Old Presque Isle Lighthouse
Encyclopedia
The Old Presque Isle Light was the first lighthouse
in the Presque Isle, Michigan area, built in 1840, supported physically by two-thirds stone and one-third brick,
and supported financially by funds appropriated by Congress two years earlier of $5,000. The tower and dwelling did not last long in the harsh weather, however, and by 1867 they were deteriorated enough for Congress to find need for a newer station. It presently is not operational and is a museum.
This old one, though, has not been completely dismissed, at least by the supertitious. Lake legend says the station still provides a residence for ghosts who haunt the light. The ghost of George Parris, a former museum caretaker who is now deceased is said to haunt the light. Though the light has long since been deactivated, the tale says that George returns habitually to light the lamp.
Other accounts of Mr. Parris include a young girl who was exploring the tower alone. When she returned, she had told her parents that she was talking to a "nice old man" in the tower's lamp room. It was later found that nobody else had been in the tower at that time. The girl correctly identified the man as former keeper George Parris from a photo kept in the adjoining cottage/museum.
One day, Parris' widowed wife was going out to run an errand during an intense lightning storm. She was about to leave the cottage, but she claimed that some unusual force was blocking the exit. Just then lightning struck directly outside the cottage. To this day, Mrs. Parris believes that it was the spirit of her deceased husband that kept her from certain electrocution.
The New Presque Isle Lighthouse located a few miles north, also has its share of hauntings. One keeper’s wife, who was locked up and not allowed to leave, suffered from the severe isolation and went insane. Many claim to hear her when visiting the site.
The Lighthouse Board – that service responsible for building and maintaining lights most effectively – decided to move the lighthouse location about two miles (3 km) north, where vessels which were farther from shore could still easily see the light. The tower was also designed to be 113 feet (34.4 m) in height, more than 80 feet (24.4 m) taller than the older one. Congress appropriated 7,000 dollars to make this possible in March 1867, and the New Presque Isle Lighthouse
was soon erected.
.jpg)
This lighthouse and its sister, the New Presque Isle Light, are east of Grand Lake (Presque Ile, Michigan), and sit on the peninsula.
This light is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Reference #73000957
Name of Listing: OLD PRESQUE ISLE LIGHTHOUSE.
A Fresnel lens that was associated with this light was donated and is now on display at the Beaver Island Head Light.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
in the Presque Isle, Michigan area, built in 1840, supported physically by two-thirds stone and one-third brick,
and supported financially by funds appropriated by Congress two years earlier of $5,000. The tower and dwelling did not last long in the harsh weather, however, and by 1867 they were deteriorated enough for Congress to find need for a newer station. It presently is not operational and is a museum.
History
Other accounts of Mr. Parris include a young girl who was exploring the tower alone. When she returned, she had told her parents that she was talking to a "nice old man" in the tower's lamp room. It was later found that nobody else had been in the tower at that time. The girl correctly identified the man as former keeper George Parris from a photo kept in the adjoining cottage/museum.
One day, Parris' widowed wife was going out to run an errand during an intense lightning storm. She was about to leave the cottage, but she claimed that some unusual force was blocking the exit. Just then lightning struck directly outside the cottage. To this day, Mrs. Parris believes that it was the spirit of her deceased husband that kept her from certain electrocution.
The New Presque Isle Lighthouse located a few miles north, also has its share of hauntings. One keeper’s wife, who was locked up and not allowed to leave, suffered from the severe isolation and went insane. Many claim to hear her when visiting the site.
The Lighthouse Board – that service responsible for building and maintaining lights most effectively – decided to move the lighthouse location about two miles (3 km) north, where vessels which were farther from shore could still easily see the light. The tower was also designed to be 113 feet (34.4 m) in height, more than 80 feet (24.4 m) taller than the older one. Congress appropriated 7,000 dollars to make this possible in March 1867, and the New Presque Isle Lighthouse
New Presque Isle Lighthouse
The New Presque Isle Light was built in 1870, at Presque Isle, Michigan, east of Grand Lake , and sits on the namesake peninsula. It is one of 149 lighthouses in Michigan, more than any other state...
was soon erected.
This light is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Reference #73000957
Name of Listing: OLD PRESQUE ISLE LIGHTHOUSE.
A Fresnel lens that was associated with this light was donated and is now on display at the Beaver Island Head Light.
Specialized further reading
- Hermanson, Don, True Lighthouse Hauntings, Revisited including Old Presque Isle Light.
External links
- Presque Isle Township Museum Society - Tour information of keeper's house museum, New Presque Isle Light and Old Presque Isle Light
- Detroit News, Interactive map on Michigan lighthouses.
- Anderson, Kraig, Lighthouse Friends, Old Presque Isle Lighthouse.
- Interactive map, list, information for lighthouses in North and West Lake Huron.
- Lighthouse Central, Old Presque Isle Light The Ultimate Guide to East Michigan Lighthouses by Jerry Roach (Publisher: Bugs Publishing LLC - July 2006). ISBN 0974797715; ISBN 9780974797717.
- Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, Old Presque Isle Light.
- National Park ServiceNational Park ServiceThe National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
Maritime Heritage, Inventory of Historic Lights, Presque Isle Lights. - Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light - Old Presque Isle Light.
- Additional pictures of the lighhouse and museum artifacts.
- Michigan.gov website has Map of Michigan Lighthouses. Presque Isle Lights.
- Wobser, David, Boatnerd.com Old Presque Isle Light.