U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office Preserving Our History For Future Generations Historic Light Station Information WISCONSIN ALGOMA PIERHEAD LIGHT (FRONT & REAR) Location: MOUTH OF THE AHNAPEE RIVER ON LAKE MICHIGAN, WISCONSIN Station Established: 1893 Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1932 Operational? YES Automated? YES 1973 Deactivated: N/A Foundation Materials: PIER Construction Materials: STEEL Tower Shape: CYLINDRICAL Markings/Pattern: RED Relationship to Other Structure: INTEGRAL Original Lens: FRESNEL Range: 16 Miles Characteristic: Red, Isophase 6 sec. HISTORICAL INFORMATION: Ahnapee grew rapidly in the mid to late 1870s and became the home to the largest commercial fishing fleet on Lake Michigan. When the government would not approve a lighthouse to mark the entrance to the harbor, locals erected a couple of post lights at the outer end of the two piers at the harbor entrance. Congress finally appropriated money to build some range lights in 1891 to mark the entrance of the harbor at Ahnapee which was renamed Algoma. The light was built in 1892 after new piers were completed but the light was not lit until the beginning of the 1893 shipping season. The piers were unique in that they were split and off-set. There was not a single continuous pier. To get to the lighthouse a bridge had to be built to span the gap between the off-set portions. The range initially consisted of a front post light and a wooden skeletal tower rear range. In 1895 the rear range tower had an upgrade to the lens. A fifth order lens was installed that increased the range from 9 miles to 11 miles. Page 1 of 42 U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office Preserving Our History For Future Generations In 1897 a catwalk was installed making access to the light easier but it did not extend all the way to shore. It was extended to the shore in 1900. In 1908 the wooden rear range had significantly deteriorated and was replaced by a cast-iron tower. This tower replaced the range lights. Also in 1908 a keeper’s house was built along the river. In 1910 a fog signal was added to the station. In 1932 improvements were made to the pier and the lighthouse was raised to increase the visibility of the light. An electric remote controlled fog signal was also installed. The light was automated in 1973. Researched and written by Anne Puppa, a volunteer through the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society. ASHLAND HARBOR BREAKWATER LIGHT Location: CHEQUAMEGON BAY/LAKE SUPERIOR Station Established: 1911 Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1915 Operational? YES Automated? YES Deactivated: N/A Foundation Materials: CONCRETE PIER ON CRIB Construction Materials: REINFORCED CONCRETE/STEEL Tower Shape: CYLINDRICAL. WATCHROOM ON HEX. PYRAMIDAL. TOWER Markings/Pattern: WHITE W/BLACK LANTERN Relationship to Other Structure: SEPARATE Original Lens: FOURTH ORDER, FRESNEL Range: 9 Miles Characteristic: White flashing 6 sec. HISTORICAL INFORMATION: In 1889 thru 1912 the army corps of engineers built two large parallel breakwaters in Chequamegon Bay in order to protect the harbor at Ashland where exports of iron ore had begun. This was the only protection against the violent storms that could frequent the area. The breakwaters served their purpose but they also made it difficult for ships to find the entrance to the harbor. Page 2 of 42 U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office Preserving Our History For Future Generations As a temporary measure a 10 foot pole was erected on the west end of the breakwater and a fixed red lantern was hung from it. In 1913, once the breakwater was completed, congress appropriated money for a pier light. A concrete and steel tower was built and in 1915 a fourth order Fresnel was installed and lit. In 1916 a keeper’s house was built on shore and the keeper moved out of the light. In 1980 the light was listed on Wisconsin’s Register of Historic Sites and the Coast Guard removed the Fresnel lens and replaced it with a solar-powered acrylic optic. Researched and written by Anne Puppa, a volunteer through the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society. BAILEY'S HARBOR LIGHT Location; NORTH POINT ISLAND/LAKE MICHIGAN Station Established: 1853 Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1853 Operational? NO Automated? NO Deactivated: 1870 Foundation Materials: Construction Materials: RUBBLESTONE Tower Shape: CONICAL Markings/Pattern: NATURAL Relationship to Other Structure: ATTACHED Original Lens: SIXTH ORDER FRESNEL LENS HISTORICAL INFORMATION: Bailey’s Harbor is the only natural harbor north of Milwaukee. In 1952 a lighthouse was built to mark the harbor. It contained a sixth order Fresnel lens. In 1958 the lens was upgraded to a fifth order because mariners felt the original light was too dim. The light deteriorated rapidly and it was deactivated in 1870, replaced by range lights on the western side of the bay. Page 3 of 42 U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office Preserving Our History For Future Generations