Grosse Point Light

Infobox_Lighthouse

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caption = Grosse Point Light Station
location = Evanston, Illinois
coordinates = coord|42|3|50|N|87|40|33.7|W|region:US_type:landmark
yearbuilt = 1873
yearlit = 1874
automated = 1935cite web|url=http://www.uscg.mil/history/weblighthouses/LHIL.asp|title=Historic Light Station Information & Photography|publisher=United States Coast Guard|accessdate=2008-07-20]
yeardeactivated = 1941 but reactivated 1946 as Private Aid to Navigation
foundation = Stone/Concrete
construction = Brick encased in concrete Italianate bracketing
shape = Conical tower attached to storage building
marking = yellow w/red trim & red roof [ [http://www.nps.gov/history/Maritime/light/grossept.htm National Park Service, Maritime Heritage, Inventory of Historic Lights, Grosse Point Light.] ] [cite web|url=http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pubs/LightLists/V7COMPLETE.PDF |format=PDF |work=Volume VII - Great Lakes |title=Light List |publisher=United States Coast Guard and United States Department of Homeland Security|ISBN=0-16-075021-0 |accessdate=2008-07-20]
height = convert|113|ft|m|abbr=on tower
elevation = convert|119|ft|m|abbr=on focal plane
lens = Second order Fresnel lens
currentlens = Second order Fresnel lens
intensity = 68,000 candlepower
range = Original: 21 miles (34 km)
characteristic = 2 white flashes every 15 seconds [cite web|url=http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pubs/LightLists/V7COMPLETE.PDF |format=PDF |work=Volume VII - Great Lakes |title=Light List |publisher=United States Coast Guard and United States Department of Homeland Security|ISBN=0-16-075021-0 |accessdate=2008-07-20]

The historic Grosse Point Light is located in Evanston, Illinois. Following several shipping disasters near Evanston, residents successfully lobbied the federal government for a lighthouse. Construction was completed in 1873. The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 8 1976. [http://www.nr.nps.gov/nrloc1.htm NRIS Database] , National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved on 2007-02-09.] On 20 January 1999, the lighthouse was designated a National Historic Landmark. [http://www.nps.gov/history/nhl/designations/Lists/IL01.pdf] It is maintained under the jurisdiction of the Evanston Lighthouse Park District, an independent taxing authority. [cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/nhl/designations/Lists/LIST07.pdf |format=PDF |title=List of National Historic Landmarks |pages=page 27 |year=2007 |month=November |publisher=National Park Service |accessdate=2008-07-20] cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=-2093369363&ResourceType=District |title=Grosse Point Lighthouse|work=National Historic Landmark |publisher=National Park Service|accessdate=2008-07-20] cite web|url=http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/76000707.pdf |format=PDF |title=National Historic Landmark Nomination: Grosse Point Light Station |date=1998-08-03|author=Terras, Donald J. |publisher=National Park Service|accessdate=2008-07-20 - cite web|url=http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Photos/76000707.pdf |format=PDF |title=Accompanying 9 images]

History

Impetus

The United States government agreed to construct the lighthouse at Grosse Point after several maritime disasters near the area showed need for it. Shoals were a real hazard, and ship traffic was increasing concurrent with development in the Midwest, the growth of Chicago, the aftermath of the Chicago Fire, and the increased trade and exploitation of natural resources throughout the Great Lakes.cite web|url=http://www.grossepointlighthouse.net/history.html |title=Grosse Point Lighthouse - History| publisher=Lighthouse Park District at grossepointlighthouse.net|accessdate=2008-07-20] Particularly influential was the 1860 sinking of the "Lady Elgin", a disaster which purportedly claimed up to 400 lives. Claims vary as to the exact number killed in the sinking of the "Lady Elgin". Estimates of 300 are available in the January 1990 issue of " [http://www.lib.niu.edu/ipo/1990/Ii900124.html Illinois Issues] " via Northern Illinois University Libraries. The estimate was reasserted by [http://mesh.medill.northwestern.edu/mnschicago/archives/1999/04/northside_man_r.html Northwestern University's Medill News Service] on April 15 1999. An [http://www.lib.rochester.edu/index.cfm?page=470 excerpt from the 1860 diary] of Fannie Seward indicates that the reports of the day stated 300 dead. However, other sources such as information hosted on Stanford University's servers estimates 470 dead.] The citizens of Evanston petitioned the government for the light station during the Civil War but the project was delayed by the war.cite web|url=http://gis.hpa.state.il.us/hargis/PDFs/200705.pdf|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Grosse Point Lighthouse|format=PDF|publisher=Illinois Historic Preservation Agency|work=HAARGIS Database|accessdate=2008-07-20] Earlier lighthouses in Chicago proper were proving themselves ineffective, so there was a perceived need for action.cite web|url=http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/michigan/grossepoint/grossepoint.htm |author=Pepper, Terry|title=Grosse Point Lighthouse |work=Seeing the Light: Lighthouses on the western Great Lakes |publisher=terrypepper.com |accessdate=2008-07-20]

Construction

The project to construct a lighthouse began in 1872, supervised by Orlando Metcalf Poe, who designed the buildings.cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/nhl/grossept.htm |author=Terras, Donald J.|title=Grosse Point Light Station - National Historic Landmark Study |work=Maritime Heritage Program, Maritime Landmarks |publisher=National Park Service|accessdate=2008-07-20] Most of the construction was completed by June 30 1873, although the lamp would not be lit for several months. Finally, in March 1874, the light commenced operation. The building is designed in Italianate architecture.cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/history/Maritime/light/grossept.htm|publisher=National Park Service |title=Grosse Point Light|work=Maritime Heritage Program, Inventory of Historic Lights|accessdate=2008-07-20]

Deactivation and Conversion to Private Aid to Navigation

In 1935, the federal government turned over the grounds and the buildings, except for the lighthouse tower and light, to the city of Evanston. The Grosse Point Light Station was decommissioned by the United States Coast Guard in 1941 as a precaution against possible air raids in the wake of the attack on Pearl Harbor. After the shutdown, the city received the tower and the light, as well. Even so, the lease allowed the government to take the light station back if they ever needed it for official use. The light was reignited in 1945 and has served as a secondary navigational aid ever since. The lighthouse is operated by the Lighthouse Park District of Evanston, Illinois, once known as the Northeast Park District, but since renamed in honor of the lighthouse.

