Even most of us who aren’t Port Clinton natives are familiar with the Matthews name, due to the vision and perseverance of one Scott...

Ottawa County was formed in 1840 and its first courthouse was built shortly thereafter. Unfortunately, that building had deteriorated so...

At the prison camp on Johnson’s Island, every day started and ended the same way.  Roll Call. It didn’t matter if it was raining,...

Most of us have probably had occasion to be grateful to those selfless individuals who have chosen to serve us when needed during a fire...

What was it like to be a prisoner on Johnson’s Island during the Civil War? Make no mistake, these former southern gentlemen and officers...

Were you aware that once upon a time, Port Clinton was home to a giant, albeit a little one? In the early 20th century, George Hiram...

These writings are excerpts from the memoirs of Alice Coffin Arnold.  Her family lived on Bayshore Road across from today’s causeway to...

Port Clinton has a reputation as a great tourist area due to its location on Lake Erie’s shores, but at one time in our history its...

After the first owner of Johnson’s Island, Epaphras Bull died in 1812, the 300-acre island was still known as Bull’s Island until the...

One of the loveliest historic buildings in Port Clinton, the Island House has had many lives. The first Island House was located at the...