Acquisition by the Kelleys Kelleys Island, Ohio

the estes schoolhouse on kelleys island

the brothers began improving , expanding island s docks export limestone, fruit, , red cedar lumber. soon, 16 limestone kilns producing lime. village s various industries hired number of immigrants (including young children), many of whom work on island during summer , return homeland during winter. among nationalities working on island @ time poles, slavs, macedonians, hungarians, bulgarians, italians , portuguese. datus kelley encouraged sobriety, , paid employees bonuses abstaining intoxifying liquors .

in 1842, charles carpenter (son-in-law of datus kelley) of norwich, connecticut began growing , harvesting grapes wine on kelleys island; 20th century, island annually producing 500,000 gallons of wine per year.

the quarries origin of kelley island lime & transport company, once largest producer of limestone , lime products in world, operating between 1896 , 1960s. numerous ruins of these operations , quarries dot island.

the small village grew quickly, , library , post office erected. in 1901, estes schoolhouse built @ cost of $15,000.