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The Old Presque Isle Light was the first lighthouse in the Presque Isle, Michigan area, built in 1840, supported physically by two-thirds stone and one-third brick, and supported financially by funds appropriated by Congress two years earlier of $5,000. The tower and dwelling did not last long in the harsh weather, however, and by 1867 they were deteriorated enough for Congress to find need for a newer station. It presently is not operational and is a museum.
This old one, though, has not been completely dismissed, at least by the superstitious. Lake legend says the station still provides a residence for ghosts who haunt the light. The ghost of George Parris, a former museum caretaker who is now deceased is said to haunt the light. Though the light has long since been deactivated, the tale says that George returns habitually to light the lamp.
Other accounts of Mr. Parris include a young girl who was exploring the tower alone. When she returned, she had told her parents that she was talking to a "nice old man" in the tower's lamp room. It was later found that nobody else had been in the tower at that time. The girl correctly identified the man as former keeper George Parris from a photo kept in the adjoining cottage/museum.
One day, Parris' widowed wife was going out to run an errand during an intense lightning storm. She was about to leave the cottage, but she claimed that some unusual force was blocking the exit. Just then lightning struck directly outside the cottage. To this day, Mrs. Parris believes that it was the spirit of her deceased husband that kept her from certain electrocution.
The New Presque Isle Lighthouse located a few miles north, also has its share of hauntings. One keeper's wife, who was locked up and not allowed to leave, suffered from the severe isolation and went insane. Many claim to hear her when visiting the site.
The Lighthouse Board – that service responsible for building and maintaining lights most effectively – decided to move the lighthouse location about north, where vessels which were farther from shore could still easily see the light. The tower was also designed to be in height, more than taller than the older one. Congress appropriated 7,000 dollars to make this possible in March 1867, and the New Presque Isle Lighthouse was soon erected.
This lighthouse and its sister, the New Presque Isle Light, are east of Grand Lake (Presque Ile, Michigan), and sit on the peninsula.
This light is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Reference #73000957
Name of Listing: OLD PRESQUE ISLE LIGHTHOUSE.
A Fresnel lens that was associated with this light was donated and is now on display at the Beaver Island Head Light.
Hermanson, Don, ''True Lighthouse Hauntings, Revisited'', (Keweenaw Video) including Old Presque Isle Light.
(cover art)
Presque Isle Township Museum Society
- Tour information of keeper's house museum, New Presque Isle Light and Old Presque Isle Light
Detroit News, Interactive map on Michigan lighthouses.
Anderson, Kraig, Lighthouse Friends, Old Presque Isle Lighthouse.
* [http://www.lighthousecentral.com/lighthouse_gallery.php4?lighthouse=Old%20Presque%20Isle%20Lighthouse Lighthouse Central, Old Presque Isle Light ''The Ultimate Guide to East Michigan Lighthouses'' by Jerry Roach] (Publisher: Bugs Publishing LLC - July 2006). ; . *
Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, Old Presque Isle Light.
*
Additional pictures of the lighthouse and museum artifacts.
*Michigan.gov website ha
Map of Michigan Lighthouses.
* Presque Isle Lights. *
{{authority control Lighthouses completed in 1840 Houses completed in 1840 Lighthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Michigan Michigan State Historic Sites Museums in Presque Isle County, Michigan Lighthouse museums in Michigan National Register of Historic Places in Presque Isle County, Michigan
History
This old one, though, has not been completely dismissed, at least by the superstitious. Lake legend says the station still provides a residence for ghosts who haunt the light. The ghost of George Parris, a former museum caretaker who is now deceased is said to haunt the light. Though the light has long since been deactivated, the tale says that George returns habitually to light the lamp.
Other accounts of Mr. Parris include a young girl who was exploring the tower alone. When she returned, she had told her parents that she was talking to a "nice old man" in the tower's lamp room. It was later found that nobody else had been in the tower at that time. The girl correctly identified the man as former keeper George Parris from a photo kept in the adjoining cottage/museum.
One day, Parris' widowed wife was going out to run an errand during an intense lightning storm. She was about to leave the cottage, but she claimed that some unusual force was blocking the exit. Just then lightning struck directly outside the cottage. To this day, Mrs. Parris believes that it was the spirit of her deceased husband that kept her from certain electrocution.
The New Presque Isle Lighthouse located a few miles north, also has its share of hauntings. One keeper's wife, who was locked up and not allowed to leave, suffered from the severe isolation and went insane. Many claim to hear her when visiting the site.
The Lighthouse Board – that service responsible for building and maintaining lights most effectively – decided to move the lighthouse location about north, where vessels which were farther from shore could still easily see the light. The tower was also designed to be in height, more than taller than the older one. Congress appropriated 7,000 dollars to make this possible in March 1867, and the New Presque Isle Lighthouse was soon erected.
This lighthouse and its sister, the New Presque Isle Light, are east of Grand Lake (Presque Ile, Michigan), and sit on the peninsula.
This light is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Reference #73000957
Name of Listing: OLD PRESQUE ISLE LIGHTHOUSE.
A Fresnel lens that was associated with this light was donated and is now on display at the Beaver Island Head Light.
See also
*Lighthouses in the United States
This is a list of lighthouses in the United States. The United States has had approximately a thousand lights as well as light towers, range lights, and pier head lights. Michigan has the most lights of any state with over 150 past and present l ...
Specialized further reading
* Hermanson, Don, ''True Lighthouse Hauntings, Revisited'' including Old Presque Isle Light.(cover art)
References
External links
Presque Isle Township Museum Society
- Tour information of keeper's house museum, New Presque Isle Light and Old Presque Isle Light
Detroit News, Interactive map on Michigan lighthouses.
Anderson, Kraig, Lighthouse Friends, Old Presque Isle Lighthouse.
* [http://www.lighthousecentral.com/lighthouse_gallery.php4?lighthouse=Old%20Presque%20Isle%20Lighthouse Lighthouse Central, Old Presque Isle Light ''The Ultimate Guide to East Michigan Lighthouses'' by Jerry Roach] (Publisher: Bugs Publishing LLC - July 2006). ; . *
Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, Old Presque Isle Light.
*
National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages all national parks, most national monuments, and other natural, historical, and recreational propert ...
br>Maritime Heritage, Inventory of Historic Lights, Presque Isle Lights.Additional pictures of the lighthouse and museum artifacts.
*Michigan.gov website ha
Map of Michigan Lighthouses.
* Presque Isle Lights. *
{{authority control Lighthouses completed in 1840 Houses completed in 1840 Lighthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Michigan Michigan State Historic Sites Museums in Presque Isle County, Michigan Lighthouse museums in Michigan National Register of Historic Places in Presque Isle County, Michigan