Inventory of Historic Light Stations--Michigan--Poverty Island Light

Inventory of Historic Light Stations
Michigan Lighthouses

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POVERTY ISLAND LIGHT

State: MICHIGAN
Location: POVERTY ISLAND / LAKE MICHIGAN
Nearest City: FAIRPORT
County: DELTA
U.S.C.G. District: 9
Year Station Established: 1874

NPS photo by Karmen Bisher, 2004

Existing Historic Tower:

Year Light First Lit: 1874
Is the Light Operational? NO
Date Deactivated: 1976-1982 and c.1990
Automated: 1957
Foundation Materials: DRESSED STONE/TIMBER
Construction Materials: BRICK
Markings/Patterns: WHITE
Shape: CONICAL W/OUT LANTERN
Relationship to Other Structures: ATTACHED
Tower Height: 70
Original Optic: FOURTH ORDER
Year Original Lens Installed: 1874
Present Optic: NONE
Year Present Lens Installed:
Height of Focal Plane: 80
Fresnel Lens Disposition: UNKNOWN
Has tower been moved? NO

Previous Tower(s): NO

Modern Tower? YES

Year Tower Constructed: 1976
Type: SKELETAL

Existing Sound Signal Building? NO

Year Constructed: 1885
Construction Materials: WOOD & SHEET IRON
Architectural Style: FRAME
Fog Signal Type: WHISTLE; SIREN

Existing Keepers Quarters? YES

Year Constructed: 1875 (1921 SHED ADDITION)
Number of Stories: 1.5
Architectural Style: NO STYLE
Construction Materials: WOOD FRAME/BRICK

Other Structures: ASSISTANT KEEPERS QUARTERS (1921); OIL HOUSE (1894); FOG SIGNAL BUILDING & BOATHOUSE FOUNDATION (1885-1940)

Current Use: ABANDONED

Owner/Manager: U.S. COAST GUARD

Open to the Public? NO

National Register Status: LISTED; Reference # 05000984
Name of Listing: POVERTY ISLAND LIGHT STATION (LIGHT STATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES MPS)
On State List/Inventory? YES; Year Listed: 2005

Miscellaneous: A NEW LIGHT TOWER, A SKELETAL STRUCTURE WITH A RED AND WHITE DIAMOND SHAPED DAYMARK, WAS ESTABLISHED ON NORTH SIDE OF ISLAND; IT WAS DEACTIVATED IN 1982 AND A SMALL SOLAR-POWERED OPTIC WAS INSTALLED ATOP THE HISTORIC TOWER; THIS OPTIC WAS DEACTIVATED SOMETIME AFTER 1990.

Last Modified: Thu, Oct 05 2006 1:52:00 pm EDT
JMP

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