July 4th, 2022
Linda’s Monthly Monday Morning Moaning’s
In the Straits of Mackinac, St Helena Island Lighthouse, St Ignace, Michigan:
St Helena is an uninhabited 240 acre island 7 mile west of the Mackinac Bridge and 2 miles from the Upper Peninsula. Because of the dangerous shoals in this part of the lake in 1872 approval was given to construct the St Helen Light Station. Built with a 71-foot conical tower and a 3 1/2-order Fresnel lens, the 1 1/2-story brick keepers house, and a cover passageway connecting the two. The light marked the hazardous entrance into the Mackinac Straits and the dangerous shoals on the southeast side of the island. This light along with others in the Straits would be very necessary for maritime navigation.
In 1888 Charles Marshall accepted the position of keeper at the St Helen Lighthouse. He and his wife would have 5 children, 4 girls and 1 son during their time at the light station. In 1900, in what would turn out to be his last year as keeper after a 12 year tenure, would go on to be described as – All alone on the island Charles began the annual whitewashing of the tower in August of that year. Perched in a boatswains chair suspended by ropes from the top of the light, Charles was working at a height of forty-five feet when he realized that the control rope for lowering or raising the chair was beyond reach. Realizing the seriousness of his situation he waved vigorously at passing fisherman, but they returned his ‘greeting’ and continued on.
As the day drew to a close, badly sunburned and nearly delirious, he lashed himself into the chair. A passing tug boat would noticed the light was not lit and went to investigate. Finding Charles, he was lowered and taken to a hospital in Mackinaw City, but the effects of his ordeal would stay with him for the rest of his life.
Charles would go on to be the assistant keeper at the Old Mackinac Point Light for a few years were his responsibilities would be lessened. But the effects never left him and he died in 1926 after confinement for 24 years in the Northern Michigan Asylum in Traverse City. In 1922 the St Helena light was automated. In 1986 the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association obtained a lease to restore the light, and ownership going to the group in 1997 where restoration has continued.
The lonely and isolating life of these keepers would have devastating effects on many of these proud workers that kept the lights burning. Many of the outlying islands in the Great Lakes and the isolation, boredom and loneliness that came with the light keepers duties would make the necessity of moving these light keepers around to different stations.
On that ‘wee note’ till next month, Monday Aught 1, 2022.
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Linda Osborne Cynowa 