A few facts about Middle Island's history:
Middle Island, Michigan (Harbor Lights #320):
Middle Island Light Station is located in Lake Huron, halfway between Thunder Bay Island and Presque Isle.
There are seven buildings on the island, including a light tower, Keepers Quarters, an Oil House, Tool Garage,
a Fog Horn building and two brick privies which are being restored by Middle Island Lighthouse Keeper's
Association. The conical brick tower stands 77 feet tall. The Lighthouse is white with a red band in the middle.
It's light is 78 feet above low water and can be seen for 17 miles.
As lighthouses go, Middle Island Light is "new," entering service in 1905. However, its important role to
mariners traversing the shoals that surround the course between Thunder Bay and Presque Isle on Lake
Huron cannot be overstated.
The sentinel gets its name because the island is midway between these northern Michigan landmarks. The
island had long represented a "triple-edged sword" to mariners. Marking a turning point in the course for
vessels making up and down the coast, the island's lee side also represented an excellent harbor of refuge in
which to escape Huron's fury. However surrounded with shoals with depths of less than six feet on all but its
northeast side, the refuge could be hard to find in dark of night or in the thickest weather. In fact, the area
was considered dangerous enough that the Life Saving Service built a station on the island in 1881 to help
service ships in distress in the area.
Plans and recommendations for the lighthouse began in 1896, but appropriations were slow in coming.
Congress finally approved an appropriation in 1902, and construction began on the outbuildings, keeper’s
dwelling and finally the tower. You can find many of the original plan and cost details listed on record (and
with our island history packet located on Middle Island).
Built of unpainted buff brick, the 70-ft. tower stood on a slight rise that provided its fourth order Fresnel lens
with a focal plane of 78 feet. It was officially illuminated on June 1, 1905. By 1928, the lens had been upgraded
to a third order Fresnel and the fog signal upgraded with the installation of a compressed air-powered
diaphone system.
When the Coast Guard assumed responsibility in 1939, the tower was painted white with a horizontal black
band in the center. Sometime later, the band was painted red, as seen today.
Following automation in the late 1950s and the removal of keepers, vandals took their toll on the tower and
outbuildings over the years. A group of concerned citizens in the Alpena area formed the Middle Island
Lighthouse Keepers Association in 1992 with the goal of restoring and preserving the structures for future
generations.
The fog signal building was its first effort to convert major structures into lodging. It became the Middle Island
Keepers' Lodge, which opened for business in 2003. Operated privately, it ensures a future for this historic
site.
The Friends of Middle Island Lighthouse, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation, are in the process
of raising funds to restore the tower. The tower is still an active aid to navigation, and is operated by the
United States Coast Guard.
Middle Island, Michigan (Harbor Lights #320):
Middle Island Light Station is located in Lake Huron, halfway between Thunder Bay Island and Presque Isle.
There are seven buildings on the island, including a light tower, Keepers Quarters, an Oil House, Tool Garage,
a Fog Horn building and two brick privies which are being restored by Middle Island Lighthouse Keeper's
Association. The conical brick tower stands 77 feet tall. The Lighthouse is white with a red band in the middle.
It's light is 78 feet above low water and can be seen for 17 miles.
As lighthouses go, Middle Island Light is "new," entering service in 1905. However, its important role to
mariners traversing the shoals that surround the course between Thunder Bay and Presque Isle on Lake
Huron cannot be overstated.
The sentinel gets its name because the island is midway between these northern Michigan landmarks. The
island had long represented a "triple-edged sword" to mariners. Marking a turning point in the course for
vessels making up and down the coast, the island's lee side also represented an excellent harbor of refuge in
which to escape Huron's fury. However surrounded with shoals with depths of less than six feet on all but its
northeast side, the refuge could be hard to find in dark of night or in the thickest weather. In fact, the area
was considered dangerous enough that the Life Saving Service built a station on the island in 1881 to help
service ships in distress in the area.
