September 28, 2009

The sky was dark this morning so we decided to change our plans for the day. We headed east to the Seul Choix Point Lighthouse. Seul Choix is pronounced Sis-Shwa and translates to “Only Choice”. The harbor at Seul Choix was the only choice for the early travelers seeking refuge from the storms on Lake Michigan.

The Seul Choix Lighthouse was built in 1895 (photo one). The keeper’s house (two story part) has seven rooms and one bath.

The one story part on the left side was the assistant keeper’s dwelling and only contained four rooms. The trim around the interior doors is solid copper (photo two). This is the only part of the house that contains copper trim. It is also the only lighthouse known to have this type of trim. Even after research, it is still a mystery as to why the trim was fashioned in this manner.

The tower is seventy-nine feet nine inches tall. You have to climb ninety-six steps to reach the top. The third photo is of Cheryl coming through the last hatch before reaching the top. Seul Choix is the only lighthouse that we have encountered that has had more than one hatch. This one has two, with one being on the level just below the top level.

In order to be able to withstand the storms of the lakes, the lighthouses are built with very thick walls. Some reach a thickness of four feet or more. The fourth photo shows a window near the top of the lighthouse. At this point, the wall thickness measures between 32 and 36 inches.

This was a very impressive lighthouse due to the painstaking restoration, and the interior which is in “like new” condition. The historical society’s next project is to paint the tower and house. Currently there are no state grants available and the group must work off donations. The project is also aided by lots of community involvement.

Remember the lighthouse with the wave breaking over it? This is what it looks like when the lake is calm (photo five). The Calumet area of the Keweenaw Peninsula that we left on Sunday morning is getting 15 foot waves on Lake Superior this afternoon. Winds are expected to reach 50-55 mph. There were pictures on TV this afternoon of surfers on the beaches! Wish we had been there to see them.

Our sign of the day is another statue. We caught this “couple” walking along US 2 just east of Manistique.

Tomorrow we will be headed towards the Mackinaw Bridge (all five miles of it). Let’s hope the wind has died! Cheryl and I do not have any water wings!!

T&C