Huron in Erie County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Huron Block House
1930s to Present
Photographed by J. J. Prats, August 8, 2019
1. Huron Block House Marker
Inscription.
Huron Block House. 1930s to Present. Recognizing the importance of Hurons harbor, a group of Huron and Milan businessmen formed the Huron Harbor Company to make improvements to the harbor. The project was partially funded by the sale at public auction of one half of the town plat of Huron, which consisted of 120 acres. When the Huron Harbor Company exhausted its funds in 1827, the federal government assumed control of the project. , In addition to dredging the mouth of the river, two parallel piers and the first Huron lighthouse were constructed. Made of wood, the lighthouse was battered by the storms of Lake Erie and began to fall apart. It was rebuilt in 1857 at the end of the west pier, where the blockhouse still stands. Constructed of iron, the new lighthouse contained a spiral staircase that wound through the middle of the structure to the tip, where the light and foghorn were located. , The lighthouse was maintained by a lighthouse keeper who was responsible for keeping the eight oil-burning lamps lighted at all times. To do so, the keeper had to trek back and forth to the lighthouse several times a day. , In the 1930s a $471,519 harbor project was begun, which included deepening and widening the Huron River, extending the west pier, dismantling the east pier and building a new lighthouse. , Constructed in the art deco style popular at that time period, the pyramidal structure rose 65 feet above a concrete pedestal at the end of the newly extended pier, three quarters of a mile from shore. The lighthouse was powered by an ice-protected cable running alongside the pier and equipped with a fog detector and horn, and a light that could be seen 18 miles away on a clear night. , The Huron lighthouse became one of the most impressive and modern lighthouses on the Great Lakes, and contributed significantly to Huron Harbors continued success as one of Lake Eries busiest ports. , Today the lighthouse remains unchanged from when it was first built, with the exception of the removal of the lantern room and other minor modifications.
Recognizing the importance of Hurons harbor, a group of Huron and Milan businessmen formed the Huron Harbor Company to make improvements to the harbor. The project was partially funded by the sale at public auction of one half of the town plat of Huron, which consisted of 120 acres. When the Huron Harbor Company exhausted its funds in 1827, the federal government assumed control of the project.
In addition to dredging the mouth of the river, two parallel piers and the first Huron lighthouse were constructed. Made of wood, the lighthouse was battered by the storms of Lake Erie and began to fall apart. It was rebuilt in 1857 at the end of the west pier, where the blockhouse still stands. Constructed of iron, the new lighthouse contained a spiral staircase that wound through the middle of the structure to the tip, where the light and foghorn were located.
The lighthouse was maintained by a lighthouse keeper who was responsible for keeping the eight oil-burning lamps lighted at all times. To do so, the keeper had to trek back and forth to the lighthouse several times a day.
In the 1930s a $471,519 harbor project was
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begun, which included deepening and widening the Huron River, extending the west pier, dismantling the east pier and building a new lighthouse.
Constructed in the art deco style popular at that time period, the pyramidal structure rose 65 feet above a concrete pedestal at the end of the newly extended pier, three quarters of a mile from shore. The lighthouse was powered by an ice-protected cable running alongside the pier and equipped with a fog detector and horn, and a light that could be seen 18 miles away on a clear night.
The Huron lighthouse became one of the most impressive and modern lighthouses on the Great Lakes, and contributed significantly to Huron Harbors continued success as one of Lake Eries busiest ports.
Today the lighthouse remains unchanged from when it was first built, with the exception of the removal of the lantern room and other minor modifications.
Erected by City of Huron.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Art Deco, and the Lighthouses series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1827.
Location. 41° 24.118′ N,
Photographed by J. J. Prats, August 8, 2019
2. Huron Block House Marker
82° 32.772′ W. Marker is in Huron, Ohio, in Erie County. It can be reached from Main Street near Huron Pier. It is on the elevated platform at the end of the concrete part of the pier. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Huron OH 44839, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Ohio’s Lake Erie Shore and in the Western Reserve. It is also in the American Midwest, on the Great Lakes, and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 8, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,097 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on November 8, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
