Turtle Island Light is a deactivated lighthouse located on Turtle Island in Lake Erie. The small island is divided between the U.S. states of Michigan and Ohio, with the abandoned lighthouse structure located within Ohio.
When Turtle Island fell back to federal ownership, the newly established Port of Toledo received $5,000 of federal funding from the United States Congress to build the lighthouse in 1831.[1] At the time, the island's area was approximately 6.67 acres (2.70 ha), and the island included the lighthouse, the lighthouse keeper's residence, and a small farm.[2]
Unlike most islands in Lake Erie, Turtle Island consists primarily of clay and gravel deposits and was subjected to constant erosion, which is why some believed it to not be a real island.[citation needed] By 1839, lake storms and waves reduced the island by approximately 77% down to an area of only 1.5 acres (0.61 ha). Congress spent tens of thousands of dollars to no avail to prevent the erosion of the island. In 1866, an updated lighthouse costing $12,000 was constructed. It was described as one of the finest lighthouses on the Great Lakes, and its light could be seen up to 14 miles (23 km) away.[1] However, the erosion of the island continued to threaten the lighthouse to the point where a 4-foot (1.2 m) tall concrete wall was constructed in 1883 around the lighthouse to prevent crashing waves and erosion from damaging the structure.[2] Constant lake storms bombarded the tiny island. When the nearby Toledo Harbor Light was completed in 1904, the Turtle Island Lighthouse was no longer needed and was decommissioned. During those 72 years, there were no shipwrecks within the vicinity of Turtle Island.[2]
There were two keepers of the lighthouse: Ann Edson (1869–1870) and William Haynes (1875–1904).[3]
Referencesedit
^ abAnderson, Kraig (2010). "Turtle Island, Ohio". Retrieved March 20, 2010.
^ abcArchinger, Warren (2004). . Archived from the original on May 27, 2008. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
^Lighthouse Depot (2010). . Archived from the original on January 3, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
Further readingedit
Gardner, B. Ellen. Turtle Island Lighthouse: The Darkened Light. Cornwall, New York: Hawk's Cry Publications, 1997. ISBN0-9649679-2-8
Oleszewski, Wes. Great Lakes Lighthouses, American and Canadian: A Comprehensive Directory/Guide to Great Lakes Lighthouses. Gwinn, Michigan: Avery Color Studios, Inc., 1998. ISBN0-932212-98-0.
Turtle Island Light Station, The Keepers' Log, Notice to Keepers Volume 10, Issue 4, Page 40.
U.S. Coast Guard. Historically Famous Lighthouses. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1957.
Wright, Larry and Wright, Patricia. Great Lakes Lighthouses Encyclopedia. Erin, Ontario: Boston Mills Press, 2006. ISBN1-55046-399-3
Lighthouse Depot: Turtle Island. 2011-06-14 at the Wayback Machine
January 01, 1970
turtle, island, light, deactivated, lighthouse, located, turtle, island, lake, erie, small, island, divided, between, states, michigan, ohio, with, abandoned, lighthouse, structure, located, within, ohio, locationturtle, island, lake, erie, coordinates41, 7524. Turtle Island Light is a deactivated lighthouse located on Turtle Island in Lake Erie The small island is divided between the U S states of Michigan and Ohio with the abandoned lighthouse structure located within Ohio Turtle Island LightLocationTurtle Island Lake Erie Coordinates41 45 09 N 83 23 30 W 41 752483 N 83 39154 W 41 752483 83 39154TowerConstructed18311866 current tower ConstructionBrickAutomatedNoHeight44 feet 13 m ShapeSquareLightFirst lit1866 Deactivated1904LensremovedRange12 nautical miles 23 kilometres 14 mi When Turtle Island fell back to federal ownership the newly established Port of Toledo received 5 000 of federal funding from the United States Congress to build the lighthouse in 1831 1 At the time the island s area was approximately 6 67 acres 2 70 ha and the island included the lighthouse the lighthouse keeper s residence and a small farm 2 Unlike most islands in Lake Erie Turtle Island consists primarily of clay and gravel deposits and was subjected to constant erosion which is why some believed it to not be a real island citation needed By 1839 lake storms and waves reduced the island by approximately 77 down to an area of only 1 5 acres 0 61 ha Congress spent tens of thousands of dollars to no avail to prevent the erosion of the island In 1866 an updated lighthouse costing 12 000 was constructed It was described as one of the finest lighthouses on the Great Lakes and its light could be seen up to 14 miles 23 km away 1 However the erosion of the island continued to threaten the lighthouse to the point where a 4 foot 1 2 m tall concrete wall was constructed in 1883 around the lighthouse to prevent crashing waves and erosion from damaging the structure 2 Constant lake storms bombarded the tiny island When the nearby Toledo Harbor Light was completed in 1904 the Turtle Island Lighthouse was no longer needed and was decommissioned During those 72 years there were no shipwrecks within the vicinity of Turtle Island 2 There were two keepers of the lighthouse Ann Edson 1869 1870 and William Haynes 1875 1904 3 References edit a b Anderson Kraig 2010 Turtle Island Ohio Retrieved March 20 2010 a b c Archinger Warren 2004 Ohio Lighthouses Turtle Island Light Maumee Bay Lake Erie Archived from the original on May 27 2008 Retrieved March 20 2010 Lighthouse Depot 2010 Turtle Island Light Archived from the original on January 3 2011 Retrieved March 20 2010 Further reading editGardner B Ellen Turtle Island Lighthouse The Darkened Light Cornwall New York Hawk s Cry Publications 1997 ISBN 0 9649679 2 8 Oleszewski Wes Great Lakes Lighthouses American and Canadian A Comprehensive Directory Guide to Great Lakes Lighthouses Gwinn Michigan Avery Color Studios Inc 1998 ISBN 0 932212 98 0 Turtle Island Light Station The Keepers Log Notice to Keepers Volume 10 Issue 4 Page 40 U S Coast Guard Historically Famous Lighthouses Washington D C Government Printing Office 1957 Wright Larry and Wright Patricia Great Lakes Lighthouses Encyclopedia Erin Ontario Boston Mills Press 2006 ISBN 1 55046 399 3External links editTurtle Island Light on the World List of Lights Turtle Island Lighthouse at Lighthouse Friends Lighthouse Depot Turtle Island Archived 2011 06 14 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Turtle Island Light amp oldid 1170264129, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
