Description
The island lies south of Sugar Island and is to the east of the unincorporated community of Barbeau, Michigan on the mainland. It forms the southeastern part of Soo Township in Chippewa County, Michigan.
The name Neebish comes from an Indian word for "where the water boils," referring to the Once-furious rapids along its western side. However, the rapids were greatly diminished when a shipping channel was dug for lake freighters using the Soo Locks to the north. Freighters heading up to the locks pass on the east side of the island. Freighters that are downbound from the locks pass on the island's west side.
While only 4 of its 21.5 square miles (56 km2) are state owned, the island is mostly undeveloped. There is one store and one church on the island. According to the 2000 census there were 66 people living on the island.
A car ferry service operates April 1 to January 15.
Neebish Island was the birthplace and childhood home of the late painter, Pat Norton whose work depicts the St. Mary's River, freighters that travel the river and other scenes of Neebish Island and surrounding areas. She was born in 1931 on Neebish Island to a lighthouse keeper.
"Guiding The Way From Middle Neebish" - Book about the Middle Neebish Lighthouse, Author Edward T. Cook - Bookstand Publishing(February 2007) Note: Author is the nephew of the late painter, Pat Norton. Author's Grandfather Hugh Cook was one of the Lighthouse Keeper's at Middle Neebish Lighthouse.
Read more about this topic: Neebish Island
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