WASHINGTON – U.S. Congresswoman Candice Miller (MI-10) today praised the awarding of more than $200,000 in grants for the preservation of lighthouses within the state of Michigan, including a $40,000 grant awarded to Fort Gratiot Light Station. The grants were made possible through the Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program supported by the state’s “Save our Lights” license plate, a fund-raising license place implemented in 2001 by then-Secretary of State Miller. In Congress, Congresswoman Miller has continued her support of lighthouses and in 2005 worked to ensure that Fort Gratiot Light Station, the oldest on the Great Lakes and first lit on 1829, received $400,000 in renovation funds which will be used once the U. S. Coast Guard completes the transfer of ownership to St. Clair County.
“These preservation grants will help restore our lighthouses to their former glory. Included in the awarding of grants, Fort Gratiot Light Station will receive $40,000 to make much needed repairs and keep the lighthouse in top operating shape for years to come. Lighthouses have played an important role throughout the development of our Gratiot Lakes, guiding mariner’s safely through many Michigan gales and storms. They are some of our state’s most cherished heirlooms, and through them we can remember our proud maritime heritage.”
Fiscal Year 2010 Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program (MLAP) grant recipients include the following projects:
• $40,000 - Port Huron Museum of Arts & History - Fort Gratiot Light Station
The U. S. Coast Guard continues to own the Fort Gratiot Light Station, which is in the process of being transferred to St. Clair County. The Port Huron Museum of Arts and History will replace roofing on the Fog Signal building and the Single Keeper's Building. It will also repair the roof of the Keeper's Duplex, repair the chimney of the Equipment Building, and repair lintels and windows of the Single Keeper's Building.
• $30,000 - Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association - Cheboygan River Front Range Lighthouse
The GLLKA will repair and rehabilitate the foundation and porch piers of the lighthouse as recommended in an engineering study that was also funded with a previous MLAP grant. This is part of an ongoing rehabilitation of the Cheboygan River Front Range Lighthouse.
• $5,000 - Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum - Grand Traverse Lighthouse
A previous grant funded new windows in the lighthouse and fog signal building. This grant will assist with funds for new doors for the lighthouse and fog signal building.
• $20,000 - Gull Rock Lightkeepers - Gull Rock Lighthouse
The Gull Rock Lightkeepers are rehabilitating the interior of the lighthouse. A previous grant funded the preparation of plans and specifications for the rehabilitation project.
• $40,000 - Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment - Little Sable Point Light Station
The DNRE will hire a consultant to prepare a historic structures report for the Little Sable Light Station. This report will guide future maintenance and/or rehabilitation of the structure and site.
• $26,666 - Peninsula Township - Old Mission Lighthouse
Peninsula Township will hire a consultant to prepare a historic structures report for the Old Mission Point Light Station. This report will guide future maintenance and/or rehabilitation of the structure.
• $16,000 - Huron County - Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse
The county will restore the original third order Fresnel lens for the Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse, which is now a museum.
• $40,000 - Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society - Whitefish Point Lighthouse
The GLSHS will hire a contractor to professionally rehabilitate the light tower below the lantern room and strip and paint all surfaces. A previous MLAP grant rehabilitated the top of the light tower.
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