I'm not sure how I got going on this Lighthouse thing, but it has been fun so far. The first lighthouse that got my attention was the Old Mission Point lighthouse. Our Postmaster, Howard Byrne was retiring to his place in Traverse City and received a miniature of the lighthouse as a gift. I was quite taken by it and thought I'd like one of my own. By the time I got a catalog from the Lighthouse Depot, they no longer listed it. I got anxious and launched on a quest to acquire it, somehow. I mentioned this desire of mine to friends and family (I'm beginning to see how this got started) and they spotted one miniature and a picture of it, which I latched onto. Now I have the edition Howard got as well and when I go somewhere that has a lighthouse, I try to bring back a miniature of that as well.
In May of 2001, we went on a drive to the Lake Michigan Coast with Lynn and Bill and we got to visit three lighthouses. The first was the Frankfort North Breakwater Light. I thought at first it was the Point Betsie Light because we were seeing signs for that one, but I was wrong. Point Betsie is a complete house, not just a light tower. This is a shot of Lois and me on the walkway going out to the light. You can see the other marker on the breakwater to the left.
Here I am, hugging the lighthouse.
- Frankfort North Breakwater Light
- Built: 1873; current structure, 1932
- Height: 67 ft
- Focal Plane: 72 ft above water level
- Lens: 5th order Fresnel
Completely missing Point Betsie (got an excuse for a return trip now), we went up to Traverse City and saw the Grand Traverse Light house. Just beautiful country, with the Trillium in full bloom. I can understand why Howard likes it so much.
- Grand Traverse Lighthouse
- Built: 1858 (original structure, 1850)
- In 1870, the 5th order Fresnel lens was replaced by a 4th order one.
- Focal plane: 47 ft above lake level
- Light source: whale oil & kerosene; electric in 1953
- Decommissioned: 1972
Finally we made it to the Old Mission Point Lighthouse to see the real deal. A fitting finish to a very fine tour.
- Old Mission Light
- Year Station Established: 1870
- Decommissioned: 1933
- Tower height: 30 feet
- Claim to fame: the lighthouse sits right about on the 45th parallel, midway point between the equator and the North Pole.
- My lighthouse pages:
- Frankfort, Grand Traverse, Old Mission
- Sturgeon Point, Pensacola
- Ludington
- Tawas Point
- Whitefish Point, Crisp Point
- Old Mackinac Point, Cheboygan
- 40 mile, Presque Isle, Alpena
- William Livingstone Memorial Light
- McGulpin Point Lighthouse
- Lightship Huron
- Fort Gratiot Light