Duff Homestead Funding

The Lake Erie Islands Conservancy and Put-in-Bay Township Park District have embarked on a major conservation project on South Bass Island (Put-in-Bay, Ohio): The Duff Homestead -total of 6.57 acres- the protection and maintenance of the historical Duff Home, 175 feet of waterfront property (a breeding ground for the bowfin and possible habitat for other fish and rare submerged plants), 2.12 acres of wooded land, and 2.3 acres of meadow that will be used for pollinator habitat.

With Clean Ohio Grant of 1,303,538, 200,000 of donation, pledges and pibTP at $300,000 and pledges, $200,000.00 more is needed.

The LEIC has a Land Protection Fund set aside to acquire and preserve land on the Lake Erie Islands-cash gifts to this fund are tax deductible. The LEIC has partnered with Edward Jones Financial in Port Clinton, Ohio. This partnership will make a smooth process to donated stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments for maximum tax deduction to the Lake Erie Islands Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable foundation. The Edward Jones contact is Bob Candage at 419 573-6247.

Tentative plans call for the Duff home to become a visitor center and office, the adjacent woods to be preserved, and the waterfront to be protected., and the vineyard to be maintained as a fully operating vineyard. The site would be a Homestead and Bayfront Park.

The Lake Erie islands Conservancy and Put-in-Bay Township Park District have preserved and protected in perpetuity 155 acres of natural areas.

The Mission of the Lake Erie Island Conservancy is to encourage conservation and protection of natural and agricultural lands in the Lake Erie Islands for the benefit of future generations.