A visit to the White River Light Station Museum offers visitors the opportunity to travel back in history to a time when life was dependent upon ships and the lights that guided them. Discover and interact with the collection of artifacts, photographs, paintings and articles. These serve as a reminder of the important contributions and sacrifices that our ancestors made in shaping the present we n
ow live in just as our lives and stories create an integral link in the chain of history serving in future generations. We are all links in this chain ! Listen to the brass ship bell, spin the wooden helm, marvel at the original 4th Order Fresnel lens that was hand made and imported from Paris, France; shining the light from the tower top out for 14 miles. Read the stories, interact with the exhibits and browse through the gift shop. Climb the spiral staircase to the museum levels and enjoy a panoramic view of the unique sand dunes that stretch along the coastline to the colorful hues of Lake Michigan. HISTORY BUILT IN 1875
By the end of the Civil War, Michigan's lumbering trade was in full swing. At that time, the Muskegon and White Lake area attained world wide status, from the resources of the vast white pine forests, thus contributing substantially to the nation's rapid growth through the thriving operation of lumbering and the numerous saw mills. The White Lake Area had several steam operated saw mills conducting business in the beginning. The lumber was originally transported through the White River, which had a natural outlet into White Lake and then out to Lake Michigan. It was difficult to get the lumber schooners far into the river from Lk. MI, for lumber pick up, so it was necessary over time, to create a channel link between the two bodies of water. A gentleman by the name of Capt. William Robinson, booked passage from England- for himself, wife (Sarah Cooper Robinson) and about 6 children, in the late 1860s and arrived in the White Lake Area around the time when the lumbering trade was increasing in volume and a channel was needed. As a previous ship captain in England, William had a concern and intrigue with the ship captains that were connected with the lumbering operations in White Lake. They would often discuss the need for a channel and Capt. Robinson worked diligently in getting the attentions of the U.S. Lighthouse Service: (the Federal arm of the government that ran the lighthouses), to address and rectify this problem in the White Lake Area. A new channel was dug in 1870, connecting Lake Michigan to White Lake. William Robinson would occasionally help out his fellow ship captains in the interim during the channel dredging operation, by placing a lantern or building a fire on the Lk. MIchigan beach near the entrance to the White River. Not every night, but enough times to where he gleaned a reputation. Lighthouse Service officials wanted to hire a keeper to tend the new pier light, it was suggested by the schooner captains that they ask Mr. Robinson if he would be interested in tending the light at the end of the pier. He delighted at the job and would walk out on a wooden pier with an elevated (cat walk)- style bridge to tend the light each night. In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire occurred and a need for lumber to rebuild was in order. Contracts were set up with the saw mills on White Lake as well as many other lumber harbors along the west coast of MI. The increased traffic demanded the need for a brighter light with a longer light range in distance for the White Lake Harbor. By 1875, it was decided that a light station should be built for the lumbering trade. and to house the light keeper and family. Captain Robinson helped with the masonry work and then moved in with Sarah and several children. Sarah had 13 live births, but lost two children at young ages. William, his older son Thomas - who was hired as assistant keeper and Sarah - who was a back up keeper, all operated the light: that was originally illuminated by lard oil, seed oils and then pressurized kerosene. There was also the job of operating the pier light and a steam operated fog signal. Captain Robinson served for 47 years at the White River Light Station and is on record as one of the longest serving keepers in the Great Lakes region. After Robinson's death in 1919, Captain William Bush ( William Robinson's eldest grandson), was hired as keeper and served for many years- with his wife and family until the Coast Guard took over in the late 1930s. Several Coast Guard Keepers served at the light station - including a woman named Frances Wouri Johnson - who was married to a Coast Guard Keeper - Mr. She helped run the light station with her husband in the early 1940s and then returned some years later as a solo - civilian woman keeper, with her daughter Holly. In 1953, Frances was invited to be a contestant on the program 'What's My Line'. The celebrity panel could not guess her profession, much less where White Lake Michigan was located. Frances was given a check for $50.00 as the winning prize. The White River Light Station served the lumber schooners in the beginning and then a passenger steam ship operation was developed in the early 1900s between Chicago, White Lake and other ports in West MI. the S.S. 'Carolina' was the name of the prominent steam ship that served the early development of tourism in the White Lake area. The light also contributed to the local commercial fishing operations ( The Grover Family) and some other businesses on White Lake. In 1960, the station was decommissioned and a few years later, the Coast Guard wanted to sell it to a local group. Nearby residents of the light station - collected private funds to purchase the light station in the mid 1960s. It sold for $6,250 and the locals kindly offered it as a gift to the local township ( Fruitland Township) and community, so that it could be preserved, maintained and operated as a museum and educational facility for future generation to appreciate and partake of. The doors of The White River Light Station- opened in 1970 as an official museum and it has been operating in that capacity ever since with visitors from all over the world. Interested in helping out? Contact Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association for membership information and volunteer availability! SPLKA
231.845.7417
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