Lightkeeper Content Added

We recently added content to the website highlighting the station’s head keepers and many of their assistants. The new South Fox Lightkeepers page can be reached from a link on the “History” page.

Research found a number of previously unknown photos plus the identify of those shown in this iconic 1939 photo: Keeper Will Green, the dog Trenoli and Assistant James Brotherson.

Newly discovered data (thanks to the online archives of Grand Traverse Lighthouse) disclosed Keeper Peter Timmer served until 1953, when a medical leave prompted his retirement and Allen Cain was promoted. A number of lighthouse sites show Cain taking charge in 1948.

Another research finding is that the red brick building typically referred to as the “Assistant Keepers’ Quarters” housed the Head Keepers in the large apartment starting in the McCormick era (1915-1921). Assistants typically either lived in the “old lighthouse” or in one of the two smaller apartments. The final Keeper, Allen Cain, was an exception. For whatever reason, he chose to remain in the old lighthouse where he’d lived for a number of years even though his promotion entitled him to the newer, more spacious quarters.

Links to oral histories and known online articles about our keepers have been included.

We continue to learn. If you have information or photos about the two lights and her keepers, please get in touch with us.