- Crisp Point Light
-
Crisp Point Light 
Undated USCG photo Location Lake Superior shoreline, Michigan Coordinates 46°45.173′N 85°15.440′W / 46.752883°N 85.25733°WCoordinates: 46°45.173′N 85°15.440′W / 46.752883°N 85.25733°W Year first lit 1904 Deactivated 1947 Foundation poured concrete Construction brick Tower shape conical Markings / pattern White W/Black Lantern Height Tower - 58 feet (18 m) Focal height Focal plane - 62 feet (19 m) Original lens Fourth Order Fresnel lens Range 15 miles (24 km) ARLHS number USA-203 Crisp Point Light Station was one of five U.S. Life-Saving Service Stations along the coast of Lake Superior between Munising and Whitefish Point in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Located about fourteen miles (21 km) west of Whitefish Point, in 1876 it became "Life Saving Station Number Ten," of the U.S. Life-Saving Service District 10 (later part of District 11). Crisp Point is named from one of the Life Saving Station keepers, Christopher Crisp, who is said to have been "an iron-willed boatman." Surfmen were stationed there to aid mariners and ships in distress. The station, along with the rest of the United States Life-Saving Service, was integrated into the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915. The other four Life-Saving Stations were Vermilion Point (now Vermilion, Michigan), about five miles (8 km) east of Crisp Point, Two Hearted River, about five or six miles (10 km) west of Crisp Point, Deer Park, Michigan (formerly known as the Sucker River Station and Muskallonge Lake Station), about ten or eleven miles (18 km) west of Two Hearted River, and Grand Marais about fifteen or sixteen miles west of Deer Park.[1]
In 1915, these stations became part of the U.S. Coast Guard. In 1939 the U.S. Lighthouse Service also merged under the control of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Contents
History
Crisp Point Lighthouse was first proposed in 1896 and every year thereafter until finally approved in June, 1902. Construction began one year later. The 15 acres (61,000 m2) of land was purchased at a price of $30.00. The deed was dated May 21, 1903. In the 58 feet (18 m) high tower a fourth order red Fresnel lens[2] by Sautter and Lemonnier of Paris, France was installed.[3] The light was displayed for the first time in May 1904.
The lighthouse tower is 58 feet (18 m) from base to the lantern's ventilator ball top.
This lighthouse and life saving station have undergone massive damage. All were destroyed by erosion, except for the tower and one wall of the entrance room. In the winter of 1997/98, the loss was stayed by the installation of one thousand cubic yards of stone in front of the tower. There are further plans for protection and stabilization as funds become available.[4]
The stretch of coast between Whitefish Point and Grand Island became known as "The Shipwreck Coast." On November 10, 1975, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank during a violent storm. It sank in Lake Superior about 17 miles (27 km) northeast of Crisp Point. The Fitzgerald's last radio communication was with the Coast Guard station at Grand Marais. In fact, some tourists go to the five life saving stations in an organized manner for a day trip.[5]
Undated USCG File: Lighthouse with keepers dwelling
Nearby, in the Great Lakes Storm of 1913 the freighter Major (built in 1889) was stranded near the point; and the 1902 William Nottingham lost three men in the area, after they agreed to fetch assistance in a lifeboat, which overturned as they embarked. See, Shipwrecks of the 1913 Great Lakes storm and List of victims of the 1913 Great Lakes storm.
This light was almost completely lost due to the elements and neglect.[3] Also demolished were the original white frame boathouse, barn, brick oil house and two outbuildings. In 1997-98, one thousand cubic yards of stone were placed in front of the tower to stabilize and protect it.[6]
Ownership of Crisp Point Light was transferred from the Coast Guard to Luce County in February, 1997 under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966,[7] which is the predecessor to the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000.
Present
The Crisp Point Light is now a center for renovation and renewal. Under the direction of the Crisp Point Lighthouse Historical Society, and other cooperating organizations, there are recurring events at the site.[8] Once on the "Doomsday List", the lighthouse has been returned to pristine condition.[9] The service building that was destroyed years ago has been rebuilt. And a visitor center has been built next to the parking lot. The visitor center contains bathrooms, a very small shop, and a little museum. A fourth order Fresnel lens has been loaned to the society for display.[10]
See also
- Lighthouses in the United States
- Shipwrecks of the 1913 Great Lakes storm
- List of lifesaving stations in Michigan
Notes
- ^ Crisp Point Light Historical Society.
- ^ Fresnel lens at Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light.
- ^ a b Colt, Edin, "Crisp Point Light" Boatnerd.com.
- ^ Michigan lighthouse fund, Crisp Point Light.
- ^ Lifesaving tour.
- ^ Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, Crisp Point Light.
- ^ Crisp Point Lighthouse history.
- ^ Crisp Point Lighthouse Organization, Calendar of Events.
- ^ "2008 Featured Lighthouse", Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival 2008 informational pamphlet, p.3.
- ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the United States: Michigan's Eastern Upper Peninsula". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/miup.htm.
External links
- Aerial photos, Crisp Point Light, marinas.com.
- Colt, Edin, "Crisp Point Light" Boatnerd.com.
