Seul Choix Light

Infobox_Lighthouse

---

caption = The light in 2006
location = Schoolcraft County, Michigan.
coordinates = coord|45.922778|-85.9125
yearlit = 1895
automated = 1972
yeardeactivated =
foundation = Ashlar stone
construction = Brick, Italianate bracketing
shape = Conical
height = Tower - convert|77|ft|m
elevation = Focal plane - convert|80|ft|m
lens = Third order Fresnel lens
range = convert|17|mi|km
characteristic = white flash every 6 seconds

The Seul Choix light is a lighthouse located in the northwest corner of Lake Michigan in Schoolcraft County, Michigan. The station was established in 1892, started service in 1895, and was fully automated in 1972. At this time, there is a museum at the light and both the building and the grounds are open for [http://www.exploringthenorth.com/seulchoix/seul.html visitors] from Memorial Day until mid-October. [ [http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/michigan/seulchoix/seulchoix.htm Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, a full history of this light.] ]

This location is the only harbor of refuge in a long and dangerous stretch of coast; the translation of the French name is "Only Choice" so it is clear that it was used as a harbor of refuge by the early French traders in this area. Local references [ Gulliver County Historical Society, [http://www.exploringthenorth.com/seulchoix/seul.html Seul Choix Point] , visitation data and travel directions] state that the correct pronunciation is "Sis-shwa", assumed to be the common name used by both the French Voyageurs and the Native Americans with whom they traded furs.

In the 1880’s, there was increased maritime traffic between harbors on Lake Michigan's western shore and Green Bay on the one hand, and the Straits of Mackinac on the other. Although the St. Helena Island Light illuminated the western entry into the Straits, and Poverty Island Light lighted the entrance to the Bays de Noc, there were no lighthouses to aid mariners navigating an unlighted 100 mile stretch of coastline on the southern shore of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The navigation season along this shoreline would begin and end with frequent and treacherous storms. Waves would build as they traversed the lake, making shelter a matter of life and death. Thus, mariners would seek shelter on the leeward side of points protruding into the lake along this stretch of unlighted shore.

The United States Lighthouse Board sought to mark the sheltering harbor, and provide a visual way point between the two existing lights. After considerable investigation and delay, this lighthouse resulted. It also included a separate fog horn building, and a life saving station. [ [http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/michigan/seulchoix/seulchoix.htm Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Seul Choix Point Light.] ]

The original optic was a fixed third-order Henry-LePaute Fresnel lens (pronounced [freɪ'nel] ). After its removal in 1973, it was housed in the Steamship Valley Camp Museum in Sault Ste. Marie, but is now in a private collection according to a sign in the keeper's dwelling. [ [http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=565 Lighthouse Friends, Seul Choix Light.] ]

The light was replaced with a DCB-224 aero beacon [ [http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/closeups/illumination/aerobeacon/dcb224.htm Aero beacon, Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light.] ] manufactured by the Carlisle & Finch Company. [ [http://www.carlislefinch.com/marine/aidsnav.htm Carlisle & Finch Company.] ] In this configuration, its characteristic is a white flash every six seconds, which is visible for a distance of 17 nautical miles in clear weather conditions, like the original lens. In 1973, the Coast Guard closed the station, and left the light to operate unmanned. [ [http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/michigan/seulchoix/seulchoix.htm Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, a full history of Seul Choix light.] ]

On July 19, 1984, the site was listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Reference #84001846Name of Listing: SEUL CHOIX POINTE LIGHT STATION (U.S. COAST GUARD/GREATLAKES TR). In 1987 it was also listed on the state registry. [ [http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=565 Lighthouse Friends, Seul Choix Light.] ]

The light is the subject of drawings, [ [http://home.rochester.rr.com/mjm/light2.html Mulgrew, Marilyn, Drawing of Seul Choix Light.] ] and even needlepoint illustrations. [ [https://www.dataleap.com/secure/pin/orderpage.htm Needlepoint of Seul Choix 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.
* Penrose, Laurie and Bill, A" Traveler’s Guide to 116 Michigan Lighthouses" (Petoskey, Michigan: Friede Publications, 1999). ISBN 0923756035 ISBN 9780923756031
*
* 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://marinas.com/view/lighthouse/944 Aerial photos, Seul Choix Light, marinas.com.]
* [http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080520/SPECIAL01/80519001 Detroit News, Interactive map on Michigan lighthouses.]
* [http://www.lighthousecentral.com/lighthouse_gallery.php4?lighthouse=Seul%20Choix%20Point%20Lighthouse Lighthouse Central, Photos of the Seul Choix Light, "The Ultimate Guide to Upper Michigan Lighthouses" by Jerry Roach] .]
* [http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/miup.htm Lighthouse Digest, Michigan Upper Peninsula lights (University of North Carolina).]
* [http://www.lighthousesrus.org/Maps/mapIt.htm?file=GL/MichiganNorth.xml Interactive map of Lights in Northern Lake Michigan, mapped by Google.]
* [http://www.lighthousefriends.com/macstraits.html Lighthouses in the Mackinac Straits, Lighthouse Friends.]
* [http://www.michiganlights.com/seulchoixlh.htm Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, Seul Choix Light.]
* [http://www.michigan.gov/documents/hal_mhc_shpo_lightmap_50933_7.pdf Map of Michigan Lighthouse] in PDF Format.
*National Park Service [http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/light/seul.htm Inventory of Historic Lights, Maritime Heritage Project, Seul Choix Pointe Light.]
* [http://www.greatlakelighthouse.com/ Seul Choix Point Light and Museum, home page.]
*U.S. Coast Guard [http://www.uscg.mil/history/weblighthouses/LHMI.asp 's complete list of Michigan lights with photographs and descriptions, including Seul Choix Pointe Light.]
* [http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pubs/LightLists/V7COMPLETE.PDF Volume 7, US Coast Guard Lightlist] in PDF Format.
* [http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Michigan/seulchoix.htm Wobser, David, Seul Choix Light, Boatnerd.com.]

Notes