The front tower was once used as a safe haven for common tern birds (pictured) before they migrated to the rear tower.
By: Jonathan Szczepaniak | Metro | Published July 13, 2022
METRO DETROIT — Since 1859, two years before Abraham Lincoln became president, the South Channel range lights have stood tall at the southeastern tip of Harsen’s Island.
Once used as a guide for incoming ships towards the freshwater delta known as the “Venice of America,” the front and rear remain intact through its historic journey.
At the forefront of its preservation is the Save Our South Channel Lights volunteer group, which formed in 1989.
The group has continued each year through memberships and donations to restore and preserve its history.
“It is the most romantic, historic and beautiful thing you could ever do to walk through that lighthouse,” Kathy Brady said. “You’ll be in awe; you just feel the history run through you.”
Brady, who has been a secretary on the board for 26 years, is the longest running director and has been with the group since it formed.
The group’s founding father, Charles Brockman, died in 2015, and its new president, Gary Strobel, has stepped in to continue Brockman’s efforts.
The restoration efforts have been primarily focused on the rear light, where the group would hold on-site weddings and tours during its peak season. The rear light featured wood fencing around the perimeter, a steel seawall, an outhouse, a tool shed and other touch-ups.
“Our mission statement is to restore our heritage and share our history with our community,” Strobel said. “We want to show what the icons of our lake are and what their value was to this region.”
Unfortunately, high waters have led to flooding, with damages to the fencing, outhouse and tool shed.
Reconstruction of the outhouse and tool shed, courtesy of Alex Bugg Construction, are complete with new siding and paint for both. MJR Painting LLC was a significant help for SOSCL with structure painting. With the fence still in need of repairs, SOSCL is looking for white, aluminum-style fencing.
“We’ve gone backwards a little bit the last three years because of the high waters and flooding,” said Dave Bolinger, the group’s vice president.
Bolinger, who has been with SOSCL for more than 20 years, works hands-on with the repairs and maintenance of the lighthouses.
The front light faces its biggest challenge, with the project of a brand-new seawall and internal bracing still needed, as the light’s foundation is giving way.
The light has only leaned three times throughout history and is currently leaning at a 22-degree angle.
“Our next focus is to shore up that front light, so the foundation stops it from leaning,” Strobel said.
While the projects are in the planning phases, the lights have had to deal with a more pressing issue.
A few years ago, the Detroit Zoo approached SOSCL about assisting an endangered species of bird called the common tern.
The endangered birds took a liking to the front lighthouse, and with the help of the Detroit Zoo and the Department of Natural Resources, the front lighthouse was to be made a safe haven for the birds.
The birds began to migrate from the front to the rear lighthouse in 2017, which wouldn’t be a problem if it wasn’t for one thing.
“Everybody asks why we can’t get work done, and it’s because of these birds migrating,” Strobel said.
The birds have limited the group from being able to complete restoration projects so long as they are on the grounds. The group has continued its efforts to assist the birds in relocating with noise machines, fishing lines and wind spinners, but to no avail. The birds are typically on the property from mid-April until the end of August.
“The neglect is completely relevant to those birds,” Brady said. “We feel like we’re fighting a losing battle trying to fight to keep these birds off the endangered species list.”
As efforts continue to relocate the birds, on-site tours and weddings will be held off for now.
Boat tours will be available for viewers to see the lighthouses from afar.
SOSCL will continue to restore the lights through the help of donations and memberships in hopes of returning it back to the look of years prior.
“It’s our dream to get it back to that,” Bollinger said.
The group’s event list can be found at its website, as can information about its annual golf outing at Michigan Meadows on October 8.
Support for the SOSCL through donations and memberships can be made at soschannel lights.org.