Restoring Michigan history: Restoration group committed to saving local lighthouses

Preserving Michigan’s nautical history is the ultimate goal of a local lighthouse restoration group.

The Save Our South Channel Lights is a group dedicated to restoring the two range lighthouses in Lake St. Clair, off the southeastern tip of Harsens Island. The group has done multiple restoration project on both lighthouses. Kathy Brady, the organization’s secretary, said Save Our South Channel Lights wants to spread the word and get the public more involved.

“All we really want is to make more people aware that these lights exist,” she said. “We are pouring our hearts, time and money into this to ensure they are available for the next generation.”

Brady said Save Our South Channel Lights prides itself on being an all-volunteer, non-profit organization.

Membership has decreased over the past couple of years. Brady said the group needs to raise awareness to attract new members.

“If you don’t know about something, you won’t become passionate about it, and won’t try to save it,” she said.

People can sign up to become a member on at www.soschannellights.org.

The south channel lights are located in the middle of Lake St. Clair and require a boat to access.

Currently, the group is midway through restoring the lighthouse towers. The rear light has been fully restored and is now in maintenance mode, which has allowed the group to focus more on the front tower.

The front lighthouse is leaning to its side and will fall unless repaired. Brady said the group has put about $65,000 into stabilizing and restoring the front light over the last three years. This will be the third time the light has needed to be straightened since it was built in 1859.

“We need someone with a big heart to help us with the rest of our financing,” Brady said.

Brady said the group has put approximately $900,000 into the entire restoration project since starting in 1988.

Past restoration projects include restoring the foundation of the front light, repairing fences, restoring the rear light’s privy and storehouse and building a steel sea wall to prevent the waves from eroding the lighthouse foundations.

Brady said Save Our South Channel Lights typically relies on membership to raise money for restoration projects. The group also sells merchandise and utilizes events to raise money.

People will be able to find Save Our South Channel Lights at the upcoming MacRay Garage Sale on June 10 and the Algonac Antique Classic Boat Show on June 24.

The group will have a golf fundraiser on May 20 at the Michigan Meadows Golf Course and Little Camille’s by the Green, located at 4575 County Lane Road in Casco Township. Brady said the public is welcome to join. For golfers, the play fee is $120 for singles and $400 for a team of four. People can register up to Saturday.

Additionally, Save Our South Channel Light will be giving a cruise to the lighthouses for the first time on July 18. Tickets are $30 each and can be purchase at Eventbrite. The boat being used has a max capacity of 60 people.

History of the South Channel Lights

The south channel lights were commissioned in November 1859. The lights guided ships into safely into the channel towards the harbor. In order to pass safely, captains would need to line up the ship to make the rear light appear directly behind the front light.

The lights were decommissioned in 1907. They sat unattended until 1988 when Chuck and Margarite “Scotty” Brockman bought them and started Save Our South Channel Lights.

Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com or (810) 292-0122.

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Save Our South Channel Lights preserving history