Council Having Second Thoughts

The City Council of Port Huron, Michigan, appears to be having second thoughts about accepting Fort Gratiot Lighthouse from the Federal Government. At a council meeting just before Christmas, one of their actions was to table a couple of resolutions on spending $38,500 for studies for an environmental assessment and to determine how much asbestos is on the property. Fort Gratiot was recommended to be transferred to the city under the National Lighthouse Historic Preservation Act back in 2004, but the process still hasn’t been completed, causing the lighthouse to be closed to visitors for safety reasons.

The city Engineer, Bob Clegg said a transfer of property document from the federal government could come any day. As part of that transfer, the site would need a $3.8 million makeover, which would be paid for by private donations, grants and, likely, city government. Partly because of this delay, the lighthouse has deteriorated more and more, while no one steps up to take charge of repairs. In August, 2007, bricks began falling from the tower, leading to a complete closure of the tower this past summer.

Ask Washington For More Time?

Hasn’t there been time enough? But that’s precisely what mayor Brian Moeller is proposing. He suggested the city lobby the federal government to allow them to wait before taking ownership. His argument was that it would allow for the economy to recover and for the Port Huron Museum, which would operate the station, to raise money needed to renovate the site. “I don’t think the citizens of Port Huron have the money to bring this up to code,” he said in a story at the Port Huron Times Herald. “I can’t imagine they’ll put the hammer down on the city of Port Huron for a lighthouse.”

And the council appears to agree with him. “Sometimes we might want something but may not be able to afford something,” Councilwoman Lonnie Stevens said. “We do not have the ability to talk about this kind of venture.”

However, at least one sees the light, so to speak. Mayor Pro Tem James Fisher, a self-described lover of history, said he did not want the city to lose an opportunity. “This is not something we can just let slip through our fingers,” he said. “I would hate to see this building gone.”

The Economy’s Bad, But…

Yes, the economy is bad. But that is still no excuse for wanting to put Michigan’s oldest (and one of its tallest) lighthouse on the back burner. Other lighthouse groups are not having problems raising money. And the longer the lighthouse sits in limbo, the worse it gets. I also fail to see why the fund raising and actual work cannot be started.

As an example, the American Lighthouse Foundation has a lease (just a lease, not a deed) to the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse in Maine. But the fact it’s only a lease, and not a deed, and not even a guarantee that when it is excessed the ALF will get the light, did not stop the ALF from pursuing grants and raising money to completely redo the exterior. And they’re still raising funds to start work on the interior brick repointing.

I honestly hope that public pressure, and the common sense of Mr. Fisher, will prevail. And for those that are interested in helping preserve this once stately beauty, the Port Huron Museum, which also has restored the Huron Lightship, is the entity that will be responsible for her care. Please consider making a year end donation to them, earmarking it for the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse. Or purchase one of the items from their store. And perhaps an e-mail to their city council if you feel so inclined.

Photo Credit: Fort Gratiot Lighthouse by Art Sturdevant. Some rights reserved.

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