Buddie, Can You Spare ... $13.5-Million to Rescue the North Manitou Shoals Light Station

T he restoration of the North Manitou Shoal Light Station, more commonly known to locals and old-timers as “the Crib”, is seriously in need of an “angel.”

The offshore facility is successor to the North Manitou Island Light. That first lighthouse, built on North Manitou’s Dimmick’s Point in 1898 proved ineffective in warning ships away from the hazardous shoal which extends far out into the passage from the island’s southern tip, so it was soon augmented by a light ship stationed at the shoal’s end. The Crib was commissioned in 1935 to replace the island’s lighthouse and light ship.

The U.S. Congress instituted an innovative program for lighthouse restoration and preservation with the passage of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000. NHLPA recognizes the cultural, recreational, and educational value associated with historic light station properties by allowing these to be transferred at no cost to nonprofit corporations and other eligible entities. These groups must agree to comply with conditions set forth in the act, be financially able to maintain the facility, and must make it available to the general public for education, park, recreation, cultural or historic preservation purposes at reasonable times and under reasonable conditions. Only those light stations that are listed, or determined eligible for listing, in the National Register of Historic Places, can be conveyed under this program.

Government agencies involved in the process include the U.S. Coast Guard, the General Services Administration, the National Park Service and the State Historic Preservation Office. I’ve been in touch with the Coast Guard, the NPS NHLPA Coordinator, Michigan’s Lighthouse Preservation Project, the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association, Mihm Enterprises of Hamilton, Michigan (a historic restoration contractor with experience working on facilities of this kind) and with the DeTour Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society, a group which has successfully undertaken a project of this kind with a very similar offshore lighthouse near Drummond Island. Everyone is eager to see the North Manitou Shoal Light Station rescued.

I suggest that $13.5-million will be needed to save this historic light. That amount includes an estimated $3.5-million to restore the structure, equip it as a self-sufficient facility, and refit it with historically authentic equipment and furnishings. Beyond that, a $10-million endowment will provide for ongoing operation and maintenance expenses, and assured compliance with the State of Michigan’s bottomlands conveyance rules (which require removal of the structure in case of eventual abandonment.)

Although this lighthouse is within the boundaries of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, it is not owned by the National Park Service, and for the time being, at least, NPS has no interest in taking control of it.

Although this lighthouse is within the boundaries of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, it is not owned by the National Park Service, and for the time being, at least, NPS has no interest in taking control of it. That location, however, assures that its restoration and maintenance will be of great benefit to the public, since the light is visible from the mainland, and since ferry service to the Lakeshore’s South Manitou Island brings visitors immediately past the light station twice each day during the visitor season.

Off-Shore Lights are Tough Projects

Over recent years, two or three nonprofits have investigated the feasibility of taking over this off-shore light station. Offshore light stations are notoriously difficult projects even under the best of circumstances. But beyond that, two main problems have prevented that from happening.

The first, of course, is money; several millions of dollars being beyond the capabilities of most small nonprofits, especially now, when charitable donations might better be directed to dire human needs ... to victims of ignorance and poverty, and victims of natural disasters.

The second limitation is administrative and management capabilities. Projects of this size and scope are generally beyond the capabilities of volunteer boards of small nonprofit organizations. The exceptions are organizations with board members who have had significant experience in large-scale business and management situations (as is the case with the DeTour Reef project.)

Got money? You can save this landmark.

Why would you want to do that? Perhaps as a way to give something back to the American people; something that will endure over the coming generations. Perhaps as a monument to yourself; since this would not be a government-owned entity, you’d be at liberty to attach a bronze plaque commemorating your

Are you among those lucky bonus recipients in the financial sector? — Here’s a worthy use for those windfalls!

generosity. Or maybe just for the fun and adventure of doing something completely out of the ordinary. Whatever your reason, your consideration of this initiative will be most welcomed.

Were I rich enough, I’d eagerly do this project, for both of the above reasons. I’m not that fortunate. So I can only appeal in this way to you, and with a plege to provide whatever assistance I can ... administrative “grunt work”, volunteer recruitment, on-site oversight, etc.

If you are interested in talking about the possibilities, please feel free to get in touch ... any time — day or night.

Meanwhile, you might be interested in a “virtual visit” to the light station.