![]() ![]() Reuben Hamilton performed the work for many years, being paid directly by McDougall since the government did ot authorize an assistant keeper until June, 1870. Since he was constantly bothered by gout and numerous other ailments, an assistant keeper was always employed by him to do the actual work. McDougall remained keeper until his death in October, 1842. In 1861, the height was increased to 86 feet and in 1874 a brick duplex was added for the keeper and his assistants. The structure was 74 feet high and 25 feet in diameter, constructed of brick and completed in December, 1829. Senator was awarded the contract in April. $8,000 was appropriated for the project by an Act of Congress, March 2, 1829. Immediate steps were taken to erect a new structure, at a better location. Erosion, caused by the current was also eating away the ground and after a violent three-day storm in early September, the tower was so severely damaged that in late November it collapsed completely. ![]() During the summer of 1828 the walls began cracking and the tower sagged toward the east. It was not only poorly located, not being visible until boats were too near the river’s mouth, it was poorly constructed. Woodbridge would later become Governor of Michigan and a Senator, but as Collector of Customs, McDougall would inform him that the stairs were so steep that they had to be ascended sideways and the trap door, measuring 18 inches by 21¼ inches was barely large enough to squeeze through. He was a large man, weighing over 200 pounds and finding that the specifications for the lighthouse varied considerably from what actually existed, he reported his dismay to William Woodbridge, then Collector of Customs at Detroit. McDougall had been appointed as official keeper after pulling some political strings. Desnoyers operated the light until December 2nd when George McDougall of Detroit arrived. It was the first lighthouse constructed on Michigan shores. The tower rose 32 feet above ground level and was 18 feet in diameter at the bottom and 9½ feet at the top. April 2, 1825, Congress appropriated an additional $5,000 for the project and on August 8th, it was completed. Winslow Lewis, a Massachusetts contractor specializing in lighthouses was awarded the contract and he, in turn, contracted Daniel Warren of Rochester, New York to build the light tower and keeper’s dwelling. ![]() Relationship to Other Structure: SEPARATEĪs early as 1823, the government recognized the importance of protecting commerce on Lake Huron and, on March 3rd of that year, Congress appropriated $3,500 to construct "a lighthouse near Fort Gratiot, in Michigan Territory". Tower Shape: CONICAL ATTACHED TO WORKROOM Clair River.įoundation Materials: DRESSED STONE/TIMBER New lighthouse built in 1829 built north of the military fort in a better sighted location at the head of the St. First structure built in 1825, but collapsed into the river during a storm. The first lighthouse constructed in the state of Michigan, north of Fort Gratiot. ![]()
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