Last spring, the Bellevue Historical Society was informed of a rare opportunity to raise funds for the Tremont House Project.  An anonymous donor, through the Sandusky Country Communities Foundation, offered to match up to the $50,000 for the Project if it could be raised by December 31, 2015
As most of you know, the Society appealed to the community for help and the support was outstanding.  By December 31st, almost $56,000 had been raised through individual and business donations, and events sponsored by the Society.
The majority of the fund raised came from loyal members, local businesses and others interested in seeing the Tremont House restored to its original grandeur.  Ultimately, it will house the treasures which tell the store of our community's history. Among the Society's major money making events were the sunflower sale in July, A Taste of Tremont in September, The Gingerbread House Contest in December, the Long Way Home Family Restaurant Day (Bellevue) in December, the bike raffle and the sales of Bill Oddo's books. Many thanks to everyone who donated, attended our events, purchased books, or helped in any way to make this venture a success.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
On April 29, 2016 Tom Bowlus, Chairman of The Sandusky County Communities Foundation's Board of Trustees, presented the Bellevue Historical Society with a check for $50,000 to match funds raised last summer and fall through donations and numerous projects. The projects included the annual sunflower sale, A Taste of Tremont, the Gingerbread House Contest, The Long Way Home Family Restaurant Day, a bike raffle, and the sales receipts from Bill Oddo's new book, Stories of Old Bellevue, Volume V, as well as the reprint of his Bellevue – A Pictorial History. Donations by Historical Society members, friends, and local businesses and organizations made up a large part of the funds raised.
After the presentation, the check was deposited in the First National Bank and participants adjourned to the library where they enjoyed a box lunch from the Copper Top Bakery along with ice cream from Miller's Drive-In. Several speeches and good fellowship followed. The Society is very grateful to the Sandusky County Communities Foundation for sponsoring this grant which was funded by an anonymous donor and to Director Cate Knipp for her help during the process. All of the money raised as well as the funds from the grant will be used in the restoration of The Tremont House. Twenty custom-built wooden six over-six pane windows were ordered to replace the current ones which are from a more recent era. These were delivered on June 10 and after being painted several coats, the ones on the west wall should be installed this summer. If anyone can help with the painting, please contact John Miller at 419-483-4290. Also, architectural plans have been approved to permit the reinforcement of the ceiling on the first floor with steel beams making the building more structurally sound. When it is finished, The Tremont House will be an architectural gem in downtown Bellevue, a home for artifacts from Bellevue's history