Stormy Waters is a photograph by Gales Of November which was uploaded on November 15th, 2014.
Stormy Waters
The first Lake Michigan lighthouse in Michigan was built in St. Joseph on the bluffs overlooking the lake in 1832. In 1846 the light was moved to... more
Title
Stormy Waters
Artist
Gales Of November
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The first Lake Michigan lighthouse in Michigan was built in St. Joseph on the bluffs overlooking the lake in 1832. In 1846 the light was moved to the end f a wooden pier extending into Lake Michigan. Over the next 57 years the light was upgraded twice and in 1907 the outer light was added.
The original light continued operation until 1924 when the American Red Cross began using the building as their local headquarters. This lasted until 1954, at which time they sold the building to the city of St. Joseph. The city replaced the building with a parking lot in 1955.
The piers still remain and the lights are still in operation and function as a range light system. The outer light sits atop a 30 foot steel structure while the inner light is a larger building. Range lights function by having two lights at different elevations with lower light being in front of the other. When the rear light is positioned above the lower light, as seen from a ship, it is in the channel.
A catwalk extends 300 yards to the outer light. This would allow the light keeper to service the lights when winds caused waves to break over the pier.
Here, the waves break against the end of the north pier.
Featured in the following groups:
11/20/14 - Michigan Photography Pure Michigan
Uploaded
November 15th, 2014