greatlakes

Grand Haven Lights are the fourth markers north from the border of the state, on the West Coast of Michigan. The original pier was built and the south pier lighthouse established along with the south pier inner light. A catwalk between the two lights allowed maintenance for the keepers and extends to the beach. Along the beach front, swimmers enjoyed the lake and sandy beaches and I was pleased to see such white sand along the shore. Many others walked the pier and made photography interesting. With a State Park, restrooms, and accessible pier, it is the perfect spot of enjoyment for everyone. My son wheeled me down to the Inner Light and we passed a youngster wheeling a fish in on a line, to the delight of himself and his mother.

Unbeknown to me if it is David's experience on the waterways that provide his excellent navigation skills, or just pure luck, somehow he always manages to locate the more fascinating lighthouses for me. The Whiteriver Lighthouse was one of them, and even though there was no way for me to access the building, I found contentment photographing the building from the outside. It was one of the rare occasions that I was able to focus my camera high enough to zoom in on the beacon to obtain a clear view of this magical light that still works in the ancient tower. The unique design of the building is made of light-colored bricks.

While David took off for the white sands of the beach along a sandy path that I could not travel, I wheeled around in the parking lot until I found my own point of interest for photography. Of course David's work brought an up-close and clear photo of the lighthouse, but then and there I decided photography from the wheelchair might prove interesting in itself and refused to upload his photo. The end result of what you see here, is what I saw from the wheelchair in the parking lot and it is indeed a magnificent tower.

Digital photography often becomes "potluck" depending on the photographer and location of subject as these two distant attempts of capturing the Ludington Light show. Nonetheless, just the opportunity to see the light in the distance and capture the moment in memory, with all the splendor the lake brought was justified.

There was just something exciting about searching for lighthouses that made each stop worthwhile, educating, and fun. The luck of being there at the right time, often made the difference with the photography, and to be able to capture what I saw from the wheelchair, an adventure to remember. Few individuals can understand the desire and truly appreciate the feeling of accomplishment for indeed there are two goals. First, one must find the light and have access to at least see it from a distance. Second, figure out a way to capture what is seen on film or in this case, on a floppy disk from a height of less than four feet. The end result are the memories and if one is really lucky, photos to prove you were there.

Big Sable Point was never seen by me except in someone else's work, but the experience of reaching our destination is a story worth sharing. As I drove the van into Ludington State Park, we were stopped by the Gate Guard and asked to pay a fee of three dollars to enter. We were quick to explain we were not planning to stay and just wanted to see the lighthouse, but none the less, we were still asked to pay the fee. After driving around in a circle a couple of times, we finally asked someone where the lighthouse was and learned there was a mile of sand between the parking area and Big Sable. It was obvious that my son had no intention of carrying me to the lighthouse or attempting to push a manual wheelchair through the sand so we drove back to the gate and asked the guard for a refund. The guard needed our receipt, but we could not locate it and weren't even sure we had one. Principal was the object, and when he told us that he would mail us the money if he found it there at the end of day, I quickly gave him my address. We drove off thinking, "Yeah, right." A few days after my return home, an unexpected visitor arrived. It was a young lady, the granddaughter of the man at the gate who just happened to live in the same city. She came by to make sure I had received the three dollars she had left with a carpenter a few days earlier. I did.

It is a small world.

On Sunday of the new week, I left my son with his duties aboard the USCG Bramble that was docked temporarily at Grand Haven and headed up the coast to attempt completing the journey of Michigan Lights before meeting him at his home on the opposite side of the state. It would take at least two days for the ship to make the journey and as long for me to drive with all the stops that I had planned. Not very far from Grand Haven, the Frankfort North Breakwater Light was gleaming a brilliant white as she perched herself above the water fairly close to the beach. I saw a catamaran and decided to wait until the boat was close in to the structure before taking a photo.

A fairly interesting adventure, locating Point Betsie and finding a place where the van could be brought to a stop for a quick photography session was a challenge. There was no comfortable place to exist the van, and like much of the photography on this page, it was shot from the driver's seat.

