Squaw Island MI
Harbour Lights #727

On March 31,1891, the United States Congress appropriated $25,000 to build a light on Squaw Island, in northern Lake Michigan on the northern end of the Beaver Island group. The light was built to mark the western edge of the busy Gray's Reef Passage, whose shoals reached approximately one mile to the south and two miles to the north.

With the appropriation made, the Lighthouse Board negotiated the purchase of land immediately and contracts were awarded for the building of the light on Squaw Island. The necessary equipment and building materials arrived on September 1st and the next spring, the Lighthouse Tender, Amaranth, anchored on the island shores and the work crew off loaded the tender.

The construction plans called for a brick building with an integrated, octagonal tower capped with a prefabricated cast-iron lantern. Included in the station; a fog signal building, oil house, wood barn, a well head building and a two-seater outhouse.

On the east side of the island, cribs were constructed for a landing dock; to connect the dock with the main building, signal building a wood track was laid, a small car was then used to move oil, coal and other supplies to the appropriate building.

A custom, Fourth Order Fresnel lens was installed. The red lens rotated around the lamp, and equipped with bulls eye panels was designed to make the light appear to flash a bright red light every fifteen seconds. Thus, adjustment of the lens's clockwork rotational mechanism was critical to ensure a precise speed of rotation.

Two years after the light was completed, it became apparent that the Keeper's dwelling could not accommodate the keeper, his assistant and their families. In 1894, a work crew and materials were supplied to convert the wood barn into separate living quarters. In 1928, the Squaw Island Lighthouse was deemed obsolete and abandoned.

Today, under private ownership, the Squaw Island is being lovingly restored. Limited to production in 2011. 7" x 6"

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