Beaver Island Light Station, St. James Michigan

The Beaver Island Light Station was built in 1851. It is probably the third oldest lighthouse on the Great Lakes. Its construction and initial operation took place during an era of turmoil on Beaver Island. On July 8th, 1850, James Jesse Strang, a Mormon follower of Joseph Smith, was coronated King and claimed Beaver Island as his Kingdom. The Mormons abandoned the island six years later.
The site overlooks a large expanse of Lake Michigan and focuses on the major shipping lanes. Since the eighteenth century maritime traffic has funneled past Beaver Head as it approaches the Straits of Mackinac.
The U.S. Lighthouse Service operated the lighthouse from 1851 until 1938. At this time the U.S. Coast Guard assumed operation until 1962, when the lighthouse was decommissioned and replaced by an automated radio beacon tower. The illuminant and lenses were removed by the Coast Guard during the decommissioning. It was reported that the French prism light used in the tower was the second oldest in the United States. The light candlepower was 2,500 fixed and a flash candlepower rating of 25,000. The light would remain fixed with a 1.3-second flash every 20 seconds.
The light was visible at 18 statute miles.
The Charlevoix Public School District secured the title to the Beaver Island Light Station through a surplus federal property distribution. It uses the site as an outdoor and environmental education center.
Site Description
Beaver Island Light Station is situated on the southern shore of Beaver Island, northern Lake Michigan, between Nicksau's Point on the west and Appleby's Point on the east.
The lighthouse tower measures 103 feet above low water and 46 feet above ground level. The tower is cylindrical and constructed from yellow brick. A ten-sided steel and glass room caps the tower. Connected to the tower is the keeper's dwelling. This two-story, yellow brick building is rectangular in plan and measures 26 feet by 30 feet. A two-story, frame addition, 20 feet by 31 feet, was constructed around 1915. A screened porch, 7 feet by 31 feet in size, was added to the east side of the addition around 1920.
The interior of the dwelling was designed as three separate apartments for the keeper, the first assistant, and the second assistant. The basic interior structure is in unusually good condition. The foundation is sound, the columns and beams that are exposed in the basement are faultless, the Michigan maple floors are sound and secure, and the roof is in excellent condition.
In addition to the main structure, four support buildings are located on the site. A single-story framed garage, 16 feet by 20 feet in plan, with a wood floor and storage attic is situated near the county road. To the southwest of the tower is a red brick storage shed, approximately 8 feet by 8 feet. The shed door and jam is constructed of steel. This structure was used originally to store whale oil for the signal light. Approximately 200 yards west of the tower is a one-story maintenance building, 22 feet by 40 feet in plan, with exterior walls and roof of corrugated steel. The red brick fog signal house, 22 feet by 40 feet, was built in 1915. The roof is of asbestos shingles with copper flashing and eaves gutters. Cut stone coping trims the exterior masonry work. An interior workbench running the length of the south wall is constructed with a 2 3/4 inch hard maple top.

East view of garage (1978)

West view of Fog Signal House (1978)

Northeast view of Oil House (1978)

West view of Maintenance Building (1978)

Northeast view of Tower and Dwelling (1978)

Southwest view of Dwelling and Tower (1978)
