White River

Type:
Year Established:
1875
Existing:
Yes
Source:
LL-1901
White River
Download:
White River 3.jpeg (545.86 KB)
File Type:
jpeg (image/jpeg)
Photo Courtesy of:
US Lighthouse Society Archives
Collection / Donor:

LOCATION

Location:
WHITE LAKE CHANNEL/LAKE MICHIGAN
Latitude:
43° 22'32"
Longitude:
86° 25'29"
City / Town:
FRUITLAND
U.S. State:
Michigan
Location County:
MUSKEGON
Country:
United States

OWNER & ACCESS

Open to Public:
Yes
Light List Data:
  1. White River
Light list data courtesy Gary Riemenschneider

STRUCTURE

Year Discontinued:
1960
Disposition:
sold to Fruitland Township
Year Tower Established:
1875
Tower Construction Material:
LIMESTONE
Tower Foundation:
LIMESTONE
Height of light above mean high water, in feet:
57 FT ABOVE WATER
Height, in feet, from base of structure to center of lantern:
38 FT
Tower Shape:
OCTAGONAL
Fog Signal Building?:
No
Keeper's Quarters?:
Yes
Year Keeper's Quarters:
1875
Keeper's Quarters Style:
ATTACHED TO TOWER
Keeper's Quarters Construction:
LIMESTONE
Other Structures:
OIL HOUSE (CIRCA 1875), GARAGE, WORKSHOP/STORAGE BUILDING

OPTICS

Active Aid to Navigation?:
No
Current Optic:
REMOVED TO MUSEUM
Original Optic Type:
FOURTH ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed:
1875
Private Aid:
No
USCG Access to Optics:
No
Comments:

Historical Information:

  • 1871: Construction began on the South Pier-head Beacon Light lighthouse. The original tower housed a fifth order Fresnel lens and lard oil lamp. It produced a fixed red light that was visible for eleven and a half miles. The tower stood at 27 feet, and set the focal plane of the lens at 33 feet above sea level. The framework was a square pyramid. The lantern room was black metal, while the wooden tower was painted white.
  • 1874: $15,000 was appropriated for a new lighthouse, on shore, and the site was surveyed.
  • 1876: The new, on shore, light was exhibited for the first time using a 4th order Fresnel lens.
  • 1902: The South Pier-head Beacon Light 5th order Fresnel lens was reduced to a sixth order with a Kerosene lamp. This reduced the range of the light to nine miles.
  • 1875: The South Pier-head Beacon Light tower was painted red and the construction of the original elevated foot-walk began. 
  • 1918: The main, on shore, lighthouse received electricity.
  • 1960: The main, on shore, lighthouse was deactivated. The Coast Guard turned over the property to the General Services Administration.
  • 1965: Fruitland Township proposed to purchase the property so it could be used as a museum and public park.
Entered by:
t.wheeler
Entered Date:
Jul 21, 2017