Sunday, November 14, 2021

Lighthouse of the Week, November 14-20, 2021: Marine City, Michigan, USA (former Peche Island Rear Range Light)

 

This Lighthouse of the Week post has a long title, because the subject is a lighthouse that moved from an Canadian island that is just south of the U.S/Canada border in Lake St. Clair (the smaller lake between lakes Huron and Erie, which Detroit fronts) to a town/city on the St. Clair river, somewhat incongruously named Marine City, where it is restored shiny and new in Lighthouse Park (zoom in on the map).   

So there is some history here;   and some Web sites.

City of Marine City:  Peche Island Rear Range Light

Lighthouse Friends:  Peche Island, MI

Travel the Mitten:  Peche Island Rear Range Light, Marine City, MI

That last one has a great summary of how it was moved.  While the island is in Canada, the light was located in U.S. waters in Lake St. Clair.

So for the basics (which could be somewhat complicated), here's what the Lighthouse Directory says.  This tower was replaced by skeleton tower lights in the lake. 

"1908 (station established 1898). Inactive officially since 1982, but a decorative continuous white light is displayed and the lighthouse is charted as a landmark. 66 ft (20 m) round cast iron tower, painted white with black trim. Original 6th order Fresnel lens in place. ... A contract to scrap the lighthouse was awarded in 1983, but a Marine City bank intervened to purchase the tower and relocate it to Marine City. In 2013 the state denied an application for funds to restore the lighthouse but the city proceeded with exterior restoration using the intended matching funds. Repainting and repairs were completed in 2014."

The first picture shows why they had to move it.  Yeah, that's not good.









So it was moved, and restored, and there's a sign explaining all that.










The proudly restored light:




















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