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June 12, 2002Lighthouse plan launched at Point Betsie- U.S. Secretary of the Interior Gail Norton in town to announce plans to move U.P. lighthouseBy SARAH CHUBYRecord-Eagle staff writer FRANKFORT - The sight of the group of people in suits, ties and dresses outside the Point Betsie Lighthouse Tuesday gave some onlookers a few moments of anxiety. Seeing all those suits made them worry bad news was coming. "I hope they don't decide to tear it down," said Alberta Giegold of Indiana, who has visited the area for 23 years. "We have a lot of memories here," she said. It turned out the gathering wasn't bad news and, in fact, didn't have anything to do with Point Betsie Lighthouse - or at least not yet. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Gail Norton was in northwest Lower Michigan Tuesday to launch the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Program. Norton signed an agreement to move the Munising Range Light, located on Lake Superior, a few miles east to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The agreement also make the move of the Little River Lighthouse in Maine official. "Historical lighthouses like Munising and Little River are national treasures," she said. "This program recognizes the cultural, recreational and educational value of these structures by transferring them to the best possible stewards, both public and private, for long-term restoration." There are four other lighthouses that will be uprooted -two in New York, one in Georgia and one in Florida. Norton said the Lighthouse Preservation Program committee is considering the relocation for two more Michigan lighthouses - the Cheboygan River Range Front Light, built in 1880, and the Sturgeon Point Light, built in 1869. "We evaluate applications (for lighthouses) to make sure that the organizations requesting them can afford to preserve their history," said Norton, who was initially in the area for the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission Midyear Meeting at the Grand Traverse Resort. "We are recommending the transfer of 300 lighthouses ... to whomever, public or private, can care for them in the long term." Norton said Point Betsie, built in 1858, may be in the second round of lighthouses that they evaluate. Benzie County Commissioner Chair Mary Pitcher said Benzie is interested in purchasing Point Betsie. "We are currently working hard to acquire, preserve and protect this landmark for future generations," she said. "The Coast Guard is in the process of relinquishing the lighthouse and the grounds through the Bureau of Land Management." Pitcher said the county is looking into the cost of owning the historic lighthouse. "Benzie County is conducting a feasibility study with a historic architectural firm to determine what needs to be accomplished to restore and rehabilitate the light station," she said. "We are determining sources of potential revenue for future operations, maintenance and capital improvements." After they get the results they will decide what to do next, she said. "This will aid us in determining the scope of the county's involvement in the future of Point Betsie and what organization will be required to operate the lighthouse locally." National Park Service Park Ranger Bill Herd said Michigan has the most lighthouses in the country with more than 100. "All of these lighthouses are no longer needed for safety," he said. "There are 70 in Michigan that are going to be transferred." Taking care of them is important, Herd said. "Lighthouses need to be preserved. They are an important part of our heritage and tourism." |
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