2009 Grants

In March 2009, $79,048 was awarded to the following lighthouses. A press release describing these awards is also available.

This year all applications were funded. Fiscal Year 2009 Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program (MLAP) grant recipients include the following projects. These awards are pending approval of the State Administrative Board.

• Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse, Charlevoix Historical Society ($29,666) 
  This lighthouse ownership was transferred from the U.S. Coast Guard to the city of Charlevoix in June 2008. The Charlevoix Historical Society will use its fourth grant to repaint the interior of the lighthouse, including surface preparation and lead paint abatement. Previous MLAP grants assisted with ventilation and exterior rehabilitation and painting.

• South Fox Island Lighthouse, Fox Island Lighthouse Association ($16,666) 
  The South Fox Island Lighthouse is owned by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The Fox Island Lighthouse Association will use the MLAP grant to hire a consultant to prepare a Historic Structures Report for the lighthouse building.

• Gull Rock Lighthouse, Gull Rock Lightkeepers ($24,000) 
  The Gull Rock Lightkeepers own the lighthouse. They will hire a consultant to prepare plans, specifications, and a cost estimate to rehabilitate the interior of the lighthouse. This is the lightkeepers' third grant. Previous grants assisted in replacing the roof.

• Manitou Island Lighthouse, Keweenaw Land Trust ($8,716) 
  The Keweenaw Land Trust owns the Manitou Island Light Station. Because of its remote location, docks are needed to get materials to the lighthouse for the ongoing rehabilitation project. The 2009 grant, the lighthouse's third, will help pay for materials to stabilize the historic dock, located three-quarters of a mile from the lighthouse; clearing of a foot trail between the dock and the lighthouse; and purchase and installation of a portable dock that can be anchored to the existing pilings of a former dock once located near the lighthouse.

2008 Grants

In March 2008, $215,800 was awarded to the following lighthouses:

• Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse, Charlevoix Historical Society ($39,800)
  Phase II of the rehabilitation of the exterior will include rust removal and paint preparation work, including lead paint abatement and repainting.  This is the third MLAP grant for this lighthouse.
  
  
• DeTour Reef Light Station, DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society ($20,000)
  The DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society has received $105,000 in Michigan Lighthouse Assistance grants in five previous awards.  The society has already completed a major rehabilitation of the lighthouse. This project will rehabilitate the diaphone foghorn system, including the procurement of tanks, valves, non-functional diaphone, housing and piping and a compressor.
  
  
• Grand Traverse Light Station, Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum ($40,000)
  The Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum will use its third MLAP grant to replace windows in the lighthouse and fog signal building with historically correct wood windows.
  
  
• Cheboygan River Front Range Light, Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association ($21,000)
  The GLLKA will use this second MLAP grant to reinforce the deteriorated timber frame, repair damaged windowsill at lantern, and restore the lantern room exterior and the walkway surface of the observation deck.
  
  
• Old Mission Point Lighthouse, Peninsula Township ($9,000)
  Peninsula Township will use the grant funds to repair the lighthouse fascia and soffit, reroof and paint the catwalk, and pay for scaffolding rental.
  
  
• Ontonagon Harbor Lighthouse, Ontonagon County Historical Society ($40,000)
  MLAP grants funded a Historic Structures Report in 2000, and plans and specifications in 2006. The 2008 grant will be used to perform masonry repairs on the Keeper's Dwelling, Privy and Oil House as specified in the previous projects.
  
  
• Sand Point Lighthouse, Delta County Historical Society ($6,000)
  The Delta County Historical Society will hire an architect to prepare plans and specifications for directing water away from the masonry base and walls of the lighthouse in addition to partially rebuilding and repainting the chimney.
  
  
• Whitefish Point Light Tower, Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society ( $40,000)
  This project will include stripping the paint from the light tower, doing lead paint abatement, and priming and painting the tower.

2007 Grants

In December 2006, $233,300 was awarded to the following lighthouses:

• Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse, Charlevoix Historical Society ($34,000)
  With its second MLAP grant, the Charlevoix Historical Society will address moisture problems by repairing the roof, windows and doors; add drainage holes; replace two windows; install louvered grates in the floor; install metal flashing where needed; and repair warping steel plate skin on the exterior.
   
• DeTour Reef Light Station, DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society ($30,000)
  The DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society has received $75,000 in Michigan Lighthouse Assistance grants in four previous awards.  The society has already completed a major rehabilitation of the lighthouse and will, with the 2007 grant, replace a second "twin" deck crane.
   
• Grand Traverse Light Station, Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum ($40,000)
  The Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum will use the grant funds to waterproof the lighthouse's stone foundation; add a stone maintenance strip around the foundation; repair/replace rotting floor joists; waterproof the crawl space under the lighthouse keeper's kitchen; insulate pipes in the basement; replace the septic system and drain field; and replace the sidewalks that will be removed for the project. This is the museum's second MLAP grant.
   
• Grosse Ile North Channel Front Range Light, Township of Grosse Ile ($27,900)
  Grant funds will be used to remove and replace the copper upper deck and railing on the lighthouse tower; scrape and paint the tower; and replace glass in the lantern room.
   
