Fo1111 10·300 UHITI!D STATI!S DEPAitTMI!NT Oil THE INTERIOR ITI>T81 (July 1969) NATIONAL PARIC SI!RVICI!

NATIONAL REGISTIR OP HISTORIC PLACIS INVINTORY -NOMINATION PORM

(Type all entripa - complete applicable section•)

Township

z 0 Oiatrict ~ Bullcllng Pulollc Acqulaltlon: Qg Occupied Yea: 0 Reatrlcted 0 Site 0 Structure 0 In Procen 0 Unoccupied Unr ..trlcte4 0 Object 0 Being Conaldered 0 Preaervation w In progreaa No

Park 0 Tranaportatlon 0 Colllfllenta lnduatrial Private Roaldonce 0 Other (Spocl") Military Rellglaua Muaeum z Stebbins w STREET AND NUMBER: w 503 Michigan National Tower

n Ris to

CITY 0" TOWN: Lans ing an ~ l!acellent 0 Rulna 0 Une••••... CONDITION (Citeclr One) 0 Altere .. eg Uneltere4 Stte

OK8CftlaK THK ~ftK8KNT AND OftleiNAI.

Th~ Old Presque Isle is a circular tower 30 feet tall , 18 feet in diameter at the base a nd 9 feet at the top. The-walls are 3 feet thick at ground level, tapering uniformly to 20 inches at the top . Stone vas v used in constructing the bottom two-thirds o f the tower, ·1hile brick 'as used for the top. The deck was of "soap- stone," four inches thick, with leaded joints. A circular stairvay of dressed stones leads to the lantern house, \•Jhich originally was a vlrought iron octagon with copper dome~

Adjacent to tne to1-tler is the bJo-and-one-half story bri~k ~ keeper's dwelling, 34 feet by 20 feet, over a ful~~ cellar '''i th 20 inch thick stone walls laid with lime mo :t't:ar. m Two rooms, each with a large fireplace, were originally on the first floor, with sleeping chambers ventilated by a dormer window in the half story. Twelve by 3 inch joists "' on the first floor support the doubled flooring; the other carpentry work is of similar sturdiness. The building is painted "''hi te and roofed \vi th wood shingles . The light .... s tation overlooks Presque Isle Harbor and i surrounded by :iiD a mixed forest of evergreens and hardwoods. c: n ....

0 z 0 18th Century 0 20th Century ~ 19th Century

AREAS 0,.. SIGINI,..ICANCE (Check One or More •• A.pproprlete) I; Abor lglnal 0 Education 0 Political 0 Urban Planning 0 Prehlatarlc 0 Engineering 0 Religion/Phi- 0 Other (Speclt,) 0 Historic 0 Industry losophy 0 Agriculture 0 Invention 0 Science 0 Architecture 0 Landscape 0 Sculpture 0 Art Architecture 0 Socia 1/Human- 0 Co111merce 0 Literature itorion 0 Com111unlcatlons 0 Military 0 Theater 0 Conservation O Music ~ T rons portotion

TATEMIENT OF SiGINI,..ICANCE

On July 7, 1838 Congress appropriated $5,000 for the construction of a lighthouse at Presque Isle, . An inspection of the location later that year by Lieutenant % James T. Romans s~wed th1t Presque Isle harbor was used 0 frequently by the coastal shipping trade and that it was '""the only "safe haven" between Detroit and Michilimackinac, a distance of 240 miles . Steamers also used the harbor to take on supplies of fuel wood. The site for the light selected by Lieutenant Romans was a slight rise of ground on the east side of the bay. This would p3rmit it to serve as both a coast light and a harbor light.

% The Detroit Free Press on July 17, 1839, carried a very detailed list of specifications for the proposed w lighthouse as part of the advertisement for a contractor . w Jeremiah Moors of Detroit won the bid. Moors was a mason who later listed himself as a "builder". He was employed in the construction of the Detroit Arsenal at Dearborn in the 1830s and later served as chief overseer during the construction of Fort Wayne .

