WHERE, Oh WHERE DID THE MAUMEE INDIAN MISSION MARKER MOVE?

Many have asked us what happened to the sign for the Maumee Indian Mission. It used to be located about 2 -2 ½ miles from Miltonville on a curve with a stone in front. Did it get hit by a careless motorist, or become too dangerous to leave it there? It was directly across from the Missionary Island on the site of the mission building.

There used to be a stone that stated “on this ground was established in the year 1822 The First Presbyterian Mission in the Maumee Valley. Rev. Joseph Badger Missionary 1802-1812, Rev. Isaac Van Tassel the First Superintendent 1822-1834.” The Missionary Island was purchased by the American Missionary Association in the early 1800 to provide religious teaching to Native Americans. They also purchased 372 acres of land in Wood County southeast of the river and established a mission to educate and Christianize the Indians. A large building was built on the banks of the river next to the island which was called the Indian Missionary Station which led to the various names given to the island.

The Mission house was at the mouth of Tontogany Creek in Wood County. It was two stories with a large cellar under the main building. It was said it caused echoing and sepulchral sounds (per Olde Waterville by June Huffman) which caused many strange tales to be told of the place. The building is no longer standing.

In 1834 the Mission was closed, and the Indians moved west. Later all that remained was the Indian Mission sign on the original site reminding everyone that a Presbyterian idea was started here.

The marker was originally put up in 1930 by the Ohio Revolution Memorial Commission (Marker # C608) We have found that the sign has been re-located 3 miles upriver to the Otsego Park on West River Road (Rt. 65), 0.2 miles north of the Otsego Pike (Route 235), which is no place near the old mission site but perhaps a much safer place to pull in and view the sign. The problem is that there is no notice that the sign has been moved from the original location. The next time you visit Otsego Park check out this marker and remember this important part of our local history.