East Channel Lighthouse

The small wooden frame lighthouse on the southeast shore of Grand Island was constructed during the period 1869-1870 for the the purpose of guiding vessels into Munising Harbor from the east. The land was one of a number of parcels reserved in 1847 for government use.

By 1905 however, the Lighthouse Board noted that the light was no longer serving its original purpose. Considering the difficulties in maintenance and the mariner’s desire for improved range lights, its abandonment was only a matter of time. The light was finally abandoned in 1913 as a result of the construction in 1908 of improved range lights. In 1915 the land and lighthouse were privately purchased and divided into lots. The lighthouse building became community property. The building is still privately owned and although it is in badly deteriorated condition, periodic efforts have been made to reinforce this historic structure.

The small light was home to many keepers and their families. The last was George Prior, who served there from 1891 to 1907. Two of his children were born at the light. Difficulties the old keepers had to overcome were many. Just maintaining a reliable and varied food supply was always a problem at the Superior lights and the East Channel Light was no different. Like many other keepers, Prior kept a small garden as well as chickens and perhaps even a cow. Setting a net or two assured fresh fish.

Information from the book Dangerous Coast: Pictured Rocks Shipwrecks by Fred Stonehouse and Daniel Fountain, Avery Color Studios, Marquette Michigan, 1997,