Researched and written by Anne Puppa, a volunteer through the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society. BAILEYS HARBOR RANGE LIGHTS Location: DOOR PENINSULA/LAKE MICHIGAN Station Established: 1853 Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1870 Operational? NO Automated? YES 1930 Deactivated: 1969. Re-Lit 1995. Foundation Materials: FIELDSTONE Construction Materials: WOOD Tower Shape: WHITE W/BLACK TRIM Markings/Pattern: WHITE W/BLACK TRIM Relationship to Other Structure: SEPARATE Original Lens: FIFTH ORDER (REAR RANGE) 1897 HISTORICAL INFORMATION: In 1868 Congress appropriated funds to build range lights to help ships enter Baileys Harbor. The lights were first lit in 1870. In 1923 the fuel was switched to acetylene gas. Previously kerosene had been used and prior to that lard or whale oil. The light was electrified and automated in 1930. In 1934 the land and buildings were transferred to the Door County Parks Commission. In 1969 one of the lights was discontinued and a single light was used. The Fresnel lens was removed. In the 1980’s the Door County Historical Society raised money to restore the range lights and restore a boardwalk that ran between the two lights. Mariners complained about the inadequacy of the single light and the range lights were re-lit in 1995. In 1998 the ownership of the range lights was transferred to the Door County Parks Commission. Researched and written by Anne Puppa, a volunteer through the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society. Page 4 of 42 U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office Preserving Our History For Future Generations CANA ISLAND LIGHT LAKE MICHIGAN/BAILEYS HARBOR/NORTH BAY Station Established: 1870 Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1869 Operational? YES Automated? YES 1945 Deactivated: N/A Foundation Materials: DRESSED STONE Construction Materials: YELLOW BRICK/1902 STEEL SHELL ADDED Tower Shape: CYLINDRICAL Markings/Pattern: WHITE Relationship to Other Structure: ATTACHED Original Lens: THIRD ORDER, FRESNEL 1870 HISTORICAL INFORMATION: The tower was built in 1869. In 1902 the brick tower was encased in a steel shell with the space between the steel and the brick filled with concrete. This was done to prevent deterioration of the structure. Alterations were made to the entrance to the tower over the years. It is now only accessible through the keepers’ house. In 1941 the light was automated with power supplied by a generator. In 1960 power lines were run to the island. In 1976 the light was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Island and buildings are currently being leased from the Bureau of Land Management by the Door County Maritime Museum. Researched and written by Anne Puppa, a volunteer through the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society. CHAMBERS ISLAND LIGHT Location: MIDDLE OF GREEN BAY/LAKE MICHIGAN Station Established: 1868 Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1868 Page 5 of 42 U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office Preserving Our History For Future Generations Operational? NO Automated? YES 1961 Deactivated: 1961 Foundation Materials: CONCRETE Construction Materials: BRICK Tower Shape: OCTAGONAL W/OUT LANTERN Markings/Pattern: YELLOW Relationship to Other Structure: ATTACHED Original Lens: FOURTH ORDER HISTORICAL INFORMATION: In 1866 Congress approved funds for a light on Chambers Island. In 1867 the government purchased 40 acres of land and a lighthouse with keeper’s quarters was built. The light was first lit in 1868. A new rotating fourth order Fresnel lens was installed in 1899. Prior to that it had been a fourth order Fresnel with a fixed flashing signal. In 1910 electric light bulbs powered by a generator were installed. In 1926 this was switched to an acetylene system. Later still solar power was used to power the light. In 1951 a skeletal tower was erected and the lantern and lens were removed. In 1961 the light was moved to a taller skeletal tower increasing its range to 12 miles. The location of the lens is unknown. The station had been heavily vandalized in the 1960 after it was abandoned. Local interest was raised and the site was restored. In 1976 the station was transferred to the town of Gibralter and in 1977 the site became a park. Researched and written by Anne Puppa, a volunteer through the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society. CHEQUAMEGON POINT LIGHT Location: LONG ISLAND/CHEQUAMEGON BAY Station Established: 1858 Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1896 Operational? NO Automated? YES 1964 Deactivated: 1986 Foundation Materials: MOVED/ORIG. CONCRETE PIER Page 6 of 42 U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office Preserving Our History For Future Generations Construction Materials: IRON Tower Shape: SKELETAL Markings/Pattern: WHITE Relationship to Other Structure: SEPARATE Original Lens: FOURTH ORDER, FRESNEL 1897 Range: 13 miles HISTORICAL INFORMATION: A light was first built in 1858 on Long Island in Lake Superior to guide ships into the port on Madeline Island.