South Haven, Michigan
Harbour Lights #360
Lighted

Dense, rich forests increased the number of settlers moving to the fertile land on the Black River in Michigan’s southwest. The river was the primary conduit for moving logs to the mills at the river’s mouth. The cities surrounding the Great Lakes were growing and the demand for lumber was high! The number of vessels transporting lumber and other goods was ever increasing.

In 1861, a group of businessmen decided to make harbor improvements. Two wood cribwork protecting piers were constructed that protruded out into the lake. The channel between the piers, dredged between 6’ and 7’, accommodated the many lumber hookers seeking passage. In 1867, the United States Army Corps of Engineers extended the piers, increased the width of the channel by 120’ and maintained a 12’ channel depth.

In 1868, the Lighthouse Board received a $6,000 appropriation for the construction of a pierhead beacon. In early 1870, construction of South Haven Light began. Suddenly realizing that funds were short, the United States Congress, on July 12, 1870, recalled all unexpended monies and put a halt to the project. In late 1871, Congress restored funding and construction resumed on an open, 30’ wood tower topped by an octagonal cast iron lantern. To protect the keeper from storms and provide a lifeline for the length of the pier, a 75’ long wooden walkway was constructed.

By the beginning of the new century, the Army Corps of Engineers had spent more than $250,000 on improving the piers and harbor entrance. The result was a 1,594’ long north pier and a south pier 1,554’ in length, with 470’ projecting beyond the natural shoreline. In 1901, the wood tower was moved 249’ to the new pierhead with an elevated walkway extended to bridge the gap. Parisian glassmakers Barbier and Fenestre made the Fifth Order Fresnel lens for the lantern. The 30-year old wood tower was showing the effects of deterioration caused by the harsh Lake Michigan weather. Plans were made to replace the wood tower with a new cylindrical metal tower.

On October 6, 1903, the tender Hyacinth delivered the prefabricated steel tower from Saint Joseph, Missouri, and on the evening of November 13th, Keeper James S. Donahue climbed the stairs of the gleaming white 35’ structure to exhibit the South Haven Light from its new home.

In the ensuing years, many changes took place: piers were extended, the tower moved again, the wood walkway was replaced with an iron system, a skeletal steel rear range light was erected and later removed and the white tower was painted red.

South Haven is today an active aid to navigation. The Michigan Maritime Museum leases the keeper’s dwelling as a curatorial annex and plans to renovate the property, converting it into a maritime library.