Lighthouse Presque Isle, Mich.

attached letter: Dear Professor Lorch: At the suggestion of the July 31, 1953 Newsletter of the Michigan Historical Society I am sending you two photoes [sic] of the old lighthouse and adjoining building on Presque Isle, Michigan located on the shore of Huron lake, supposedly the oldest lighthouse on the Great Lakes. It is owned by Mr. F. B. Stebbins, 326 N. Capital, Lansing, Michigan. When through using the photos I would appreciate your returning them directly to him. The following information was given to me by Mr. Stebbins: Built in 1840, through a congressional appropriation of $5,000.- in Presque Isle county, described as, "Where a portage of 200 yards would save 4 miles of canoe trip." Jefferson Davis after graduation from West Point, was supposed to have built it. (According to careful historical investigation, this is not true. There is an article about this controversy in some back number of the Michigan History magazine. Mr. Stebbins feels very strongly about his. He prefers the legend, it sounds bigger). Francis Burgoyne Stebbins purchased from his Uncle Bliss Stebbins in 1930, who bought the property in 1930 from General Duffield of Dteoirt [sic], who had purchased it from the government a short time previously. This light-house was abandone [sic] upon the completion of a new lighthouse in 1872, one mile north from the present location. Adjoining house was used as a summer home. Condition restored in 1936. Lighthouse towe [sic] walls 3 feet thick with handhewn circular stone steps to the top. Signed, Lee H. Gregory