Scott W. Bundschuh

Port Clinton, Illinois, was an old forgotten town that was located approximately 12 miles south of Waukegan, Illinois. The entire town was laid out and built by those important entrepreneurs who first settled in this area. They were also responsible for the engineering and building of a 620-foot pier that extended far into Lake Michigan. From all accounts the pier took less than a year to build, and soon there was minor shipping traffic running in and out of the newly formed harbor.

Over the years, two dates have been mentioned regarding the establishment of the Ashtabula Harbor Light  tation, originally known as the Ashtabula Beacon Light Station. One document states the light station was constructed prior to 1821, while other documents say it was constructed in 1836. The author believes the correct date is 1836, when the light station was built on a wooden crib approximately 40 feet square and just off Ashtabula's eastern pier at the entrance to the Ashtabula River. The hexagon-shaped tower was short in statute for its time.