South Fox Island New

Type:
Year Established:
1934
Existing:
Yes
South Fox
Download:
File Type:
jpeg (image/jpeg)
Photo Date:
2014
Photo Courtesy of:
US Lighthouse Society Archives
Collection / Donor:

LOCATION

Location:
Lake Michigan
Latitude:
45 37.85'
Longitude:
85 83.71'
U.S. State:
Michigan
Country:
United States

OWNER & ACCESS

Open to Public:
No

STRUCTURE

Year Discontinued:
1969
Fog Signal Building?:
No
Keeper's Quarters?:
No

OPTICS

Active Aid to Navigation?:
No
Private Aid:
No
USCG Access to Optics:
No
Comments:

Historical Information:

  • 1933: A steel skeletal tower was acquired from Sapelo Island, Georgia
  • 1934: The steel tower was erected near the original lighthouse on the southern tip of the island closer to the shoreline.
  • 1958: The light station was converted to an automatic light and the last light keeper left the island.
  • 1959: The equipment from the lantern room including the fourth order Fresnel lens of the original tower was moved to the Old Presque Isle light on Lake Huron. 1968: The automatic light system was shut down being rendered obsolete by electronic navigation.
  • 1971: The US Department of Interior transferred the southernmost 115 acres of the island to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
  • 1980: The US Department of Interior transferred the lighthouse and grounds to the State of Michigan.
  • 2005: A group named the Fox Island Lighthouse Association (FILA) applied for non-profit status. FILA have performed and are continuing many actions toward restoration and preservation of the lighthouse station.
Entered by:
tomtag
Entered Date:
Jan 23, 2018