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‘Haunting’ event coming to haunted lighthouse

The Seul Choix Pointe Lighthouse in Gulliver is seen. (Escanaba Daily Press photo)

GULLIVER — A Haunted Lighthouse is coming to a real haunted lighthouse, according to Gulliver Historical Society President Marilyn Fischer.

The Seul Choix Pointe Lighthouse in Gulliver is reported to be “the most haunted lighthouse on the Great Lakes,” said Fischer.

The Haunted Lighthouse event is a fundraiser for the Gulliver Historical Society. Haunted Lighthouse is Saturday and Saturday Oct. 29. Non-scary tours are 6 to 7 p.m. Scary tours are 7 to 10 p.m. There is a fee for admission.

The Seul Choix Pointe Lighthouse is believed to be haunted by some. Fischer said she has had encounters with all five spirits that are residence at the lighthouse for the past 35 years.

“I believe all the spirits stay because they love their lighthouse so much, they don’t want to leave,” she said.

Fischer has written 12 books about the history of the lighthouse, three of which are stories of encounters she’s had or that visitors have had. (Spirits 1-2-3 at Seul Choix Pointe, True Lighthouse Stories) She believes she knows who each of the spirits are and can tell which is present because of habits they have.

Capt. Joseph Willie Townshend, second head keeper, died in 1910 inside the lighthouse. He is known to peer out of mirrors and move forks on tables.

His wife Ruth would not allow him to smoke inside the house. He had to go outside.

“Now in his afterlife, he is showing her he can smoke anywhere – anytime he pleases, inside,” Fischer said.

Townshend’s granddaughter Dorothy is known to giggle throughout the house and light tower. She looks to be 6 years old and wears a white dress.

She is called Baby Dorothy. Townshend’s wife Ruth flips bedspreads, quilts and pillows back on the upstairs beds and rolls bedding into tight balls.

Amanda Blanchard, married to third Head Keeper William Blanchard, was a midwife who brought over a hundred babies into the world in the upstairs “Birthing Room.” She has had many outside photographs taken of her standing and looking out of that rooms upper window.

Finally, the spirit of Augustus Pond, who murdered Isaac Blanchard detailed in Fischer’s book, “Murder at Seul Choix Pointe 1859,” is also seen and photographed in the lantern room on top of the light tower.

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