Charlevoix South Pierhead

Type:
Year Established:
1885
Existing:
Yes
Source:
LL-1903
Charlevoix South Pierhead
Download:
File Type:
jpeg (image/jpeg)
Photo Date:
2012
Photo Credit:
Thomas Tag
Photo Courtesy of:
US Lighthouse Society Archives
Collection / Donor:

LOCATION

Location:
Lake Michigan
Latitude:
45 19.22
Longitude:
85 16.11
City / Town:
Charlevoix
U.S. State:
Michigan
Country:
United States

OWNER & ACCESS

Open to Public:
No

STRUCTURE

Year Tower Established:
1885
Tower Construction Material:
Steel
Height of light above mean high water, in feet:
37
Height, in feet, from base of structure to center of lantern:
30.25
Tower Shape:
Pyramidal
Tower Daymark:
Red
Fog Signal Building?:
No
Keeper's Quarters?:
No

OPTICS

Active Aid to Navigation?:
No
Original Optic Type:
5th order Fresnel
Year Original Lens Installed:
1885
Private Aid:
No
USCG Access to Optics:
No
Comments:

Historical Information:

  • 1873: The Pine River was cut and dredged to allow shipping between Lake Michigan and Lake Charlevoix. Engineers knew if they didn’t protect the shores of Pine River the lake would fill it full of the sand they had removed. A pier was built to the north of the river to break the action of the waves.

  • 1884: A lighthouse was built at the end of the pier. It was a skeletal 30-foot structure. The upper part was enclosed to serve as a storage room and shelter. There was no keeper’s quarters at the site so if a keeper was caught in bad weather, they had some shelter. The lighthouse was first lit in September of 1885.

  • 1890: An oil shed was built. A lifesaving station was built just north of the lighthouse in 1900.

  • 1904: Due to deterioration, the pier was rebuilt. During reconstruction the light was raised on blocks. It was lowered back into place with new cross ties and decking.

  • 1914: Extensions and improvements were done to both the north and south piers. The lighthouse at the end of the north pier was relocated to the south pier. A red 56-foot tall tower was built on the north pier. It was lit on April 14, 1914.

  • 1980’s, the Fresnel lens replaced by a 300 mm acrylic optic, The light remains an active aid to navigation. The pier is open to the public but the light is not.

Entered by:
tomtag
Entered Date:
Sep 01, 2017