Plans and recommendations for the lighthouse began in 1896, but appropriations were slow in coming.
Congress finally approved an appropriation in 1902, and construction began on the outbuildings, keeper’s
dwelling and finally the tower. You can find many of the original plan and cost details listed on record (and
with our island history packet located on Middle Island).
Built of unpainted buff brick, the 70-ft. tower stood on a slight rise that provided its fourth order Fresnel lens
with a focal plane of 78 feet. It was officially illuminated on June 1, 1905. By 1928, the lens had been upgraded
to a third order Fresnel and the fog signal upgraded with the installation of a compressed air-powered
diaphone system.
When the Coast Guard assumed responsibility in 1939, the tower was painted white with a horizontal black
band in the center. Sometime later, the band was painted red, as seen today.
Following automation in the late 1950s and the removal of keepers, vandals took their toll on the tower and
outbuildings over the years. A group of concerned citizens in the Alpena area formed the Middle Island
Lighthouse Keepers Association in 1992 with the goal of restoring and preserving the structures for future
generations.
The fog signal building was its first effort to convert major structures into lodging. It became the Middle Island
Keepers' Lodge, which opened for business in 2003. Operated privately, it ensures a future for this historic
site.
The Friends of Middle Island Lighthouse, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation, are in the process
of raising funds to restore the tower. The tower is still an active aid to navigation, and is operated by the
United States Coast Guard.
About Us
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So far this year has been awesome. Liz, Dennis, Bob, Ruth, Sharon, Barb, John, and Rod have helped out tremendously. Thank you!
Middle Island 2010 – aspirations of a great season!
Not only has it been a privilege to work on Middle Island for the past fifteen or so summers, it has also been an honor to host and
work with a bunch of beautiful people. Everyone that visited Middle Island so far has come to appreciate the visible natural beauty of
their surroundings or the quiet serenity it offers. People come off the island refreshed and a little more aware of the basic
pleasantries life offers. Everyone seems to know more about themselves or each other after they have stayed there. I am glad to
have met all the visitors to Middle Island. Repeat customers/volunteers, such as the Footes, Safraneks, and Kelloggs, and
Rosenaus, to name a few, have contributed such a great deal to the island and lodge in their various ways. In the future I will discuss
how all these people, and others, have helped out. Thank you for your efforts, big or small.
If you have a particular talent and would like to help out this year, we can make you a deal on weekday stays! Just let me know what
you would like to do after I explain what we are attempting to accomplish this year. Everybody has different time constraints and
ways of helping and should give me a shout so we can work out the details.
First of all I would like to get permission to work on the lighthouse from the U.S. Coast Guard. There is some serious erosion
happening between the bricks near the platform outside the lantern room. We need people familiar with tuck pointing and the
easiest/best way to go about it. There is a fair amount of tuck pointing needed on the lodge and Keepers’ Quarters as well. Also, it
would be nice to get the stripe on the lighthouse painted, but maybe this cosmetic improvement can be put on hold for now. The
batteries for the lighthouse lamp may need servicing as well. The Coast Guard would need to do the maintenance on the batteries
and this will require a phone call or two.
Almost all the buildings need some sort of painting done to them. If you have a steady and patient hand, maybe you could have a
particular project assigned to you. Some painting assignments would also require a tolerance to heights. We will start the
construction on the walls and ceilings to the assistant keeper’s quarters early this summer. If you have carpentry skills, we can use a
few good men/women. We’re starting with the upstairs and working our way down. Walls will be prepped and particle board will be
used as the foundation for tongue and groove cedar. Some walls will be left bare to show off the structure’s brick surfaces. A sealer
will be used to keep the brick clean and shiny. I will be assisting most work groups, so if we get off track, I get the blame. Sound
good? Finish carpenters will probably be needed later in the year.
