NPS Releases List For 2008

Arguably Michigan’s most photographed pair of lighthouses have been placed on the Excess List by the National Park Service for this year. St. Joseph North Pierhead Lights (Inner and Outer) will be offered to a non-profit or municipality for ownership under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000. Notices of interest by municipalities and non-profit groups are due by July 19, 2008. The current Announcement and Fact Sheet can be downloaded from the NPS site.

The two lights, connected by a catwalk, are often featured on magazine covers and elsewhere due to the dramatic shots captured when the waves hit the Pierhead (photo above). And of course, for the absolutely stunning ice sculptures during the winter, when the frozen water from the waves covers the outer light in shimmering beauty. Photo below is from Flickr photo sharing. Complete linksto both are at the bottom of this page.

The pier lights replaces an onshore 1859 lighthouse in 1906 (outer) and 1907 (inner), effectively establishing range lights for the entrance to the St. Joseph River. The original structure was torn down for a parking lot in 1955, although it actually remained in service until 1924. The outer light is 35 feet tall, and the inner light is 55 feet. The original Fifth Degree Fresnel in the outer light is now in a museum, while a Fourth degree Fresnel (second one, not original) is still in place in the Inner. The lights were also next to a Lighthouse Depot Station, which is now the St. Joseph River Yacht Club.

Story Implies Lighthouse Will Be Torn Down

Once again, some misinformed reporter has implied that the lighthouse will be torn down, in a story posted at WNDU-TV. Unfortunately, it seems the mayor, Robert Judd, of St. Joseph has also bought into this idea. He is quoted in the story as saying:

“We’ve indicated that we are interested in acquiring it when the time comes, it’s this lighthouse’s turn, so we’re interested in securing it for the heritage of our community,” said St. Joseph Mayor Robert Judd.

If no one expressed any interest in paying to keep the lighthouse up to historic preservation standards, that heritage would have been in jeopardy. It would be put up for auction in the private sphere if no public entity stepped up to take over the responsibility for the nearly 100-year old structure.

“I think at some point they’d tear it down, and it’d be disposed of, and that’d be a shame, because it’s the signature,” Judd said.

When lighthouses are excessed, the only thing that happens is the Coast Guard no longer does anything to maintain the light, other than the optics. And that’s all they’re doing now, anyway. By transferring to a municipality or lighthouse non-profit, the lighthouse actually stands a chance of being restored and kept in good shape. It is certainly hoped that Mayor Judd learns what happens in the process. The lighthouse only goes up for auction to a private party if no suitable group applies or is selected. And the lighthouses are not torn down even then. They are lovingly restored, as it’s a requirement for purchase, but become private property.

The story indicated that the city was preparing papers to apply, and that according to Judd, “We’re open to partnering with people but I think that we want to control our destiny.” While that’s laudable, a city may not have the resources to do the maintenance, preservation and restoration without a solid base of volunteers. For a project like this to work, partnering with a non-profit group is almost always the way to go.

Others To Be Excessed

There are other lighthouses on the list, and Lighthouse News will be featuring a story on each in the coming days. The following have already been announced:

• Connecticut
  • Saybrook Breakwater
• New York
  • East Charity Shoal
  • Buffalo Harbor
  • Latimer Reef
• Massachusetts
  • Straitsmouth
• Maine
  • Baker Island
  • Ram Island Ledge
• Michigan
  • Alpena
  • St. Joseph North Pierhead
  • Muskegon South Pierhead
• Wisconsin
  • Kenosha North Pierhead

Next up will be Kenosha North Pierhead.

Photo Credits:

• St Joseph Lighthouse Michigan. From Flickr photosharing by BurnleyLad. All rights reserved.
• St. Joseph Lights by Lapstrake. Some rights reserved.

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