A Wisconsin Beauty - Fond Du Lac Front Range Lighthouse

Located in the Fond Du Lac Yacht Harbor, Lake Winnebago, Fond Du Lac, WI, this decorative eight-sided light tower is a picturesque landmark will known to the local residents. Translated, Fond Du Lac means "end of the lake." The locals know the light as Lakeside Park Lighthouse. The structure replaced an ordinary red light that previously marked the harbor entrance.

The lighthouse is the brainchild of a Fond Du Lack lumberman, W.J. Nuss, and was built entirely with donated building materials and private funds. The cornerstone was laid in 1933 and the base is composed of stone. The white, Cape Cod style tower stands approximately 66-feet tall and measures 12 feet in diameter. Funds to purchase the light to top the tower were raised by the local yacht club. A stairway allows the public to climb to the open walkway atop the tower where the observation platform is 44-feet from the ground. In the early 1960's the tower was closed to the public when it was deemed unsafe. However, in 1967 the tower was saved through repairs, and then restored in 1993.

At the time of my visit here in 2002, the light was operational during the boating season, May-Oct. Boaters utilize the red light atop the white tower by lining it up with another light behind the boathouses, similar to a range light system.

A Wisconsin Beauty - Rawley Point Lighthouse

The Rawley Point Lighthouse, also known as the Twin River Point, is located at Two Rivers, WI. It's not clear exactly when a lighthouse was first constructed here. Records indicate the first lighthouse in this area was built in 1853 at Twin Rivers Point. The original lighthouse had a brick tower that stood 100-feet tall and was attached to the keeper's dwelling by a hallway. The remains of the original circular tower can be seen at the right side of the big house, behind the tree and in front of the iron tower. In 1894 the top portion of that tower was demolished and the remaining shorter tower, with cone shaped roof, became part of the keeper's quarters in 1895. One result is a curious and unique round living room which remains inside the dwelling. A fire damaged the keeper's quarters in 1962.

The current eight sided pyramidal erector style lighthouse is the only one of this type on the Great Lakes. It stands 111-feet high and is the second tallest lighthouse in WI. It is an alteration and expansion of a lighthouse relocated from the Chicago River Light-station in 1893 after the World's fair. The light tower has a central iron stairway containing 132-steps with support supplied by a maze of exterior steel frames. There's a double-decked set of watch rooms with ornate fencing, placed one atop the other, below the lantern room. These dual watch rooms are another unique feature among WI lights. The light tower was constructed next to the two and a half story keeper's dwelling. In 1920 the light was electrified. The original third-order lens continued in use until 1952 when a piece of the lens broke and it was replaced with the current twin-bull's eye rotating beacon, which can be seen for 28-miles.

At the time of my visit here in 2002, this was an active lighthouse, however, the tower and quarters were off limits to the public. The Coast Guard utilized the quarters for housing and as a military recreation cottage

A Wisconsin Beauty - Plum Island Range Lighthouse

This lighthouse is one of three lights in the Plum Island Range Light system.  They are located north of Gills Rock, WI in the middle of the treacherous Death's Door Passage. Michigan Lake links Green Bay between the end of the main Door Peninsula and Washington Island. The original Plum Island Lighthouse, built in 1848, was later moved to Pilot Island.

The Plum Island Range Lights were constructed in 1895 and are located on the southern end of the island. The rear range light, pictured above, consist of a tubular and skeletal shaped 65-foot tall tower, and is capped with a red lantern top and ventilator ball. The lantern room houses a fourth-order Fresnel lens which projects a fixed red beam of light. A spacious two story keeper's dwelling and a fog signal building stand nearby. This range light displays a metal banner with red stripes on either side of a middle white stripe, which serves as a day marker. The banner is located on the right side of the tower. Click on the picture to enlarge, making it easier to see.
 

At the time of my visit here in 2002, the Coast Guard considered the Plum Island Lights as surplus property and were considering the State would take over the island as a possible new State Park.

A Wisconsin Beauty - North Point Lighthouse

Located on N. Wahl Ave in Lake Park, Milwaukee, WI, the North Point Lighthouse is the third lighthouse to be built in Milwaukee.

The first lighthouse was erected in 1838, however, it was not located where it could provide proper navigational assistance. Replaced in 1855 by a 28-feet tower built on a 56-feet bluff overlooking the lake and located approximately 100-feet east of the present lighthouse.

Eventually, erosion forced replacement of the second lighthouse and in 1887 a new tower was completed at a height of 39-feet. It was built entirely of bolted cast iron sections. A steel plate lower section was built in 1912, and then the 39-feet cast iron tower placed on top as shown above. This raised the tower to a height of 74-feet and the light to a new height of 160-feet above the lake. This lighthouse operated with a fourth-order Fresnel lens until deactivation in 1994.

On the day of my visit here in 1998, the lighthouse was not open to the public.