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During the Civil War, Johnson's Island, a small island in the Sandusky Bay served as a military prison for Confederate officers, enlisted men and civilians who were deemed disloyal to the union. 9000 men passed through the prison gates. There were 25 rebel generals and men who would become congressmen, govenors, ambassadors, authors, and physicians. Yes, even a private would one day sit on the Supreme Court.

Johnson's Island was a pleasant site, as prisons go, except in winter when the winds off Lake Erie howled through the camp. Life was hard, but the death rate was low compared to other Civil War prisons and encampments.

Despite a 12 foot plank fence, armed guards, and the fact the prison was on an island. Several prisoners did escape. Some fled across the ice, one made it by rowboat. others boarded the daily steamboat for Sandusky posing as workmen. As many as 12 succeeded in getting off the island and getting to the safe haven of Canada or the south. Many more tried but were re-captured and returned to the island.

Most of the island was used for the prison. No buildings remain. though a few features do tell a story of their existence. One eathen fort remains intact. The cemetery with its 206 graves are marked with white Georgia marble headstones. They were placed there in 1890. Prisoners themselves carved the original markers from bunk boards. (A cemetery plat is listed in "Rebels on Lake Erie" by Charles E. Frohman - 1965). Each year a Memorial Day service is held to honor and pay respect not only to the 206 buried in the cemetery. but to all others who had given their lives for their country. It is well attended from many states, both North and South.

Memorial Day originated during the Civil War. when some southern women chose May 30th to decorate soldiers graves. The honor was for the dead of both the Union and Cenfederate armies. It is believed that Cassanda Oliver Moncure of Virginia was the one responsible for this event.

The cemetery today is a quiet, well-tended plot, surrounded by a black iron fence and guarded by a hugh bronze statue of a Confederate soldier. He does not look to the south. since this position would be considered retreat. He faces North with a ceaseless vigil. The Confederate Monument shown above, was sculptured by Sir Moses Ezekiel and dedicated in 1910. He also sculptured the Confederate monument at Arlngton National Cemetery where is buried.

The island was orgininally called Bull's island because cattle were on the island to feed. In 1852 the name became Johnson's Island purchased by L. B. Johnson.

The Johnson's Island Pleasure Resort Co. opened its operation on thirty acres in 1894. Stock was sold for $100 per share. A Pavillion, a skating rink, and cottages were erected. In 1897 the pavilion burned to the ground. In 1904 a second resort was built with a dancing pavilion and theatre. It flourished for a season or two, but the owners of the competing resort acquired it and moved the buildings to Cedar Point.

The island saw quarrying begin in 1901 for stone to build breakwaters for Cleveland, Lorain and Cedar Point. they had a school and a post office for the 150 men who were employed. The quarry operation was suspended in 1908. Other short termed operations continued for a number of years, the island also saw grape arbors, cattle and hog farming, even an air-strip.

In 1956 a Cleveland investment group bought the island for a residental development. The island was surveyed with 250 sites on the water and a total of 1000 building sites. At present (April 2002) there are 210 cottages, houses, and homes. There are new ones being built each year. some small, some large, some very large..

In September 1960, 1500 Marines, Navy, Air Force, National Guard and Coast Guard played war games on Johnson's Island called "Operation Cold Steel" complete with jet air strikes, snipers, and beachhead landings and a missile launching base..

A causeway to the island was started in 1968 and completed in 1972. It was a private road but in 1977 Congressman Delbert L. Latta (Bowling Green, Ohio) resolved with the Veterans Administration and Johnson's Island Inc. to allow passage to the cemetery.

Old Block House

Cemetery

Boat Landing

Prison Site

Officers Quarters During Civil Was, Johnson;s Island