Point Betsie Light
Encyclopedia
Point Betsie Light is located on the northeast shore of Lake Michigan
— at the southern entrance to the Manitou Passage — north of Frankfort
in Benzie County
in Northern
Michigan
. Construction began in 1858, but it was not completed until 1858, and began service in the shipping season of 1859. The lighthouse
cost $5000 to build. In 1875, a life saving station was built for $3000.
with bullseye, which was upgraded to a Third order (with bullseye) in 1880. The latter was visible for 27.5 miles (44.3 km), because of the high placement of the tower (focal plane of 52.5 feet) and the efficacy of the lens design. The Fresnel Lens was removed in 1996, and there are plans to display it at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
.
The cylindrical tower is 39 feet (11.9 m) tall, but sits on a dune. It is attached to the Lighthouse keeper
s house, which was upgraded to an attractive gambrel roof design.
This was one of the earliest Life Saving Station, and was run under the auspices of the U.S. Life-Saving Service
. In 1910 the United States Lighthouse Board
was reconstituted as the U.S. Lighthouse Service
. In 1939 these agencies were merged under the control of the U.S. Coast Guard
.
Prior to being automated in 1983, the 'wickies' operated the light for 106 years. This was the last manned lighthouse on Lake Michigan and the last Michigan lighthouse to lose its keeper. The light is now a Vega VRB-25
system. The new optic would be visible for a range of 15 to 22 miles (35.4 km), depending on the bulb used.
In addition to the light tower, keeper's house, and lifesaving station, the site presently includes a fog signal building and an oil house.
Fog signals have received much attention at Point Betsie. In the autumn of 1912, the fog signal building was rebuilt. The 10 inches (254 mm) locomotive whistles were replaced by 10 inches (254 mm) chime whistles. Meanwhile, the lamp was upgraded to an incandescent oil vapor system, with an intensity of 55,000 candlepower. In 1921, upon being connected to the electrical power grid, aa 110-volt electric bulb
was installed, and the fog signal upgraded to twin Type "G" diaphones, driven by electric air compressors. The diaphone doubled the audible radius, and had the added benefit that it could be brought on line immediately, without waiting for steam engines to build pressure. The following April the fog signal's characteristic was changed to a group of two blasts every 30 seconds.
The light is located on Point Betsie, Michigan, which in turn is part of a recognized terrestrial marine near shore ecosystem, dominated by a coastal dune with unique flora and fauna, including Pitcher's Thistle, Lake Huron Locust, and fascicled broomrape.
in 2004.
It has been repainted to its original color scheme, which had not been seen since the 1940s. The "Friends of Point Betsie Lighthouse" have undertaken a complete restoration of the station.
Point Betsie is said to be one of America's most photographed lighthouses, and the most-visited attraction in Benzie County. Because of its picturesque form and location, it is often the subject of photographs and drawings. Even needlepoint illustrations have been rendered.
It is listed on the National Register of Historical Places, Reference #84001375.
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
— at the southern entrance to the Manitou Passage — north of Frankfort
Frankfort, Michigan
Frankfort is a city in Benzie County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,513 at the 2000 census. The elevation of Frankfort is above sea level. The city is situated with Lake Michigan to the west, Lake Betsie, formed by the Betsie River before flowing into Lake Michigan, on the...
in Benzie County
Benzie County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 15,998 people, 6,500 households, and 4,595 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 10,312 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
in Northern
Northern Michigan
Northern Michigan, also known as Northern Lower Michigan , is a region of the U.S. state of Michigan...
Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Construction began in 1858, but it was not completed until 1858, and began service in the shipping season of 1859. The lighthouse
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....
cost $5000 to build. In 1875, a life saving station was built for $3000.
History
The light was originally equipped with a Fourth Order Fresnel lensFresnel lens
A Fresnel lens is a type of lens originally developed by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel for lighthouses.The design allows the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the mass and volume of material that would be required by a lens of conventional design...
with bullseye, which was upgraded to a Third order (with bullseye) in 1880. The latter was visible for 27.5 miles (44.3 km), because of the high placement of the tower (focal plane of 52.5 feet) and the efficacy of the lens design. The Fresnel Lens was removed in 1996, and there are plans to display it at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a United States National Lakeshore located along the northwest coast of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan in Leelanau County and Benzie County....
.
The cylindrical tower is 39 feet (11.9 m) tall, but sits on a dune. It is attached to the Lighthouse keeper
Lighthouse keeper
A lighthouse keeper is the person responsible for tending and caring for a lighthouse, particularly the light and lens in the days when oil lamps and clockwork mechanisms were used. Keepers were needed to trim the wicks, replenish fuel, wind clockworks and perform maintenance tasks such as cleaning...
s house, which was upgraded to an attractive gambrel roof design.
