Wisconsin Lights - Two Rivers

The Two Rivers light now stands in
the Historic Rogers Street Fishing Village
5/21/2018  dwm photo

It is the second light for Two Rivers.  A community identified as a good place for a harbor where the East and West Twin Rivers join before emptying into Lake Michigan.

The first one went up in 1852, but by 1886 a stronger light was needed at the end of the pier 1,300 feet off shore .

It was rebuilt in 1928 according to the history provided by Lighthouse friends.

The light is square with a pyramid frame, wide at the base tapering to the lantern room.

A house, separate from the light, was built in town in 1908 and a fog bell added in 1909.

Like other lights, once it was automated it became a matter of time before the light's days were up.

In 1969, the light went out.  The Coast Guard gave it to the local historical society, which relocated it to the Rogers Street Historic Fishing Village next to the East Twin River.

You could say the light became the cherry on top for the vintage village which pays tribute to the fishing industry which created the town.  The town became an industrial city over time - manufacturing bath tubs and chairs.  Much later Hamilton Beach appliances were made here.

The lakeside community's claim to fame is because of what they did to ice cream.

A customer in 1881 asked the owner of the soda fountain to put syrup on top of ice cream.  The owner agreed, but decided it would only sell on Sunday.

Later, a small girl asked for one of the creations on a different day of the week, suggesting they pretend it was Sunday.  An unclear written record is apparently the reason today we spell it "sundae."

After visiting the Two Rivers light, I suggest completing the trip with a visit to the sundae's birthplace.