Henry L. Woolsey was appointed the first keeper in September, 1840, and the light went into operation that fall. An inspection in 1843 termed the light "among the best on the lakes" but also reported that obstructions rendered it invisible to downward-bound ships. The light was of great importance , however, since ships sailing up the lake would turn westerly when assing it to head into the Straits of Mackinac. )'lli rn'Jt HQ \l 1.0 \<:,1'2. f.J\ [: ~~OR B~&LIOGRAPH!CAL RIF!R!NCIS A Trip Through the Lakes of North Ame rica . New York : J . Disturnell, 1857. p . 127. Conover, Jefferson S . Freemasonry in Michigan. Coldwater, Michigan : Conover Engraving and Printing Co ., 1897 . Vol. I , 312-14. Report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the State of Finances for 1868. Washington, D. C.: Government Printing Office, 1868. p . 375 . (cont'd)

CORNER LATITUDE LATITUDE LONG I TUDE

Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds NW 0 o 45 ° 20 ' 32. 83° 28 . 36' NE· 0 0 SE 0 0 sw 0 0 APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY : 9 acres !LIST ALL STATES AND- COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUN TV BOUNOARI ES

STATE : CODE COUNTY I CODE m / ')];. ;--~...~~; I'~ m STATE: CODE COUNTY: { / t-(~['~1\.,..~ CODE

~ .. 1 ~( .... STATE: CODE COUNTY : ·,., \,. IJ ~ - - CODE z I..-\ .~.1/\ nn.'I!A• STATE: CODE COUNTY : \-\ R..-r'1C::n ~ .< CODE -t '/_, J ::0 ·:: .·:: :;.;>.;.; \;::::::::::=:=::::::;:::::::======:===::::===:====::::-=·:·:·· ";.(/ ~ :~r:t] J~\ti~\~1:t/Jj]j~Jr~tK®~?]~~:mt ~~~;;~)~jr/~~~t~i~;~~;~~~~:J~=:=~~:==r\ c: NAME AND TITLE : ~ William Lowery, Research Historian n ORGANIZATION DATE -t Division of Michiqan Historv. n~nt- nf .:::t-~t-~ IAug. 1972 STREET AND NUMBER: 0 z CITY OR TOWN : STATE CODE Lansinq Michigan 26 ll~ O ~!ATe 4.JAJ.SON OFFI-CE R '' CERTIFtC~ttOfi ·.· .· < y ·· ·•• ? N.;(:i;JQ'!\!Ai ~~Gt$fg~ vgRtlftb);jJ(iij }

As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na­ I hereby certify that this property is included in the tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion National Register, in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procewres set forth by the National Park Servic e , The recommended (id~~~~ Chief, Office of Archeolo~y and H;z;Jric Preservation level of significance of this nomination is: National e9 State :J Local 0 Date _ 4__i_/ __,_// / _.::/.?.>_. ___

ATTEST: Deputy Director - Recreation Title and SLO I_;1J v ~_,.,/'-----.£2/-(__

Date Date

( Form 10-300o UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE (July 1969) Michi an NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM

ENTRY NUMBER (Continuation Sheet)

(NUtllber ell entrlee)

8 .2.. Statement of Significance In 1867 Congress appropriated funds to rebuild the keeper's house, but the Lighthouse Board decided instead v to construct a new, taller light at the top of Presque Isle. This light began operation on the opening of navigation in 1871.

The lamp and lamp house were removed from the old tower, v and the keeper transferred his reside·1ce to the new site. In 1897 the government sold the old lighthouse reservation to a private individual. Francis Stebbins, an Oldsmobile Automobile Company executive purchased the property in 1930. He made many renovations including the installation of a surplus lamp and lamp house in 1961. The keeper's house is now furnished with an interesting array of antiques, and the property is open in the summer months to the public.

A persistent rumor claims that Jefferson Davis was responsible for the construction of the Presque Isle Lighthouse while serving as an army officer in Wisconsin. Davis resigned his commission in 1835, and there seems to be no record sho wing he had any connection with the building.

Presque Isle Lighthouse is one of the oldest v on the and probably the oldest structure in that part of the state .

.. ----· ------Form 10-300a UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE (Dec. 1968) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Michigan NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY Presque Isle INVENTORY- NOMINATION FORM

ENTRY NUMBER (Continuation Sheet) APR (Number all entries)

9. Major Bibliographical References (cont'd)

Shoves's Business Advertiser and Detroit Directory for 1852 ~ 53. Detroit : n.n., 1852, p. 180.

Lag~rberg, Matt. "The Old Presque Isle Lighthouse."

Michigari History 1 XXXIV (1950) ~ 245 ~ 48. Wallin, Helen M. "Presque Isle Lighthouse Memorialized." Michigan Heritage, VI (1965), 177-81.

