Digest>Archives> March 1998

Crisp Point Rescue? Will Last Minute Effort Save Doomsday List Lighthouse?

By Christine Snow

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A view from the lighthouse tower shows the sand ...
Photo by: Christine Snow

For the past year, a lone tower on Lake Superior has been known as the Most Endangered Lighthouse in America, but with the help of two Upper Peninsula tribes and a recent donation, the fight to preserve battered Crisp Point Lighthouse may finally be reaching a happy conclusion.

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Into another year, Crisp Point Lighthouse remains ...
Photo by: Christine Snow


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Crisp Point Historical Society member, Don Ross, ...
Photo by: Christine Snow

As early as January of 1997, Crisp Point was added to the Doomsday List compiled by Lighthouse Digest Magazine, and was considered the Most Endangered Lighthouse in America. However, a recent donation of $7,500 from the Bay Mills Tribe, the commitment for additional assistance from Sault Tribe and a private donation of $16,000 from Spencer Murphy, Jr. has enabled a Dafter, Michigan contractor to begin the job of hauling stone to the lighthouse property. This stone will help build a breakwall that will be used to guard the tower against further erosion, which will be instrumental in saving the monument.

Erosion near the base of the battered tower, which is located 13 miles west of Whitefish Point, Michigan, has been the biggest concern faced by volunteers since 1996, when violent winter storms claimed the entrance building that was connected to the tower. According to Crisp Point Light Historical Society President Nellie Ross, this winter could have marked the end of the tower if rubble or other materials were unable to be secured to protect it.

"This winter really is our last chance to save the lighthouse, and it's only because of the mild weather that we did not lose the tower completely," said Ross. "Thankfully, these donations have allowed us to start taking the necessary steps to save the lighthouse and we are very grateful."

In November of last year, in an effort to temporarily stall the elements, three-ton sand bags were filled and placed around the tower. According to information provided by the Crisp Point Historical Society, this same technique was used at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse off the coast North Carolina.

The 5'x 10' bags were placed where needed near the base of the tower and filled with a sand pump. Each bag cost approximately $55. Volunteers also cabled pine trees to off-shore pilings as stop-gap protective measures.

For the past week, contractor John Lechner has been hauling stone to the lighthouse from a local quarry. At this time, four loads have been delivered to the site, with an estimated 46 more loads totaling 1,000 tons of material still needed.

Each load costs an estimated $800, and, according to Ross, Lechner is delivering the full amount needed and trusting the Crisp Point Light Historical Society for the remainder. Approximately $16,000-$42,000 will be needed to sufficiently build up the shoreline and protect the tower.

"At this time, Mr. Lechner has begun the work of hauling stone to the lighthouse," said Ross. "He is acting on good faith, delivering what is needed and trusting us for the rest. The donations we have received have been a great help to get things started to save the tower, but we still need a great deal of assistance."

A small ice barrier that has formed near the base of the lighthouse is currently providing some protection for the tower. When the ice melts, the stone will be pushed to the base of the tower on top of a filter cloth, which will also help build an additional sand barrier near the lighthouse.

Assistance from the Bay Mills tribe followed a recent visit to the lighthouse by Dwight (Bucko) Teeple, Vice-Chairman of the Bay Mills Indian Community. His interest in the preservation efforts prompted him to make a presentation to the Bay Mills Tribal Council, urging their support.

The Bay Mills Tribe pledged $10 for each of the slot machines in their casino facility. The amount totaled the $7,500 donation. In addition, the Bay Mills have challenged other tribes to come forward and help preserve the lighthouse.

"Whatever can be done to preserve the history, and to keep people coming here, should be done," said Teeple, "The fight to save Crisp Point Lighthouse is something we need to support."

Also aiding in current efforts is the Luce County Road Commission, who is keeping seasonal County Road 412, which leads to the lighthouse, open to allow the stone trucks access to the property. Crisp Point Lighthouse is located in the northern part of Luce County.

"Our role in the current efforts is to keep the road passable for the truck traffic to the lighthouse," said Luce County Road Commission Manager Mark Desotell. "We are pleased to be able to help with the efforts needed to save the lighthouse."

