Head Keepers:

1867 – 1871 Henry J. Roe

• Roe was born in New York state in 1836. His first child, Florence, was born in Illinois, and he later moved to the island where he lived prior to becoming a lightkeeper.
• He was hired in September, 1867 during the lighthouse’s construction and presided over its first first lighting November 1.
• A series of severe storms during 1868 and 1869 damaged 3000 vessels and led to the establishment of the U.S. Weather Service. Lighthouse regulations required “on stormy nights, the light must be constantly looked after.” This had to be a burden for a sole lightkeeper.
• 1st assistant John C. Hall was hired in August, 1871, a month prior to Roe’s resignation.
• He and his family later moved to Northport and he had no further involvement in lighthouse service.

1871 – 1876 William Bruin

• Bruin had been born in Netherlands in 1814, immigrating to the U.S. in 1854
• He had served as principal lightkeeper for Milwaukee’s North Port light from 1861 – 1871
• His eldest son, Peter, turned 18 in 1874 and was appointed 1st assistant after Hall’s transfer to Grand Traverse Light.

1876 – 1882 Willis S. Warner

• Warner, born in 1835, had served as an assistant keeper at Saint Clair Flats South Channel Range Rear light from 1875 – 1876.
• He and his family had moved from Algonac where he had been a marine engineer prior to becoming a lightkeeper.
• His son, George, was his assistant from 1880 – 1882 after De Golier’s resignation.
• A notable achievement while at South Fox was building a fence to protect the lighthouse from drifting sand and snow.
• A number of wrecks occurred during his tenure. He was cited for his heroism in both the Fletcher and James Platt rescues.

1882 – 1885 William T. Lewis

• The 1880 census shows Lewis living in Kasson Township, Leelanau County where was single, 21 years old and “farming.”
• He had been born in Wisconsin. He served as 1st assistant at Rawley Point, WI in 1882 prior to his transfer to South Fox.
• He and his assistants built a new boatway with cribs to support it.
• He died of injuries from fall in 1885.

1885 – 1891 Joseph Fountain

• Originally from Mackinac Island, Joseph Fountain had briefly been an assistant in 1882 prior to moving to Skillagalee
• He was transferred and promoted in the wake of Lewis’ death
• Fountain was the station’s first Native American keeper
• Changing water levels required the boathouse to be moved closer to the water
• He later moved to Beaver Island Harbor light, was Seul Choix Point’s initial keeper and then finished his career at Saint Helena.

1891 – 1915 Lewis Bourissau

• Bourissau, also originally from Mackinac Island and of Native American heritage, had served as Fountain’s assistant prior to becoming head keeper
• He was the station’s longest-serving head keeper. Many improvements occurred during his tenure including the addition of the steam fog signal, the conversion from lard oil to kerosene and keeper housing.
• Several of his sons became lightkeepers. Grandson Zane recalls childhood memories of being on the island in the 1930’s with his father Frank.

1915 – 1923 James McCormick

• McCormick started at Beaver Head as a 2nd assistant in 1904. He transferred to Poverty Island in 1911 and was principal keeper there before moving to South Fox Island.
• He later moved to Grand Traverse where he served as principal keeper until his retirement in 1938
• Video reflections from his son Doug can be viewed here.

1924 – 1940 William Green

• Green was born in Northport in 1875 and worked at a lumber mill in Northport and later delivered fruits and vegetables via scow from Leelanau to Escanaba.
• He started as a 3rd assistant at South Fox in 1900, was promoted to 2nd assistant in 1902 and 1st assistant in 1902 before moving to Grand Traverse from 1903 to 1907.
• Returning as 1st assistant from 1907 to 1918, he then transferred to Mission Point where he served as head keeper from 1919 to 1924 before returning once again to South Fox
• In all, he served 31 of his 40 year lighthouse career at South Fox Island!
• He presided over important changes including the electrification of the light and fog signal in 1929 and the replacement of the original light with the relocated skeletal tower in 1934.
• Green was the last keeper to serve entirely during the pre-Coast Guard era

1940 – 1946 Frederick W. Leslie

• Leslie started his lighthouse career as a 3rd assistant at Chicago Harbor in 1924, departing as a 1st assistant in 1925. He transferred in that position to Little Sable Point, serving there from 1925 to 1926.
• He began duty at South Fox as a 3rd assistant from 1927 to 1928. He was promoted to 2nd assistant in 1928 through 1937, serving both the “old” and “new” lights. He promoted to 1st assistant in 1937 before assuming the head keeper position in 1940
• Having begun his career under the U.S. Lighthouse Service, he transferred to the Coast Guard in 1939.
• While the era of major change was over, Leslie was recognized for making it one of the best kept and efficient stations in the district.
• Leslie transferred to Grand Traverse to take charge in 1946 after the retirement or their keeper. He then  retired from there in 1950.

1946 – 1947 William E. H. Kruwell

• Born in Germany in 1883, he was listed in the 1920 International Shipmasters’ Association Director as an active “Captain”
• Kruwell served on lightship LV-056 (North Manitou Shoal) from 1927 through at least 1933 and was principal keeper at Little Sable Point from 1939 to 1941.

1947 – 1953 Peter R. Timmer

• Timmer was born in Holland, Michigan in 1897 and served at the Holland Harbor South Pier light as an assistant in the late 30’s. He was listed as a “lighthouse keeper” in the 1940 census.
• He held an assistant’s position at South Fox in at least 1942 and is mentioned as a civilian keeper there in 1946 correspondence when it was proposed he be made “the Keeper In Charge.”
• Records show him being placed on sick leave in March, 1953 with plans to retire.

1953 – 1958 Allen Cain

• Cain was 1st assistant at Grand Traverse Light from 1938 to 1946 before transferring to South Fox where he started as an assistant before becoming Keeper in Charge.
• The station was automated during his tenure
• He transferred to Alpena in 1958 and retired there in 1961

The station was manned by Coast Guard personnel into the 1959 season.