U.S., Congress, Senate. Report of the Fifth Auditor of the Treasury in Relation to the Act of July 7, 1837. S. Exec. Doc. 24, 25th Cong., 3rd Sess., 1838. pp. 116- 26.

~~~--~~--~· Statement of Approp~jatjons and Expe~di ''' ~hres f6i Public Buildings ... and other Public Works from March 4, 1789 , to June 30, 1882. s. Exec. Doc. 196, 47th Cong., 1st Sess., 1882. pp. 416-17

~------·------· ------·------~ 'I'ECH REVIEW Photos-'--'- Haps /

P-EVIE'd

HISTORIAN

ARCH EOLOGIST /j,/~ '? ~ ~/.f/.,?~.

>.RCHITECT .. (}('_~,-: ~- tM 3/l"L/ )3

BR Al'\CH CHIEf.'

ED ITORIAL ·REV IE\'/

I .

KEEPER

Acknowledge ti/!Oj/2- National Register write-up --J.,.j:...______Send-back Federal Register entry __b::....._ -_5_-_7__..3~------Re-submit ------APR 11- Register no.

I ' ' ! i I I I ' ! ! I' t I I I I' ! I' / fvt t ~ 5 I llJ ~

/ I I I }/ 5 t STONEFORT HARBOR SCA LE 1: 10,0001 I Ill ! SOUNDI:-JGS IN FElET \\\ 1 J Areas with depths to 24 feet a re tinted blue. ~ f I !I II ,.,_·- .....,_,... FEET -45;~7\ I~"' '"'' I oo o ooo

2 !--..... --;: 83'29' ~ l I /0 '.!, 8 14 I\51 \ 2 IS -..J ) II I I 17 ,3 I J3 - 24 21 38 r < '·0 ·l'/ ~,;~~lh ~ 41 c Bay "; 4 . "' s ._.-/ 31· 38 ----g- 6 5 5G 'j 40 29 4 2 3 1 39 J HI ---: 40 27 40 I I 5 .- 24 34 ..... 35 I ...,.- 12.\ ~- 1 I I FG - -- - .. _ 29 4 1 24 30 I 'j ! I I $ II l : ~ -p - --~~ 28 I I II 13 35 ' 15 33 ' 1 12 14 18 26 27 '\ 28 26 32 28 36 137 I - s " (, " " " " "" " 22 30 31 28 37 I. --~reoc- 12 16 27 32 138 27 39 30 34 40 ~37 ri-'y 139 26 29 45

~ "" '- X '\. '~ 4 4 r NORTH ALBANY' ...... POINT 14 44 15 .J 41 /-, ~1 1 1 10 '-5 III. ! 0 I g Il l 43 ~. - * 3 10 45 SCALE 1: 150!000 9 11 141 I }-.

I. SOUNDINGS Ir:N FEET ~· ~ * 2 ~ '3 I 45 Areas with depths to 12. feet are tinted blue. 8--- 6 -;;;- ~ j 6 FEET c:::> \ 3 :. , I 46 1 rJ :I ocbo: 4 1000 200;3•29, 83• 28. * _ c, , J I =: \C \ '·- l ____ L=_ r:.... Ill 2' --~e3'3o' __ 83'z-' ~ --- 83'25' ------EdiLion of <\pr·il l9G 7 Arrr.y·U SLate~ Sur.ey.Detro11·L11ho 1967·1450 p , \.'l"U Form 10-301 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE (July 1969) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE I-IATIOI-IAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY PROPERTY MAP FORM

(Type all entries - attach to OT enclose with map) "'z 0 .... u ::l It: ....

"'z w w

"' TO BE INCLUOEO ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundaries where required. AVt\ ~ t,. c_ 2. North arrow. S·- 3. Latitude and longitude reference. Q, I

ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER

STATE

Date Entered aPR 111973

Location

Prosque Isl Township ~eque Iele Count7 Mendon st. Joseph CoUDtJ

u Ph'l' Also Notified State Historic Pr~tion Offic~ uon. ~ 1p A. Hart Bon. Rooort P. Griffin Mr. Samuel MUst in, Dep1t7 Pir ctor Bon. Philip E. Ruppe R oreation, Depo.rtmunt of N tural . Bon. Ed\'A'lrd Ihltc:hinoon Reoourcea son Bailding ~r c.. 4r; Northeast Region lansing, )Siehigan 48926

~NRowland:lmp 4-18-73 Address reply to: DEPARTMENT OF TR AN SPORTATION COMMANDER (flp) Ninth Coast Guard Distiict UNITED STAT ES COAST G UARD 1240 East 9th St. C!eve;iand, Ohio 44199

• 11011 14 August 1981

Department of Interior National Park Services 440 "G'' Street, NW Washington, D. C. 20240

Gentlemen:

Pursuant to a Coast Guard program to maintain our lighthouse stations on the Great Lakes, more explicit information is needed.

Some of our buildings have deteriorated and are in dilapidated condition. Before we formulate plans for their rehabilitation and to comply with regulations directing the manner in which repairs can be made, we must know which buildings/structures are historical.

Therefore, we have enclosed a list of Coast Guard properties on the National Register and request that you identify specific structure/ buil dings that are on the register •

. Sincerely~

U. S. NICHOLS Chief, Logistics & Property Branch By direction of the Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District

Encl: (1) List of Historical properties

' ·- -

~.;.;- -"l..l 1 I ~·.: .-:' COAST GUARD PROPERTIES on the NATIONAL REGISTER

1. Au Sable Light, Alger County , Michigan /_

