Three year restoration project wraps up at Point Iroquois Lighthouse

NEWS RELEASE
US FOREST SERVICE
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In September 2023, the Hiawatha National Forest and Historicorps wrapped up a three-year restoration project at the Point Iroquois Lighthouse. This effort focused on repairing and stabilizing the masonry of the buildings. With funding provided by the Great American Outdoors Act, restoration of the lighthouse and grounds has preserved this historic place for current and future generations.  

Point Iroquois Lighthouse is located in Brimley, Michigan on the shore of Lake Superior, and with its rich history, it’s no wonder it garners the attention of 40,000 to 50,000 visitors each year. Not only is it the site of the historic lighthouse structure, Point Iroquois also has significance as it bears the name of a battle that took place in 1662 when the local Ojibwa tribe fought off an invading Iroquois war party.  

During this multi-year project at the lighthouse, Forest Service staff, HistoriCorps volunteers, and YouthWork crews stripped layers of old paint from the exterior masonry and the interior of the tower. Crews then repaired the brick-and-mortar joints and repainted the masonry with a white, breathable masonry coating that allows water vapor to escape. The need for this work was great, as the previously applied latex paint trapped moisture in the bricks, causing them to crack and spall when the trapped water froze and expanded during the harsh winters. Years one and two focused on stripping and repainting the outside of the lighthouse, keeper’s quarters, and tower, as well as rebuilding parts of the stone wall surrounding the grounds. In this final year, HistoriCorps volunteers concentrated their efforts on the inside walls of the lighthouse.

The Forest Service partners with community organizations, such as HistoriCorps, to increase capacity to complete work on Forest Service lands. HistoriCorps, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit is on a mission to “foster a preservation ethic by engaging volunteers in saving historic places.” This mission aligns well with goals of the Hiawatha National Forest, which is home to six lighthouses, serving as the only National Forest that owns and maintains lighthouses. While the preservation and interpretation of these signature historic structures is an important component of the Hiawatha’s work, the continual need for maintenance presents a challenge. Collaboration with HistoriCorps helps the Forest Service address this predicament and provides an opportunity for volunteers to learn new skills and visit historic places. This process of having volunteers working on historic structures on public lands brings a whole new meaning to the phrase “by the people, for the people." 

Eric Drake, Hiawatha’s Heritage Program Manager, explains:

“The goal of historic preservation on public lands is not only to preserve historic structures and landscapes for future generations to enjoy, but to build a sustainable community of individuals and organizations centered around these efforts. By partnering with organizations like HistoriCorps, the Forest Service is able to provide a diverse public with opportunities to be actively engaged in creating legacies of labor and a sense of place that will continue to inspire future generations of historic preservationists. After all, we don’t step into the future, we back into it, always looking to the past to make sense of the present and plan for a brighter tomorrow. This is the power of historic preservation on public lands, and places like Point Iroquois help people reflect and work through the histories that such places embody, regardless of how comfortable or uncomfortable these narratives may be.”

During the first two years of the project, more than ten volunteers worked on the lighthouse each week, and in the third year, due to the small working space inside the lighthouse, volunteer numbers each week ranged from four to six. Volunteers came together at the lighthouse from many different backgrounds – some came from as far away as Arizona and others came from the local community; some were retired and others had just graduated from their Master’s programs. The different motivations for volunteering were vast and included: a desire to build masonry skills; an interest in the historic site; an affinity for lighthouses; a need for hands-on experience for their college degree; and even enthusiasm for swimming in Lake Superior and seeing the stars while camping at the lighthouse. 

Whatever their motivations may have been, during the three years of the project, over 50 HistoriCorps volunteers, 4 YouthWork crews of 4 to 6 individuals, and several Forest Service staff united around a shared purpose of completing much needed maintenance on this beloved historical structure on the Hiawatha. The Forest Service appreciates the many individuals who graciously shared their time to support this project.

With this project coming to a close at Point Iroquois, maintenance of the lighthouse will now be manageable by Forest Service staff, but the Hiawatha is excited to continue collaboration with HistoriCorps. Over the next two years, they will work with the Forest Service to complete required maintenance on other historical structures located throughout the Forest.  

For more information about the Point Iroquois Lighthouse, visit Hiawatha National Forest - Point Iroquois Lighthouse (usda.gov)

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