During my first lighthouse search in Michigan in 2001, my son decided to drive north along the East Coast of the State toward the shape of the thumb on the map. This was the area the USCG Cutter Bramble serviced and I was quite interested in knowing what laid ahead. The winding road led us past beautiful and quaint scenes of charming landscapes and homes, many decorated with navigational scenes, mail boxes that looked like fish, and miniature lighthouses to mark their entrance. The next lighthouse would be the 5th on my list of over 116 lighthouses in the state, an unrealistic figure that I knew I would not get to see during this visit. However, I was already in lighthouse heaven realizing I had a bonus with going to the West side of the state the day before and any future lighthouses would now be an additional treat.

The first lighthouse north of Port Huron is Port Sanilac Lighthouse. It is a lighthouse that is privately owned, but the structure may be viewed from both the road and evidently the shore. I understand there is also a pier that extends directly in front of the lighthouse. The latter two seemed more hassle than what it would be worth and so we decided to take pictures of the bold white structure from the road. The lighthouse in itself was magnificent. A charming brick home stood next to the lighthouse and appeared to be actually attached, providing entrance inside. The lighthouse is an eight-sided brick tower with a red roof that flares outward to hold the lantern room. This lighthouse is not open to the public.

The Harbor Beach Light marks the first turn for vessels heading north through Lake Huron. The lighthouse was difficult to photograph because workers appeared to be dredging the channel and a Freighter was obstructing a good view. Curiosity prevailed and after we completed our journey heading north, we turned around and stopped again.

David drove around the area and located a pier that extended out to what appeared to be an abandoned station or keepers house. The lighthouse could barely be seen off in the distance to the right. Benches to sit on even lined the front of the building. It seemed sad to be so deserted even though there were other's that walked along the old beaten pier boards, and interesting that it still attracted the curious. However, it is not a trek I would recommend if in a wheelchair not accompanied. Even though these pictures were taken a number of hours apart, I decided to include them in the sequence. I found the old weathered building interesting and wondered why it had been left to rot.

At the tip of "The Thumb", this beautiful lighthouse was originally a life-saving station. It is now preserved and has been moved a few miles west to become part of a museum in Huron City. (There are many historic homes in the area that may or may not be accessible.) An automated light at the top of the four-story brick tower still shines. Legend has it that in the storm of 1913; thirty-three people were saved from their ship, the Howard M. Hanna, when driven off course and sent aground. There is a ramp to gain entrance to an interesting gift shop and fairly well maintained museum that may require a little effort to explore, but the lighthouse itself is not accessible. An adjoining park area is reasonably accessible for wheelchair travelers.

Port Austin was the last light we stopped to view before turning around and heading south back to Port Huron. It is located at the shape of the Thumb on the eastside, 2� off the coastline. In 1953, the light became automated and a resident keeper was no longer required. Capturing this Reef Light was difficult with an inadequate zoom, but there it is, right in the center of the photo. I felt fortunate to see from a distance this Reef Light that continues to save many ships and lives from reef barriers and other obstructions beneath the sea. One of the nicest visits because of access to the beach pier (with a little help) where I could see the beach buggies.

In 1946, Bob Hanford's tour on the USCG Cutter Bramble ended in Hawaii. (The very same year that I arrived on the island of Oahu as a child at the age of three.) He returned to Michigan and worked with the Detroit Police Department for 25 years until his retirement in 1972, then he worked another 18 years for a private security agency. Mr. Hanford arrived in Port Huron in 1975. He bought a farm to raise and train horses and took on another job managing apartments. Then, I guess it could be stated that he returned to his beginning, as for the past 12 years, Bob Hanford has been the Keeper of the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse.

The first Fort Gratiot Lighthouse was built in 1825 and located at the Northeast corner of the fort. It was destroyed in 1828 by a storm. The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse was the first lighthouse built in the state of Michigan. The original Keeper's House was built in 1829, but burned to the ground after candles on a Christmas Tree started a fire in 1873. In 1874 it was replaced by a brick building. Over the years, the front porch rotted and fell off and an ingenuous person came up with the idea of turning it into a duplex. The main door was closed off to the foyer (or "mud room") and a door was placed on each end side, to provide separate entrances for the building that was "split down the center" and converted into a duplex. The Keeper lived on one side of the building and the Assistant and his family lived on the other. In 1932 a smaller brick building was built for the home of the Commanding Officer of Lifesaving Services. To the right of the large duplex home stands another smaller brick building that contains the fog horn.

