Peninsula Point Light - Service

Service

The point on the Stonington Peninsula is the southern extension of the Niagara Escarpment. It protrudes from the North shore of the lake, sitting astride the St. Martin Island passage, the nautical 'highway' between Lake Michigan and Escanaba, Michigan. A shoal extends more than 2 miles into the lake, posing a hazard to navigation. The light thus had two purposes: (1) it marked a turning point; and (2) it warned mariners away from the rocks and shallows. Danger was inherent in the confluence of reefs and the shipping channels—which lead to safety at the docks of Escanaba, Gladstone, Fayette and Nahma, Michigan. These busy ports transported fish, iron ore, lumber, among other products. "The U.S. Government recognized the need for a lighthouse on the peninsula to aid navigation around these dangerous shoals and reefs separating Big Bay de Noc, Little Bay de Noc, and Green Bay of Lake Michigan."

Although Congress voted funds to build the lighthouse founded in 1856. On July 20, 1864, funds were again appropriated for the building of a lighthouse on the Stonington Peninsula on July 20, 1864. It was not built until 1865 (following the United States Civil War. It maintained as an active aid to navigation until 1934.

Point Peninsula Light's first keeper was Mr. Charles Beggs, who died there in 1887. The second keeper was Mr. Henry Corgan. Mr. Peter Knutsen was third. In 1889 Captain James D. Armstrong was appointed keeper and this was home to him and his family until 1922.

In 1922, by the United States Lighthouse Service installed an automatic acetylene light to replace the hand operated oil lamp. Thus, it was no longer necessary to occupy the site since the light was automated. Captain Armstrong continued to be responsible for Peninsula Point until 1931.

Thereafter, the Fourth Order lens was removed from the lantern and replaced by a 300 mm lens equipped with a 300 candlepower acetylene flasher Dalén light and sun valve. Upon this installation, the light's characteristic was changed to repeated 1-second flash followed by a nine-second eclipse, exhibited initially on the evening of May 20, 1922.

When the Minneapolis Shoal Light Station went into service. this light was decommissioned and abandoned in 1936. Its tower is open for visitors to climb into the cast iron lantern room at the top of a cast iron spiral staircase. The attached lighthouse keeper's residence burnt in 1959, after it had been restored by the Stonington, Michigan Grange.

In 1937, the USDA-Forest Service "was granted custodianship." The building was repaired and public picnic grounds were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The Stonington Grange took over maintenance of the structure and grounds. In 1949 the Grange won first prize in their State contest for their work at the lighthouse.

The house portion burned to the ground in 1959. Debris was cleared and damage to the north side of the tower repaired in 1962 by the USDA Forest Service.