Green Island (Wisconsin)

Green Island is an island in the Bay of Green Bay in Marinette County, Wisconsin. The Green Island Light is on the island. [ [http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/michigan/green-island/index.htm Seeing The Light - Green Island Lighthouse ] ]

The 87+ acre island is crescent shaped and has submerged shoals extending out 1/2 or more on each of the southern sides. The northern side consists of large boulders and rock. The southern side is weathered gravel and small stone. Safe anchorage on the southern side can be had up to 25 to convert|50|ft|m off shore. As for the northern side one must stay out at least 150-200 feet.

History

Once called Sullivan's Island during the fur trapping era, (from Jean Nicolets recount of his exploration of the baye of Puants) and before the expansion of US territories. In the mid 1700s this territory was in French possession. After the French and Indian Wars the territory was in British control until the War of 1812 when the territories of Michigan, Wisconsin and others were ceded to the U.S Government by treaty. In the summer of 1816 a flotilla of four ships established a US fort, Fort Howard, at LeBaye now Green Bay proper.

The expedition had been split up by a squall around the Deaths Door. The flagship "Washington" guided by French trapper August Grignon, took refuge upon an island to the north of Deaths Door, which is now called Washington Island. The second group headed on south to seek refuge at an island, then called Vermillion Island. This group was guided by French fur trapper Stanislaus Chappieu, or Louis Chappee as he is sometimes referred.

Whether the names Sullivans' Island or Vermillion Island are actually what is Green Island today is lost to speculation. And when the term Green Island starts to apply is still in research. But by the year 1840, the year of the first Government survey, the island was called Green Island and was in possession of the local native Americans. Whether these were the Menominees' or the Winnebagos is in question. The 1840 surveyors didn't actually visit the island, it was hand drawn on the plot of the areas of Marinette and Menominee.

The years of 1840-1850 saw a great expanse in the area's lumber industry. And the area of Marinette, Wisconsin and Menominee Michigan grew at an accelerated rate. By 1860 the need for a navigation aid on Green Island was addressed by the 4th district of the US light Keepers based in Detroit, Michigan. Prior to this date the island was issued a patent to Peter McBride on March 2nd 1854, and he became the rightful owner of the entire convert|87.72|acre|m2|sing=on island.

On March 3, 1859 the United States government appropriated $6000.00 to be spent on erecting at lighthouse on Green Island and or any adjacent islands. And then on April 2, 1860 the State of Wisconsin passed an act ( Chapter 374 of the Laws of 1860) authorizing land to be seized for use by the State. On September 12, 1860 the island was surveyed and five stone monoliths were placed to mark the borders of the convert|1.998|acre|m2|sing=on site that was seized for use by the United States Light House Service. The fifth stone depicting the U.S. Light house Service insignia was placed next to marker #4. With the funds already appropriated the construction of the lighthouse began immediately. The State of Wisconsin ceded the property over to the US Government and by Sept. 9, 1863 notice was issued that the lighthouse was nearing completion and that a lighthouse keeper be assigned immediately. Of the $6000.00 appropriated for the construction, $5998.06 was spent.

A notice to Mariners (#115) was published on Sept 10, 1863 of the new lighthouse on Green Bay and it's first exhibition was on the 1st of October 1863. The light was convert|50|ft|m above the mean level of Green Bay and is a 4th order Fresnel Lens showing a fixed white light and under normal conditions will be visible for convert|12|nmi|km.The position of this light is: Lat. 45 degrees 03 minutes 23 sec.North Long. 87 degrees 30 minutes 00 secs West of Greenwich.

Prior to the 1863 building of the lighthouse, there are records of a Light Boat that was stationed at the Green Island shoals. A letter from Sept 5, 1861 from 10th Dist Acting Inspector Mayhew of Buffalo N.Y. States; "Green Island Lt. Station Wis. Transmits Bill & Letter relating to Repairs of Boat"

As stated earlier the lighthouse was first lit on October 1, 1863, though the type of fuel used is not known, but could have been fish oil, Sperm whale oil, colza or lard oil. Kerosene at the time was considered far too dangerous. By 1863 sperm whale oil had risen to $ 2.43 per gallon and in consequence colza or rapeseed oil was introduced. Around 1867 lard oil was substituted for sperm whale oil. and colza oil in cold weather.

Who actually was on duty for the first lighting of the lighthouse lamp is not known, But the 1st Assigned lightkeeper was Samuel P. Drew, previously the keeper at Chambers Island Wisconson. His appointment began on October 26, 1863 at a salary of $400.00 per year.

