Seul Choix Light

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Seul Choix Light

The light in 2006
Location: Schoolcraft County, Michigan.
Coordinates
WGS-84 (GPS)		 45°55′22″N 85°54′45″W / 45.922778, -85.9125
Year first lit: 1895
Automated: 1972
Foundation: Ashlar stone
Construction: Brick
Tower shape: Conical
Height: 79 feet (24 m) focal plane
Original lens: Third order Fresnel lens
Range: 17 miles (27 km)
Characteristic: white flash every 6 seconds

The Seul Choix light is a lighthouse located in the northwest corner of Lake Michigan in Schoolcraft County, Michigan. The station was established in 1892, started service in 1895, and was fully automated in 1972. At this time, there is a museum at the light and both the building and the grounds are open for visitors from Memorial Day until mid-October. [1]

This location is the only harbor of refuge in a long and dangerous stretch of coast; the translation of the French name is "Only Choice" so it is clear that it was used as a harbor of refuge by the early French traders in this area. Local references[2] state that the correct pronunciation is "Sis-shwa", assumed to be the common name used by both the French Voyageurs and the Native Americans with whom they traded furs.

In the 1880’s, there was increased maritime traffic between harbors on Lake Michigan's western shore and Green Bay on the one hand, and the Straits of Mackinac on the other. Although the St. Helena Island Light illuminated the western entry into the Straits, and Poverty Island Light lighted the entrance to the Bays de Noc, there were no lighthouses to aid mariners navigating an unlighted 100 mile stretch of coastline on the southern shore of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The navigation season along this shoreline would begin and end with frequent and treacherous storms. Waves would build as they traversed the lake, making shelter a matter of life and death. Thus, mariners would seek shelter on the leeward side of points protruding into the lake along this stretch of unlighted shore.

The United States Lighthouse Board sought to mark the sheltering harbor, and provide a visual way point between the two existing lights. After considerable investigation and delay, this lighthouse resulted. It also included a separate fog horn building, and a life saving station.[3]

The original optic was a fixed third-order Henry-LePaute Fresnel lens (pronounced [freɪ'nel]). After its removal in 1973, it was housed in the Steamship Valley Camp Museum in Sault Ste. Marie, but is now in a private collection according to a sign in the keeper's dwelling.[4]

The light was replaced with a DCB-224 aero beacon[5] manufactured by the Carlisle & Finch Company.[6] In this configuration, its characteristic is a white flash every six seconds, which is visible for a distance of 17 nautical miles in clear weather conditions, like the original lens. In 1973, the Coast Guard closed the station, and left the light to operate unmanned.[7]

On July 19, 1984, the site was listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Reference #84001846 Name of Listing: SEUL CHOIX POINTE LIGHT STATION (U.S. COAST GUARD/GREAT LAKES TR). In 1987 it was also listed on the state registry.[8]

The light is the subject drawings,[9] and even needlepoint illustrations.[10]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, a full history of this light.
  2. ^ Gulliver County Historical Society, Seul Choix Point, visitation data and travel directions
  3. ^ Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Seul Choix Point Light.
  4. ^ Lighthouse Friends, Seul Choix Light.
  5. ^ Aero beacon, Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light.
  6. ^ Carlisle & Finch Company.
  7. ^ Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, a full history of Seul Choix light.
  8. ^ Lighthouse Friends, Seul Choix Light.
  9. ^ Mulgrew, Marilyn, Drawing of Seul Choix Light.
  10. ^ Needlepoint of Seul Choix Light.
The station circa 1915
The station circa 1915

[edit] Bibliography and further reading

[edit] External links

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