The white Coast Guard Building was built in 1932 and the flag of the United States of America waved proudly at the front of this building. I asked Keeper Bob about the flagpole. He told me it was called a Yard Arm and then asked me if I knew what the brass ball on top of the pole contained. I told him "no" and he eagerly shared the legend: "Razor blade, match, and a bullet: The theory was to cut the flag down with the razor, burn it with a match, and then shoot yourself because you are never supposed to surrender."

Stairs to Gallery

One must climb 94 winding stairs to reach the gallery deck of Fort Gratiot Lighthouse. When looking up the iron staircase, they appear as fine lace work crafted by a designer. The wearing age beneath the steps adds to the beauty with variegated shades of light red. From the gallery to the ground it is 66-feet. The lighthouse stands 86-feet high from the water level to the focal point of the light.

Electric Light Last Replaced The original beacon was a kerosene lamp that turned by winding a clock every four hours, and the lamp itself was also changed out periodically. In 1931 the kerosene lamps were changed to electric lights. The beacon at the top of this fascinating lighthouse was recently replaced and the old electric one now sits in the mud room along with treasures and other museum pieces of history.

Interviewing Bob Hanford

As Keeper Bob and I visited outside, David made himself useful with the digital camera inside the structure. My curiosity got the best of me and David pulled my wheelchair backward up the few steps to the inside of the foyer or mud room. I saw the electric light sitting in the corner and Keeper Bob showed me original charts and plans of both the lighthouse and buildings. It was also interesting to view his log of visitors: 1994, 842 people; 1995, 1539 people; 1996, 2246 people; 1997, 3777 people; 1998, 5002 people; 1999, 3889 people. Obviously, the log book showed a huge growth of interest from visitors around the world. I was later pleased to see that my son had not lost his touch of creating interesting photography with these striking photos that help tell the story.

Visitors must arrange in advance to view the interior of the lighthouse and tours to the top are only offered by appointment and in groups of eight at a time. While this lighthouse is not exactly accessible, visiting with Bob Hanford and getting up close to the structure is an experience any wheeler can obtain�even if you do not have a son in the Coast Guard! Keeper Bob Hanford gave me a bundle of interesting information both about himself and Fort Gratiot Lighthouse. It was difficult for me not to be distracted with thoughts of my Uncle John, whom Bob Hanford reminded me of, as we sat next to one another and talked. We spent over two hours there visiting with him and if it had not been for a tour along the river that we had scheduled for that afternoon, I am certain I would have lingered even longer.

As it worked out, one of my nicest surprises was to realize that I would experience viewing the famous lighthouse from the lake. Perched at the bowsprit of the touring vessel, I spent the next two hours cruising up and down St. Clair river and enjoying the pleasures of boating on Huron Lady II. The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse stood tall and brave, ready for any gale of wind. On our way toward Lake Huron, I saw Keeper Bob standing on the gallery and waving. I waved back. When our vessel turned around and headed back down the channel of St. Clair, the gallery was bare and the lighthouse stood lonely as we approached the Blue Water Bridge. I told David we must go back. I had to have one last picture.

AT THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING
ON EACH SIDE OF THE DOOR,
THERE ARE TWO SIGNS.

THE SIGN ON THE LEFT
PROVIDES A NOTICE
FOR SECURITY REASONS
IMPEMENTED BY THE
U.S. COAST GUARD

THE SIGN ON THE RIGHT
PROVIDES DEDICATION
TO A FALLEN HERO

DEDICATED TO
SEAMAN JEFFREY A. BOGGESS
WHILE IN THE LINE OF DUTY
WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

25 JULY 1987

DURING HIS DUTIES OF THE
PORT HURON TO MACKINAC RACE

AND
TO THE COAST GUARD
MEN, WOMEN AND FAMILIES WHO
UNSELFISHLY GAVE THEIR
TIME AND SUPPORT
WHEN NEEDED MOST.