On July 9 1867 Samuel Drews' salary was increased to $560.00 per year. This was the same year that he had his wife Mary Drew appointed assistant Lighthouse keeper, for a salary of $400.00 per. This appointment was disallowed by the Lighthouse Service in 1870, as a change of policy. Around this same time Samuel Drews' salary was increased to $600.00 per year.

GREEN ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS

convert|60|ft|m|abbr=on steel tower erected in 1957 to present, at present is solar powered.

Geology

Green Island was formed during the glacial period at the end of the Pleistocene Era, around 9000 to 8500 B.C. And is composed of various types of glacial deposits consisting of sandstone, limestone, granites and white and black marble.

Ecology

The center of the island is convert|690|ft|m above sea level and is of mixed forest. Personal explorations have revealed large stumps of White Pine and Oak. Currently the island is heavily forested with a mix of hardwoods and softwoods. To wit; White cedar. Aspen, Lombardy poplar, Pin oak, Willow, Maple, White Ash and others. The once cultivated areas are now a heavily forested with Lilac, Staghorn Sumac, and several fruit bearing berry trees. Also the island is thickly covered with Poison Ivy and Poison Oak, Thistle bushes, Red raspberry, Ragweed and various mosses and lichens.

From personal experience, one must wear protective clothing to prevent exposure from the poisonous plants. in summary the island is a jungle. It contains some of the tallest poison Ivy I have ever seen, ranging from 1 to convert|5|ft|m in height, and intertwined with Moonseed grape and other vines.

PROPERTY DESCRIPTIONS

The first record land deed for Green Island was issued to Peter McBride, on March 2nd 1854. McBride had mortgaged 1/2 interest in the island to A.C. Conn on September 29th 1857. In 1864 Peter McBride was compensated $39.96 for the parcel ceded to the US government for the convert|1.9|acre|m2|sing=on lighthouse site. Later on in 1866 A.C. Conn foreclosed on the McBride property and sold the entire island to Leroy Ireland for $190.00. This deed was recorded on July 21, 1866.

The U.S. government surveyed the convert|1.9|acre|m2|sing=on lighthouse site in 1860 and four stone monuments were placed, along with a fifth monument bearing the US Lighthouse Service inscription. convert|.79|acre|m2 of the southeast side remained private property, which was purchased by Samuel Drew, around 1867, when Leroy Ireland sold 1/2 interest to Drew. Ireland and Drew were to hold the title to the island in common. Then on July 30th 1867 Ireland sold his interest in the island to Daniel Nason, who inturn sold his interest to Elezner Ingalls for $200.00. Samuel and Mary Drew bought out Ingalls half of the island on June 15th 1870 $200.00. The Drew's then owned the entire island except for the governments convert|1.9|acre|m2. On October 16th 1878 Drew sold the southeastern tip of convert|.79|acre|m2 to the US government for $150.00

Samuel Drew and his wife Mary seem to have been in the lighthouse service for some time prior to his Green Island appointment. Their Children are as follows; James Drew was born 1845 at Lockport N. Y., Helen Marie Drew was born April 9 1846 in Bufflo N. Y., George W. Drew was born June 8 1850 in Buffalo, N. Y., Kate Drew was born March 11 1856 on Rock Island, Mary Drew was born Sept 15 1858 on St. Martin's Island, Wilbur Drew was born 1861 on Washington Island, Anna Hilda Drew was born June 30 1869 on Green Island and died Sept 26 1869 ( she was buried on the island) I must note here: Some web-sites show the gravestone of Anna H Drew, which is near the ruins of the lighthouse. But this burial site is not the original burial. Vandals had made off with the two markers and it took some 30 years before the culprit came forward with them. A great grandson of Samuel Drew returned the grave markers to the island ca. 1990' and remounted then under a large lilac tree just convert|4|ft|m from the front door of the old lighthouse. Anna's original burial lies to the SE and was supposedly under another lilac tree that was on Drew property. More on the locations and property descriptions later.

The last son to be born was Frank Albert Drew born March 3 1868 on Green Island, Frank was later to become a heroic lighthouse keeper and has a US Coast bouy tender named in his honor. Two Daughters were married on the island one being Helen Marie on June 27 1871 and the other was Mary E. April 9 1878.

In 1864 there was a fire at the lighthouse, although not documented by name, one report( by Geo Putnam) indicates; "in 1864 a Lake Michigan Lighthouse keeper on his own responsibilty, used kerosene in his lamp, but after several nights an explosion scattered oil all over the keeper, and a second violent explosion blew out the whole lantern from the tower and destroyed the lens" Although no name is mentioned here. A second document from Lighthouse Service Engineer J. D. Graham of 11th Dist. Detroit, dated 29 March 1864 states; " Green Island Light Station Wis. Estimate as to erection of temporary Structure and report of Clerk of Works A. Lederle, on damage by fire to.."

Notes