock on the south side of the telltale remnants of the last Stone Laboratory Building island, is a year-round housing great glaciation in North facility for the Laboratory. America more than 10,000 This 21-room, three-story building was officially opened 22 June 1929. years ago, were gouged by The lower level provides two laboratory classrooms for ichthyology, the abrasive force of granite fish ecology, limnology, and marine biology classes. The middle level and other rock materials provides office space and four additional classrooms for plant biology, buried under nearly a mile entomology, natural resources, education, and zoology courses. The of ice and moved by the top floor provides a 100-person capacity meeting room, additional glacial advance and retreat. offices, the library, and a computer room. Facilities are available for spring and fall workshops and conferences. Written in 1985 for the Friends of Stone Laboratory by Ron Stuckey and Laura Fay. Revised by John Hageman and Jeff Reutter in 1998 and 2000. Cooke Castle In 1865, Cooke erected on Gibraltar an elaborate 15-room Victorian home, which he called his castle. Part of the lumber and millwork used is reported to have been aboard the steamer “Island Queen” when it was captured by Confederate soldiers on 19 September 1864 as part of the Johnson Island plot. An ardent admirer of Commodore Perry, Cooke adorned the walls with pictures of the Battle of Lake Erie and its renowned hero. Everything about the Barney Cottage mansion and its furnishings were in keeping with his outstanding position in the ay Cooke’s daughter, Laura, financial world. Cooke visited often from his estate in Philadelphia and entertained Perry’s Lookout nd her husband, Charles B. financial magnates from the East as well as notables from Washington, including From this point Commodore Perry arney, built Barney Cottage General Sherman, Salmon P. Chase, Presidents Rutherford B. Hayes, Grover watched for the British fleet prior to o use as a second residence Cleveland, and Benjamin Harrison. the Battle of Lake Erie during the War or children, grandchildren, The Cooke family first visited their summer home in June 1865. Visits were of 1812. The Battle took place to the nd guests. regular until 1873, and resumed in 1880, after which the family spent time in west of Middle Bass Island. the Castle every year until Jay Cooke died in 1905. In 1966, it was designated Below the overlook and to the a Registered National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service, west, you will see fallen rocks and a U.S. Department of the Interior, the only building on the entire Ohio State Campus hole in the rock, known as Needle’s with this designation. Efforts are underway to restore this building. Eye. These features tell the story of ceaseless weathering and erosion from freezing, thawing, wind, and water, which have been at work for thousands of years reducing the size of Gibraltar Island.

Swimming Hole Perry’s Cornerstone In 1852, Alfred P. Edwards supported an active program for establishing a monument on Gibraltar to commem- orate Commodore Oliver H. Perry’s 10 September 1813 naval victory on Lake Erie. He agreed to supply the stone for the structure and granted the use of half of the island for that Harborview House purpose. In 1865, Jay Cooke built the Constructed in 1985 and completed and small monument that was to serve as occupied in 1986, this building is now the a cornerstone of a larger monument. main residence hall for students and staff. In 1868 the Perry’s Monument This building consists of 12 four-person Association proposed that the Waldock Gazebo & Lakeview units and a laundry and vending area. monument be built at Put-in-Bay. Construction of Perry’s Victory and Jack Waldock, a long-time advisory committee member and friend of International Peace Memorial began both Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Laboratory, donated funds in 1996 to in 1913, one hundred years after the construct a gazebo (to be used fro outdoor classrooms and special events) victory. and speaker’s pavilion on Gibraltar Island. With assistance from the University’s Office of Physical Facilities, these structures were complete and ready for dedication during a ceremony on 24 August 1996 to dedicate the Laboratory for the next 100 years of service. A time capsule was placed in the base of the gazebo. Bat House A boat house, used for boat storage from Jay Cooke’s time until 1967, stood at this location until 1991. While it wasn’t fit for human use, it Gibraltar House was a covey for bats. During their 1991 spring Built in 1930, Gibraltar House was the work weekend the Friends constructed the caretaker’s residence. It now provides bat house that stands today from a blueprint housing for laboratory staff. provided by Dr. Barry Valentine and material from the old boat house. ISLAND HISTORY Gibraltar Island, the “Gem of Lake Erie” as it is often called, be changed to the Franz Theodore Stone Laboratory, in honor of was so named because it resembles the famous British fortress at the donor’s father. the west entrance of the Mediterranean Sea. Gibraltar is composed Franz Theodore Stone (1813-1862) was born in Prussia, studied of approximately six acres of native dolomite limestone. Lying at at the University of Koenigsburg, and assisted Friedrich Wilhelm the entrance to the harbor, it serves as a natural breakwater to Bessel with his mathematical and astronomical research. Franz South Bass Island and provides the harborage which led to the probably acquired his extensive knowledge of natural sciences development of Put-in-Bay, Ohio. from Bessel. Stone kindled an interest in the natural sciences in his In 1807, the title to Gibraltar Island was transferred from the youngest son, Julius Frederick Stone (1855-1947). state of Connecticut to Pierpont Edwards. In 1854, the title was sold Although Julius left school at the age of 13, his two great loves to Jose DeRivera, a New York capitalist. in life — conservation and medical sciences — provided him with Jay Cooke, originally from Sandusky, who became a banker, opportunities for learning and adventure. He started out as a tele- railroad baron, and civil war financier, bought the island from graph operator in 1871, switched to coal mining in 1903, and later DeRivera in 1864 for $3,001. Laura Cooke Barney inherited became Chairman of the Board of the Seagrave Corporation. He Gibraltar from her father. The Barneys visited the island frequent- was the first to lead an organized boat trip down the entire course ly with their six daughters until they sold it in 1925 to Julius Stone of the Colorado River and was posthumously inducted into the of Columbus. Conservation Hall of Fame in 1967 by the Department of Natural Immediately after acquiring Gibraltar Island, Stone presented Resources. He was well known as a manufacturer, conservationist, the property to Ohio State’s Board of Trustees for the Lake and author. He served on Ohio State’s Board of Trustees for Laboratory. The Board immediately resolved that the name should 20 years.

