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Whitmer, Benson roll out lighthouse projects

MARQUETTE -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced Friday that two historic Michigan lighthouses will make progress on long-term preservation efforts with the help of $106,000 in Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program grants from the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office.

"The historic lighthouses lining our freshwater shoreline -- the largest in the world -- are part of the splendor of Pure Michigan," Whitmer said in a press release. "I am proud that we are making an investment today to preserve these structures, reminding us of our past and encouraging us to move towards the light."

The two lighthouses are Rock of Ages Lighthouse off the west end of Isle Royale National Park and the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse near Eagle Harbor, both located in the Upper Peninsula.

"We're proud to help Michiganders across the state preserve the historic lighthouses that beautify and enrich our state's shorelines," Benson said in a press release. "We're making government work for everyone by providing convenient and efficient services that meet the needs of all Michiganders and our state's historic treasures."

The Rock of Ages Lighthouse received an MLAP grant amount of $46,000 with a match amount of $23,000. Funds will be used to hire a contractor to rehabilitate the 132-foot-tall lighthouse by cleaning and painting the exterior. The last time the lighthouse was painted was in 1985.

This is the first MLAP grant award to the Rock of Ages Lighthouse Preservation Society.

"We are very excited to receive this grant from the Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program," Rock of Ages Lighthouse Preservation Society Executive Director David Gerth said in a press release. "Cracking, missing vent covers and heavy lichen growth on the exterior masonry of Rock of Ages Lighthouse are causing water infiltration that threatens to halt interior restoration efforts. This grant will allow us to hire a contractor to clean, repair and paint the exterior masonry of the tower, ensuring that interior restoration may continue as scheduled. This project marks a huge step toward our goal of opening the lighthouse to the public in the future."

The Eagle Harbor Lighthouse received a $60,000 MLAP grant with a match amount of $39,000. Funds will be used to hire a contractor to rehabilitate the tower of the lighthouse. Proposed work will include replacement of deteriorated brick and selective repointing of the tower, repairing damaged plaster on the tower interior, roof and wall water diversion and deck and lantern room repair, according to the press release.

Since 2000, this is the fifth MLAP grant award to the Keweenaw County Historical Society.

"The Keweenaw County Historical Society is very appreciative of receiving this grant award, especially since we are a nonprofit, volunteer-run organization," said Keweenaw County Historical Society President Mel Jones. "This funding will help us preserve and maintain our 150-plus-year-old lighthouse in a manner that is historically correct."

According to the press release, MLAP was established to assist in the preservation, rehabilitation and protection of historic lighthouses in Michigan.

"Michigan's historic lighthouses endure harsh weather, year after year. These icons on our shorelines require constant maintenance and attention," said Michigan's Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Martha MacFarlane-Faes. "Our lighthouse preservation grants help repair and restore these beacons, so they can connect us with our maritime heritage for years to come."

For more information about lighthouse preservation in Michigan, visit online at michigan.gov/saveourlights.