Charity Island Light: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 13:21, 15 December 2009 edit7&6=thirteen (talk \| contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers152,757 editsm →Present status: bed and breakfast ← Previous edit		Revision as of 13:56, 15 December 2009 edit undo7&6=thirteen (talk \| contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers152,757 editsm Fixed Boatnerd linkNext edit →
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	The ]al ] lantern displayed a fixed white Fourth Order ] ] which was constructed in 1857<ref name="Beacons">, Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University</ref> with a {{convert\|39\|ft\|m\|adj=on}} tower which provided a {{convert\|13\|mi\|km\|adj=on}} range of visibility. The Lighthouse Board was in the process of constructing a set of lights up and down the coast, and {{convert\|13\|mi\|km}} was considered adequate both to keep boats off the island and to navigate from one light to the next.<ref name="TerryPepper"/>		The ]al ] lantern displayed a fixed white Fourth Order ] ] which was constructed in 1857<ref name="Beacons">, Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University</ref> with a {{convert\|39\|ft\|m\|adj=on}} tower which provided a {{convert\|13\|mi\|km\|adj=on}} range of visibility. The Lighthouse Board was in the process of constructing a set of lights up and down the coast, and {{convert\|13\|mi\|km}} was considered adequate both to keep boats off the island and to navigate from one light to the next.<ref name="TerryPepper"/>

	It was originally equipped with a white, Fourth Order Fresnel lens. Fourth order Fresnel lenses were 28", with a focal length of 9.8", and used 5 ounces of oil per hour. Although a lens in that configuration had a range of up to 15 nautical miles, the Charity Island lens had a range of 13 nautical miles. In 1900, an acetylene lens replaced the 4th order lens. The lights characteristic changed from steady white light to a flashing light, at 10 second intervals. "Charity Island lighthouse was the first on the Great Lakes to receive such a light."<ref name="Bostwick"></ref>		It was originally equipped with a white, Fourth Order Fresnel lens. Fourth order Fresnel lenses were 28", with a focal length of 9.8", and used 5 ounces of oil per hour. Although a lens in that configuration had a range of up to 15 nautical miles, the Charity Island lens had a range of 13 nautical miles. In 1900, an acetylene lens replaced the 4th order lens. The lights characteristic changed from steady white light to a flashing light, at 10 second intervals. "Charity Island lighthouse was the first on the Great Lakes to receive such a light<ref name="Bostwick"></ref>

	The light was fully automated in 1900.<ref name="Beacons"/>		The light was fully automated in 1900.<ref name="Beacons"/>
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	It is hard to get close enough to this light to see it. In this area, Lake Huron is quite shallow and rocky, and the light is too far out to see from shore. Getting a boat near it requires a motor, oars or a long paddle, and considerable care.		It is hard to get close enough to this light to see it. In this area, Lake Huron is quite shallow and rocky, and the light is too far out to see from shore. Getting a boat near it requires a motor, oars or a long paddle, and considerable care.

	However, tours of the island (and even dinner cruises) are commercially available.<ref name="News"></ref> They include the privately-owned and recently rebuilt Charity Island Light ]'s house and a passing view of ].<ref name="Bostwick"/> They are available from Charity Island Transport, Inc. in ] on the mainland, south of ].<ref></ref>		However, tours of the island (and even dinner cruises) are commercially available on vessels name the "]" and the "]"<ref name="Bostwick"/><ref name="News"></ref> They include the privately-owned and recently rebuilt Charity Island Light ]'s house and a passing view of ].<ref name="Bostwick"/> They are available from Charity Island Transport, Inc. in ] on the mainland, south of ].<ref></ref>

	==See also==		==See also==

Revision as of 13:56, 15 December 2009

Lighthouse

Charity Island Light
Tower
Historic deteriorated Charity Island Light (before the rebuilding)

Location	Big Charity Island, Michigan
Coordinates	44°02′15″N 83°26′28″W / 44.0375°N 83.4411°W / 44.0375; -83.4411
Constructed	1856–1857
Construction	Brick
Height	Tower - 45 feet (14 m)
Shape	Frustrum of a Cone
Markings	White with black lantern

Light
First lit	1857
Deactivated	1939
Focal height	14 m (46 ft)
Lens	Fourth order Fresnel Lens
Range	13 miles (21 km)

Charity Island Light is a lighthouse on Charity Island in Lake Huron just off the coast of Au Gres, Northern Michigan.

