Charlevoix South Pier Light Station Explained

Coordinates:45.3202°N -85.2649°W
Yearbuilt:1948
Foundation:pier
Construction:steel skeletal tower, upper 2/3 enclosed
Shape:Square pyramid tower, decagonal lantern
Marking:red Daymark/black lantern
Lens:Fifth order Fresnel Lens[1] (original), 300mm Tideland Signal ML-300 acrylic lens (current)
Characteristic:Flashing Red 4s HORN: 1 blast ev 30s (3s bl). Operates from May 1 to Oct. 20.
Module:
Embed:yes
Charlevoix South Pierhead Light
Built:1948
Architect:US Coast Guard, Ninth District
Added:April 28, 2005
Area:less than 1acres
Mpsub:Light Stations of the United States MPS
Refnum:05000346

The Charlevoix South Pier Light Station is located on Lake Michigan at the entrance to Lake Charlevoix in Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan at the end of the south pier/breakwater of the channel leading to Round Lake in the city of Charlevoix.

History

The first light in Charlevoix was located on the north pier. It was erected in 1884 in order to guide ships to the newly improved Pine River channel. A lifesaving station was built just north of the lighthouse in 1898 and an oil shed was built in 1890. The first tower was tall,[2] with a focal height.[3]

The original structure survived for 63 years, but due to terminal deterioration the decision was made to replace it in 1947.[4] In 1948 the new steel structure was installed and the light was moved to its current location on the south pier where the lens and lantern from the old structure were transferred to the new one. The skeletal structure and general configuration of this light shares some design elements with the Alpena Light.[5] The South Pierhead light was originally painted Daymark red.[6]

In 1965, because the Pine River channel is near a congested area, the Coast Guard vacated the old U.S. Life-Saving Service Station (tearing down the shingled building), and relocated to the grounds of the old Lighthouse Supply Station.

In 1989, the present steel and concrete pier replaced the old wooden pier with its concrete covering. The present piers and revetments were constructed in the 1970s and 1980s. The construction is specially designed to withstand unusually forceful wave pressures, and to protect the harbor. As Terry Pepper wrote:

The skeletal north pierhead tower has since been removed.[6] The 300mm Tideland Signal ML-300 acrylic lens is described as a medium-range modern Great Lakes lens with a maximum range of .[7]

The North Pierhead Light is at coordinates 45 19 18 N 85 15 54 W, and its characteristic is Flashing Green 2.5 seconds. The current tower is and it is an active aid to navigation. The former North tower's height is 56 feet, with a focal plane of 61 feet.[8]

Described as the Charlevoix South Pierhead Light (added 2005 - Structure - #05000346) and also known as the Charlevoix Pier Light, it is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.[9] Specifically, it is described as "S pier at harbor entrance, 0.3 WNW of US 31 drawbridge, Charlevoix". Although it was unmanned, the National Park System has recognized it as a "significant aid to navigation."[10]

In 2009 the light was again painted red in keeping with the mariner's alliterative Mnemonic "Red Right returning."[11] For unknown reasons, previous Daymark color schemes have been green, white.[11] or originally red (until 1968).[12] [13] See Sea mark.

A primary vessel benefiting from the Charlevoix Light is the Beaver Island ferry.[14]

The land based lighthouse keeper's residence was sold to a private owner and demolished. The property became Hoffman Park, and all that remains is a metal plaque.[15]

In 2008, ownership of the light was transferred from the U.S. Coast Guard to the City of Charlevoix/Charlevoix Historical Society. The transfer was completed under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act.[6]

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Database of Original Lenses . Pepper, Terry . Seeing the Light . terrypepper.com . 2009-12-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20000918211807/http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/lists/distribution.htm . 2000-09-18 . dead .
  2. Web site: Database of Tower Heights . https://web.archive.org/web/20000918211817/http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/lists/towers.htm . dead . 2000-09-18 . Pepper, Terry . Seeing the Light . terrypepper.com .
  3. Web site: Database of Focal Heights . https://web.archive.org/web/20080830100452/http://www.terrypepper.com/Lights/lists/focalheight.htm . dead . 2008-08-30 . Pepper, Terry . Seeing the Light . terrypepper.com .
  4. http://www.lighthousecentral.com/lighthouse_gallery.php4?lighthouse=Charlevoix%20South%20Pier%20Light Lighthouse Central, Photographs, History, Directions and Way points for Charlevoix South Pier Light Station, The Ultimate Guide to West Michigan Lighthouses by Jerry Roach (Publisher: Bugs Publishing LLC - 2005).
  5. Web site: Database of Tower Designs . Pepper, Terry . Seeing the Light . terrypepper.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091115110949/http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/lists/towertype.htm . 2009-11-15 .
  6. http://www.michiganlights.com/charlevoixsouthpierheadlh.htm Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, Charlevoix South Pierhead Light.
  7. http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/closeups/illumination/acrylic/300mm/300mm.htm Tideland Signal lens, Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light.
  8. Web site: Seeing the Light: Lighthouses on the western Great Lakes . Pepper, Terry . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080130074143/http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/index.htm . 2008-01-30 .
  9. http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/MI/Charlevoix/state.html National Register of Historical Places.
  10. [National Park Service]
  11. http://www.lighthousesrus.org/MichiganNorth.htm Lighthouses of Northern Lake Michigan at
  12. http://www.terrypepper.com/Lights/michigan/charlevoix/charlevoix.htm Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Charlevoix Light Station.
  13. http://www.terrypepper.com/Lights/michigan/charlevoix/charlevoix09.htm Antique Postcard (ca. 1955), South Pier Light with original red paint
  14. http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Michigan/charlevoix.htm Wobser, David, Charlevoix South Pier Light Station
  15. http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=201 Anderson, Kraig, Lighthouse Friends, description Charlevoix South Pier Light.

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