Lantern and optics

The second order Fresnel lens (pronounced [freɪ'nel] ) is the largest lens (one of five) placed on the Great Lakes, which underscores the importance of this light.cite web|url=http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Michigan/GrossePoint.htm |author=Wobser, David| title=Grosse Point Light |publisher=boatnerd.com|accessdate=2008-07-20] The lens was manufactured by Henry-Lepaute Company of Paris. It is still in place, which makes it even more unique;it has been said that this is the single remaining 2nd Order Fresnel lens that is still in place and in service on the Great Lakes.

Architecture and design

Light tower

The Gross Point Light's primary structure is the conical light tower. The tower stands on a concrete foundation with wooden piles that reach to a depth of 30 feet. The tower's two outer walls include an inner air space between them. The inner wall has a thickness of 8 inches and rises vertically. The outer wall, at a thickness of 12 inches, rises at a slight incline and gives the tower its conical shape. The tower begins with a 22 foot circumference at its base and 13 feet 3 inches at its parapet. The tower lantern is of glass and iron construction and is topped by a copper sheeting roof.

Grosse Point legends

The site of the Grosse Point Lighthouse is the purported site where Father Jacques Marquette landed in 1674 during his trip down the west side of Lake Michigan to visit various Illinois Native American tribes. This tale is largely anecdotal as there is no real historical proof that this ever occurred.

ee also

*Lighthouses in the United States
*National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act

Notes

Further reading

* [http://www.michiganlighthouse.org/bibliography.html Bibliography on Michigan and other lighthouses.]
* Crompton, Samuel Willard & Michael J. Rhein, "The Ultimate Book of Lighthouses" (2002) ISBN 1592231020; ISBN 978-1592231027.
* Jones, Ray & Bruce Roberts, "American Lighthouses" (Globe Pequot, September 1, 1998, 1st Ed.) ISBN 0762703245; ISBN 978-0762703241.
* Jones, Ray,"The Lighthouse Encyclopedia, The Definitive Reference" (Globe Pequot, January 1, 2004, 1st ed.) ISBN 0762727357; ISBN 978-0762727353.
* Karamanski, T. Ed., "Historic Lighthouses and Navigational Aids of the Illinois Shore of Lake Michigan" (Loyola University & Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, 1989).
* Mayer, Harold M., "The Port of Chicago" (U. of Chicago Press, 1957).
* Noble, Dennis, "Lighthouses & Keepers: U. S. Lighthouse Service and Its Legacy" (Annapolis: U. S. Naval Institute Press, 1997). ISBN 1557506388; ISBN 9781557506382.
* Oleszewski, Wes, "Great Lakes Lighthouses, American and Canadian: A Comprehensive Directory/Guide to Great Lakes Lighthouses", (Gwinn, Michigan: Avery Color Studios, Inc., 1998) ISBN 0-932212-98-0.
*
* Putnam, George R., "Lighthouses and Lightships of the United States", (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1933).
* Rice, Mary J., "Chicago: Port to the World" (Follet Publishers, 1969).
* United States Coast Guard, "Aids to Navigation", (Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1945).
* [http://www.uscg.mil/History/weblighthouses/h_lhbib.asp United States Coast Guard, "Aids to Navigation Historical Bibliography".]
*
* Wright, Larry and Wright, Patricia, "Great Lakes Lighthouses Encyclopedia" Hardback (Erin: Boston Mills Press, 2006) ISBN 1550463993.

External links

* [http://www.grossepointlighthouse.net/parkdistrict.html Groose Point Lighthouse park disrict.]
* [http://www.grossepointlighthouse.net/index.html Grosse Point Lighthouse]
* [http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/il.htm Lighthouse Digest, Illinois lighthouses, University of North Carolina.]
* [http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=237 Lighthouse friends, Grosse Point Light.]
*National Park Service [http://www.nps.gov/history/Maritime/light/grossept.htm Maritime Heritage, Inventory of Historic Lights, Grosse Point Light.]
* [http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.il0901 Survey number HABS IL-1212] - Grosse Point Lighthouse, 2601 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Cook County, IL
* [http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/nhl/grossept.htm Terras, Donald J., "Grosse Point Light Station Study", National Historic Landmark, 1999.]
* [http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=42.063878,-87.676032&spn=0.002055,0.003369&t=h&z=18&om=1 Satellite view of Grosse Point Light, Google earth.]
* [http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/michigan/grossepoint/grossepoint.htm Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Grosse Point Light.]
*United States Coast Guard's [http://www.uscg.mil/history/WEBLIGHTHOUSES/LHIL.asp history and photographs of lighthouses, Illinois.]
* [http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pubs/LightLists/V7COMPLETE.PDF Volume 7, US Coast Guard Lightlist (PDF).]
* [http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Michigan/GrossePoint.htm Wobser, David, Grosse Point Light, boatnerd.com.]