La POINTE (LONG ISLAND)

Type:
Year Established:
1858
Existing:
Yes
Source:
LL-1901
La Pointe WI
Download:
File Type:
jpg (image/jpeg)
Photo Date:
1999
Photo Credit:
Mike and Carol McKinney
Photo Courtesy of:
US Lighthouse Society Archives
Collection / Donor:

LOCATION

Location:
LONG ISLAND/CHEQUAMEGON BAY/LAKE SUPERIOR
Latitude:
46° 43'36"
Longitude:
90° 47'10"
City / Town:
BAYFIELD
U.S. State:
Wisconsin
Location County:
ASHLAND
Country:
United States

OWNER & ACCESS

Open to Public:
No
Light List Data:
  1. La POINTE (LONG ISLAND)
Light list data courtesy Gary Riemenschneider

STRUCTURE

Year Tower Established:
1897
Tower Construction Material:
CAST IRON
Tower Foundation:
CONCRETE
Height of light above mean high water, in feet:
70 FT ABOVE WATER
Height, in feet, from base of structure to center of lantern:
60.75 FT
Tower Shape:
SKELETAL W/CENTRAL COLUMN
Fog Signal Building?:
No
Year Fog Signal Building Constructed:
1891
Fog Signal Bldg Construction Materials:
WOOD FRAME
Keeper's Quarters?:
Yes
Year Keeper's Quarters:
1938
Keeper's Quarters Style:
AMERICAN FOUR SQUARE
Keeper's Quarters Construction:
WOOD FRAME
Other Structures:
BRICK OIL HOUSE, IRON OIL HOUSE, DOCK, RUINS OF 1858/1896 LIGHT TOWER/KEEPERS RESIDENCE

OPTICS

Active Aid to Navigation?:
Yes
Current Optic:
300 MM
Original Optic Type:
FOURTH ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed:
1858
Private Aid:
No
USCG Access to Optics:
No
Comments:

HISTORICAL INFORMATION:

  • 1853: Congress appropriated money for a light on the west end of Long Island. The light was built, but on the wrong island. It had been built on Michigan Island instead of Long Island as the contract called for. In order to get paid the contractors built a light at the correct location but had to assume the cost for this structure. As a result, it was not well constructed.
  • 1864: The structure was subjected to the normal Great Lakes storms and soon showed signs of ware and supports were installed to provide greater stability for the structure.
  • 1868: The light built on Michigan Island was lit. To avoid confusion between the two lights the characteristic of the Long Island light was changed to red.
  • 1889: A fog signal was added.
  • 1897: The new La Pointe Light was built and the old one was discontinued. It was allowed to deteriorate and today very little is left of the old structure.
Entered by:
t.wheeler
Entered Date:
Jul 21, 2017