Crisp Point Light
Crisp Point was one of five U.S. Life-Saving Service Stations along the coast of Lake Superior between Munising and Whitefish Point in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The lighthouse is within Luce County, Michigan|McMillan Township] in Luce County.
Located about west of Whitefish Point, in 1876 it became Life Saving Station Number Ten, of the U.S. Life-Saving Service District 10. Crisp Point is named from one of the Life Saving Station keepers, Christopher Crisp, who is said to have been "an iron-willed boatman." Surfmen were stationed there to aid mariners and ships in distress. The station, along with the rest of the United States Life-Saving Service, was integrated into the United States Coast Guard in 1915.. Because the US Life-Saving Service and the US Lighthouse Service were originally two distinct entities, the Crisp Point Life Saving Station and the Crisp Point Lighthouse were also originally two separate entities.
The other four Life-Saving Stations were Vermilion Point, about five miles east of Crisp Point, Two Hearted River, west of Crisp Point, Deer Park, Michigan, about west of Two Hearted River, and Grand Marais about west of Deer Park.
History
Crisp Point Lighthouse was first proposed in 1896 and every year thereafter until finally approved in June, 1902. Construction began one year later. The of land was purchased at a price of $30.00. The deed was dated May 21, 1903. In the high tower a fourth order red Fresnel lens by Sautter and Lemonnier of Paris, France was installed. The light was displayed for the first time in May 1904.The lighthouse tower is 58 feet from base to the lantern's ventilator ball top.
This lighthouse and life saving station have undergone massive damage. All were destroyed by erosion, except for the tower and one wall of the entrance room. In the winter of 1997/98, the loss was stayed by the installation of one thousand cubic yards of stone in front of the tower. The stone came from a quarry in Newberry and the cost was approximately $42,000. More stone was installed along the shore in 2003, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2016, and 2017. There are further plans for protection and stabilization as funds become available.
The stretch of coast between Whitefish Point and Grand Island became known as "The Shipwreck Coast." On November 10, 1975, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank during a violent storm. It sank in Lake Superior about northeast of Crisp Point. The Fitzgerald's last radio communication was with the Coast Guard station at Grand Marais. In fact, some tourists go to the five life saving stations in an organized manner for a day trip.
On December 1, 1908 the 468-foot steel freighter D. M. Clemson disappeared without a trace somewhere between Crisp Point and Grand Marais.
Nearby, in the Great Lakes Storm of 1913 the freighter Major was stranded near the point; and the 1902 William Nottingham lost three men in the area, after they agreed to fetch assistance in a lifeboat, which overturned as they embarked. See, Shipwrecks of the 1913 Great Lakes storm and List of victims of the 1913 Great Lakes storm.
This light was almost completely lost due to the elements and neglect. Also demolished were the original white frame boathouse, barn, brick oil house and two outbuildings. In 1993 the lighthouse was decommissioned by the US Coast Guard. In 1997-98, one thousand cubic yards of stone were placed in front of the tower to stabilize and protect it.
Ownership of Crisp Point Light was transferred from the Coast Guard to Luce County in February, 1997 under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, which is the predecessor to the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000. The Crisp Point Lighthouse was then leased to the Crisp Point Light Historical Society. In 2012, the CPLHS applied for a Private Aids to Navigation permit to operate a Class II light from May 1 to November 1 each year, which was approved by the USCG on July 25, 2012. A 300mm LED marine light was installed in the tower on November 23, 2012. On May 4, 2013, the light was reactivated and has been operated seasonally ever since.