Port Huron in St. Clair County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Keepers Duties
Daily Duties of a Keeper......
Hand carry fuel up to the lantern room and fueling the lamp.
Trimming the wicks (later, replacing the mantles and pumping up the oil vaporizer).
Regularly cleaning and polishing (with jeweler's rouge and whiting) the glass chimney, lenses and windows.
Polishing vast amounts of brass fittings and tools.
Cranking up the weight, latching it, and letting it free when lighting the lamp at night.
Lighting and extinguishing the lamp (it was wasteful and unnecessary to burn it by day).
Monitoring the light and nearby shipping at night.
Closing the lantern room curtains by day to prevent damage from magnified sunlight through the lens, and discoloration of the lens glass.
Cleaning and lubricating the clockwork.
Painting the structure.
Routine maintenance and repairs of all buildings.
Greeting and sometimes lodging visitors and inspectors.
Writing reports, keeping records, and ordering supplies.
Keepers at Fort Gratiot
From 1829 to 1940 there were 19 keepers at the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse. In 1870, the Lighthouse Service authorized the position of assistant keeper due to increased responsibilities. In 1873, the Keepers Duplex was built to house the keeper, an assistant keeper and their families. In 1932, another keepers dwelling (the smaller house south of the Duplex) was built.
Erected by Port Huron Museum, Saint Clair County, Michigan Dept of Environmental Quality, and NOAA.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Communications • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1829.
Location. 43° 0.4′ N, 82° 25.347′ W. Marker is in Port Huron, Michigan, in St. Clair County. Marker is about 125 feet north of the lighthouse at Fort Gratiot Light Station County Park, where Lake Huron empties into the St. Clair River. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2800 Omar Street, Port Huron MI 48060, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Seeing the Light (here, next to this marker); The Storm (here, next to this marker); Learning from Lake Huron (here, next to this marker); Sending a Signal (here, next to this marker); Fort Gratiot Light (here, next to this marker); U.S. Coast Guard (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Fort Gratiot Light (about 500 feet away); Great Storm of 1913 and Sailors Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Huron.
Also see . . . Fort Gratiot Lighthouse. Point Huron Museums website entry (Submitted on August 9, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 9, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 380 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 9, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 2. submitted on December 18, 2022, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. 3, 4. submitted on August 8, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.