By Derek Smith
In the mid 1820’s, the Erie Canal was completed. Its construction opened a new water corridor to New York City, at that time, one of the chief ports in the United States. Industries in the Great Lakes basin could now access ports on the eastern seaboard, and from there hundreds of ports around the world. This new water route would allow Michigan industries to decrease shipping costs, expedite deliveries, and expand their markets globally.
As steamer traffic on the Great Lakes increased, it was determined that a navigational aid was needed at the junction of Lake Huron and the St Clair River, as vessels found their way into the narrows of that river.
On March 3rd ,1823, Congress pledged $3,500.00 for the building of a lighthouse at the head of the St Clair River, at Fort Gratiot in the Michigan Territory.
It was understood that the land on which it would be built was owned by the United States Government, being part of Fort Gratiot Military Reservation.
The “Fort Gratiot” was established at its Lake Huron location in 1814, during the war of 1812, to protect this water route from possible invasion by British troops.
November 13, 1865
It would be the first lighthouse built in Michigan and would become the second oldest on the Great Lakes. It is interesting that the State of Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state in the Union.
Marblehead Lighthouse in Marblehead, Ohio, is the oldest lighthouse. It has been in continuous operation since 1822.
On April 2, 1824, Congress would approve an additional $2250.00 needed to complete the project, bringing the total cost of the lighthouse to $5750.00.
The lighthouse was built and equipped by Winslow Lewis of Massachusetts, who hired Daniel Warren of Rochester, New York to do the construction.
The lighthouse would rise only 32 feet above the ground, 18 feet in diameter at its base, and 9 ½ feet in diameter at its light.
Rufus Hatch, a local resident, and a former lieutenant in the war of 1812, served as the temporary lighthouse keeper. He applied to become the permanent keeper but was replaced by George McDougall.
McDougall a territorial lawyer, had considerable influence in the early politics of Michigan , and his application for the position was accepted with little or no discussion.
George had a cantankerous personality, that manifested into abusive behavior in court. As such he was suspended from practicing law for one year by the Supreme Court of Michigan in 1816.
McDougall had made alcohol a frequent companion.
His appointment to the lighthouse position was designed to keep him out of harm’s way.
George was a burly man. He had an ongoing battle with gout, and other bodily ailments, which prevented him from carrying out many of the responsibilities appointed to a lighthouse keeper.
In fact, he would only climb the stairs to the top once, the day when he first arrived.
Fortunately, he had a more able and agile assistant, Reuben Hamilton, who freed up George’s calendar for other activities, collecting tariffs from smugglers, and petitioning the government for a better salary, which currently rested at $350.00.
At one time George would serve as postmaster, lighthouse keeper and custom official all at the same time.
He would remain at the lighthouse keeper post until his death in October of 1842, at the age of 76.
The Gratiot light was smaller than its peer, working in Marblehead, Ohio.
Its location was hidden, too far south from the mouth of the St Clair River, to be easily recognized by vessels approaching from the lake. It was certainly not a favorite of the many ship captains sailing into the area.
Its position, along with its tiny stature would challenge the best of captains.
There had been complaints about the cramped interior of the lighthouse, and comments about crumbling on its exterior and interior surfaces. In 1828 cracks were discovered in the walls and the foundation was said to be suffering.
Little did this young lighthouse know, that its maritime duties at the mouth of the St Clair River would be short lived.
On September 18th of 1828, after three-days of relentless pounding by an angry Lake Huron, the foundation of the tiny Gratiot Lighthouse was undermined, and the structure had begun a lean to the east.
In November of that year, having had no outside attention given to its dire situation, the little lighthouse blinked one last time, and collapsed into a watery grave.
A Generic Photo of What the Lighthouse Collapse in 1828 Would Have Looked Like. The lighthouse was Located Just South of the Present Bluewater Bridge
How ironic, that this beacon of hope, dedicated to the safety of sailors, their passengers, their vessels, and their cargo, would meet its own demise, swallowed by the powerful waves of a Lake Huron storm.
In March of 1829, Congress approved $8.000.00 for construction of another lighthouse.
It would be taller than its previous sibling, rising 65 feet from the surface and having a base of 25 feet in diameter. Congress would also provide $4445.00 for a tower and a brick lighthouse keeper dwelling.
Lucius Lyon, one of Michigan’s first state senators, and the driving force behind securing statehood for Michigan in 1837, contracted with Truman Beecher to build the new lighthouse.
Its Lewis Lamp would be powered by whale oil, and project a fixed white beam.
The lighthouse would be built further north, past the mouth of the St Clair River, so its light could be clearly seen by incoming ship traffic.
In 1862 the lighthouse would be raised to its present height of 82 feet to accommodate its Fresnel lens display, which could project its light up to 14 miles into the lake. In 1867 a flash was added to the light to distinguish it from the lights of the nearby cars and locomotives, as they made their way along the shoreline of the St Clair River.
In 1874 a brick duplex was added for the comfort of the keeper and his assistant.
