Lighthouse History

John R. St. John, who visited the Keweenaw region in 1845, cited the need for a lighthouse, or at least a beacon, at Copper Harbor in A True Description of the Lake Superior Country... published in 1846.

Reverend John H. Pitezel, a Methodist missionary to the Keweenaw during the late 1840’s recalled that “we had once before entered [Copper Harbor] in the night...when our only beacon was a globe lamp, sent out in a yawl, and placed upon a lone rock in the channel.” (Presumably Gull Rock)

Action providing improved navigational aids at Copper Harbor followed closely upon the Keweenaw copper rush. The shipwreck of the John Jacob Astor in 1844 and rapidly expanding Lake Superior shipping traffic influenced President Polk and Congress to authorize construction of the Copper Harbor Lighthouse in 1847. For $4,800, Charles Rude built the original 65-foot-tall split stone, whitewashed tower on Hays Point between 1848-1849 about of the steel tower.

A new lighthouse (the present one) was built in 1866, incorporating the light towers and keeper’s dwelling in the same building. We can only speculate why the present lighthouse was constructed. According to the building specifications, the original lighthouse was--at least in theory--imposingly structurally sound. Some lake lighthouses of the period were built too near the shoreline and suffered from the eroding action of the waves, but the local terrain does not lend itself well to this theory. It’s quite possible that poor construction methods and material by the original contractor led to a rapid structural decay. It is interesting that little, if any, trace of the original lighthouse remains at ground level, which may indicate that its building materials were used in the construction of the 1866 lighthouse and/or the repair of outbuildings. The 1866 dwelling’s attached up to fifteen miles. While briefly burning sperm oil, the light used lard oil up to 1887, when mineral oil was introduced. In 1919, as the light was converted to acetylene gas, the station became non-attendant. The range lightkeeper, Charles T. Davis, assumed maintenance responsibilities for the main light.

The present 62-foot steel tower was erected in 1933, with the light being converted to electricity in 1937. The current light is visible up to twenty-two miles. The light was described in 1907 as “a fixed white light, light, the 1st order light being the largest in use and the 6th order the smallest. The Fresnel lens was common throughout the Lighthouse Service. When the station became non-attendant, the lighthouse was leased to Dr. Roger T. Vaughan (assistant warden, Cook Co. Hospital, Illinois) in 1927 and was used by Dr. Vaughan and a number of his colleagues as a summer cottage. Their five-year lease was renewed in 1932 and again in 1937. Plans were made by the Government to sell the buildings at an appropriate time to avoid continued maintenance expenses.

The Light Keeper's Residence The stone dwelling located south of the lighthouse was also built in 1849. Initially serving as the light keeper’s residence, it later was used for oil storage. The present dock area functioned as a boat landing beginning in The brick privy (complete with child’s seat) is substantial, and probably dates to 1866.

The Lighthouse Museum A Lake Superior shipping and lighthouse history is presented at the Copper Harbor Lighthouse Museum. Emphasis is upon the duties and activities of the lightkeeper and his family, a role seldom understood, set against the background of Lake Superior maritime history. We hope you will experience a sense of the living past, in each individual sphere of presentation (military, mining, lighthouse), while understanding their interrelationship. An appreciation of the rugged natural beauty of the Keweenaw can also be recognized as an important part of the history of the site.

Name of Lightkeeper	Date of Appointment	Yearly Pay in Dollars
Henry Clow	Feb. 24, 1849	350
Henry C. Shruter	Aug. 5, 1853	350	The Original Dwelling
Napoleon Beedon	March 23, 1855	350, then 560
John Power	Sept 1, 1869 - 1872	560
Charles Corgan	Nov 20, 1872	560
Edward Chambers	Nov. 11, 1881	560
James W. Rich	Oct. 17, 1882	560
(inactive)	Oct. 6, 1883 - June 1888	-
Henry Corgan	June 30, 1888 - 1919	560

The Range Lights History Copper Harbor’s Range Lights were installed in the late 1840’s. By 1869, for $5,000, the federal government completed a new range light system including construction of a Range Light Keeper’s house which now serves as the Assistant Park manager’s residence. The range system consists of two lights placed about one hundred yards apart. While the front light was positioned on the shoreline, the rear light was mounted on the tower of the keeper’s house. When the rear light was transferred to the steel tower north of the range light residence, the light was made non-attendant. By lining up the two lights, one above the other, a navigator can safely guide a ship into the harbor channel.

Information and graphics reproduced with permission from:
LIGHTING THE WAY: A History of the Copper Harbor Lighthouse By Barry C. James
Publisher: The Fort Wilkins Natural History Association ISBN # 0-9675103-0-9

For further history readings, please visit a comprehensive Great Lakes Lighthouses website by Terry Pepper. The State of Michigan which runs Fort Wilkins State Park, has a brief writeup on the Copper Harbor Lighthouse complex as well.