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| Whitefish Point Light Station |
Lighthouse
enthusiasts are passionate about the structures they have adopted and often honor lighthouse
keepers by uncovering historical records and sharing their stories. These
structures and people were often in remote areas of the world offering a beacon
to ships as they passed through storms or near dangerous shorelines. In the mid-19th century, United States lighthouse keepers often served in the
U. S. Life Saving Service, an organization that grew out of local
humanitarian efforts to save the lives of the shipwrecked in the 19th
century. The lighthouse was a proactive approach to prevent shipwrecks
but as records reveal this was not a foolproof plan.
In
Michigan, identified by the 2018 International Lighthouse Conference as the "heart
of lighthouse country", there are 129 lighthouses, and many historical
societies working to honor and protect this component of history, threatened
quite often by neglect and erosion. An objective of many lighthouse
historical groups is to educate and develop, if you will, a spark of interest
in the next generation so that efforts may continue and sustain the lighthouse
preservation movement.
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| Crisp Point Lighthouse |
The
three lighthouses in the 2018 Michigan Lighthouse Festival's beam is the Crisp Point Lighthouse, Point Iroquois Lighthouse, and Whitefish Point Light Station. Each lighthouse has its own unique history and group of
individuals that get involved in the preservation of the structure and its
related stories. This, the third Michigan Lighthouse Festival,
incorporates a kick-off banquet dinner and concert, the Gordon Lightfoot Tribute, at the renowned Bay Mills Resort & Casinos in Brimley, Michigan. Special programs will be held at each
lighthouse throughout Saturday and Sunday. More specific details about the
festival are available at www.MichiganLighthouseFestival.com At the Whitefish TownshipCommunity Center, located south of Paradise on State Route M-123 there will be
a Lighthouse Market Place. Whereby various lighthouses will be sharing
information about their specific programs and vendor booths with arts and crafts of
lighthouse related memorabilia.
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| Point Iroquois Lighthouse |
The
dates of August 3 - 5 were selected by the three lighthouse managers because
families with children would not be as restricted by school schedules. Children and their families are encouraged to
learn more about these unique guardians of the shore by attending the Michigan Lighthouse Festival. To enhance the experience for kids and kindle that light
within, the festival produced a Kid's Activity Pamphlet. It will be
available at each of the three lighthouses, free. You can download an easy print out at this link too: Easy Print Out. It includes lighthouses
to color, a cross-word puzzle, a navigate the waters exercise, and hidden
words. Kids are encouraged to get a lighthouse passport stamp from each
of the three lighthouses and to ask volunteers at the light station
questions while attending the festival tour.
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| Free Kid's Activity Pamphlet |
As
an added bonus, children are encouraged to enter a FREE drawing at the
completion of their tour of Crisp Point, Point Iroquois, and Whitefish Point by
submitting the top right corner of page 1, at the last lighthouse they visit.
Children unable to attend the Festival, may print out an easy print copy, take
a picture of their completed project and send it to margeellenberger@yahoo.com to be entered in the
drawing. All entries will be combined
and a finalist drawn at the festival review meeting held no later than August
12. The winner will be announced on the Festival's Facebook page and
prize sent to the individual drawn.
If
you have a chance to attend the 3rd Michigan Lighthouse Festival be
sure to include your children, grand children, nieces, nephews, or neighborhood children. Experience
the mystery and work of the Lighthouse structures and the lighthouse
keepers. Encourage the youngsters to imagine
walking in the footsteps of these fine people, days long gone, and days so different than our own. Be inspired by
the stories and mysteries still unfolding.
Perhaps you too, will be encouraged to add their stories to your own for
the benefit of the next generation.
