Photo Caption:
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The Big Sable Point Lighthouse was built as a brick tower. However, by 1899 the brick began to deteriorate, so it was decided to encapsulate the entire tower with eighteen metal cylinders. The space between the cylinders and the tower was filled with cement to make the entire tower secure. This 1900 photo, taken shortly after the tower was encased with the metal cylinders, shows workmen on scaffolding painting the bottom part of the tower white for the distinctive black and white bands for the daymark that it is today. Also shown here is the original keeper’s house before it was expanded to accommodate more keepers’ families. At this time, the watch room, the outer lantern walkway, the lantern, dome, and vent ball, were painted white. (U.S. Lighthouse Service photo, National Archives.)
Back to the edition of: Jan/Feb 2018
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