Put-in-Bay in Ottawa County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Doller House

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2013

1. The Doller House Marker

Inscription. On land purchased in June 1866 from
Jose De Rivera St. Jurgo

Valentine Doller, Postmaster, Mayor and
island entrepreneur, built this Victorian,
Italianate home for his wife and six
daughters.

Wood Section 1867 • Brick Section 1885

Lake Erie Islands Historical Society

Erected by Lake Erie Islands Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1867.

Location. 41° 39.205′ N, 82° 49.253′ W. Marker is in Put-in-Bay, Ohio, in Ottawa County. It is on Bayview Avenue (Ohio Route 357) 0.1 miles west of Catawba Avenue (County Route 215), on the left when traveling west. Marker is located near the sidewalk, on the south side of the road, overlooking the Doller House. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 392 Bayview Avenue, Put in Bay OH 43456, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Lake Erie Shore

and in the Toledo Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in

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North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Within This Enclosure (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Joseph (Jose) DeRivera St. Jurgo (about 700 feet away); Oelschlager's Dry Goods Store (approx. 0.2 miles away); Joseph De Rivera St. Jurgo, 1813-1889 (approx. 0.2 miles away); “The Light of Elizabeth’s Office” (approx. ¼ mile away); Amareta Mosher Anchor (approx. ¼ mile away); First Ship-To-Shore Radio Broadcast (approx. ¼ mile away); This Life Boat (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Put-in-Bay.

More about this marker. This is a large, painted metal "billboard-style" marker, mounted at waist-level in a heavy wooden frame.

Regarding The Doller House. The Doller House is currently occupied by a restaurant and winery.

Also see . . . The Doller House.

The Doller House Marker (<i>tall view; Doller House in background</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2013

2. The Doller House Marker (tall view; Doller House in background)

The yellow and gray brick and wood house was built in two sections -- one half is wooden, and the other probably was red brick until it was painted. The brick section was added in 1883. A tower is located at a front corner of the structure, which classifies the building as Italianate architecture. Valentine Doller, a German immigrant, came to Put-in-Bay in 1859 at the request of the island's founder, Jose DeRivera. DeRivera had built roads and a school on the island, and he wanted Doller to open a general store. The store was located in the building that houses Mossbacks restaurant and the Fish Bowl bar. There, he also ran the island post office. Doller was enterprising, and he saw other ways to make money. He started an ice business, where his workers would harvest ice from the lake and store it in a building, or ice house, insulated with sawdust until it could be shipped for sale. He also owned the only public dock on the island, which is now where the Boardwalk restaurants and water taxi is located. (Submitted on November 12, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

The Doller House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2013

3. The Doller House

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2013

4. The Doller House

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2013

5. The Doller House

Credits. This page was last revised on July 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 725 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 12, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.