Can you tell us a little about the recent history of development on the island?

David Bush: In the late 1800s, a limestone quarry on the island destroyed almost all of the archaeological remains associated with the Union guard. It removed some of Fort Hill, and almost all of the remaining building sites from the 128th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Little else happened to the island until housing developments started.

The original housing development, called Johnson's Island Development, started in the 1950s, but did not truly take off until a causeway was built to provide vehicle access to the island in the early 1970s. The perimeter of the island was developed, causing the shore side of the prison compound to be developed with houses. However, the majority of the block sites were to the rear, and have been preserved.

Since 1989, the Baycliffs development has created single family housing on much of the interior of the island, especially around the perimeter of the quarry. This is the first truly planned development, and the only one on the island that has considered the impacts to the Civil War prison site. However, the development is now encroaching on the major remaining components of the prison. These are the two fortifications and prison compound.