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Fun Stuff - Lighthouses
Charity Island Light
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Take a short cruise from Caseville on private boat/jet ski or fishing charter to Big Charity Island, just one hour to get to this vacation paradise. The island was named by the lake mariners for its location, placed "through the charity of God" midway between the city of Au Gres and the Thumb, at the entrance of Saginaw Bay.
The walking trails are marked (and rare flora and fauna identified) and the picnic area has tables, grills, and a pavilion. Spend the day and make believe it's your own private island or that you're the keeper of the lighthouse. The light was constructed in 1857, and then replaced by the Gravelly Shoal Light and abandoned in 1939.
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Harbor Beach Breakwater Light
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This light, constructed in 1885, is still active. It is automated now, which is not nearly as romantic as crews rowing out from the Harbor Beach Life Boat Station.
Duty here wasn't exciting or fraught with danger as it was on the shoalguarding lights to the north. More mundane duties, such as bringing sick crewmen to shore from passing ships, were the norm here. The old surfmen used to say "You have to go out, but you don't have to come back." - it makes you realize that, in some line of work, "boring" is good!
Because this is still a working light, tours are not available. But you can view the light from Waterworks Park and the Harbor Beach Marina.
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Point Aux Barques Life Saving Station at Huron City Museum
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Completed in 1876, it was scheduled for demolition when that era ended. The founder of Huron City Museum believed that is should be preserved and had it moved to Huron City and restored. It houses a remarkably complete collection of LSS equipment and artifacts and even boasts a filmed re-enactment of the training drills of the courageous surfmen.
Huron City Museum's lovely setting also offers a Victorian Mansion, log cabin, church, carriage shed, inn, barns, and general store of a long ago era. The men of the Life Saving Station were recruited from the local area, so you can be sure they spent some time here when off duty.
Come and experience another era! Huron City Museum is open Memorial Day through June 30 on weekends or by appointment. July 1 thru Labor Day open Thursday thru Monday and in September on weekends or by appointment and is located at 7995 Pioneer Drive on M-25, midway between Port Austin and Port Hope. For further information call 989.428.4123. Visit www.huroncitymuseums.org. |
Pointe Aux Barques Light
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President Polk ordered this lighthouse built in 1857 to guard ships from some of the most treacherous shoals in the Great Lakes. Many sailing ships were destroyed here "cutting the corner" into Saginaw Bay.
These shipwrecks provide adventure for divers in the Great Lakes State Bottomland Preserve just off the shore. The lighthouse was automated in 1957 and is still in service, but the keeper's residence is now a museum, and the grounds are a lovely 120-acre County park with modern camping.
Open Daily 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Memorial Day to end of September. Visit their website at: www.pointeauxbarqueslighthouse.org |
Port Austin Reef Light
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The lighthouse was constructed in 1878, abandoned in 1953 and left to rapidly deteriorate.
It is now under lease to the Port Austin Reef Lighthouse Association until the year 2020. After a truly heroic effort by the group to oust the resident flock of 500 pigeons the building was reroofed, bird proofed, and reclaimed for mankind. Interior renovation began in 1990.
This ongoing labor of love, determination, and perseverance is conducted on the reef light, two miles off shore.
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