Elizabeth Parker Memorial Dedication

Meredith Engel presided over the dedication ceremony turning on a new lamp and unveiling a memorial plaque honoring her great-grandmother Elizabeth Kuemmel Parker at the entrance to the Jet Dock on Thursday, September 12th.

On Thursday, September 12th, there was a very special historical dedication at the site of the old Parker Ferry/current Jet Express Dock at Put-in-Bay. Meredith Engel dedicated a memorial to her great grandmother, Elizabeth Kuemmel Parker, who was born on Middle Bass Island in 1914, and attended and graduated from Put-in-Bay High School in 1931. She married Alfred Parker and was an integral partner with him for Parker Boat Line that operated for many years before Jet Express began using the dock.

Meredith, who graduated from PIBHS in 2016 and is now serving in the U.S. Navy, had heard the story of how early boat captains knew when it was safe at night to turn into Put-in-Bay harbor once they saw the light from Elizabeth’s office window on the dock. She developed the concept of a memorial to Elizabeth during her junior year in college as a Women in American History project. She started a Go Fund Me account along with multiple community donations totalling $8,000 to establish a lamppost memorial that would always “keep the light on” in her memory.

Meredith and the entire family have been overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity. In the last several months since the project was first posted online, they received dozens of handwritten letters, saw old photos turned new, and heard stories they’d never known. It was a great reflection upon a great woman and made them so proud to be a part of their family and this island community.

The Parker, Luecke, Ontko and Engel families wish to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who had a part in the dedication of the Elizabeth Kuemmel Parker Memorial. When the plaque was unveiled and the lamppost was lit, more than 60 Islanders, family, friends and students were in attendance. Special thank yous go out to the Duggan Family for their unwavering support and the donation of their property on which the memorial was built; to Todd Blumensaadt and Put-in-Bay Investments for installing the light pole’s foundation and running the conduit. His electrical contractor Westfield Electric ran the wire in the conduit, installed the light pole and wired the lamp. Todd paid them to do this work which will ensure power to the light of Elizabeth’s Office forever; to Stan and Kathryn Chlebowski who donated the light pole and sold the lamp at cost, also didn’t delay to send a crew to make a repair to the light; and lastly, most greatly, to Jack and Lorraine Zimmerman who spent countless hours, blood, sweat and tears installing the plaque and taking the project from a vision on paper to a beautiful, ageless memorial that will stand proud on South Bass Island for generations to come. As they say, “It takes a village!” The dedication of all involved in the memorial’s establishment has guaranteed that all may know Elizabeth’s story and together we can cherish the beauty of our great island home.