STRAITS OF MACKINAC, MI / AGILITYPR.NEWS / October 31, 2019 / High Great Lakes Water Level Threatens Historic Lighthouse

Waugoshance Lighthouse Needs Public Help

Straits of Mackinac, MI - Waugoshance Lighthouse has guarded the entrance of the Straits of Mackinac for the past 168 years. Now it is in the fight of its life against the high waters of the Great Lakes. Built in 1851 the lighthouse has been around for the Civil War and every World War. It has watched the boats transform from sailing, to steam to 1000-foot freighters. It even has survived being used for target practice in WW II for testing out the first drones used by the US Government. 

    “The high water mixed with the fall storms in the northern Great Lakes have proven to be too much for our beloved Waugoshance,” stated Chris West, president of the Waugoshance Lighthouse Preservation Society a 501 c3 nonprofit dedicated to the preservation of this historic structure. “The base of the lighthouse is being eaten away by the lake,” West said. Since receiving pictures from a friend that owns a neighboring lighthouse and a pilot from Island Airways out of Beaver Island the preservation society members have been working towards coming up with a plan to save the lighthouse.

Check out this 9&10 News story by Corey Adkins Oct 30, 2019. http://j.mp/WaugoshanceLighthouse

    “We have been in contact with a marine construction company and some state agencies to try and get some help to save the light,” states West. Before we started to loose the foundation the preservation society came up with a plan to build a break wall around the lighthouse along with building a safe harbor for boaters coming through the area. This will not only protect Waugoshance, but will bring the lighthouse a new life in protecting the boaters coming through the area. “The structure was built to assist ships navigating into the Straits of Mackinac, this would bring the lighthouse purpose again. But right now it’s the lighthouse that needs saving, West said.” 

“We hope to get grant monies from the Michigan Waterways Commission and State Historic Preservation Office, but there are always matching funds needed. We are going to need a lot of donations to make this happen,” West said. To help the preservation society save the 168-year-old lighthouse and build a safe harbor go to www.waugy.com to donate. Check out the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/waugoshance/

Contact: Chris West- President, Waugoshance Lighthouse Preservation Society 906-250-5097 chris@waugoshance.org

Media Contact: Scott Lorenz, Westwind Communications 248-705-2214 scottlorenz@westwindcos.com