- Crisp Point Light Historical Society.
- Interactive map of lighthouses in eastern Lake Superior, powered by Google.
- Lighthouse Central, Crisp Point light The Ultimate Guide to Upper Michigan Lighthouses by Jerry Roach. (Publisher: Bugs Publishing LLC - 2007). ISBN 978-0-9747977-2-4.
- Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, Crisp Point Light.
- Michigan lighthouse fund, Crisp Point Light.
- National Park Service, Inventory of Historic Lighthouses, Crisp Point Light.
- Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Crisp Point Light.
- Shipwreck Museum, at Whitefish Point Light.
- U.S. Coast Guard Search & Rescue Index
Lighthouses of Michigan See also: List of lighthouses in MichiganNorthern upper peninsula Au Sable Light • Big Bay Point Light • Copper Harbor Light • Copper Harbor Front Range Light • Crisp Point Light • Eagle Harbor Light • Eagle Harbor Range Lights • Eagle River Light • Fourteen Mile Point Light • Grand Island East Channel Light • Grand Island Harbor Rear Range Light • Grand Island North Light • Granite Island Light • Gull Rock Light Station • Huron Island Light • Isle Royale Light • Manitou Island Light Station • Marquette Harbor Light • Mendota (Bete Grise) Light • Munising Front Range Light • Munising Rear Range Light • Portage River (Jacobsville) Light • Passage Island Light • Rock Harbor Light • Rock of Ages Light • Sand Hills Light • St. Martin Island Light • Stannard Rock Light • Thunder Bay Island Light • Whitefish Point LightSouthern upper peninsula DeTour Reef Light • Manistique East Breakwater Light • Martin Reef Light • Menominee Pier Light • Naubinway Island Light • Peninsula Point Light • Poverty Island Light • Sand Point Light Escanaba • Sand Point Light Baraga • Seul Choix Light • Squaw Island Light • White Shoal LightSt. Mary's River Frying Pan Island Light • Pipe Island Light • Point Iroquois Light • Round Island Light (St. Mary's River) • Six Mile Point Range Rear LightPortage River/Ship Canal Keweenaw Waterway (Portage Lake) Lower Entrance • Keweenaw Waterway Upper Entrance Light • Rouleau Point Range Front and Rear LightsStraits of Mackinac Bois Blanc Light • McGulpin Point Light • Old Mackinac Point Light • Round Island Light • Round Island Passage • St. Helena Island LightWestern lower peninsula Beaver Island Harbor Light • Beaver Island Head Light • Big Sable Point Light • Charlevoix Light • Charlevoix South Pier Light • Frankfort Light • Frankfort South Range Light • Grand Haven Light • Grand Haven South Pierhead Outer Light • Grand Haven Main Light • Gray's Reef Light • Holland Harbor Light • Ile Aux Galets • Little Sable Point Light • Little Traverse Light • Ludington Light • Manistee Main Light • Manistee Pierhead lights • Miller Memorial Light • Mission Point Light • Mission Point Light (2) • Muskegon Breakwater Light • Muskegon Pier Light • Point Betsie Light • South Fox Island • South Haven Light • South Manitou Island Light • Waugoshance Light • White River LightEastern lower peninsula Alpena Light • Bellanger Park (Ecorse) Light • Caseville Harbor (Saginaw Bay) • Belle Isle Light • Charity Island Light • Cheboygan River Range Front Light • Cheboygan Crib Light • Detroit River Light • Fort Gratiot Light • Forty Mile Point Light • Fourteen Foot Shoal Light • Gibraltar Light • Gravelly Shoal Light • Harbor Beach Light • Manning Memorial Light • Mariners Memorial (River Rouge) Light • New Presque Isle Light • Old Presque Isle Light • Poe Reef Light • Pointe aux Barques Light • Port Austin Light • Port Sanilac Light • Saginaw River Range Front Light • Saginaw River Rear Range Light • Spectacle Reef Light • St. Clair Flats Front and Rear Range Light • Sturgeon Point Light • Tawas Point Light • Tri-Centennial Light of Detroit • William Livingtone Memorial LightHistorical (lost) lights Au Sable North Pierhead • Clinton River Light • Ecorse Light • Ecorse Range Rear • Gibraltar Light • Grassy Island Lighthouse • Grassy Island North Channel Range • Grassy Island South Channel Range • Grosse Isle South Channel Range • Harwood Point East Range Front (St. Mary's River) • Mama Juda Light • Mama Juda Range Front • Middle Lake George • Monroe Pier • New Buffalo • North Manitou Island • Rouleau Point Range Front and Rear • Saginaw Bay • Sand Beach North Entrance East • Squaw Point • St. Mary's River Lower Range Front • Turtle Island Light • Vidal Shoals Channel Range Front and Rear • Windmill Point Range Front and Rear • Winter Point Range FrontRelated – Lightship Huron, List of lifesaving stations in MichiganCategories:- Lighthouses in Michigan
- Upper Peninsula of Michigan
- History of the United States Coast Guard
- Museums in Luce County, Michigan
- Lighthouse museums in Michigan
- Buildings and structures completed in 1904
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
