St. Helena Island Light

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St. Helena Island Light

Location: St. Helena Island Michigan
Coordinates
WGS-84 (GPS)		 45°51.50′N 84°52.25′W / 45.85833, -84.87083
Year first lit: 1873
Automated: 1922
Foundation: limestone
Construction: brick
Tower shape: conical
Markings/Pattern: white w/red lantern
Height: Tower - 63 feet (19 m)
Elevation: Focal plane - 71 feet (22 m)
Original lens: third-one-half order Fresnel lens
Current lens: 300 mm Tidelands Signal acrylic[1]

The buildings of the St. Helena Island Light complex are the sole surviving structures on St. Helena Island, in Mackinac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The lighthouse on the island's southeastern point was built in 1872-1873 and went into operation in September 1873.[2] It became one of a series of lighthouses that guided vessels through the Straits of Mackinac.

Contents

[edit] History

St. Helena Island, which is 240 acres (96 hectares) in size, is located offshore from Gros Cap, Michigan, ten miles (16 km) west of Mackinac Island in the Lake Michigan approach to the Straits of Mackinac. The island has a natural harbor on its north shore, which provided shelter for both Native Americans and Voyageurs, who sought shelter from fierce, foreseeable and notorious southwesterly storms, which would drive waves that gained strength running with the lake's length.[3]

In addition, the St. Helena Island harbor served as the location of a thriving 19th century fishing station.[4] A fishing station, a self-contained community vernacular to the culture of the Upper Great Lakes, was a logistical depot for professional fishermen during the century prior to the development of motorboats and refrigeration. Freshly-caught fish, such as lake trout and whitefish, from the waters of northeastern Lake Michigan adjacent to St. Helena Island would be rushed by oar or sail back to the fishing station for preservation in salt. Salt fish could be stored and transported in barrels as an exportable commodity.

During the Civil War years, it became increasingly apparent that a shoal near St. Helena Island menaced the fishery and also maritime traffic through the Straits of Mackinac. At the urging of the United States Lighthouse Board, Congress appropriated $14,000 in 1872 for a lighthouse to be built of limestone and brick on this location and fitted with a 3.5-order Fresnel lens. The St. Helena Island Light was staffed by either one or two lighthouse keepers from its initial operation in 1873 until 1922. A complex of buildings was constructed around the lighthouse to support its operation, including keepers' dwellings, a boat dock, and a boathouse.[5]

In 1922, the lighthouse was automated. Like many other lighthouses, the tower was fitted with a tank of acetylene gas, a pilot light, and a "sun valve." Whenever the sun set, the temperature would drop slightly, causing the valve to open and acetylene to be released against the pilot flame. The light would then relight itself and shine throughout the night. With the sun's rise the next morning, the valve would close.

During the early decades of the 20th century, the adjacent St. Helena fish station disappeared. The invention of electrical refrigeration and powered fishing boats made widely-distributed fishing stations unnecessary. Local fish could be carried to larger nearby port towns such as Mackinaw City, Michigan or St. Ignace, Michigan.

This was the first Michigan lighthouse to lose its keeper.[6]

[edit] Current status

After the St. Helena lighthouse complex was de-staffed and the civilian fishing station became a ghost settlement, evidence of human presence on the island began to structurally deteriorate. Wreckers, vandals, and salvagors imposed significant damage upon the light tower and adjacent structures. The U.S. Coast Guard, the lighthouse's last federal operator, viewed the remains as "attractive nuisances" for which they bore continuing legal liability. They recommended in 1980 that the lighthouse complex be razed.[4][5]. However, volunteer troops of the Boy Scouts of America began restoration in 1986. The GLLKA assumed ownership of the property.Terry Pepper, Seeing The Light, St. Helena Island Light. Its rehabilitation effort was significant, with an estimated 900 cubic yards (690 m³) of debris requiring removal. As of 2008, the GLLKA planned to continue restoring the lighthouse complex to its appearance in 1900. Possible future St. Helena goals include the construction of an unstaffed visitor center on the island to educate visiting yachtsmen.[4] The sale was made under the terms of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act.

The Coast Guard sold the lighthouse complex and reservation to the GLLKA in 1997, on condition that the GLLKA continue to allow the Coast Guard to operate the light. A light continues to operate to this day with a 250 mm. acrylic lens,[7] the original Fresnel lens having disappeared.[5] The remainder of St. Helena Island, outside the lighthouse reservation, was purchased by the Little Traverse Conservancy[8] in September 2001.

The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. It is Mackinac County listing #88000442. The light is also known as St. Helena Lighthouse and the St. Helene Lighthouse.[9]

St. Helena Island Light is one of 149 lighthouses in Michigan. Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state. See Lighthouses in the United States.

[edit] Viewing the lighthouse

The St. Helena Lighthouse can be seen from numerous points on the Michigan mainland, including a lake shore highway rest area on US-2 at Gros Cap, Michigan six miles (10 km) west of St. Ignace, Michigan. The Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association annually organizes work crews for this light and often arranges tours that travel from Mackinaw City to the island. These tours unfortunately are not handicap accessible due to the shallow water near the light. It is necessary to transfer from the tour boat to a rubber boat and then climb up on the dock from the rubber boat. Because of its picturesque color and form, and its location near Mackinac Island[10] and the Mackinac Bridge, it is often the subject of photographs. Even needlepoint illustrations have been created..[11]

A private boat is, of course, the best way to see this light close up. Short of that, Sheplers Ferry Service out of Mackinaw City offers periodic lighthouse tours in the summer season. Its "Westbound Tour" includes passes by St. Helena Island Light, and even offers a luncheon. Schedules and rates are available from Shapler's.[12][13]

[edit] External links

[edit] Bibliography and further reading

[edit] References

  1. ^ Terry Pepper, Seeing The Light, St. Helena Island Light.
  2. ^ Inventory of Historic Light Stations, St. Helena Island Light.
  3. ^ Terry Pepper, Seeing The Light, St. Helena Island Light.
  4. ^ a b c Stephen D. Wise, "Saint Helena Island", in "Smart Communities Network" (accessed April 9, 2009)[1], no date.
  5. ^ a b c Wobser, Dave, St. Helena Island Lighthouse Great Laker magazine reprinted at Boatnerd.com.
  6. ^ Lighthouse Central, St. Helena Island Light.
  7. ^ Acrylic lens, Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light.
  8. ^ Little Traverse Conservancy home page.
  9. ^ "National Register of Historic Places: Michigan - Mackinac County" (accessed September 14, 2007)[2]
  10. ^ Lighthouse Friends, St. Helena light.
  11. ^ Needlepoint of St. Helena.
  12. ^ Shaplers Ferry Service.
  13. ^ Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Fourteen Foot Shoal Light.
  14. ^ Old Mackinac Point Light Press Release.

[edit] See also

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