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If it’s been a while since you visited the Point Betsie Lighthouse near Frankfort, Michigan, you may want to consider another visit before this season ends.
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Friends of Point Betsie Lighthouse, the interior of the old keeper’s house and tower has recently undergone an amazing transformation that was so well done that, along with other restoration projects completed previously at the lighthouse, the group recently received the Michigan Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation.
Built in 1858, the Point Betsie Lighthouse, one of the most photographed and recognizable lighthouses in Michigan, once had three lighthouse families living in it.
In 1939 when the Coast Guard took over the Lighthouse Service, they also took over the light keeping responsibilities at Point Betsie. However, the last of the old time civilian lighthouse keepers to have served here was the late Louis Bauchan who we have written about extensively over the years. Bauchan was transferred to Point Betsie in 1947 and retired from there in 1952. Upon his death in 2003, it was widely believed that he had been the last of the old civilian keepers of the Lighthouse Service. But before his death, he had recounted many stories and historic photographs of lighthouse life that otherwise might have been lost forever.
Over the years, as with many other lighthouses, the Coast Guard made various additions and remodelings at Point Betsie Lighthouse, destroying much of the original grandeur of the lighthouse. However, the Friends of Point Betsie, through careful restoration, brought back to life whatever they could uncover, including one of the two original fireplaces that had been covered and hidden from sight. One staircase that dates back to 1895 was stripped of layers of paint and restored it to its original appearance.
The kitchen and dining room now look almost exactly as they did in the 1940s, including period furnishings. Other areas now feature exquisite exhibits including the restored Fresnel lens. The Governor’s Preservation Award is well deserved by the Friends who have worked for so many years to save this lighthouse for future generations to learn from. To learn more about the lighthouse, you can visit their web site at www.PointBetsie.org.
To learn the most about Point Betsie Lighthouse, we would also highly recommend the book, Lightkeeping and Lifesaving on Northeastern Lake Michigan by Jonathan P. Hawley, who is also the president of the Friends of Point Betsie Lighthouse. The book is available for $30.00 plus $5.00 shipping from Point Betsie Lighthouse Gift Shop, P.O. Box 103, Frankfort, Michigan 49635. (Michigan residents must add 6% sales tax)
Unless otherwise noted, all photographs courtesy of Jay Burt and Walk Softly Photos, LLC.
This story appeared in the
August 2010 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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