Lightship Huron (1920)
Location: Pine Grove Park, Port Huron, Michigan

Visited August 8th, 2000

Lightships were equipped with lights atop the masts or foghorns and used where it was too dangerous or difficult to build a permanent lighthouse. The Huron Lightship was the last commissioned lightship used until 1970 along the Great Lakes. Retired in 1971, she is today a National Historical Monument set on the shore of the St. Clair River as a museum. The lightship was originally moored on Corsica Shoals, six miles from the St. Clair River entrance. Tours are available to see the inside of this lightship, but we could not imagine maneuvering my wheelchair on board and consequently made no attempt. The lightship is interesting to see just on the outside and ramp-like sidewalks permit access up close. The picture above was taken during the Huron Lady II River Cruise.

William Livingston Memorial Light (1930)
Location: East end of Belle Isle, opposite Detroit on the upper Detroit River, Michigan

Visited August 9th, 2000

On our return from Canada, we decided to enter the nation's largest city island park, Belle Isle, to see the only light in the United States that was made of marble. After winding around the park for several minutes, my son located a dirt road that led to the memorial. I wondered why this area had been so forgot and why it was not clearly marked for people to visit. William Livingstone was a popular and prominent resident of Detroit and a plaque attached to the side of the tower explains the gift of the tower. The tower is 65-feet tall. A wrought iron fence surrounds the memorial and a path can be taken to approach it. The Memorial Light is awesome to see.

Windmill Point Light (1875; 1933)
Location: At the head of Detroit River, Lake St. Clair Channel, between Lake Huron and Lake Erie

Visited August 9th, 2000

From the Canadian side of the border we could clearly see the Windmill Point Light across the river in Michigan. After stopping to see the William Livingstone Memorial Light, we headed for Windmill Point. This developed into a comedy of errors, but eventually, we found what we thought was an old Keeper's Building. The building appeared isolated and forlorn, with weeds and grass growing over a foot in height, and trash barrels overflowed at the edge of the walkway.

I noticed an accessible entrance, but asked David to walk up and check it out for me while I remained the the vehicle. It was interesting for us to realize that according to the sign above the door, it was a lighthouse recreation building. However, when David opened the door, he discovered a "no trespassing sign". He came back to the car and I asked, "Where is the lighthouse?"

"It's got to be on the next street over, Mom. We'll find it!" he said as he turned his car around and took the dirt road adjacent to the recreation building. Our difficulties grew as we unknowingly entered a trailer park. David decided to drive through and see if the lighthouse was at the end of the park. Disappointed, he again turned the car around and headed back out to the main road. This would not have been so bad, if a man had not started chasing us with a shovel in hand and screaming obscenities as we drove out. David kept driving and I started laughing as I told him this would be one of my favorite memories in search of lighthouses.

On a dirt road opposite of the trailer park, David tried again. Obviously, this man had courage and I kept my mouth shut as he drove around large pot holes and tried to miss the larger rocks. As he approached the edge of the river, we saw it. Apparently the area had become a favorite fishing spot and unfortunately, the grounds were littered with debris and empty bottles. None-the-less, the lighthouse stood as bold as ever with it's white steel tower daring the water below.

The Colony Tower (1925)

Michigan Historic Site Visited August 10th, 2000

Like true sailors, we again braved a trip south and drove to Marine City. Someplace along our search for our next lighthouse, David spotted a tower. "Hey Mom, there's a lighthouse!" He excitedly exclaimed. "Oh David, it isn't a lighthouse," I argued. Regardless of protest, David stopped the car and shot photos and then returned grinning from ear to ear. "You'll see," he said to me. After the development of the pictures, to my surprise it was a lighthouse indeed, according to a sign that he also wisely photographed.

Colony Tower

"Built in 1925 by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Works, this steel-framed water tower was the main water supplier for "The Colony on the St. Claire" ~~ a secluded residential community established in Clay Township during the early 1920s. The Colony Tower marked the entrance to the Will St. John estate, the home of the real estate developer who founded The Colony subdivision. The 136-foot tower once housed a 60,000-gallon water tank. Constructed with curtain walls and steel plates to resemble a lighthouse, it demonstrates the early twentieth-century penchant for disguising the utilitarian function of high visible structures. A light shone from atop the tower, aiding boat and aircraft navigation from 1925 until 1937, when the light was extinguished due to its high operating costs."

