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In 1997, as erosion threatened Michigan’s remote Crisp Point Lighthouse, Lighthouse Digest declared it the Most Endangered Lighthouse in America.
Since then, the amount of progress that has been made by volunteers at this remote lighthouse, which was once only accessible by only a rough and often muddy 18-mile long car path off the main road, is absolutely astounding.
The story actually starts back in the early 1990s when the late Nellie Ross and her husband, Don, formed the Crisp Point Light Historical Society, after a few years earlier, they had accidentally stumbled upon the forgotten and neglected lighthouse on Lake Superior near the community of Paradise. It was once a major and important lighthouse station on Lake Superior that even boasted a Life-Saving Station.
When it was abandoned in 1965 the Coast Guard, instead of trying to find a caretaker, demolished all the buildings, except the tower. A light was kept in the 1875 tower until 1993, when it was removed.
In this day and age, especially in a remote area with a mall population base to draw financial support from, what has been accomplished by dedicated volunteers to save the lighthouse and open it to the public. And now, to add to their previous accomplishments, the group has reconstructed a near duplicate of the original fog signal building that can only be described as outstanding. Nellie Ross would be proud of what the extremely dedicated volunteers are continuing to accomplish with what some might have called the impossible.
In May of 2009 the Crisp Point Historical Society started construction of the building of a Visitors Center that is designed to look like the original fog signal building that once stood at the site. The building, made of concrete blocks and brick, is approximately 22’ x 40’ and will have one large room. On the back will be two bathrooms that will be accessible from the outside.
As work progressed on the Visitors Center expenses added up faster than expected and the group is in need of additional financial assistance. As well as making donations, the purchase of gift items, with the lighthouse on them, will help the group. One of the earliest memories we have of one of their gift items is a coffee mug that says, "I Like My Beacon Crisp."
To make a donation, purchase one of their gift items, or learn more about the lighthouse, you can visit their web site at www.CrispPointLighthouse.org or write to them at Crisp Point Light Historical Society, P.O. Box 229, Paradise, MI 49768. You can also call them at 906-492-3206.
This story appeared in the
August 2009 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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