Near Rogers City in Presque Isle County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Bunkhouse

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 23, 2018

1. The Bunkhouse Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

This structure was the first to be built in 1896. It was used to house the laborers that erected the lighthouse. After the house was complete, it was used by the workers that were contracted to do maintenance work such as boiler inspection, etc.

On October 19th, 1905, the Steamer Joseph Fey was wrecked at Forty Mile Point and the crew came ashore on the pilothouse which was torn off and washed ashore. They were sheltered in the bunkhouse and later walked to Rogers City. The first mate was lost and his body was found north of the lighthouse in December of that year.

The building has been restored and now serves as a gift shop.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.

Location. 45° 29.158′ N, 83° 54.812′ W. Marker is near Rogers City, Michigan, in Presque Isle County. Marker can be reached from County Park Road, 0.2 miles north of U.S.

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23 when traveling north. Marker is mounted at eye-level, near the center of the front (east) side of the subject building, within Presque Isle County Lighthouse Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7323 US Highway 23, Rogers City MI 49779, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. 40 Mile Point Lighthouse (a few steps from this marker); Forty Mile Point Lighthouse / Lake Huron Graveyard of Ships (within shouting distance of this marker); SS Calcite (within shouting distance of this marker); International Shipmaster's Association (within shouting distance of this marker); S.S. Joseph S. Fay Shipwreck (within shouting distance of this marker); The Glawe School (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Site of Frederick Denny Larke Home (approx. 6.4 miles away); Frederick Denny Larke General Store (approx. 6.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rogers City.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Forty Mile Point Lighthouse, Presque Isle County, Michigan

Also see . . . Lighthouse bunkhouse being stored for use as a gift shop. It is probably the oldest temporary building ever constructed in Presque Isle County, and after 109 winters along the shores of Lake Huron, the bunkhouse at 40 Mile Point Lighthouse Park is nearing

The Bunkhouse (<i>front view; marker visible at center, between windows</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 23, 2018

2. The Bunkhouse (front view; marker visible at center, between windows)

the completion of the first part of a major renovation. The bunkhouse was the first building on the 27-acre site when construction crews arrived on July 5, 1896 on the lightship Amaranth. It was designed to serve as a temporary dwelling for the work crew with plans to convert it to a barn upon completion of the lighthouse and support structures. (Submitted on August 23, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

The Bunkhouse (<i>interpretive sign located nearby</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 23, 2018

3. The Bunkhouse (interpretive sign located nearby)

The bunkhouse was the first building erected on the property and it was used to house the men while they constructed the lighthouse. It has been used as a barn, storage shed, office for the U.S. Coast Guard and now a gift shop.

Henry & Margaret Hoffman Plaque (<i>mounted on bunkhouse wall, just left of the entrance</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 23, 2018

4. Henry & Margaret Hoffman Plaque (mounted on bunkhouse wall, just left of the entrance)

This Plaque placed
to honor the generosity of
Henry & Margaret “Peggy” Hoffman whose kind bequest provided for the restoration of the bunkhouse. Margaret was the daughter of Clarence P. Tupper, 40 Mile Point Lighthouse Keeper from 1936 to 1943. Margaret was in residence at the lighthouse during his tenure.

The bunkhouse was the first structure erected on the property in the Spring of 1896 and housed the workers who constructed the lighthouse. The restoration of the bunkhouse was completed in the Spring of 2006, by members of the Lighthouse Society.

40 Mile Point Lighthouse (<i>southeast corner view; as seen from the bunkhouse</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 23, 2018

5. 40 Mile Point Lighthouse (southeast corner view; as seen from the bunkhouse)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 8, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 110 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 23, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.