Lake Erie ice shoved onto shore in 1910
CATAWBA ISLAND – The Lake Erie ice heave was remarkable enough in 1910 to inspire this class of students to have their photo taken in front of it.
This photo is from the Catawba Island Historical Society, found by trustee Craig Koerpel.
Students in front of ice heave, 1910.
He explained how this is a Lake Erie “ice shove,” an example of uncommon ice-linked behavior that was captured for posterity at the Union Chapel Museum.
“Shoves” or “heaves” occur when a strong onshore wind continuously blows large pieces of ice against the shore. When chunks of frozen water hit immovable land, the slabs slide up and over one another to create a tall, jagged wall. Seeing this phenomenon firsthand has long been a valued subject of school field trips.
This photo has a note written on it: “Pupils of Miss Lecrone at Catawba Island, around 1910.”
“The photo is all we have. So there isn’t anything else about Miss Lecrone,” Koerpel said. “I can’t even tell you if it was in Port Clinton or out on Catawba — but I would guess it was Port Clinton.”
The Catawba Island Historical Society is based at the Union Chapel, 5258 E. Porter St., Catawba Island, and catawbaislandhistoricalsociety.com.
419-332-2674
This article originally appeared on Port Clinton News Herald: Lake Erie ice shoved onto shore in 1910
