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| The De Tour Reef light. 10/9/2024 dwm photo |
October 9 was a perfect day for pictures. In addition to a bright sun and partly cloudy sky there was low humidity which made it easy to see or photograph over a long distance with surprising clarity.
Reef lights are impressive even from shore. The information in Lighthouse Friends indicated there wasn't access to land closest to the De Tour Reef light, suggesting that without a boat, I was out of luck. That's why I was so thrilled to see it clearly
A lighthouse was suggested in 1838, foreseeing the day ships would travel up the river and eventually on to Lake Superior. The first light was build in 1847 on De Tour Point, but inside 12 years it was in such bad shape a new light was planned.
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| My closest look. 10/9/24 dwm |
An iron 'pile' light was built by 1861 that looked like the one at Whitefish Point. It did its job, but shallow depths around the entrance to the river moved the Lighthouse Board to request a modern light on the De Tour Reef.
A 60-foot square 20-feet high base was built on land then towed into Lake Huron to be anchored in 24-feet of water, according to accounts quoted by Lighthouse Friends.
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| The De Tour light shines 74-feet above water. 10/9/2024 dwm |
Work in 1930 and 1931 made the pier for the lighthouse, two stories were built on top of it, the first for storage and the second to house keepers. Above that a tower reaches higher, with the light's focal plane ultimately 74-feet above the water.
Now owned by the De Tour Reef Light Preservation Society, volunteer keepers are sought and able-bodied guests can tour the reef light. There are requirements, starting with having the ability to climb and descend a 20-foot ladder from the boat that takes you out there. We met one of those volunteer keepers, they said it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
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| The Martin Reef Light is west of De Tour, approx. halfway to the Mackinaw Bridge. 10/9/24 dwm |
There is more shallow water west of the De Tour Reef, which is where the Lighthouse Board placed a lighted buoy in 1908, then replaced it later with a light ship anchored in the shallows.
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| ` Off-shore from Cedarville, 20+ miles west of De Tour, the Martin Reef light stands. 10/9/24 dwm |
In 1923, funding was sought to build a lighthouse at a cost of $100,000 which would free up the light ship to serve elsewhere and save the cost of building a new ship at $200,000. Further, maintaining the lighthouse was $4,000 cheaper.
Work on the Martin Reef light began in 1925 and continued through 1926. It stands in 6-feet of water, the pier stands 18-feet above the water holding a concrete deck. On top of it, a three-story square building extends into the air, topped with a watch room and lantern. It opened for service in 1927.
The Martin Reef light was deemed as 'excess' by the Coast Guard in 2013. It was sold at auction in 2018 for $52,000.
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| Martin Reef is on the horizon just right of cluster of branches. 10/9/2024 dwm |
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