1867 Lighthouse Historic Photos Sequenced

A fair number of the station’s historic photos are undated. A volunteer recently attempted to sequence them based on documented changes to the buildings. Here’s the result of those efforts.

Most of these images below are from the National Archives except where noted.

The first known photo of the station is this 1884 image showing the fence that had been built around the lighthouse in 1880 to reduce drifting of snow and sand. The “lean to” has been added by this time.

The next known, but undated, photo is post 1898. It shows the 1895 Oil House, the original wood Assistant Keeper’s and the wood boardwalks connecting the buildings that were originally built in 1892 and enhanced after the new boathouse was built in 1897.

This 1907 map shows the position of various buildings and boardwalks, as well as the change in shoreline that necessitated moving the original boathouse and its subsequent replacement. (The location of the 1910 Assistant Keeper’s Quarters and loss of the Storage Building were penciled in later.)

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This undated photo is pre-1914 (as the dormer is present in confirmed 1914 images). It shows the growth of trees surrounding the building.

These next two images are from 1914, showing front and side views of the lighthouse. The new 1910 brick Assistant Keeper’s Quarters is now present.

 

The next two images are from the 1917 University of Chicago Botanic Survey of the island. Both show increasing vegetation.

     

This circa 1930s photo is from the Fredrickson Collection, Northport Area Heritage Association. It shows the original wood assistant keeper’s quarters removed, making the summer kitchen visible for the first time.

This photo is identified as circa 1930, also from the Fredrickson Collection

This undated snow scene shows similar vegetation, suggesting a similar vintage.

This 1940s Leelanau Historic Society shows the shortened kitchen window. This was done as part of a kitchen remodel.

This 1963 photo shows housing buttoned up as the skeletal tower light had been automated by this time period.

The station was abandoned late 60’s. Later photos show the deterioration of buildings prior to FILA’s “on island” work beginning in 2006.