MIchigan Lights - Pipe Island

Pipe Island lighthouse. 10/9/24 dwm

 I expected to miss two island lighthouses  in the middle of St. Mary's River, the two on Round and Pipe Island.

 

 Round Island is in the middle of the river in an area where there is no view from shore, so I would have needed a boat.

 

 The information I read about Pipe Island suggested I might be able to see it from a distance.

 The directions suggested there might be a view from the end of a road across from the light. That may have been true, but the view was blocked by houses.

Pipe Island in St Mary's River. 10/9/24 dwm

The light is four miles north of the mouth of the St. Mary's River where it flows into Lake Huron. It was built in 1887, placed in service May 12, 1888.

 

The light marks a bend in the river where it turns, allowing it to serve as the front range light with the Frying Pan Island lighthouse aligned in back.

 

The river isn't wide but danger can be found on foggy days and by the relatively narrow lane deep enough for big ships.

 

In the history on the Lighthouse Friends dot com website, it told of two ships colliding head-on during fog May 14, 1917.  Both boats were 400-feet long, one carrying iron ore south while the northbound boat was filled with coal. No one was killed, the ships were eventually recovered and returned to service.

 

19/9/2024 dwm photo

 The last of seven lighthouse keepers left the island in 1948, then the Coast Guard had a presence, noted by recovering a captain who fell from a ship in the spring of 1954.

 After the Guard, the island shifted to private owners who worked with the Nature Conservancy to preserve the island. The lighthouse and a few cottages are the only permitted development.

 

 The best shots I got of the light was from a park in De Tour with a picnic table serving as a tripod.

While I was getting shots of the island a north bound ship was moving around the island but not close enough to get it and the lighthouse in the same shot. However, the river provides perspective on the size of the ships.

My view of Pipe Island from the village park. 10/9/2024 dwm

A ship preparing to pass Pipe Island. 10/9/2024 dwm

Another ship passes the De Tour marina for private boats. 10/9/2024 dwm