Historic 1920's Matthews Yachts

When the white man was out numbered twenty to one by the American Indian in what is now Ottawa County, a famous New York statesman and the Surveyor-General of the Northwest Territory were focusing their attention on the mouth of the Portage River, already highlighted by association with such history-making names as Joseph Gaspard De Lery, General William Harrison and Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry.

The Year Was 1824

DeWitt Clinton, famous New York statesman, proposed the building of a canal from the mouth of the Portage River in Sandusky County, Ohio, to the Ohio River at Cincinnati.

General William Lytle of Cincinnati, who was Surveyor-General of the Northwest Territory, received with favor the canal-building proposition, and in the same year began buying large tracts of land in this area, excepting 1212 acres in Sandusky County, owned by Horton Howard and wife of Columbus, Ohio.

In 1827 Ezekiel Smith Haines, stepson of General Lytle, bought the 1212 acres for four thousand dollars, the date of transfer being November 26, 1827. The platting of the village of Port Clinton was begun on this site and completed in June of 1828. The work was done by General Lytle, Ezekiel and Elias Haines, O.M. Spencer and others, mostly residents of Cincinnati.

The fact of its having been laid out as a town plat was put on record June 16, 1828. These records may be seen at the Courthouse in Fremont, Ohio.

Ezekiel Haines named this town Port Clinton. Since many details of Mr. Haines' plan for the town and for himself were connected with the development of the proposed canal, it is reasonable to think he wished to honor DeWitt Clinton, who was known as "the Father of the Erie Canal" and whose death occurred in February, 1828, four months before the platting of the town was completed.

Tradition Favors DeWitt Clinton

Mr. Haines also named the streets: Fulton to Canal and Perry to Sixth: reserved space for parks and lots for a courthouse, hotel, bank, churches, council chambers, etc., providing they were used for such within a specified time.

He and his wife, Charlotte, remained here a number of years, but left after the failure of the canal project. A survey had disclosed that what would have been called the Sandusky-Scioto Canal, was not a feasible proposition because of an insufficient water supply.

Because of widely published false stories of the founding of Port Clinton, by Works Public Administration and other writers, we, as citizens, have both the obligation and the privilege to acclaim the legal founder: EZEKIEL SMITH HAINES. (From Notes of Former Museum Curator, May Hesselbart, 1956).

Present

Port Clinton is becoming one of Ohio's most distinctive lakeshore communities by providing the vision, leadership and performance standards which allow for managed growth and development.

It is the mission of the City of Port Clinton to enhance a high quality of life for the people who live and work in our community. The City of Port Clinton keeps its promise to the community by providing the highest possible level of service and accountability. This promise is evident in the City's accomplishments in 1996.

Port Clinton prides itself on providing quality and innovative services. The new City Hall provides a one-stop service facility for city business. Port Clinton offers a full range of solutions to reduce, reuse and recycle with a curbside recycle program.

The new Downtown Revitalization program which began in March 1999 includes landscaped boulevards, new sidewalks, trees, lighting, pavilions, and streets.

In the business arena, Port Clinton is engaged in a variety of programs designed to attract and retain quality companies for the community. The Port Clinton Industrial Park has been designed to be ready for immediate occupancy. A comprehensive strategic capital improvement program is in place to ensure managed growth into the twenty-first century.