South Channel Range Lights to be Restored
By Sue Clark on Jul 1, 2007 in Restoration 
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The Detroit (Michigan) Free Press has a nice story today (July 1) about the efforts to restore the South Channel Range Lights on Lake St. Clair by the Save Our South Channel Lights organization.
Originally lit in 1859, the two lights off Harsen’s Island guided ships through the St. Clair Flats channel until a deeper channel was dredged nearby. The first tower (the rear range light) was deactivated in 1907. According to the story, the island was used as a bootleg operation during Prohibition, and as a site where the local well-to-do would go to hold illicit (although “classy”) parties without fear of being caught drinking. The house was eventually torn down in the 1930s, due to vandalism and the elements.
Currently, to help fund the restoration, people can purchase a lighthouse step and name it for $800 USD. The State of Michigan is also kicking in $450,000 USD in matching grants toward the effort. Eventually, the group hopes to offer tours once the towers are completely stabilized. For some nice photos of the lights, including some showing the leaning towers that had to be fixed, check out their photo gallery.
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