Peche Island Old Rear Range Light (1908; 1982))
Location: Maritime Park, Marine City, Michigan

Visited August 10th, 2000

In 1982 The United States Coast Guard saved the collapsing lighthouse from its original position on Peche Island at the entrance to the Detroit River and moved it to its existing location where it sits on the shore of the St. Clair River. This quiet and peaceful setting gave me new inspiration following our earlier treks even though time seemed to be our worst element of enjoyment. By now we had covered all but four of the lighthouses along the southeast side of Michigan as far North as the tip of "The Thumb". With only a few days remaining, I was ready for a break and one last final attempt before leaving Michigan.

On Saturday David decided to head West on I-69 and then North On I-75 to Bay City. From there we drove along Hwy 23 as far North as Sturgeon Point before turning around to head back to Port Huron. Finding the offshore lights was not an easy task, but the two major lighthouses on the coast and views of the small islands gave meaning to the word adventure. In total David added another five lights to my memories.

Saginaw River Range Lighthouse (1841; 1876)
Location: West bank of river mouth, Saginaw Bay, Southwest side of Lake Huron, Michigan

Visited August 12th, 2000

The actual lighthouse cannot be accessed because it is on private property, but David knew where he could go to give me a view. This was territory that he was familiar with because he worked along the waters of Saginaw Bay and drove onto the U.S. Coast Guard facility. As he drove into the area, I noticed the ice buoy's that he had earlier explained to me, laying next to the shore that were changed out twice a year. Additionally I saw the tower of a rear range light that marked the entrance of the river. Though now abandoned, the lighthouse remains intact and beautiful from across the shoreline.

Sturgeon Point Lighthouse (1869)
Location: On the West side of Lake Huron, between Saginaw and Thunder Bay, North of Harrisville

Visited August 12th, 2000

Entrance Sign Realizing the late time of day we skipped a couple of lights located off the shoreline and drove toward Sturgeon Point. As it was, I had noticed in the tour book that the gift shop closed at 4PM and David stopped 15 minutes away from closing time, so that I could call them from a roadside telephone. They agreed to wait for us and our trek continued. Unknown to us at the time, they had good reason to stay open because there were still many people touring the facility and enjoying the renactment of living legends from the days of fur trading and civil war. Owned by the Coast Guard and still an operating light the area can hardly do without, I felt privileged to be able to see the magnificent building. The Keeper's Dwelling was once a four bedroom home inside of the lighthouse and is now turned into a museum. Adjoining the lighthouse is a building that offers a gift shop and nautical souvenir.

Entry to Living Quarters We were invited to tour the lighthouse and David was able to push me into the "mud room" where there was ample room for me to get a good look at relics from the past. As I sat there and looked at my surroundings I wondered how woman survived the daily chores without the conveniences of today. The ornate iron gate behind me I found fascinating as I peered into the upstair living quarters. My grandson decided to scale the stairs with his parents and visit the four bedroom home inside the lighthouse structure. Some of the bedrooms appeared to be left in their vintage and others had been turned into museums containing relics from the past. When I saw David's photography, I asked him if the colors were accurate. He told me that as best as he could remember, the rooms were all painted in dark vibrant colors. We made a run through the gift shop and then scurried outside to see the remainder of the week-long event of the fur traders and re-enactment of the civil war.

Tawas Point Lighthouse (1853; 1876)
Location: On the North side of Saginaw Bay, at the tip of the point, West side of Lake Huron

Visited August 12th, 2000

As we headed South back down Hwy 23, we were now in search of the Tawas Point Lighthouse. The U.S. Coast Guard Station was easy enough to find but it was another story for the lighthouse. I decided that there were only three reasons why anyone would pursue the search: There were either crazy, did not have anything else better to do, or were true lighthouse enthusiasts. I made the decision that it was the latter reason that drove the four of us to our final destinations, but I never imagined the perseverance that would prevail. The Tawas Point Lighthouse was well hidden by a gate that crossed a road. David decided to drive around the area and eventually found an opening through thick brush. He grabbed a camera and climbed through the brush to an opening that led to the lighthouse. I could not miss the chance of taking a photograph of his return to the car as he excitedly laughed and told us there was a road that ran right up to the lighthouse that we missed.

The lighthouse is still operated by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Keeper's Dwelling that is attached to the tower by a brick passageway is still residence to the Coast Guard Commander and his family. In other words: Keep Out! However, never give up hope, because the U.S. Coast Guard provide tours of the lighthouse during the summer months on weekends. Too bad we did not arrive until after 6:30 in the evening.

