Emmet County is now the proud owner of McGulpin Point lighthouse. The sale was recently finalized, and the county has established a new County Historical Commission, whose duty it will be to create a long-term plan for the light station’s restoration and interpretation. GLLKA President Dick Moehl and GLLKA Straits Coordinator Sandy Planisek are both serving active roles on this commission. Thanks to Terry Pepper for this news.

Emmet County (Michigan) May Purchase Private Home

In some good news for lighthouse lovers, a privately owned residence that saw duty as a lightstation until it was decommissioned in 1906 might be purchased by Emmet County and opened to the public. McGulpin Point Lighthouse, replaced by Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, was sold into private ownership where it has remained until now. It was put up for sale in July 2005 for $1.75 million, but was never sold. With the recent economic downturn (aka property values tanked), the price was dropped to $975,000 two years ago. A recent appraisal by the county for tax purposes valued it at $710,000.

According to a story in the Petoskey News-Review, the County Board of Commissioners have passed (in a six to one vote) a resolution to purchase the property for nearly $720,000.

“The stars have lined up on this one,” said chairman Jim Tamlyn. “It’s a fair price and we have the money from some rainy day funds the county has set aside.”

“It’s hard to measure the historical value of the property in dollars,” said commissioner Les Atchison. “This will preserve public access, and with the possibility of partnering with a historical organization it could also be an educational opportunity.”

The County Controller, Lyn Johnson, recommended the Board go ahead with the purchase offer, and that the possibility of restoring the lighthouse should not be ignored. “I think this goes beyond the normal parks and recreation consideration, and a historical committee should be set up to decide how to best publicize and protect this property,” he said.

The Great Lakes Lighthouse Keeper’s Association has offered to help. The listing for the property can be seen at Award Properties, and be sure to check out their 360 degree virtual tour.

A Heroic Rescue At the Lighthouse

The last lighthouse keeper at the station, and also the longest serving at 27 years, was James Davenport. Appointed in 1879, his wife and children accompanied him to his new post. His wife died in 1891, leaving Davenport with nine children. One day, Davenport went to Mackinac City and left his nine children in charge of the lighthouse. Unfortunately, while he was gone, a vessel, the Waldo A. Avery, passing through the Straits, caught fire. By the time the vessel was off McGulpin’s Point, the fire was raging so badly that in order to save his crew, the captain steered the vessel toward McGulpin Point at full steam. Seeing this, the kids calmly began making preparations to care for the survivors.

Davenport saw what was happening, and with a bunch of townspeople ran back to the lighthouse. The Avery’s lifeboat was burned and unusable, and the crew of seventeen were hanging on to the burning and beached vessel for dear life. With the station’s small skiff, they made numerous trips to rescue the seventeen crewmen.

(Thanks to Terry Pepper for this bit of history)

Lantern Room Removed

The station was originally fitted with a Third and a Half Order Fresnel Lens, installed inside the ten sided cast iron lantern room. The lantern room, which was prefabricated offsite, was removed at the time of McGulpin Point’s decommissioning. It’s not clear what happened to the lens or the lantern room. If anyone knows, let Lighthouse News know either through a comment below or through the contact form.

A Far Thinking Board

Although there was one objection to this purchase, but only in regards to its price, the entire Board is to be commended for taking steps now to preserve the past, and to bring this lighthouse back into public view. The potential for the restoration, with the help of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association, of this most historically significant property in the county is something to which every other municipality should pay attention. With stories of towns like Saybrook refusing to accept the (free) transfer of lighthouses in their jurisdiction, it’s great to see that rural northern Michigan does lighthouses right.

Photo Credit: McGulpin Point Lighthouse from raifan50 at Community Webshots Photosharing.

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