Our 2024 annual print newsletter is on its way. If you haven’t received your copy, did your address change and we need an update? If so, please email us at southfoxisland@gmail.com or send us a note at P.O. Box 851, Traverse City, MI 49685.

If your membership expired or you’re not yet a member, please visit us at https://southfoxlighthouse.org/donate.

Minor Corrections & Clarifications

“It took 40 years” is a nod to the work done by the Michigan Youth Corp in 1984. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43XhwAvB3hM to learn more.

Several volunteer groups formed and dissolved before FILA successfully organized in 2004. Restoration began 2006: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALB_5MYQNLA

The initial whitewashing of the “house” portion of the 1867 light was done by Naomi Nowland & Scott Johnson in 2018. See https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xM_34_CaGGc. The tower was whitewashed by contractors in 2021.

Come one, come all…South Fox Island Lighthouse Association is holding our annual meeting on November 9, 2024 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Leland Library in Leland, MI. We will be showcasing some great holiday gifts, as well as providing an update on this year’s projects. Bring a dish to share and your best ideas for future island projects!

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.

  

There’s, of course, much more that’s documented in the Restoration pages.

Many “off island” projects have helped make our limited island time more efficient. Here’s just a small sample of some of the projects.

Boaters like Joerg, Phil & Don invested significant time and money transporting volunteers using their personal boats. Other boaters have helped us out at times. While we now contract with Bear, it’s still a significant effort to coordinate trips.

There are so many others who’ve invested to help this project: Board members, presenters, writers, those who have helped with education, research, exhibits, logistics, grant writing, donors.  We have indeed been fortunate.

What will the next 20 years bring? Please join us in being part of it.

Team #5 is on island the week of July 15 repairing structural problems in Assistant Keepers Quarters and 1867 Lighthouse windows. Check out the Keepers Log for more pictures of their progress. Get rehabilitation & restoration updates in our Keeper’s Log.

Two work trips were completed at the lightstation during the month of June—the third annual “women’s trip” (starring Linda P., Cathy A., Kathy S., Sandra W., and a newcomer to the island, Jen B.), and the painter’s trip with Kathy S., Audrey O., and contractor Mark Lee. (I can’t help myself about the bunny ears–this was up at Faro in Northport before we started the trip, when we were all still well rested and ready!)

Much brush was cleared during the women’s trip; the secondary firepit was placed near the summer kitchen; sidewalks were edged and moss scraped; lawns were mowed; weeds were whacked; poison ivy was sprayed;  the Summer Kitchen saw a deep cleaning (ask Kathy S. about her ‘mouse hunter’ stories), and much work was done to improve the landing site for the Bear (Manitou transit’s landing craft). Jen B. braved the chilly Lake Michigan waters while Cathy A. and Linda P. filled many buckets of rocks—back breaking work indeed! Meanwhile, intrepid volunteer Sandra W. became the queen of the brush-hog—clearing much of the area behind the lighthouse. Sandy, Jen, and Kathy cleared the gravesite as well.

Of course, standard cooking, cleaning, sweeping, and mouse mania consumed much of our time as well, although Sandy and Jen had some time to explore the West Beach (ah, the energy of youth!) (That’s Jen in the approximately 56 degree water!)

Even Georgie girl was exhausted at the end of the trip!

The painting team stayed quite busy as well on the second trip in June, with major painting projects being scraping and applying lead-remediating paint to the hallway of the 1867 building, touching up the parlor, and scraping and painting the oil house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark Lee replaced the dangerous sidewalk sections leading to the summer kitchen, installed the mold moss guards, and cleaned the forest growing out of the gutters of the Assistant Keepers quarters.

 

Nor did they neglect the landscaping, mowing, weed whacking, operating the water system and pump, and spraying for poison ivy.

During their free time, they even invented a form of “extreme croquet” to be played on the island!