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Photo
courtesy of: Detour Reef Lighthouse Preservation
Society
Photograph taken in late 2000 after the installation of the
reconstructed / restored hoist
Photo
courtesy of: Detour Reef Lighthouse Preservation
Society
The original on-shore light station as seen in 1914.
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DeTour
Reef Light
Detour,
MI
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 Built :
1931
Type :
Square, brick
Status :
Active
Location :
Northern Lake Huron. Approximately (1) mile South of DeTour,
MI
Height
: 80 feet
Access :
Boat
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 Photo
courtesy of: U.S. Coast Guard
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The original Third-and-a-half Order Fresnel
lens made by Barbier, Benard & Turenne of Paris. Currently on
display at the Detour Passage Historical Museum in Detour
Village
Photo
courtesy of: D.R.L.P.S. |
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DeTour
and it's lighthouse: The village of DeTour
is located on the Southeastern tip of Michigan's upper peninsula.
Vessels enter the St. Mary's River here as they make their passage
from Lake Huron to Lake Superior. A lighthouse has been near this
village since 1848, originally located on the mainland just South of
the village. In 1861, the land based light station (shown
above) was rebuilt similar
to the Manitou Island Light on Lake Superior. The lighthouse has
since been replaced, with the staircase, lens and lantern room and
watch room still used today in
the current off-shore lighthouse seen above.
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History
of the Light : In 1919, commercial vessel
traffic in the Detour area averaged 77 vessels per day. One mile off-shore, at the end
of DeTour Reef, the present structure was constructed and completed in
1931 at a cost of $140,000 and 327 working days. Construction of the foundation and a 60 feet square by 20
feet tall concrete pier is very similar to the nearby Martin Reef
Lighthouse. The base structure is steel framed measuring 31 feet
square. A 12 feet square tower with a 10 sided, 9 feet inscribed
diameter watch room and lantern room are mounted atop the base. A total height
of 63 feet is measured from the top of the pier to the top of the
ventilator ball. The lens, watch room and lantern room are from the original land based
lighthouse.
The lighthouse
originally exhibited a Third-and-a-half Order Fresnel
lens with four flash panels, made by Barbier, Benard & Turenne of
Paris. Each panel has a bull's-eye and concentric circular prism in the
central drum producing 10 second intervals between flashes. |
Photographer:
Roy B. Westin
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The lens completes one revolution every 40 seconds with a lens focal
plane of 74 feet above water level with a range of 17 miles. The
original lens is now on display at the Detour Passage Historical Museum
in Detour Village. Automated in 1974, the lighthouse still houses the
original clockwork mechanism that operated the light.
Keeper
Note: Charles R. Jones was one of the last civilian light keepers on the
Great Lakes. He began working as a keeper in the U.S. Lighthouse Service
in 1922 and served at DeTour Point from 1940 through 1963.
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Restoration:
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The lighthouse is
currently being fully restored by the DeTour Reef Light Preservation
Society. They can be
contacted for DRLPS membership or lighthouse information at:
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DeTour
Reef Light Preservation Society
P.O. Box
519
DeTour
Village, MI 49725
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phone:
906-297-8888, 906-297-5704
DRLPS is a
non-profit 501(c) (3) organization
Donations
are Tax deductable - EIN 38-3387252
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