2. Big Sable Light Station, Mason County, M~chigan 0

T 3. Gr?~d Traverse Light, Leelau County, Michigan

~ 4 . Granite Island Light Station, Marquette County, Michigan t.-­ /..n 1 5. Ile Aux Galet Light Station, Emmet County, Michigan 10

6. Isle Royale Light Station, Keweenaw County, Michigan ~~ n 1 7. LaPointe Station, Ashland County, Mich~gan /

~ 8. Manitou Island Light Station, Keweenaw County, Michigan 0

~ 9. Pointe Betsie Light Station, Benzie County, Michigan J

10. Presque Isle Light Station, Presque Isle County, Michigan ~

11. Rawley Point .Light Station, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin I 0

12. Saginaw River Light Station, Lake Huron County, Michigan ·; 1 · ,._

13.. Sandusky Bay Light Station (Cedar Point), Erie County, Ohio

~ 14. Seul Choix Point Light Station, Schoolcraft County, Michigan 1

15. Sherwood Point Light Station, Door County, Wisconsin 9

') 16. Spectacle Reef Light Statci.on, Mackinac County, Michigan I

17. St. Me3.rtin Island Light Station, Delta County, Michigan '? l ' 1 18. Station, Alcona County, Michigan ')

19. Tawas Point Light Station, Iosco County, Michigan ~

20 . Thunder Bay Island Light Station, Alpena County, Michigan ( D

21. Two Harbors Light Sta;Qion, Lake County, c....--- _,__ 1 1,1 f ' I ...... ,j .;- ()(I. 1 22. waugoshance Light Station, Emmet County, Michigan 0

23. West Sister Island Light, Lucas Cow. ty, Ohio / 24. Wind Point Light Station, Racine County, Wisconsin

'1 : ~"' Ll~-

Enclosure (1) ,.;;;;;- ~ I:Z~J7·r)

., I 7 198! h!lr. U. S. Nichols Chief Logi.<)tics and Pt·operty l-3rant~h Ninth Goa t Guard District United States Coast Guat'd Dep"rtment of Transportation 1240 East Sth Street

Clcveland1 Ohio 44199

Dear Mr. Nichols:

L'1 OU[' letter or September 8, 1981, we informed you that t."'ples of nomination files for properties listed in the National Registet· of bistod

Some of the lighthouses on your· list muy be incluJed in the Nationul Hegister t!Jider names other than those you have provided. We are enclosing copiP.s of files for eight .National Register proper·ties which may be on your list under diffet'f'Jlt :mmes. The m jority of the 24 lighthouses wl:ich you have identified arc not includeu in Uw Nutional Register, nor have they been determined eligible tot listing in th<.~ National Regllite1·.

If you need further information or assistance, please let us knoh.

Sincerely,

Carol D. Shull Acting Keeper of the National Registet'

Enclosures cc: Dr. Martha Bigelow Director Michigan History Division Department of State Lansing, Michigan 49818 bee: Midwest Regional Office~ FNP:S Sheffield:lw:272-3504710 e 12-14-81 G--F LE RETAINED IN NR d-15-0610 OLD PRESQUE ISLE LIGHTHOUSE Presque Isle Harbor, Presque Isle County

The lantern in this lighthouse overlooking Presque Isle Harbor first guided ships in the fall of 1840. It was a harbor light as well as a coast light, since the harbor was not only a safe haven between Detroit and Michilimackinac, a distance of 240 miles, but also a refueling point for steamers. The lighthouse is a conical tower, thirty feet tall. The brick and stone walls are three feet thick at ground level, tapering uniformly to a thickness of one-and-one-half feet. A cir­ cular stone stairway leads to the lantern room, originally a wrought iron octagon surmou11ted by a copper dome. The brick keeper's house, also built in 1840, stands adjacent to the to ..:r. To ships sailing up Lake Huron, the Presque Isle light marked the point where they changed to a more westerly course, heading into the Straits of Mackinac. But the beacon was unfor­ tunately invisible to downward bound ships due to the terrain. Consequently, in 1867 the fed­ eral Lighthouse Board decided to construct a new and taller light, and a new keeper's house, one mile to the north at the top of Presque Isle. In 1897 the old lighthouse reservation was sold to a private owner. In the summer months the property is open to the public for a moderate fee.

Michigan History Division MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF STATE Richard H. Austin, Secretary of State ~1-L