History

In 1838, the region was the source of lumber being removed from Lower Michigan via the rivers that enter the lower end of Saginaw Bay. The shoals around Charity Island were a major source of problems, posing an obstacle to lumber vessels. It was not until 1856, however, that funds were allocated to establish a light on the island.

The octagonal cast iron lantern displayed a fixed white Fourth Order Fresnel lens light which was constructed in 1857 with a 39-foot (12 m) tower which provided a 13-mile (21 km) range of visibility. The Lighthouse Board was in the process of constructing a set of lights up and down the coast, and 13 miles (21 km) was considered adequate both to keep boats off the island and to navigate from one light to the next.

It was originally equipped with a white, Fourth Order Fresnel lens. Fourth order Fresnel lenses were 28", with a focal length of 9.8", and used 5 ounces of oil per hour. Although a lens in that configuration had a range of up to 15 nautical miles, the Charity Island lens had a range of 13 nautical miles. In 1900, an acetylene lens replaced the 4th order lens. The lights characteristic changed from steady white light to a flashing light, at 10 second intervals. "Charity Island lighthouse was the first on the Great Lakes to receive such a light

The light was fully automated in 1900.

The original lighthouse keeper’s quarters was a wood duplex; attached by a walkway was the tower. In 1907, the tower was extended to 45 feet and the dwelling gained a second story. In 1917 the site was the first to be automated with an acetylene lamp.

The light was abandoned since 1939 when Gravelly Shoal was lit, and it rapidly fell apart. It wound up on the Lighthouse Digest "Doomsday List" and required rehabilitation.

The Nature Conservancy is said to own the tower.

Alternatively, another source states that the tower is owned by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and operated by the Arenac County Historical Society.

Present status

The Charity Island Preservation Committee of the Arenac County Historical Society is restoring the tower. The original keeper's house was razed, and a new restored private residence has been built in its place and on its foundation. It is being operated as a restaurant and a bed and breakfast. A full list of past keepers of the light is maintained for historical reference.

Getting there

It is hard to get close enough to this light to see it. In this area, Lake Huron is quite shallow and rocky, and the light is too far out to see from shore. Getting a boat near it requires a motor, oars or a long paddle, and considerable care.

However, tours of the island (and even dinner cruises) are commercially available on vessels name the "Catamaran" and the "North Star" They include the privately-owned and recently rebuilt Charity Island Light Lighthouse keeper's house and a passing view of Gravelly Shoal Light. They are available from Charity Island Transport, Inc. in Au Gres, Michigan on the mainland, south of Tawas.

Notes

Pepper, Terry. "Database of Tower Heights". Seeing the Light. terrypepper.com.
^ United States Coast Guard's complete list of Michigan lights, including Charity Island Light. Cite error: The named reference "USCG" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
Pepper, Terry. "Database of Original Lenses". Seeing the Light. terrypepper.com.
Pepper, Terry. "Database of Focal Heights". Seeing the Light. terrypepper.com.
Seeing The Light - Charity Island Lighthouse
Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society, Charity Island (Lake Huron/Saginaw Bay) Light ARLHS USA-943
Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society, World List of Lights (WLOL).
Charity Island Light, The Michigan Lighthouse Fund
* Lighthouse Central, Photographs, History, Directions and Way points for Charity Island Lighthouse, The Ultimate Guide to East Michigan Lighthouses by Jerry Roach (Publisher: Bugs Publishing LLC - July 2006). ISBN 0974797715; ISBN 9780974797717.
^ Charity Island Lighthouse, Seeing The Light, Terry Pepper
^ Beacons in the Night, Michigan Lighthouse Chronology, Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University
^ Bostwick, Violet M., Charity Island Light, Boatnerd.com.
^ Detroit News Interactive map on Michigan lighthouses. Cite error: The named reference "News" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
Rowlett, Russ, Lighthouse Directory, Eastern Lower Peninsula Lights, Charity Island Light, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Biggs, Jerry, Home Begins at Charity, Lighthouse Digest, November, 1995.
Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, Charity Island Light.
^ National Park Service, Maritime Heritage Project, Inventory of Historic Light Stations - Michigan Lighthouses, Charity Island Light.
Charity Island Preservation Committee.
Anderson, Kraig, Lighthouse friends, Charity Island Light.
Lighthouses as bed and breakfasts.
Keepers of the Charity Island Light, Great Lakes Lighthouse Research, Phyllis Tag
Charity Island ferry service.

