Big Bay Point Light

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Big Bay Point Light

Lighthouse in Big Bay, MI
Location: Big Bay, Michigan
Year first lit: 1896
Automated: 1945
Deactivated: 1961
Construction: Brick
Tower shape: Square
Markings/Pattern: red brick with white lantern
Height: Tower - 64 feet (20 m)
Elevation: Focal plane - 108 feet (33 m)[1]
Original lens: Third order Fresnel Lens
Range: 11 miles (18 km)[2]

The Big Bay Point Light is a lighthouse which stands on a tall bluff over rocky point[3] halfway between Marquette and the Keweenaw Portage Entry in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Today it is the only operational lighthouse with a bed and breakfast. It is reputed to be haunted, and the novel and movie Anatomy of a Murder were inspired by a murder at the lighthouse.

Contents

[edit] History of the light

The establishment of a station at Big Bay Point was recommended to the Lighthouse board in 1882 as follows: "The point occupies a position midway between Granite Island and Huron Islands, the distance in each case being 15 to 18 miles. These two lights are invisible from each other and the intervening stretch is unlighted. A light and fog signal would be a protection to steamers passing between these points. Quite a number of vessels have in past years been wrecked on Big Bay Point".[4]

The lighthouse was deactivated and sold to private owners. Thereafter, the Fresnel lens was recovered and reinstalled in 1990.

Effective November 12, 1988, the site is listed on the National Inventory of Historic Places, Reference #88001837 Name of Listing: BIG BAY POINT LIGHT STATION. It is also listed on the state list.[5]

The light was built in 1896[6] at a cost of $25,000. It was automated in 1944. In 1961 the lighthouse was sold to John Pick for $40,000. Dr. Pick had it restored and furnished with antiques. It has been a bed and breakfast since 1986.[7] Access to the grounds and tours of the light (and fog horn building) are available.[8]

Because of its picturesque location, form and color it is often the subject of photographs, and drawings.[9]

Big Bay Point Light is one of 149 lighthouses in Michigan. Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state. See Lighthouses in the United States.

[edit] Life at the light

The keeper's house consists of 18 rooms in a 52' x 52' two story brick building. The attached tower is tall enough to make the light 105' above Lake Superior. Originally, this housed the keeper (and his family) and an assistant keeper with family as well. As the country moved to 8 hour shifts, a frame building with outhouse was built at the bottom of the hill for a second assistant keeper.

At the time the light was built the only way to get to and from the light was by water. Those who worked at Big Bay Point were truly isolated. The keepers' wives not only had to do the usual housekeeping and food preparation, but also schooling of any children in residence.

Other structures on the site include two cisterns, an oil house, a garage, 2 brick outhouses, a dock and a well house.[10]

[edit] Notable deaths at the light

There have been at least two notable deaths associated with the lighthouse, which have given rise to the belief that the light is haunted, and have inspired the book and movie Anatomy of a Murder.

Red-haired William Prior, who was the first lighthouse keeper at Big Bay point, was devastated when his son, Edward, died of a leg injury. He vanished in 1901 and his body was found almost a year and a half later hanging from a tree about a mile from the lighthouse. He may have committed suicide, or have been murdered. His red-haired ghost has been seen in mirrors, and doors have a tendency to bang in the middle of the night.[7]

The second incident took place in 1951, when the assistant's house was used to train an anti-aircraft battalion. An army officer murdered the owner of a local tavern, inspiring Anatomy of a Murder.[7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Terry Pepper, List of focal Planes.
  2. ^ Volume 7, US Coast Guard Lightlist (PDF).
  3. ^ Wobser, David, Big Bay Point Light at Boatnerd.com
  4. ^ Terry Pepper, Seeing The Light - Big Bay Point Lighthouse
  5. ^ Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, Big Bay Point Light.
  6. ^ Chronology of Michigan lighthouses, Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University.
  7. ^ a b c (1999) Bright Lights, Dark Nights. Erin, Ontario: The Boston Mills Press, 79. ISBN 1-55046-312-8. 
  8. ^ Hunt's Guide to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Big Bay Point Light tours.
  9. ^ Mulgrew, Marilyn, Drawing of Big Bay Point Light.
  10. ^ Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, Big Bay Point Light.

[edit] External links

Vintage aerial view of the station
Vintage aerial view of the station

[edit] Bibliography and further reading

[edit] See also

v • d • e
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Park Service logo
Image:Lighthouse_stub.jpg  This article relating to a United States lighthouse is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
This article about a building or structure in Michigan is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
This article about a Registered Historic Place in Michigan is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

}