Mission Point Seeks Lighthouse Caretaker
By Sue Clark on Mar 5, 2008 in News 
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Volunteer Sought To Live At Lighthouse
Mission Point Lighthouse in Traverse City, Michigan, will open to the public May 1. And the Peninsula Township Parks Board is looking for a caretaker for the lighthouse. The house the caretaker will live in is integral to the (decommissioned) light, and after discussion last year on security measures, the Board has apparently decided a volunteer caretaker would be the way to go for security. The PDF File with the discussion on the plan is available here if anyone’s interested.
Responsibilities of the caretaker will include giving tours, guiding visitors through museum displays and maintaining the grounds and building. Those interested will need to be comfortable speaking in public, energetic and in excellent health, according to the article noted at the Jackson City Patriot. And no worry about training, it will be provided and no experience is necessary.
But It Will Cost You
Unfortunately, it’s not a paid position. And in fact, you will have to pay to do this. The program is being modeled after the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum, where the volunteer keeper pays for a two week working vacation at the lighthouse. And according to the story, the charge will be $800 a month to work and live in beautiful Lighthouse Park.
Sounds like a lot of money, right? Well, if you figure the going rate for a weekly rental in the tip of Michigan’s little finger, it looks more attractive. And it will not be a nine-to-five job by no means. The proposal states plans are to have the lighthouse open on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday would be free time, beyond grounds maintenance. The program would run from May through September 15, with an extension into October for fall colors if there’s interest.
If you’re retired, have money to spend and want to check out this opportunity, you can do so by calling the Lighthouse Administrator, Stef Staley at (231) 499-1787 or via email to missionptlight@charter.net.
I think the long commitment will not prove as successful as a one or two week stint, like the GTLM has in place. I wish them luck, but feel they may have to revise the length aspect.
Photo Credit: Mission Point Lighthouse by SpringChick. Some rights reserved.
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