External links

v t e Lighthouses in Michigan
Main: List of lighthouses in the United States
Northern Upper Peninsula	Au Sable Big Bay Point Copper Harbor Copper Harbor Front Range Crisp Point Eagle Harbor Eagle Harbor Range Lights Eagle River Fourteen Mile Point Grand Island East Channel Grand Island Harbor Rear Range Grand Island North Grand Marais Range Lights Granite Island Gull Rock Huron Island Isle Royale Manitou Island Marquette Breakwater Outer Marquette Harbor Mendota (Bete Grise) Munising Front Range Munising Rear Range Ontonagon Ontonagon Harbor West Breakwater Portage River (Jacobsville) Passage Island Presque Isle Harbor Breakwater Light Rock Harbor Rock of Ages Sand Hills Sand Point Light (Baraga) St. Martin Island Stannard Rock Thunder Bay Island Whitefish Point
Southern Upper Peninsula	DeTour Reef Lansing Shoals Manistique East Breakwater Martin Reef Menominee Pier Minneapolis Shoal Naubinway Island Peninsula Point Poverty Island Sand Point Seul Choix Squaw Island St. Martin Island
St. Mary's River	Frying Pan Island Pipe Island Point Iroquois Round Island Light (St. Mary's River) Six Mile Point Range Rear Winter Point Range Front
Portage River/Ship Canal	Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Keweenaw Waterway Upper Entrance Portage Lake Rouleau Point Range Front and Rear Lights
Straits of Mackinac	Bois Blanc McGulpin Point Old Mackinac Point Round Island Round Island Passage St. Helena Island Wawatam
Western Lower Peninsula	Beaver Island Harbor Beaver Island Head Big Sable Point Cedar River Charlevoix Charlevoix South Pier Frankfort Frankfort South Range Grand Haven North Pierhead Grand Haven South Pierhead Entrance Grand Haven South Pierhead Inner Grand Traverse Grays Reef Holland Harbor Ile Aux Galets Little Sable Point Little Traverse Ludington Manistee Pierhead Manning Memorial Mission Point Mission Point (1933) Muskegon Breakwater Muskegon Pier North Manitou Shoal Pentwater North Pierhead Pentwater South Pierhead Point Betsie Portage Lake South Fox Island South Haven South Manitou Island St. Joseph North Pier Inner St. Joseph North Pier Outer Waugoshance White River White Shoal
Eastern Lower Peninsula	Alpena Caseville Harbor Charity Island Cheboygan Crib Cheboygan River Front Range Detroit River Fort Gratiot Forty Mile Point Fourteen Foot Shoal Gibraltar Gravelly Shoal Harbor Beach Lake St. Clair Mariners Memorial Middle Island Miller Memorial New Presque Isle Old Presque Isle Peche Island Rear Range Poe Reef Pointe aux Barques Port Austin Port Sanilac Saginaw Bay Saginaw River Rear Range Spectacle Reef St. Clair Flats Front and Rear Range Light Sturgeon Point Tawas Point Thunder Bay Island Tri-Centennial Light of Detroit William Livingstone Memorial Windmill Point
Historical (lost) lights	Au Sable North Pierhead Belle Isle Clinton River Ecorse Ecorse Range Rear Gibraltar Grassy Island Grassy Island North Channel Range Lights Grassy Island South Channel Range Lights Grosse Ile North Channel Range Lights Grosse Ile South Channel Range Lights Harwood Point East Range Front Kalamazoo River Mama Juda Mama Juda Range Front Manistee Main Middle Lake George Monroe Pier New Buffalo North Manitou Island Saginaw Bay Sand Beach North Entrance East Squaw Point St. Mary's River Lower Range Front Vidal Shoals Channel Range Front and Rear Lights Windmill Point Range Front and Rear Lights
Related	Lightship Huron List of lifesaving stations in Michigan Wixom Lake, Musselman Island lighthouse

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