2 Upper Peninsula lighthouses slated for restoration program
UPPER PENINSULA — The State of Michigan lays claim to many trophies. To name a few:
#1 producer of tart cherries
Longest freshwater coastline (3,200 miles)
The state with the only authentic, operating Dutch windmill
Second most agriculturally diverse state in the nation, after California
And, of course, Michigan has the most lighthouses of any state in the nation, with 120 lighthouses dotting the shoreline.
But these lighthouses are exposed to extreme natural elements every year, according to Martha MacFarlane-Faes, deputy state historic preservation officer at the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).
“These icons on our shorelines require constant maintenance and attention,” she said. “Our lighthouse preservation grants help repair and restore these beacons, so they can connect us with our maritime heritage for years to come.”
To ensure the lighthouses receive the care they need, SHPO directed $106,000 in Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program (MLAP) grant funding to the Rock of Ages Lighthouse and the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse, both located in the U.P.
The Rock of Ages Lighthouse is located on a small rock island three miles off the coast of Isle Royale, near Windigo. The 117-foot lighthouse was built in 1908 and is composed of steel, concrete and brick, with a black base and lantern. After the Rock of Ages Reef (the rock outcropping upon which the lighthouse sits) claimed two large ships — the Cumberland in 1877 and the Henry Chisholm in 1898 — Congress approved the construction of the lighthouse in 1905. An engineering feat of the time, the lighthouse is one of the tallest and most powerful beacons on the Great Lakes.
The Eagle Harbor Lighthouse is located in Eagle Harbor, on the Keweenaw Peninsula. Originally built as a wooden structure in 1851 and rebuilt into its present-day brick structure in 1871, this lighthouse has been critical to guiding mariners on Lake Superior across the northern edge of the Keweenaw Peninsula.
The Keweenaw County Historical Society, which owns the lighthouse, will use an MLAP grant of $60,000 and a match amount of $39,000 to rehabilitate the lighthouse tower. Proposed work projects include replacing deteriorated brick, selective repointing of the tower, repairing damaged plaster on the tower interior, diverting water drainage issues on the roof and walls, and repairing the deck and lantern room.
Beyond their cultural and historical contributions, Michigan lighthouses serve an important economic function. Many of them are still operating, and the structures assist mariners in navigating the often treacherous waters of the Great Lakes. Further, the lighthouses are significant attractions for travelers, tourists and Michigan residents who want to learn the history of the structures and the unique stories each lighthouse can tell.
Read more and view images at this link: https://www.sooeveningnews.com/story/news/history/2023/04/22/2-upper-peninsula-lighthouses-slated-for-restoration-program/70135269007/?fbclid=IwAR2Q8VTRcv3XdNOVOXkbQA-JDyrM_Dh2D5xQtnSq74I2cXS6-ORROtiJr8s
Update On Molly M1 – Keewatin Tow
Tug Molly M1 expected ETA in Port McNicoll, ON, is 10 am Sunday (23rd). The crew will spend Sunday setting up the tow while waiting for pilot ladders to arrive Monday. All dead ship tows in Canada require a pilot. There will be 4 pilot changes from Port McNicoll to Heddle shipyards in St. Catherines. (Port McNicoll to Port Huron – change in Port Huron, Detroit, Port Colborne and Lock 7). Weather window is favorable on Lake Huron and Erie if they leave first light Tuesday morning. So as of now departure with the Keewatin in tow is Tuesday (25th) morning.
Janey Anderson
