Preparations continue toward the upcoming season with an anticipated opening of the island the first week of June. We will be trying to do back-to-back trips or multiple week assignments. Volunteers joining trips will be asked to contribute $200 per person again this year. Our annual DNR matching grant has been submitted. We await a […]
If you want to learn more about the lighthouse’s history, restoration projects, the natural environment or just want to see some awesome images, do check out our South Fox YouTube channel. They’ve had 30,000 views, mostly since early 2024 when we started posting more content. We’ve also developed several playlists incorporating videos from other creators. […]
Tom McBride first volunteered for FILA in 2022 and has been engaged in a wide variety of projects including lantern room restoration, water and solar systems. He is an automotive engineer and small business owner. In this latter capacity, he and his wife Jackie run The Shoal Shoppe which distributes “Michigan 129” branded lighthouse items […]
Here’s President Linda Posler and her dog Georgie representing South Fox Island at Leelanau Historic Society Museum’s annual maritime festival this past week end. There was lots of local interest in our project as we continue to stabilize and restore buildings. Thanks to the Leelanau Historic Society who has a ongoing exhibit on the Lighthouses […]
This fall marks the completion of FILA’s first twenty years. As the expression goes, “we’ve come a long way baby.” The boathouse was a major early focus. The 1867 Lighthouse has been our restoration showcase. Securing buildings has been a key objective. Windows on the skeletal tower, roofs on the workshop and fog signal. […]
The “close up” team returned yesterday after yet another weather-shortened trip…a theme that permeated the season more than usual this year. Here’s the 1867 light before things were closed up. …and a view from the water Photos courtesy volunteer Tom McBride
Last week’s repair of the water-damaged floor joists in the Assistant Keeper’s quarters started us on planning for next year….restoring the damaged flooring and baseboard above the repair. In a day before plywood, diagonal planks were laid across the joists. We’ll need true dimension lumber to repair properly. The hardwood flooring will similarly need to […]
There are several openings built into the 1867 tower stairway. Two were clearly built to access the weights used by the clockwork that rotated the lens. One contained a cabinet whose use is unknown. Its door has long been missing. Skilled carpenter Doug Noren rebuilt it this past winter. It is curved tongue and groove […]
The Indiana-based carpentry team of Ben Eichorst & Jim Greenwell headed out on Monday after a two-day weather delay. When reinstalling the restored basement windows last year, they discovered one of the frames was rotten — that’s among their projects this week, along with a floor joist in the Assistant Keeper’s that is failing due […]
A parting shot from the lantern room team prior to their departure last Thursday. Tom McBride photo Few people will appreciate how much effort this required. We at FILA do and are very thankful for the work and talents of lantern team members Jeff Brearly, Barb Falkenhagen, Tom McBride and Marty Rosalik. After some “onshore” […]