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Photographer: Jeffrey W. Churill
Photographer: Keith W. Churill Rear Range Light with Keepers House foundation
Photo courtesy of: U.S. Coast Guard
Photographer: Keith W. Churill View looking up the Rear Range Light Staircase
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Construction: Conical, Brick / Block Status: Rear - Inactive / Front - Active Location: Lake St. Clair, MI. Rear Range Lat. 42º 32' 38" N - Long. 82º 41' 40" W Height: Front 17 feet, Rear 40 feet Access: Boat, approximately 4 miles from the Michigan mainland in Lake St. Clair. Approximately 1/2 mile from Southwestern corner of Harsens Island. Use caution around Lighthouses as the water is shallow and rocky with debris. Click Here for Lighthouse Keepers 
Photographer: Jeffrey W. Churill Front Range Light with seawall for restoration purposes
Photo courtesy of: U.S. Coast Guard
Photographer: Keith W. Churill Rear Range Light Entrance |
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Lighthouse History: These pair of Lighthouses were constructed in 1859 to guide vessels from Lake St. Clair into the St. Clair River. The rear range light, built on a stone foundation, is still surviving, and was originally equipped with a Fourth Order Fresnel lens. The front range light, built on a timber crib, began to settle and lean severely. In 1875 a new crib and tower were constructed replacing the front range light. At that time a keepers dwelling was also constructed at the rear range light. Service in the Rear Range light was discontinued in 1907. The Front Range Light, still active, was automated in 1970. Today the front range light has started settle and lean once again. To prevent any further damage prior to restoration a seawall has been installed and back-filled to stabilize the light. The restoration is being coordinated by the S.O.S.C.L. (Save our South Channel Lights) association. |
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Photographer:
Keith W. Churill (3-18-01) |
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Built:
1859, 1875, 1915
Navigational
History: The smaller vessels, when these lights were active, did not draw
much water and could maneuver the sharper bends of the St. Clair River. As the
size of these vessels grew, this region became more hazardous. Today
shipping traffic uses a man-made channel called the "St. Clair
Cutoff". This channel runs along the South side of Seaway Island
removing some of these sharp river bends. Thus these lights were taken
out of service.
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