John Swartz whose father, grandfather and great-uncle owned the Findley Lake Mill, will be signing copies of his book “Steamboats on Findley Lake.” The book grew from a chapter of a larger work that Swartz had written.

Findley Lake resident Jennifer Packard provides a different passage back in time with her children’s book, “Swanee’s Sentimental Journey Around Findley Lake.'” Swanee the Swan is the Town of Mina’s Bicentennial mascot. The book relates the story of how Swanee’s grandfather takes him back in time to see Findley Lake in the past.

Packard, who grew up in Findley Lake and now resides in Washington D.C., said she was approached by the Mina Historical society to write a bicentennial children’s book. She has an art degree and has extensive experience in illustration. “In my youth there, I painted signs for businesses, designed graphics for brochures, and could always be found drawing something,” she said. “Members from the Historical Society remembered this, and reached out to me to create a children’s book that would inspire kids to learn about the history of Findley Lake.”

The 25-page book relates the adventure of ‘Little Swan’ who is led by Grandpa Swan as they travel back in time to when there were “steamboats circling the lake, a cultural center called the Lakeside Assembly, a popular roller-skating rink, and of course, its founder, Alexander Findley who turned two ponds into a lake that we all enjoy today,” Packard said. The character of Grandpa Swan was inspired by Clarence ‘Swanee’ Swanson, who worked at the roller rink for many years and took care of the Findley Lake swans during the winter.

The cover of the children’s book written and illustrated by Jennifer Packard for the Town of Mina Bicentennial.

Packard said when she started to research the history of Findley Lake, she realized there were a lot of things she did not know about her hometown. “Who knew that there were steamboats here in the beginning of the 20th century? And that we had a little cultural institution — much like Chautauqua Institution — that hosted great speakers and musicians?” she said. She digitized many photos, some which were more than 100 years old, to be included in the book.

Although it is a children’s book, Packard said she hopes many adults will read it as well. “It’s important to learn where you came from, and know that you are a part of history, too,” she said. The book will be available in August at the Findley Lake and Mina Historical Society.

For those who are more interested in a purely historical view of Findley Lake, however, Swartz’ book may be what they are looking for. Swartz, who lives in Wesleyville, Ohio, near Columbus, said his book came to be after he gave an 84-page chapter of his work to the Findley Lake Historical Society and he was asked to turn it into an independent work.

The book centers around various steamboats that were active on Findley Lake, principally the Daisy, the Silver Spray and the Euclaire. The Daisy operated from 1897 to 1915, and is primarily known for shuttling passengers from the mill to the Lakeside Assembly which was located on the west side of the lake.

The Silver Spray was actually two boats, a single decker, which operated from 1896 to 1898, and a double decker, which was in use from 1899 to 1910. These boats also shuttled passengers to the Lakeside Assembly. After the Silver Spray II was built, the Silver Spray I was relegated to carrying lumber, Swartz said.

The Euclaire was only in service for the year of 1895. Sadly, it got stuck on a stump on its first day out, Swartz said. It had a rear paddlewheel, instead of a side wheel, which would have allowed it to back off the stump, he said.

Swartz’s great-uncle, who was co-owner of the mill, ended up with the Euclaire. “That boat was an absolute disaster,” he said.

The book also illustrates the atmosphere of the area at the time the paddle boats were in operation. “I’ve tried to include what it was like in Findley Lake in the 1800s,” he said.

Swartz notes that most people think Alexander Findley built the dam to the height it is now, but it was actually built to that height in 1851 by a man named Robert Corbett.

Alexander Findley’s son, Hugh, inherited the mill, and when he died in 1850, the mill was purchased by Ebenezer Skellie, Swartz said. In 1892, Swartz’s grandfather, Louis and his great-uncle, Phillip bought the mill. Swartz’s father, Lawrence inherited the mill and operated it until 1949.