Imagine a beacon of hope guiding ships through the Detroit River. That’s Belle Isle Light. It stands as a testament to maritime safety. It also represents the rich history of this island.
Belle Isle Light was first lit on May 15, 1882. This helped vessels navigate the Detroit River around Belle Isle. The lighthouse guided them safely past reefs. These reefs stretched out from Isle aux Peches and Belle Isle itself.
Anson Badger was the first lighthouse keeper. He dutifully manned the light until 1886. He was followed by Louis Fetes. Fetes served from 1886 to 1907. He then served again from 1908 to 1930. George Sherman had a brief stint between Fetes’ terms from 1907 to 1908.
The original Belle Isle Light boasted a revolutionary lens. It stood two feet tall. This lens focused light into a powerful beam. This beam could be seen from over 20 miles away. French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel developed this impressive lens. It weighed several hundred pounds.
An interesting fact is that the lighthouse keeper’s home wasn’t ready when the light first shone. Construction continued. The home, boat-house, and a stone retaining wall were completed the following year.
Belle Isle Light played a crucial role until 1930. Then the William Livingstone Memorial Light was completed. This new light led to the old lighthouse’s decommissioning.
In 1940, the federal government planned to demolish the Belle Isle Light. They intended to replace it with a Coast Guard station. Demolition was completed in the fall of 1941. Progress sometimes comes at a cost.
The lens from the old Belle Isle Light found a new home. It was moved to the Livingstone light in 1935 or 1936. The old manually operated lenses became obsolete. Automated beacons were the future. Many lenses were destroyed. Some were scrapped for their brass during World War II.
Even after its decommissioning, the story of Belle Isle Light continued. In August 1980, thieves broke into the Livingstone light. They stole two lenses. It’s unclear if the original Fresnel lens was among them.
The Coast Guard began aggressively tracking lenses in the 1990s. This coincided with increased lighthouse preservation efforts. These lenses are not just tools. They are pieces of art.
In 2016, the federal government sued a Michigan resident. He possessed the lens from the old Belle Isle Light. The lens was valued at around $350,000. The government claimed it was stolen property.
The defendant, Steve Gronow, had a private museum. It even included its own lighthouse. He argued he was saving these historical artifacts. The government had previously shown no interest in preserving them.
Ultimately, a judge sided with the government in March 2018. Gronow had to return the lenses. The saga of the missing lens came to an end.
John Polacsek, a retired curator, recounted that lighthouse lenses were sold in barrels of miscellaneous items.
Belle Isle Light stands as a reminder of our maritime past. It also reminds us of the importance of preserving history. Its light may be gone. Its story continues to shine.