According to Desotell, hauling should be completed within the next two weeks, weather permitting. After this, the road will not be open for vehicle traffic again until spring.

Funding for the Luce County Road Commission portion of the project is being obtained at minimal expense, said Desotell, from the operating budget.

Since early 1990, Crisp Point Lighthouse has been the center of a continuing preservation battle. Two years previously, in 1988, Don and Nellie Ross, a retired couple originally from Ohio, discovered the abandoned lighthouse while travelling through the north woods. They relocated to the Paradise area shortly after, and are currently coordinating the efforts of the Crisp Point Historical Society.

The seven-year journey to save the lighthouse has been long and arduous for the Society.

On June 7, 1997, Ross received the news that a request for help submitted by Senator Carl Levin to the Army National guard had been officially denied.

Levin had requested assistance from the National Guard engineers in efforts to stabilize the foundation of the lighthouse.

Reasons for denying the request, according to information provided to Levin by the Department of Military Affairs include cost, time limitations, fuel restrictions and previously planned training exercises.

Also cited was the fact the guard is prohibited from undertaking any domestic projects that compete with private contractors. The estimated cost for the Guard to undertake the project was $50,000 over the $42,000 bid received by the Society from a private contractor.

The Society had obtained a permit from the Army Corp of Engineers to bring in a load of rubble by way of water, but was unable to move forward with the plan until approval was secured for the National Guard to undertake the project.

As a result of the denial, the significant problem of obtaining the needed stone and labor to secure the tower still existed.

In November of 1996, the entrance building of the lighthouse became another victim of Lake Superior, when it was destroyed by rising water and strong waves. Winter storms later caused the formation of an ice barrier, which offered some protection to the remaining tower.

But by the spring of 1997, the barrier had melted and Society members were facing the possibility of losing the rest of the lighthouse to the violent summer storms that often batter the shoreline.

As luck would have it, the tower, which is structurally sound, remains standing against the picturesque backdrop of Lake Superior.

Despite its sometimes uncertain future, a positive step concerning ownership of Crisp Point was made in July of 1997 when the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) transferred the 93-year old lighthouse to Luce County as a historical monument.

Crisp Point Lighthouse is one of 17 Great Lake lighthouses owned by the U.S. Coast Guard that are being disposed of by the GSA. All of the lights will be turned over to local governments, non-profit groups or sold to the general public.

Retired, as in the case of Crisp Point, or no longer manned, the 17 lighthouses have become a financial burden to the Coast Guard and were selected for disposal in early 1997.

The decision by the GSA to place Crisp Point in the hands of Luce County put an end to what Ross believes was an ambiguous ownership position faced by the lighthouse.

In August of 1994, the Society obtained a lease for the lighthouse from the U.S. Coast Guard. When Crisp Point went up for disposal, the lease was no longer valid.

"Crisp Point was in a precarious spot," said Ross. "It didn't belong to the Coast Guard anymore, because it was up for disposal through the GSA. It had to pass into the hands of the National Park system to become a historical monument before it eventually went to Luce County. This decision has kept Crisp Point from going up for auction, which eliminates the possibility of private ownership."

The Luce County Board of Commissioners is leasing the lighthouse and its 3.5 acre site to the Society.

Crisp Point was one of four original Lake Superior Life Saving Stations. Built in 1875, the station was put into operation in 1876. The 58-foot light tower was proposed in 1896, and eventually approved for construction in 1902. Crisp Point Light officially became operational on May 5, 1904. Original structures on the property included the light tower, a lifesaving station, a two-family light keeper's quarters, oil house, tramway, two frame barns, fog signal building, boathouse and landing.

Now, over 80 years later, all that remains of the once robust station is a tower that binds hundreds of people together in an effort to preserve history.

"The efforts of both the Bay Mills and Sault Tribes, as well as all the private donations have been helping save this monument for everyone," said Ross. "We also appreciate all the efforts of the Luce County Road Commission, John Lechner and all the volunteers. Together, we have a chance to save and preserve the beauty of Crisp Point Lighthouse for many future generations to enjoy."

This story appeared in the March 1998 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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