By Mary E. Mortimer
The Indian Lake Boat Show has been an annual event for nearly 70 years. The boat show is usually held the first weekend in March and signals the opening of Indian Lake and the start of spring activities in the area.
Schuler Marina was founded by Russ Schuler in 1930 and incorporated in 1948. Schuler Marina not only sold boats but could also build an entire boat to the customers’ specifications. The Belle Center Hearld Voice reported in July 1935, “Mr. Schuler is a boat designer, manufacturing some of the finest boats to be found on the lake. Making the blueprints and drawings, Mr. Schuler handles all the operations from hauling in the lumber to launching the boat on the sky-blue water of Indian Lake.”
Jim Wallace became a partner and general manager at Schuler Marina in 1952. He and his wife, Mary Jo, later purchased the business. Schuler Marina’s Boat Mart was located next to Spend-A-Day Marina on Orchard Island Rd. The 144’ x 60’ building was located about two blocks from the Schuler Marina headquarters. The new display room could accommodate 50 to 60 various models of watercraft. According to Don Wallace, brother of Jim and manager of Boat Mart, “It constituted the largest display in Ohio and the fifth largest in the country.”
In 1955, Schuler Marina held an open house to show off their new building that displayed the latest watercraft models. It was also reported in 1955 that the marine business was thriving, and 13,986 boat licenses had been issued. This number represented tags for all types of boats, row, inboard and outboard, and sailing crafts.
Since the Schuler Marina open house was so well attended, and boating was becoming very popular, the three primary marine dealers, Schuler, Spend-A-Day, and Major Marine decided to band together and hold a weekend-long open house the following year. The first Indian Lake Boat Show was a success and has continued every year since 1956.
In 1957, Schuler Marina opened their trailer boat marina. The 200-foot blacktop ramp could accommodate the loading and unloading of ten boat trailers at a time. A building with dressing rooms and restrooms was constructed at the site. The lighted parking lot had three hundred spaces for vehicles and boats. Roach Herring served as the manager.
Schuler Marina opened the Logan Isle Boatel in 1958. The Boatel was designed by Don Wallace, Jim Wallace and Russ Schuler, president. Don Wallace reported “It consists of twenty-one units with a boat well and a motel room with a bath. The Boatel units were equipped with either a bed or pull-out lounge bed, dinette, kitchen, ice box and oven. You pull your boat in, jump out and walk right into the apartment.” The Boatel had a community clubhouse with barbeque pits, showers, and a nice sandy beach. They planned to build forty more units the following year.
Schuler Marina specialized in Chris Craft, Thunderbird and Crestliner boats, Mercury motors, Alloy, and Magnolia trailers, and they offered delivery, financing, insurance, and license. They also had an upholstering facility and installed radar, sonar, and radio equipment.
An addition to Boat Mart was completed in May 1961. The expanded facility allowed them to display watercraft both indoor and outdoor. New boat lines included Skee Craft, Saber Craft and Bock sailboats. They also added a 450’ extra docking area.
In December 1961, Jim Wallace of Schuler Marina, Bill Reed of Spend-A-Day, and Dick Leitner of Major Marine, started “Project Stump” to remove the top portion of stumps protruding from the water so summer boating would be safer. Crews from other state-owned parks and local contractors came together for the project. They began the process of shortening the stumps when the ice was from six to eight inches thick and safe to walk on.
The 15th annual Indian Lake Boat Show advertised that between the three major marinas, Schuler Marina, Spend-A-Day, and Major Marine there were more than 250 boats of all sizes and models on display. Boats prices ranged from $300 to $18,000.
Bud’s Marine joined the Indian Lake Boat Show in 1983 and continues to be part of the annual event along with Spend-A-Day Marina. Schuler Marina enjoyed much success over the years. They were in business, and a large part of the Indian Lake Boat Show, until the early 1990s.
Visit the Logan County History Center at 521 E. Columbus Ave., Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311, to learn more interesting aspects of Logan County History. The History Center is open for tours Wednesday – Sunday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
Our history articles are also available on the History Center Blog page at www.loganhistory.org/blog
