Detroit River Light

July 23, 2019
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Detroit River Light (Bar Point Shoal Light), Monroe County, Michigan

Established 1875, current sparkplug lighthouse was built in 1885.

DETROIT RIVER (BAR POINT SHOAL) LIGHT

Location: LAKE ERIE S. OF DETROIT RIVER ENTRANCE 
Station Established: 1875 
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1885 
Operational? YES 
Automated? YES 1979 
Deactivated: n/a 
Foundation Materials: WOOD/CEMENT CRIB; GRANITE PIER 
Construction Materials: CAST IRON PLATE/BRICK LINING 
Tower Shape: CONICAL 
Markings/Pattern: WHITE WITH BLACK UPPER 
Relationship to Other Structure: INTEGRAL 
Original Lens: FOURTH ORDER 

Historical Information:

  • Also known as Bar Point Shoal.
  • 1875 – Lightship established on the shoal.
  • 1885 – Current lighthouse built.
  • 1979 – Lighthouse automated and solar power installed.

Keepers:

  • Charles Northup (1885 – 1886 and 1893 – 1898)
  • Richard Oddrey (1887 – 1890)
  • Joseph Crawford (1898 – 1902)
  • Enoch Scribner (1902 – 1912)
  • Horace Watts (1912 – 1916)
  • Walter Marshall (1916 – 1919)
  • Harry Kcondway (1919 – 1921)
  • John Sweet (1926 – 1933)
  • William Small (1933 – 1938)
  • Eli Martin (1938 – 1939)

Researched and written by Marie Vincent, a volunteer through the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society.