• Gull Rock Light Station, Gull Rock Lightkeepers ($40,000)
  The Gull Rock Lightkeepers received a $6,700 grant in 2006 for plans and specifications for a roof replacement and patching.  The 2007 funds will be used to pay for a new roof on the lighthouse and detached outhouse. This is the lightkeepers' second MLAP grant.
   
• Manitou Island Light Station, Keweenaw Land Trust, Inc. ($3,400)
  Grant funds will pay for repair and replacement of security panels on the Fog Signal Building windows.  The land trust received a $10,400 award in 2004.
   
• Point Betsie Light Station, County of Benzie ($40,000)
  This will be the fifth grant awarded to Benzie County for the rehabilitation of the Point Betsie Light Station. The $40,000 grant will pay for interior work in the lighthouse building.  Previous awards have funded exterior work on the out buildings and plans and specifications for the interior restoration. With this grant the county's MLAP grant awards total $152,400.
   
• South Haven South Pier Light Station, Michigan Maritime Museum ($18,000)
  Grant funds will pay for a roof replacement and new downspouts on the keeper's dwelling.  This is the museum's second MLAP grant award.

 2006 Grants

In November 2005, $105,392 was awarded to the following lighthouses:

• Beaver Island St. James Light Tower, St. James Township ($16,000)
• Fort Gratiot Light Station, Port Huron Museum of Arts and History ($40,000)
• Gull Rock Lighthouse, Gull Rock Lightkeepers ($6,700)
• Ontonagon Lighthouse, Ontonagon County Historical Society ($6,325)
• Point Betsie Light Station, Benzie County ($36,367)

 2005 Grants

In May 2005, $126,600 was awarded to the following lighthouses:

• Beaver Island Light Station, Traverse Bay Intermediate School District ($23,000)
• Cheboygan River Front Range Light, Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association ($14,000)
• DeTour Reef Light, DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society ($4,200)
• Manitou Island Light Station, Keweenaw Land Trust, Inc. ($10,400)
• Point Betsie Light Station, Benzie County ($20,000)
• Thunder Bay Light Station Keeper's Quarters, Thunder Bay Island Preservation Society ($30,000)
• Whitefish Point Fog Signal Building, Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society ($25,000)

2004 Grants

In May 2004, $118,870 was awarded to the following lighthouses:

• DeTour Reef Light, DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society ($32,387)
• Eagle Harbor Lighthouse, Keweenaw County Historic Society ($9,950)
• Point Betsie Light Station, Benzie County ($36,033)
• Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse, Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse Society ($30,900)
• White River Light Station, Fruitland Township ($9,600)

2003 Grants

In May 2003, $65,780 was awarded to the following lighthouses:

• Sand Point Lighthouse, Delta County Historical Society ($27,000)
• Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, Mackinac Island State Park Commission ($23,000)
• Beaver Island Lighthouse, St. James Township ($5,000)
• Charlevoix South Pier Light, Charlevoix Historical Society ($10, 780)

2002 Grants

In May 2002, $114,400 was awarded to the following lighthouses:

• Whitefish Point Fog Signal Building, Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society ($20,000)
• Grand Traverse Lighthouse, Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum ($20,000)
• Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, Mackinac Island State Park Commission ($20,000)
• South Channel Lights, Save Our South Channel Lights, Inc. ($20,000)
• Eagle Harbor Lighthouse, Keweenaw County Historical Society ($11,400)
• South Haven South Pier Light, Michigan Maritime Museum ($15,000)
• Harbor Beach Lighthouse, City of Harbor Beach ($8,000)

2001 Grants

In February 2001, $115,000 was awarded to the following lighthouses:

• St. Helena Lighthouse, Great Lake Lighthouse Museum ($20,000)
• Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, Mackinac State Historic Park ($20,000)
• DeTour Reef Lighthouse, DeTour Reef Light Association ($20,000)
• Crisp Point Lighthouse, Luce County EDC ($10,000)
• Tawas Point Lighthouse, Michigan Department of Natural Resources ($20,000)
• Point Betsie Lighthouse, Benzie County ($20,000)

2000 Grants

In February 2000, $110,000 was awarded to the following lighthouses:

• Beaver Head Light Station ($10,000)
• De Tour Reef Light Station ($20,000)
• Eagle Harbor Light Station ($5,000)
• Huron Island Light Station ($7,500)
• Old Mackinac Point Light Station ($20,000)
• Ontonagon Light Station ($13,500)
• Port Austin Reef Light Station ($14,000)
• Sand Point Light Station ($4,000)
• Seul Choix Pointe Light Station ($10,000) 
• White River Light Station ($6,000)

For information about any of the historical preservation programs described on this site, write:

Michigan State Historic Preservation Office
Michigan Historical Center
P.O. Box 30740
702 W. Kalamazoo St.
Lansing, MI 48909-8240
(517) 373-1630

Michigan Historical Center, Department of History, Arts and Libraries
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