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Photographer: Keith W. Churill
The mystique of the tower on a cloudy October afternoon
in 2001
Right: A view of North Points fall color looking
from the parapet in a
Northern direction. Lake Huron is to the right with North Bay to the
left.
Photographer: Keith W. Churill
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Presque Isle - New
Presque Isle, MI |
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 Built :
1871
Construction :
Conical, Brick
Status :
Active
Location :
Presque Isle, MI - Presque Isle County
Lat. 45º 21' 30" N -
Long. 83º 29' 30" W
Height
: 113 feet
Access :
Car, parking near the
light.
Directions: From the
North (Rogers City) on US23, turn east on Hwy. 638 / Highway Road. Follow
to a fork in the road and stay to the left continuing on Hwy. 638. Follow
approximately 2 miles and turn North onto Grand Lake road. Follow
approximately 1 1/2 miles, the lighthouse will be seen directly in front
of you with parking near the light.  |
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Presque Isle Harbor:
The French translation of Presque Isle is "Almost an
Island." In the early years, Indians and Frenchmen portaged across the
peninsula near the area of the current Municipal Harbor to avoiding
several miles of open water. In
the 1830's, commercial vessel traffic in Presque Isle Harbor was greatly
increasing. This harbor, with it's natural protection from Lake Huron's
fury, was often used as a place of refuge for vessels plying the stormy
waters. The harbor was also an important stop for vessels needing
cordwood to fuel their boilers and continue their voyage. North Bay is
on the West side of Presque Isle.
It's central depths are around 20 feet, with a rocky bottom, providing
vessels with natural shelter from East and South winds. |
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Photographer: Keith W. Churill |
Lighthouse History:
Built in 1870, with supervision of design
and construction appointed to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Major O.M.
Poe, this is another of the "Tall
Five"
Great Lakes towers all constructed from the same plans with the
classic "Poe" style. It is almost identical to the
Little Sable lighthouse on
Lake Michigan with the exception of it's markings, now white with green
trim. Originally it's markings were the same red color.
The light
marks a turning point for vessels bound for the Straits of Mackinac.
The conical
brick tower is 113 feet tall on a limestone foundation. It was
constructed to replace the smaller Old
Presque Isle light.
The lighthouse
was fitted with a
Third Order Fresnel lens, manufactured by Henri LePaute of Paris, France and
produced a white beacon with a lens focal plane of 123 feet above lake
level for the first time in 1871. The lights visibility range is
approximately 25 miles.
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A cast iron
spiral staircase leads to the watch room with 130 steps. An additional 7
steps lead up to the lantern room.
Patrick Garrity
was
transferred in 1871, from the now decommissioned
Old Presque Isle light, as the first
keeper of this lighthouse. The new, more spacious dwelling has a gabled
roof and, unlike the old light, is attached to the tower. This was a
welcome change for the Garrity's with their rearing of 10 children
during their period of services. He would remain keeper of this
lighthouse until 1885 when he took to keeping the two
Presque Isle Range lights. His
Keeper career would end up with a total of 50 years of service.
In 1890, a
steam operated fog signal was installed. At that same time the U.S.
Lighthouse Service authorized construction of a supply tramway. The
tramway was approximately 2,400 feet long running from lighthouse out to
the North dock where the lighthouse tenders moored. This tramway greatly
eased the transfer of coal, oil and supplies up until the 1940's.
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Photographer: Keith W. Churill |
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Photographer:
Roy B. Westin |
In 1939,
all responsibilities of the U.S. Lighthouse Service were now that
of the U.S. Coast Guard.
The light was
automated in 1970 by the U.S. Coast Guard
and now produces a white
beacon on 15 second intervals using the original
Third Order
Fresnel lens.
At the time of automation, keepers were no longer needed and the station
was boarded-up.
Restoration:
The keeper’s quarters have been completely restored as a combined museum
and gift shop. Both inside and out, the entire station is in excellent
condition.
The stone tower was deteriorating due to the harsh
elements of Michigan's weather. To save the tower, the exterior was
covered, from top to bottom, with a new course of modern white brick in
the late 1990's. As seen in the photo's below, the tower is noticeably
larger in diameter.
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The
lighthouse is now part of a 100 acre park owned and maintained by
Presque Isle Township along with the Old
Presque Isle lighthouse. |
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Photo courtesy of: U.S. Coast Guard
Photo during the late 1800's |
 
click to enlarge
( clearly shows new brickwork )
New
Presque Isle Lighthouse
4500
E. Grand Lake Road
Presque Isle MI 49777
(517) 595-9917
Hours: Mid-May thru Mid-October
7 days per week
9 A.M. to 6 P.M.
The tower is open to the public. |
Photographer: Keith W.
Churill
Photo during the Fall of 2001 |
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