Fairport Harbor

Surrounded by water on three sides, Fairport Harbor, Ohio, was once a gateway to the Western Reserve, welcoming more ships to its shores than Cleveland. These ships brought immigrants-Irish, English, and others-who saw the harbor’s towering 1825 lighthouse, one of the town’s two lighthouses on the National Registry of Historic Sites, as a beacon for freedom, hope, and opportunity. Indeed, the town served a prominent role in the Underground Railroad, helping southern slaves along their way to freedom in Canada. Ship building and Great Lakes shipping became the major industries, and soon homes, warehouses, and businesses began to flourish-Fairport Harbor was booming.Fairport Harbor tells the story of the village’s rich history with captivating vintage photographs that capture all the natural beauty of this lakeside community. Featured inside are the historic landmarks-buildings, churches, and of course lighthouses that are so identifiable with the village’s past. Also featured are the people-the fishermen, shipbuilders, and railroad workers who all helped build one of the most picturesque harbor towns on all of Lake Erie’s shores.