RSS FeedCurrent Article

Raspberry Island Reopened to the Public

Steven Huyser-Honig, on his lovely blog Lighthouses Forever, beat me to the punch with the story of the reopening to the public of Raspberry Island Lighthouse. Check it out, it’s a nice article.

About two years ago, I received an email from Terry Pepper, of Seeing the Lights, letting us know the National Park Service was preparing to abandon all care of the lighthouses in the Apostle Islands. Through an email campaign, comments were sent decrying the loss of these national monuments. It worked, and now Raspberry Island has been restored.

In the story referenced by Steven, the Ashland Daily Press spoke with Geraldine Anderson, 66, of Eben Junction, Michigan, who will be one of the new caretakers at the light, doing a ten day stretch at a time, with four days off in between. Driving 250 miles one way, she’s looking forward to the job, according to the story, as a new chapter in her life. I could not help but chuckle at a story I read, called “I Hate Lighthouses,” told in 1931 to a reporter, Stella Champney, by Cecelia Carson MacLean, wife of a Raspberry Island lightkeeper and sister to another.

“I hate lighthouses,” said Mrs. Alexander McLean, whose husband kept the light on Raspberry Island for several years. “They are so lonely. Going from one island to another, out in the Apostles group, isn’t much fun, especially when you have to go in a small boat and maybe get caught in a storm. We left Raspberry Island in 1916, and I was glad enough to see the last of it.

“When a woman marries a lighthouse keeper, she gives up everything else in the world. If I had my life to live over again, it would not be in lighthouse stations.”

Check out the rest of the Apostle Island Scrapbook when you get a chance. It’s some great reading.

Keep up with Lighthouse News. Get articles by Email or in a Reader.

Trackback URL

Comments are closed.

  • Recommended Reading

  • Updates and Corrections

    • No Bids On NY Lights - No one has yet placed a bid on the two lighthouses in New York (West Bank Lighthouse and Old Orchard Shoal Lighthouse) that are up for sale to the general public. The most popular search term that brings visitors to this site is lighthouses for sale, so here's your chance ... - Continued...#
    • Lighthouse Events - Just a reminder, there is a lighthouse events calendar at this site. Any lighthouse group wishing to publicize their event can have it listed here free of charge by contacting Lighthouse News through the Contact Page. - Continued...#
    • No Development For Nobby's Lighthouse (update) - A recent Lighthouse News story highlighted Environment and Heritage Minister Peter Garrett's opposition to development on Nobbys Hill Lighthouse. Although Garrett says he is not completely against developing the site to make it more tourist friendly, he did again reject plans for accomodations and a restaurant on the property, according ... - Continued...#
  • Lighthouse News Store

  • Support Lighthouses

    Currency:

    Amount:

    Website(Optional):


    Powered By Lighthouse News
  • Affiliations

    BlogBurst.com

  • Copyright

    MyFreeCopyright.com Registered & Protected

Flickr Lighthouse Photos