The old Lighthouse Depot in St. Joseph, Michigan may soon have a new owner. Local resident Michael Pritten is just about the only person interested in purchasing the historic site.

Pritten has hired a preservation minded architect to make plans to turn the 1.7 acre site into a brewery and restaurant.

Since the property is on the National List of Historic Places the architects plan to work within the guide lines. The site consists of a four story warehouse, a depot keepers house, staff headquarters and a one story brick shed. In its day the Depot supplied Lake Michigan Lighthouses with fuel, supplies and equipment.

The current plans call for a pub-brewery that is allowed under state law. With this type of license Pritten would be able to produce 2000 barrels of bear a year for his restaurant.

Some area residents are concerned about this type of business operating in their quiet waterfront neighborhood. They would rather have seen some type of exclusive housing or perhaps a museum at the site. But, Pritten seems to be the only one willing to pay the $400,000 asking price.

This story appeared in the August 1995 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

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