52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy and History: Log Cabin Inn

(Above advertisement is from the 1964 Sandusky City Directory)

The prompt for Week 16 of 52 Weeks of Personal History & Genealogy, by Amy Coffin of We Tree, and hosted by Geneabloggers, is: Restaurants.

What was your favorite local restaurant as a child? Where was it located, and what was your favorite meal? Did you know the staff personally? What is your favorite restaurant now?

My favorite local restaurant as a child was the Log Cabin Inn, also known as the Log Cabin Restaurant. This restaurant, no longer in business, was located in Bay View, seven miles west of Sandusky. From the dining room and banquet room, you could see Sandusky Bay, which made the restaurant popular with local boaters. My favorite meal was steak and home fries, and I also loved the shrimp cocktails. One of the desserts at the Log Cabin was vanilla ice cream, topped with creme de menthe. The whole cup was frozen solid in the freezer, and it was delectable! A unique appetizer was green gelatin topped with shredded vegetables, served on a leaf of lettuce with a dollop of salad dressing on top.

The owners of the Log Cabin Inn were closely connected to my family for over 20 years. In the early 1950's, the Log Cabin Inn was owned by the mother of my mom's best friend. Audria Deme ran the restaurant, and Mom's friend Betty, who also became her sister-in-law, often would help out, taking along with her whatever baby was the youngest at the time. The baby would sit in the high chair in the kitchen, attracting lots of attention from all the waitresses.













The Log Cabin Inn was a popular spot for families and businessmen. Many banquets, bridal and baby showers, and retirement dinners were held there as well. Tillie was one of my favorite waitresses. She was under 5 feet tall, and was one of the best waitresses I ever knew! My future mother-in-law, Linda, was also a waitress at the Log Cabin. By the time I was a teenager, my Aunt Bertie and her husband John owned the Log Cabin Inn. I worked there as a dishwasher, bus girl, and salad girl. On occasion I even tended bar and washed glasses! (That was on Sunday afternoons, when the only choice was beer. Quite a unique job for someone who does not drink!) My Grandpa Steve worked part time in the kitchen, and Uncle Cliff often cooked, especially on weekends. Later, my youngest sister and mother also worked at the Log Cabin Inn. When the Orshoski family had a death, very often Aunt Bertie would close the restaurant, and prepare a family dinner following the funeral. She also hosted many family anniversary parties and Christmas parties at the Log Cabin. Pictured below is a baseball team sponsored by the Log Cabin about 1960. (I apologize that I do not have a better quality image.)
















While the restaurant is no longer in operation, the Log Cabin Inn, later known as the Angry Trout, served customers in Northern Ohio for many years. Just hearing the name of the Log Cabin Inn musters up many, many happy memories.














As for my favorite restaurant now, I must say it is Panera Bread!