This was one of the earliest Life Saving Station, and was run under the auspices of the U.S. Life-Saving Service
United States Life-Saving Service
The United States Life-Saving Service was a United States government agency that grew out of private and local humanitarian efforts to save the lives of shipwrecked mariners and passengers...
. In 1910 the United States Lighthouse Board
United States Lighthouse Board
The United States Lighthouse Board was the agency of the US Federal Government that was responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of all lighthouses in the United States...
was reconstituted as the U.S. Lighthouse Service
United States Lighthouse Service
The United States Lighthouse Service, also known as the Bureau of Lighthouses, was the agency of the US Federal Government that was responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of all lighthouses in the United States from the time of its creation in 1910 until 1939...
. In 1939 these agencies were merged under the control of the U.S. Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
.
Prior to being automated in 1983, the 'wickies' operated the light for 106 years. This was the last manned lighthouse on Lake Michigan and the last Michigan lighthouse to lose its keeper. The light is now a Vega VRB-25
VRB-25
The VRB-25 is a lighthouse optical system designed and built by Vega Industries Ltd. in Porirua, New Zealand. It was originally designed in 1993-95 with the assistance of the United States Coast Guard to meet USCG requirements for a robust mechanism requiring minimum maintenance. It has become the...
system. The new optic would be visible for a range of 15 to 22 miles (35.4 km), depending on the bulb used.
In addition to the light tower, keeper's house, and lifesaving station, the site presently includes a fog signal building and an oil house.
Fog signals have received much attention at Point Betsie. In the autumn of 1912, the fog signal building was rebuilt. The 10 inches (254 mm) locomotive whistles were replaced by 10 inches (254 mm) chime whistles. Meanwhile, the lamp was upgraded to an incandescent oil vapor system, with an intensity of 55,000 candlepower. In 1921, upon being connected to the electrical power grid, aa 110-volt electric bulb
Incandescent light bulb
The incandescent light bulb, incandescent lamp or incandescent light globe makes light by heating a metal filament wire to a high temperature until it glows. The hot filament is protected from air by a glass bulb that is filled with inert gas or evacuated. In a halogen lamp, a chemical process...
was installed, and the fog signal upgraded to twin Type "G" diaphones, driven by electric air compressors. The diaphone doubled the audible radius, and had the added benefit that it could be brought on line immediately, without waiting for steam engines to build pressure. The following April the fog signal's characteristic was changed to a group of two blasts every 30 seconds.
The light is located on Point Betsie, Michigan, which in turn is part of a recognized terrestrial marine near shore ecosystem, dominated by a coastal dune with unique flora and fauna, including Pitcher's Thistle, Lake Huron Locust, and fascicled broomrape.
Sign posted at lighthouse
Point Betsie Light & Coast Guard Family Housing
Welcome to Point Betsie Lighthouse. The lighthouse, formerly the Point Betsie Lifesaving Station, was built in 1876. It began operation on April 23, 1877, and was manned and maintained by the U.S. Lighthouse Service. On July 1, 1939 the lighthouse service was merged with the U.S. Coast Guard. The lighthouse, manned for over 106 years was automated in April 1983. The light is 52 feet above lake level and has a range of 27.5 miles. The house was converted to apartments and now serves as housing for families of personnel assigned to Coast Guard station, Frankfort.
Current status
The station was transferred to Benzie County under the terms of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation ActNational Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act
The National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000 is American legislation creating a process for the transfer of federally-owned lighthouses into private hands...
in 2004.
It has been repainted to its original color scheme, which had not been seen since the 1940s. The "Friends of Point Betsie Lighthouse" have undertaken a complete restoration of the station.
Point Betsie is said to be one of America's most photographed lighthouses, and the most-visited attraction in Benzie County. Because of its picturesque form and location, it is often the subject of photographs and drawings. Even needlepoint illustrations have been rendered.
It is listed on the National Register of Historical Places, Reference #84001375.
See also
- Lighthouses in the United StatesLighthouses in the United StatesThis is a list of lighthouses in the United States. The United States has had approximately a thousand lights as well as light towers, range lights, and pier head lights...
Specialized further reading
- Hawley, Jonathon P., Point Betsie: Lightkeeping and Lifesaving on Northeastern Lake Michigan 264 p., 61 B&W photos (Ann Arbor, Michigan: University of Michigan Press 2008) ISBN 9780472033188.
External links
- Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography for Benzie County.
- Detroit News, Interactive map on Michigan lighthouses.
- Friends of the Point Betsie Light.
- Interactive map of lighthouses in area of Lake Michigan.
- Interactive map/list/information of lighthouses in northeastern Lake Michigan by LighthousesRus
- Map of Michigan Lighthouse in PDF Format.
- Michigan lighthouse fund, Point Betsie 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...
, Inventory of historic light stations, Point Betsie. - Photographs of Point Betsie Light.
- Summary chronology of Point Betsie light.