Grace Bonnell discovered Port Orford while taking a road trip in her new convertible from Southern California to Seattle, WA. She quickly fell in love with the creative energy of the town and decided to move here in 2002.

The property at 735 Oregon St. rekindled Grace's love of old historic homes and she began researching the history of the home and its original occupants, even before she made an offer on the property.

Her research revealed that the home had been partially constructed with lumber and even the bath tub was salvaged from the Joan of Arc steamship after it ran aground among the rock just south of what is now Battle Rock City Park.

Grace felt the home should be named in honor of the steamship it was built from and christened it "The Joan of Arc" with an old fashion ice cream social complete with local musicians.

The home has not yet been designated as a Historic Site, but Grace hopes to accomplish that as part of a long range plan.

"The house is very cozy and is now being rented out as office space for Siskiyou Coast Realty. I also hope to develop the garden area as Aunt Myrtle's Garden in honor of the original owner. I see the garden as town gift as it will be open to the public and will provide a lovely place to sit and enjoy a moment or have a lovely garden party or wedding. I have enjoyed giving tours of the home and showing off the Forty family history that I have gathered. This has been my way of giving back a piece of forgotten history to the town I love so much.