If you prefer landscaping, even though the Foote group annually clears the trails and trims around the buildings, there are many
places beautification would be appreciated. I know that the flowers, bushes and grass were ravaged by the deer that we just planted
last year. It would be nice to protect what we still have and possibly replant some of what was eaten. The trees that were planted will
have to be watered if this dry weather keeps up. And as always, garbage washes up on the shores of the island every year from
falling off boats or blowing offshore.
I am sure that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes down to what can be done. For you that have been to the island already, let
me know your ideas on what could be done.
Look forward to your comments and working with you this year!
Sincerely,
Capt. Mike
Middle Island 2010 – aspirations of a great season!
Not only has it been a privilege to work on Middle Island for the past fifteen or so summers, it has also been an honor to host and
work with a bunch of beautiful people. Everyone that visited Middle Island so far has come to appreciate the visible natural beauty of
their surroundings or the quiet serenity it offers. People come off the island refreshed and a little more aware of the basic
pleasantries life offers. Everyone seems to know more about themselves or each other after they have stayed there. I am glad to
have met all the visitors to Middle Island. Repeat customers/volunteers, such as the Footes, Safraneks, and Kelloggs, and
Rosenaus, to name a few, have contributed such a great deal to the island and lodge in their various ways. In the future I will discuss
how all these people, and others, have helped out. Thank you for your efforts, big or small.
If you have a particular talent and would like to help out this year, we can make you a deal on weekday stays! Just let me know what
you would like to do after I explain what we are attempting to accomplish this year. Everybody has different time constraints and
ways of helping and should give me a shout so we can work out the details.
First of all I would like to get permission to work on the lighthouse from the U.S. Coast Guard. There is some serious erosion
happening between the bricks near the platform outside the lantern room. We need people familiar with tuck pointing and the
easiest/best way to go about it. There is a fair amount of tuck pointing needed on the lodge and Keepers’ Quarters as well. Also, it
would be nice to get the stripe on the lighthouse painted, but maybe this cosmetic improvement can be put on hold for now. The
batteries for the lighthouse lamp may need servicing as well. The Coast Guard would need to do the maintenance on the batteries
and this will require a phone call or two.
Almost all the buildings need some sort of painting done to them. If you have a steady and patient hand, maybe you could have a
particular project assigned to you. Some painting assignments would also require a tolerance to heights. We will start the
construction on the walls and ceilings to the assistant keeper’s quarters early this summer. If you have carpentry skills, we can use a
few good men/women. We’re starting with the upstairs and working our way down. Walls will be prepped and particle board will be
used as the foundation for tongue and groove cedar. Some walls will be left bare to show off the structure’s brick surfaces. A sealer
will be used to keep the brick clean and shiny. I will be assisting most work groups, so if we get off track, I get the blame. Sound
good? Finish carpenters will probably be needed later in the year.
If you prefer landscaping, even though the Foote group annually clears the trails and trims around the buildings, there are many
places beautification would be appreciated. I know that the flowers, bushes and grass were ravaged by the deer that we just planted
last year. It would be nice to protect what we still have and possibly replant some of what was eaten. The trees that were planted will
have to be watered if this dry weather keeps up. And as always, garbage washes up on the shores of the island every year from
falling off boats or blowing offshore.
I am sure that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes down to what can be done. For you that have been to the island already, let
me know your ideas on what could be done.
Look forward to your comments and working with you this year!
Sincerely,
Capt. Mike
| For what's happening in 2010, LOOK down below |
To help preserve, protect, and maintain our beloved Middle Island
Keepers' Quarters, please use the donation button to the right of this
message. If you would like to give a donation towards any other Middle
Island project, please specify. All donations big or small are greatly
appreciated. Help us keep the history alive and the flame bright for future
generations to enjoy.
Keepers' Quarters, please use the donation button to the right of this
message. If you would like to give a donation towards any other Middle
Island project, please specify. All donations big or small are greatly
appreciated. Help us keep the history alive and the flame bright for future
generations to enjoy.