November 28, 1913. Gratiot Lighthouse Duplex (27)
Formally known as, lighthouse #48, in the eleventh inspection district (5), the lighthouse was aware of the of the storm of September 1828 and prayed that such an event would not befall it. Indeed, this was a lofty expectation, as Mother Nature, can in a matter of minutes, change her demeanor from tranquil and serene to one of total outrage.
In 1913 on November 7, Mother Nature did show her dark side, and the Gratiot lighthouse would come face to face with a monster storm. It was a storm more powerful than the one that had sent its smaller sibling tumbling into the waters of the St Clair River, 85 years earlier.
The Storm had many monikers including the “White Hurricane” and the “Fresh Water Fury”.
It generated waves exceeding 35 feet and winds gusts of 90 mph.
This Great Lakes Storm of 1913 would last for 3 days and would become the most deadly and destructive natural disaster in Great Lakes history. It destroyed 19 ships, rendered another 19 useless, and cost the loss of lives of over 250 sailors.
It was a tough three days for the Gratiot light, however, with great bravery and dogged determination, it stood its ground, but not without some injuries.
About 1/3 of the base of the lighthouse had suffered considerable erosion and needed immediate attention.
Lighthouse base Erosion November 12, 1913.
November 12, 1913. Land Erosion on the Lake Side of the Lighthouse
Repairs to the base started right away, less history repeat itself.
The land surrounding base of the lighthouse would be levelled, packed, and sheet steel piling would be driven into the ground surrounding the base. The steel pilings would then be covered in concrete.
June 17 ,1914 Steel Piling Being Placed
July 23, 1914, Concrete Poured on Pilings and Ground Packed and Levelled
A fog signal building was erected in 1900, a single keeper dwelling, and the Coast Guard Station constructed in 1932, an equipment building in 1939 and a three bay garage in 1990.
November 13 ,1913. Fog Signal Building
In 1934 the lens of the lighthouse was changed from clear to a green, a DCB-24 Aerobeacon. With a range of 14 miles, it exhibits a half second flash every 6 seconds. The green lens also doubles as the cap for its festive wardrobe during the Christmas Season.
In May of 1981 the U. S. Coast Guard would organize and finance a $20,000 renovation to the structure which would entail new paint, repairs to wood and mortar and a new air circulation system.
In January of 1985 it was announced that the lighthouse would receive another facelift.
Work was started on repairs to rotting floors, wooden doors, and broken windows.
The entry way into the tower would be renovated to house and display pictures, artifacts, and other lighthouse memorabilia.
On September 9th of 2010, ownership of the lighthouse would change hands from the U S Coast Guard Service to the St Clair Parks and Recreation.
In the fall of 2011, the lighthouse would undergo a major makeover. This would be its first extensive construction since the civil war.
All the crumbling brick on the outside of the lighthouse would be replaced and the tower repainted.
Nearly 35,000 porous bricks, dating back to 1829 would be removed and replaced. Coating and painting of the new surfaces were finished by the spring of 2012, and the lighthouse reopened to the public in May of that year.
In 2014 the optic was changed to a L.E.D. light, L VRB-48.
The Gratiot light has been eyewitness to an abundance of local history, over its 193 years of existence, on the Fort Gratiot Reserve.
The canoes of the Native Americans, the York boats of the fur trading brigades, the lumber barges, the troop ships, the schooners, the coal steamers, the luxury passenger ships of the North and South American.
The ferries Omar Conger, the Sarnia, the Port Huron, the James Beard, all in constant movement, as they delivered passengers up and down the St Clair River. It is there they visited the resorts and pavilions of Harson’s Island, Stag Island, the Windemere, the beaches of Port Huron, and Kewahdin Park.
Stag Island Pavilion Circa 1915
Ferry Schedule to Stag Island August 16. 1901
The light has witnessed a plethora of watercraft, vessels of almost every conceivable size and shape.
It has said goodbye to many friends like the Edmund Fitzgerald, which would pass to the north in November of 1975 and never return.
This past summer, the lighthouse was mesmerized when the beautiful passenger ship, Octantis, sailed passed. It the one of the largest and most modern passenger ships ever to journey on Great Lakes waters.
The Gratiot lighthouse has experienced the joy of spring, knowing the magnificent days of summer would soon follow, the beauty of fall with all its colors, and the cold solitude of winter, which imparts a fear of the dreaded November storms on Lake Huron.
Octantis Near Lighthouse Beach May 2022
Michigan’s first lighthouse, with its single green light, continues to operate as a navigational aid today.
The Fort Gratiot Light Station earned the status as a Michigan Historic Site on December 5th,1971, (12) when it was registered as site # 332 with the Michigan Historic Commission (Reference # 76001975. (8) As such, nearing almost 200 years old, the Fort Gratiot Light Station hopes to operate long into the future, barring any future environmental catastrophe, such as the “White Hurricane” of November 1913.
Part of the Application for Historic Places in Michigan (23)