LABORATORY HISTORY The Lake Laboratory started in 1895 when Professor David S. was moved again in 1918, this time to the upper story of the State Kellicott proposed that The Ohio State University establish a field Fish Hatchery at Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island (the University station on Lake Erie “to afford an opportunity and a stimulus to also purchased the lot next door). Osborn retired that year and instructors and students of biology to spend their vacations inves- was replaced by Professor Raymond C. Osburn; however, the tigating living problems in biology, especially such as are connect- Laboratory was operated in his absence until 1925 by Professor ed with important industries like the fisheries.” As a result, the Frederick H. Krecker. (Krecker served as assistant director until University Board of Trustees appropriated $350 to build a second 1936.) floor on the State Fish Hatchery in Sandusky. After Stone donated the island to The Ohio State University in Kellicott became the first director of the Lake Laboratory in the 1925 the University constructed the Laboratory Building (also summer of 1896. Kellicott established the laboratory to the point known as Stone Laboratory), the Dining Hall, Stone Cottage, and that it was able to flourish after his death in 1898. The University Gibraltar House. When the Laboratory Building was completed in named Professor Herbert C. Osborn the second director in 1899, 1928, the facilities were moved from the second floor of the State and the Laboratory offered its first formal courses in 1900. Fish Hatchery Building on South Bass Island to Gibraltar. In 1903, the University obtained a 50-year lease for property Professors Dwight M. DeLong, Thomas H. Langlois, Loren S. on Sandusky Bay at Cedar Point and erected a frame building Putnam, Charles E. Herdendorf, and Jeffrey M. Reutter assumed for $3,387, and moved the Lake Laboratory there. The Laboratory the directorship in 1936, 1938, 1955, 1973, and 1987, respectively.

THE FRIENDS OF STONE LABORATORY The Friends of Stone Laboratory (FOSL) began in 1981 as a to support all aspects of the program, including scholarships, support group to “bring Stone Laboratory into the 21st century equipment purchases, research support, visiting professors, with the best possible facilities, equipment, and professors, and more. and make this unequaled learning experience available to all outstanding students.” The organization provides mechanisms for former students and supporters of Lake Erie and Stone Laboratory For more information, contact: to donate their time and money to the program and facility Stone Laboratory, The Ohio State University, 1314 Kinnear Road, to make it the best freshwater biological field station in the Columbus, OH 43212-1194, 614.292.8949, Fax 614.292.4364 country. They have created 10 special accounts and endowments www.sg.ohio-state.edu. OHSU-B-051