Middle Island Light facts for kids
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 Middle Island Light
Location in Michigan
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| Location | Middle Island, Alpena, Michigan |
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| Coordinates | 45°11′35″N 83°19′16″W / 45.19306°N 83.32111°W |
| Year first constructed | 1905 |
| Year first lit | 1905 |
| Automated | 1961 |
| Foundation | dressed stone |
| Construction | brick |
| Tower shape | conical tower |
| Markings / pattern | white with horizontal red band |
| Height | 71 feet (22 m) |
| Focal height | 78 feet (24 m) |
| Original lens | red Fourth Order Fresnel lens |
| Current lens | green Third Order Fresnel lens |
| Intensity | 9.000 candlepower |
| Range | 14 miles (23 km) |
| Characteristic | alternating 5-second periods of light and dark |
| ARLHS number | USA-495 |
The Middle Island Light is a lighthouse found on Middle Island. This island is in Lake Huron, about 10 miles (16 km) north of Alpena, Michigan. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. This means it is a special place recognized for its history.
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History of Middle Island Light
Middle Island was a very important spot for sailors on Lake Huron. It was halfway between Thunder Bay and Presque Isle. The side of the island protected from the wind, called the lee side, offered a safe place during storms. However, hidden underwater rocks, called shoals, made it tricky to get into the harbor.
Early Safety Efforts (1881-1902)
Because of the dangers, the United States Life-Saving Service built a station on the island in 1881. This service helped rescue sailors and ships in trouble. By the 1890s, everyone knew a lighthouse was needed. In 1896, the United States Lighthouse Board asked for money to build one. This request was finally approved in 1902. Congress gave $25,000 to build a lighthouse and a fog signal. This was one of the last lighthouses built along the Michigan shore of Lake Huron.
Building the Lighthouse (1903-1905)
Work to prepare for construction started in 1903. A company was hired in 1904 to build the lighthouse. Construction began in June 1904 and continued until winter. Workers returned in the spring of 1905. The lighthouse was finished and lit for the first time on June 1, 1905. It used an oil lamp and a red Fresnel lens. A special shed to store oil was built the next year.
Changes and Automation (1928-1961)
In 1928, the oil lamp was replaced with an electric green light. The fog signal was also made better. In 1939, the lighthouse tower was painted white with a black stripe. Later, this stripe was changed to red. The light became automatic in 1961. This meant no one needed to live there to operate it. Sadly, without staff, the lighthouse was damaged by vandals in the 1960s.
Restoration and Preservation (1980s-Present)
In the 1980s, a local group tried to fix up the lighthouse, but it was a big job. In 1989, a man named Marvin Theut bought the old keeper's house and fog signal building. He started the Middle Island Lighthouse Keepers Association in 1992. Their goal was to restore the property. In 2001, they even opened the fog signal building as a bed and breakfast.
In 2010, the lighthouse itself was no longer needed by the government. In 2012, it was given to the Middle Island Lighthouse Keepers Association. Later that year, members formed the Middle Island Lighthouse Preservation Society. This new group works to protect and restore the lighthouse for the future.
What Middle Island Light Looks Like
The Middle Island Light has three main buildings. These are the lighthouse tower, a house for the keepers, and a building for the fog signal. All of these buildings are made of brick and sit on strong stone foundations.
Lighthouse Tower Details
The lighthouse tower stands 70 feet (21 m) tall to the center of its light. It reaches 80 feet (24 m) to its very top. The tower is shaped like a cone, getting narrower as it goes up. It is 18 feet (5.5 m) wide at the bottom and 12 feet 8 inches (3.86 m) wide at the top.
Other Buildings
The keeper's house is a two-story building made of red brick. It was designed for two families, with six rooms in each apartment. The fog signal building is also made of red brick and has a sloped roof. It was originally 40 feet (12 m) long and 23 feet 6 inches (7.16 m) wide. A small addition was later built to hold a machine that helped with the fog signal. Cement walkways connect all three buildings.