Charity Island Lighthouse (1857; 1939)
Location: On the Northwest tip of Charity Island, West side of Lake Huron

Visited August 12th, 2000

Several attempts were made to see Charity Island Lighthouse. It was by now going into the evening hours with the moon rising looking like a strange white ball to the left of the sky. If you squinted and peered to the far left side of the island, you could see the lighthouse...barely. I had read the island was purchased by private individuals who someday were going to restore the building, but unfortunately there was not time to check into a voyage to this island that laid in the middle of the opening to Saginaw Bay.

Gravelly Shoal Light (1939)
Location: On the Southwest side of Lake Huron, Southeast of Point Lookout

Visited August 12th, 2000

David was now convinced that he could find a location to view the Gravelly Shoal Light and he back-tracked between Point Lookout and Point Au Gres until he finally spotted it. Again we squinted our eyes and peered through our cameras until we finally spotted her sitting there in the middle of the lake. The active light still serves the waters in the bay and has a radio tower on top of her that stretches several feet into the sky.

My venture for the Search of Lighthouses in the State of Michigan had come to a close. In total, I had seen 18. Not bad considering the distance traveled and the time permitting. We headed back to Port Huron and thought about the other places to go, people to meet, and things to do before I headed back home.

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The state of Michigan contains approximately 122 Lighthouses and Range Lights, as well as a famous Lightship in Port Huron. Travel to visit my son, BM1 David Musgraves, in the summer of 2000 was a venture that led to seeing several of these remarkable landmarks, while he was stationed on the USCG Cutter Bramble in Port Huron, Michigan. While we did not have time to visit the far northern part of the state or the remaining lighthouses along the western coast, our days of sightseeing produced 18 points of interest on both sides of the state. Several photographs were the photography of my son who made my travel to the lighthouses possible and provided the photos I could not take. I always felt a need to return to Michigan and continue my life-long journey in Search of Lighthouses. Exactly one year later another visit became reality, when I returned to attend the Coast Guard Festival in Grand Heaven, Michigan on July 30th, 2001. This travel included meeting my son and locating an additional 17 lights.

Over 35 lights are posted in the order of a circle trip from the West side of the state. Please allow sufficient time for downloading the photos and complexity of the page, that is over 24 pages when printed. Like the number of lights in the state of Michigan, this page is one of the largest pages on the web site.
Julia Hollenbeck

Web	www.wheelmeon.org

Along the Western Coast of the State of Michigan

The first lights that mark the entrance of Lake Michigan on the West border of the state brought our search for lighthouses to a close at the end of a beautiful day. The fascinating lighthouse that stood at the end of a pier, brightly painted in white with red roofs and a black iron parapet perched atop. A catwalk extended over 300 yards into the lake and I imagined protected a keeper during stormy from angry waves that could sweep him away. Sun beams darted over a sand dune as I hurriedly snapped the shutter on my cameras while my son searched for an accessible area to give me a better vantage point. He found an opening that I could travel with my wheels to a completely accessible pier where we stayed until the sun set beneath the lake. The experience gave me much to think about during our return to Port Huron on the opposite side of Michigan state.

Just North of St. Joseph a lighthouse also perched on the end of a pier, jutted out from a sandy beach. I had seen many pictures of this lighthouse, all covered with snow and ice, and often wondered what it looked like in the summer. Now I knew, even though the sun was starting to set, I felt as though I was in the wrong spot for a captivating photo. Gooseneck lights hung curved along the side of the upper catwalk and I thought it would be interesting to see them lit in the dark of night. Obviously the catwalk above the lower pier provided access to the light in windy or stormy weather. The round bright red steel structure was toped with a black parapet. Again there was an accessible pier, a picnic area, sandy beaches and many swimmers.

South of Grand Haven, near the city of Holland, Michigan sits "Big Red", the Holland Harbor Lighthouse. From the vantage point I choose, "Big Red" appeared to be on land, but it was not and in fact, it sits on a pier that is accessible. Many sand dunes surround the area within the park and I understand that swimming is excellent. There are bathrooms, changing areas, playground, and even a small store. With the United States Flag waving proudly over this interesting lighthouse, it was yet another reminder of my Military Pride and I knew I would have to find it in miniature for my lighthouse collection.