Sunday, October 4, 2015
We know what you’re thinking. Geez, another lighthouse, nothing else to go see but lighthouses? Well, yes, but we are interested in the many lighthouses around the Great Lakes. They made shipping possible and we find their make-up and locations unique. They are like a time capsule, since most date to the mid-1800s.
But first, we have to tell you about a stop in the town of Brimley on our way to today’s lighthouse. It was a little historic museum housed in two old railway cars.
The cars themselves have an interesting history. The passenger car came from Canada after Algoma Central ceased operation. It was built around 1905. The caboose is from the Detroit and Port Huron (Grand Trunk) railway. They were transported on flatbed trucks to this site. There was concern that the caboose cupola would not clear bridges and overpasses in its journey. We bet that caused some “rubber-necking” along the transit route.
Inside was an interesting history of Brimley and neighboring Bay Mills. Brimley dates back to 1872 and was a railroad stop with the railroad extending to Bay Mills on a trestle across the bay. Bay Mills had two wood mill companies (get it?… Bay Mills) one that made boxes, the other made doors and sashes. A fire in 1904 destroyed them both. The companies left, putting most of Bay Mills and Brimley people out of work. Both towns were essentially deserted by 1909.
Rail service ended in Brimley in 1961. Bay Mills is now an Ojibwa community (with 2 casinos) and Brimley makes a a go of it since it is near several tourist destinations. Check this out, it is a portion of an old wooden water main they found in Brimley.
A few miles past the Bay Mills Casino, was the Point Iroquois Light Station. This location, like the Whitefish Point light, helped guide ships into the St. Mary’s River and the Soo Locks. There are shallow shoals and rocky reefs that the ships have to navigate around in this area. The Locks opened in 1844, this light station started operation in 1870.
It did not need a long range so it was equipped with a 4th order Fresnel. The lens is at the Smithsonian. It initially used a kerosene fuel wick, later changed to an intermittent acetylene lamp. During its operating years, improvements were made to the light. A fog horn was added and the intensity was increased. It was electrified in 1933. Point Iroquois Light was eventually deactivated in 1963.
The stone work fence surrounding the property was put in by Keeper Soldenski in the 1930s. The museum inside had many stories from the 18 keepers during their stays here.
This is the last day of our adventure, we head home tomorrow. It has been fun and as always, we’ve experienced many new and unique things. Thanks for riding along with us and thanks for the comments, feedback, and emails.
Until next year…..
