Informathion on the neuman boat line?

Answer 1

The Neuman boat line was a ferry boat line that ran from Marblehead OH to Kellys Island OH, as well as from Sandusky OH to Kellys Island. It was a family company that was started in the late 1800's by John P. Neuman. The original wooden ferry boats were built on Neuman's farm in Ohio. John Neuman was killed when he was crushed while loading timbers from a truck onto the ferry. His young sons Harold and Leonard were at work with him that day, one driving the truck and one providing directions. Ownership of the boat line was passed to Neuman's children. Ultimately, Harold Neuman bought out the interests of his siblings and became sole owner.

They went out of business in the 1990s when challenged by another ferry line from Marblehead. For many years in the 1980s & 1990s Mrs. Neuman donated the services of their large party boat every Sunday morning during the summer for church services. The boat would sail in Sandusky Bay for the entire service with the freewill offering being donated to local charities. It is said that John Neuman refused to allow a company opening up a quarry on the island access to one of his boats. The quarry company needed to get equiment and trucks over to the island. Neuman was so sure he could dominate that business that he did not yield. The company running the quarry had a ferry boat built on the Gulf of Mexico (Alabama or Miss) and put Neuman out of business. It is also rumored that John Neuman was caught in an illicit love affair by his long term wife, and that she bankrupted his business. The company's assets were liquidated so the marriage could be desolved.