This team has an extra day, as we get back to a Saturday team turnover schedule after some weather issues transitioning earlier teams.
This shutter had gotten loose over the winter and likely contributed to the broken window pane. They added tightening things up to their task list.
While Ben worked on the Assistant Keeper’s flooring, James got to work edging some of the 600 feet of sidewalk that connect the various buildings. Much of it is original from 1917. We’re trying to keep it well drained so water doesn’t accumulate allowing freeze/thaw cycles to break it up. It also just looks neater & nicer, something the historic keepers took pride in.
Ben is off to his next project. We rebuilt the basement entry back in 2022. The exterior has cedar tongue & groove over a plywood interior (used for stability.) Ben thought an historic building shouldn’t have exposed plywood, so he’s been waiting for more cedar, which volunteer Steve Redding milled this past winter. It looks pretty swanky now.
After the porches had become a safety hazard and were removed, it left a trailing downspout that directed water onto the side of the building. We’ve had numerous projects to replace the damage — repairs to the basement foundation, rebuilt the basement window & window frame, restored other damaged windows and last year’s project to sister in new wood for rotten joists. Over the winter, volunteer Steve Redding custom milled the needed hardwood for the flooring and Cathy found a millwork company to replicate the trim. Now Ben’s at work installing.
Team 4 is our carpentry team of James, Jim & Ben, a group of friends from northern Indiana.
They have a lot of projects and a lot of materials and gear….
Here’s our new scaffolding with Jim & Ben at work replacing the soffits.
One of the rear soffits had a lot of rot on it due to a mis-matched downspout. They’ve done a temporary patch and need some specific wood to come out on their next trip in August.
This team mentioned they’ve been working on a secret project. It turns out to be this, clearing the hillside in front of the lighthouse. Team leader Sandra has been chipping away at this since her first trip out in 2020. With lots of help, the oil house is no longer surrounded by brush and there’s a much clearer view in front of the lighthouse. Kudos to team 3!
Sandra White photo
Day 6. The team continues to clear the landing, spray for poison ivy (one team member is nursing an outbreak) and work on their “special project.” Rodger painted two sides of the shed.
They report seeing an increasing number of monarchs.
It was Jen’s birthday today, celebrated with a hike and popcorn made over the grill.
A productive day tomorrow with a “tag list” for their last full day tomorrow before the planned team turnover on Friday.
Photo credit: Sandra White
It isn’t often one sees a cruise ship going by, but here’s Jen and Mary watching the Viking Octantis pass by enroute from Mackinaw Island to Milwaukee on a course heading inside of the Manitous.
Photo credit: Sandra White
In between ship watching, the team continued clearing, burning accumulated brush, and cleaning the lighthouse.
Day 3: It rained all night with sprinkles most of the day.
Sharon, Jen and Karen washed windows in the lighthouse.
Meanwhile, Mary and Sandra cleared part of the landing while Rodger hauled brush.
Everyone had a hand in keeping the brush pile burning, disposing of debris from the ice storm’s aftermath and additional brush from this year’s clearing activities.
Photo credit: Sandra White.
Note how the team reinforced the area around the fire with quagga muscle shells as well as cleared the perimeter.
This week’s turnover started early with a 6 a.m. departure from Leland this morning.
What a great crew….long term volunteer and board member Sandra White is heading this week’s team. She’s joined by a high school friend and her sister. Friend Karen is a diehard lighthouse person and prior South Fox volunteer. Jen was a last year’s volunteer who brought her friend Rodger.
Going out to a remote island with limited accommodations is a big commitment. It takes good teamwork to make it work. Thank you all!
This morning’s report from team leader Kathy Sanders “It has been a busy week working on lead remediation and painting projects at the light station on South Fox. We remediated the trim in the front portion of the 1867 lighthouse and also did the bathroom. We then applied a finish coat to all those surfaces. It is looking much brighter!”
Photo credit Kathy Sanders
Many thanks to Kathy, Jeanne and Jack for their hard work.