Poe Reef Light

Infobox_Lighthouse


caption = The light in 2001
location = Lake Huron, Michigan
coordinates = coord|45|41|13.19|N|84|26|37.19|W
yearbuilt = 1927
yearlit = 1929
automated = 1974
yeardeactivated =
foundation = Concrete crib
construction = Concrete
shape = Square
marking = White & black Daymark bands w/red roof on lantern
height = Tower - convert|56|ft|m
elevation = Focal plane - convert|71|ft|m
lens = Third order Fresnel Lens
currentlens = 375 mm Tidelands Acrylic Optic
intensity =
range =
characteristic = Iso W 2s
fogsignal = HORN: fog signal every 30 seconds, year round. [ [http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/miel.htm Lighthouse Digest, Poe Reef Light, University of North Carolina.] ] RACON: Z (– – • •). [ [http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pubs/LightLists/V7COMPLETE.PDF Volume 7, U.S. Coast Guard Lightlist (PDF).] ]
Fresnel Lens Disposition =
intensity =
admiralty =
NGA =
ARLHS = USA-610
USCG = 7-11750
admiralty =
NGA =

Poe Reef has historically caused problems for shipping. The reef is located at the northern end of Lake Huron where it is necessary for boats heading to Chicago to pass through a narrow strait and still avoid shallow water. The most common path for powered vessels is to go south of Bois Blanc Island (Michigan). The water at the reef is only 8 feet deep and there's nothing in the vicinity for boats to easily use that would tell them to avoid the area.

Many attempts were made to position a lightship here [ [http://www.terrypepper.com/Lights/huron/poereef/index.htm Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Poe Reef Light.] ] but those all failed. Four different lightships served beginning in 1893: Lightships Nos. 62, 59, 96, and No. 99. The Poe Reef is one of two that make passage through the South Channel hazardous. [ [http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Huron/poereef.htm Wobser, David, Boatnerd.com, Poe Reef Light.] ] The other is the site of Fourteen Foot Shoal Light. The decision was made by the United States Lighthouse Service in 1926 to construct a permanent light here. That work was completed in 1928.

In this channel, the Poe Reef lighthouse marks the northern end of the safe channel and the Fourteen Foot Shoal Light marks the southern side of the channel.

This station was designed so that the crew stationed here could also remotely operate the Fourteen Foot Shoal Light [ Seeing the Light opcit] . At this time, both lights are automated. The reef and light are named for Orlando Poe. [ [http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Huron/poereef.htm Wobser, David, Boatnerd.com, Poe Reef Light.] ] It shares designs with a twin, Martin Reef Light, (which is all white, however) [ [http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/miel.htm Lighthouse Digest, Poe Reef Light, University of North Carolina.] ] which was built in 1927 by the same construction crew. [ [http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Huron/poereef.htm Wobser, David, Boatnerd.com, Poe Reef Light.] ]

Bibliography and further reading

* [http://www.michiganlighthouse.org/bibliography.html Bibliography on Michigan lighthouses.]
* Crompton, Samuel Willard & Michael J. Rhein, "The Ultimate Book of Lighthouses" (2002) ISBN 1592231020; ISBN 978-1592231027.
* Hyde, Charles K., and Ann and John Mahan. "The Northern Lights: Lighthouses of the Upper Great Lakes." Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1995. ISBN 0814325548 ISBN 9780814325544.
* 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.
* 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.
* Penrod, John, "Lighthouses of Michigan", (Berrien Center, Michigan: Penrod/Hiawatha, 1998) ISBN 9780942618785 ISBN 9781893624238.
*
* Putnam, George R., "Lighthouses and Lightships of the United States", (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1933).
* 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".]
*
* Wagner, John L., "Michigan Lighthouses: An Aerial Photographic Perspective", (East Lansing, Michigan: John L. Wagner, 1998) ISBN 1880311011 ISBN 9781880311011.
* Wargin, Ed, "Legends of Light: A Michigan Lighthouse Portfolio" (Ann Arbor Media Group, 2006). ISBN 9781587262517.
* Wright, Larry and Wright, Patricia, "Great Lakes Lighthouses Encyclopedia" Hardback (Erin: Boston Mills Press, 2006) ISBN 1550463993

External links

* [http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080520/SPECIAL01/80519001 Detroit News, Interactive map on Michigan lighthouses.]
* [http://www.lighthousesrus.org/HuronNE.htm Interactive map, pictures, descriptions of Northern Lake Huron lights.]
* [http://www.lighthousecentral.com/lighthouse_gallery.php4?lighthouse=Poe%20Reef%20Light Lighthouse Central, Poe Reef Light "The Ultimate Guide to East Michigan Lighthouses" by Jerry Roach] (Publisher: Bugs Publishing LLC - July 2006).] ISBN 0974797715; ISBN 9780974797717.
* [http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/miel.htm Lighthouse Digest, Poe Reef Light, University of North Carolina.]
* [http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=709 Lighthouse Friends, Poe Reef Light.]
* [http://www.lighthousefriends.com/macstraits.html Lighthouses in the Mackinac Straits.]
* [http://www.michiganlights.com/poereeflh.htm Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, Poe Reef Light.]
* [http://www.michiganlighthouse.org/lighthouse_detail.php74.htm Michigan Lighthouse Fund, Poe Reef Light.]
* National Park Service, [http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/light/poereef.htm Maritime Heritage Program, Inventory of Historic Lights, Poe Reef Light.]
* [http://www.terrypepper.com/Lights/huron/poereef/index.htm Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Poe Reef Light.]
* U.S. Coast Guard [http://www.uscg.mil/history/weblighthouses/LHMI.asp 's complete list of Michigan lights with photographs and descriptions, including Poe Reef Light.]
* [http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pubs/LightLists/V7COMPLETE.PDF Volume 7, U.S. Coast Guard Lightlist (PDF).]
* [http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Huron/poereef.htm Wobser, David, Boatnerd.com, Poe Reef Light.]

References

ee also

*Lighthouses in the United States