Home
Lighthouses--Stars on the Water
by
Michelle Withers

 

 

Can you imagine being on a ship in the middle of the night when you suddenly approach a storm? It takes out all of your navigational equipment and you have nothing left to communicate with. You are lost in what seems like an endless body of vicious water. The waves are throwing your ship up and down, as if it were nothing but a plastic toy. In your head, you think your chance of survival is slim to none, with your ship up against Mother Nature's domination. You prepare for the worst when something unexpected happens. You see the light of a lighthouse and know you are not alone.

Background

Lighthouses have been used by sailors for thousands of years. They use them for navigation and also to know if they are approaching rocks and land that could be dangerous to their ships. The demand for lighthouses has decreased over the years, due to the inventions of new navigational systems. However, it is important to preserve the lighthouses we have now, because they represent different landmarks and have historical value. No one knows how many will exist in the future ("Lighthouses" 94).

The first people who discovered light as a way to lead and warn ships were the Egyptians. At night, they would go on top of a tall hill and use fire as their source of light to guide their ships. Later, the Egyptians built the tallest lighthouse ever made and named it The Pharos of Alexandria. This massive structure was over four hundred feet tall and would lead ships for around 1,500 yards ("Lighthouses" 295). The first lighthouse ever built in America was the Boston Lighthouse, located Boston Harbor. During the Revolutionary War, it was demolished by the British. It was rebuilt and still stands today (Lighthouses 295).

Michigan History

Michigan stands out when it comes to lighthouses. With the Great Lakes surrounding the state, we have over 140, and all of them very much needed. One of the first lighthouses built on Lake Michigan is St. Joseph North Pier Lights, located in St. Joseph, Michigan. It was established in 1832, and then first lit in 1907. It stands thirty-five feet and still operates today. In addition, it is one of only two remaining two-pier range light systems with both the catwalk and towers intact, and it is accessible to the public (St. Joseph 2).

One of the more important lighthouses on Lake Superior is Whitefish Point. It was of the first lighthouses built on Lake Superior, and it was first lit in 1849. It is made of steel and stands eighty feet tall. It is considered one of the more extravagant lighthouses when you note that it was built in 1861, the first year Abraham Lincoln was President. Now this lighthouse is automated, so it does not have a keeper. One thing that is unique about it is it houses the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. There you will find a memorial for the ship The Edmund Fitzgerald ("Lightheart" 2).

Lighthouse Keepers

Most lighthouses had a lighthouse keeper who lived in the house with his wife and children. The keeper would make sure that the light would be lit every night. He would also keep a watch for storms and dangerous weather. During storms he would watch the water for ships that seemed to be having problems and then would go out and rescue them. There have been many times when a lighthouse keeper has rescued a ship that was stranded out in stormy weather. They would also protect the house from any form of vandalism and do regular upkeep and maintenance. Today, the lighthouses that are still in operation do not need a keeper to light them because the lights are automated, but they still have the Coastguard check on them regularly (Lighthouses 295).

There said to be many haunted lighthouses in Michigan, or any other state, but one story caught my eye. Located between the islands of Granite and Huron Islands is the lighthouse called Big Bay Point (Wright 79). Larry Wright tells the story:

*The first keeper, William Prior, was a workaholic and frequently complained of lazy assistants until his son Edward took the job. When Edward died of an unattended leg injury, William became despondent. One day in 1901 he left the house with a rifle and some strychnine and went into the woods. He returned that day, but soon disappeared again, not to be seen until seventeen months later when a hunter discovered a red-haired corpse in a keeper's uniform hanging from a tree over a mile from the lighthouse. Was it suicide or murder? (79)*

Now the lighthouse is used as a bed and breakfast inn. Guests are attracted from all over and they book their room well in advance. The new owners do not want to talk about the house being haunted, but it is said that doors bang at night and the ghost of William Prior is seen in mirrors around the house (79).

Conclusion

It is essential to have lighthouses in Michigan, because we still have the dangers of the Great Lakes to contend with. When new navigational systems fail, lighthouses are there for ships. I think that the lighthouses are interesting and there are many stories about them. Because there are new ways of navigation, lighthouses are not being used as much. However, I think we need to preserve the lighthouses we have left because they have historical value and they represent historical landmarks.

Works Cited

  • "Lightheart Lighthouses." Geocities. 25 Sept. 2000. 5 Dec. 2004.
    <http://vvww.geocities.com/Yosemite/4278/whitefish.html>.
  • Oleszewski, Wes. Lighthouse Adventures. Gwinn, MI: Avery Color Studios, Inc., 1999.
  • Scheina, Robert L. "Lighthouses." The World Book Encyclopedia. 2000 Ed.
  • "St. Joseph North Pier Lights, St. Joseph, MI." Cyberlights. 5 Dec. 2004. <http///www.cyberlights.com/lh/mich/stjoseph.html>.
  • Wright, Larry and Patricia. Bright lights, Dark Nights: Great Lakes Lighthouses.
    Erin, Ontario: Boston Mills Press, 1999.

Photo credits: "Ludington Lighthouse" by Mary B. Looby

 
The written and visual works in Mid-Michigan Remembers-Stories about Us were chosen on the basis of their quality, diversity, community interest and appeal. Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the College. This space is provided as a service by Delta College.