Historical Information

A light was first built on shore at DeTour Point in 1847, and was rebuilt in 1861. 

With Northbound vessel passage into the St. Mary's River increasing with the construction of the Sault Locks, the existing structure was built on DeTour Reef in 1931, making it one of the last lights to be constructed in all the Great Lakes.

Constructed on a crib in a manner similar to that employed at Spectacle Reef, the "Art Deco" style tower was constructed of steel reinforced concrete. Perched atop the sixty-three foot tower, the Third and a half order Fresnel lens , which was relocated from the old DeTour light station, boasted a focal plane of seventy-four feet, and was visible from far out in the Lake, serving well to guide vessels into the St. Mary's River.

Equipped with a four hundred and seventy-five pound  air-powered diaphone fog signal, the keepers on the light kept a close eye on conditions, and used the fog signal to inform mariners of weather conditions both in the lake and the river in a predetermined manner:

When conditions were observed to be foggy in the Lake but clear within the river, the keepers sounded the fog signal in groups of 3 blasts; 3 blasts 2 seconds each, every 60 seconds. 2 silences 2 seconds each, 1 silence of 50 seconds. When conditions were observed to be foggy in both the lake and river, the blast signature was changed to 6 seconds, silent for 54 seconds. As a result, mariners would know whether conditions were safe enough to enter the confines of the river.

With automation in 1974, the Coast Guard removed the Fresnel lens from the lantern and boarded-up the windows, basically abandoning the structure, focusing their limited resources on maintaining the automated light. Without the daily attention of keepers, the station began to deteriorate rapidly.

Fearing for the long-term survivability of the station, a group of concerned citizens banded together in 1998 to form the non-profit DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society, with its single purpose being the restoration of the light to its original 1931 condition, and to ensure its future survival. 

In March of 1998, diaphone historian and repair specialist Jeff Laser discovered the station's old F-2-T diaphone fog signal equipment in storage at the Great Lakes Historical Society in Vermillion, Ohio. Informing the DRLPS of his find, arrangements were made for Jeff to restore the apparatus, and it's eventual return to the light station

On September 5, 2000, the Society obtained a long-term lease on the structure, and has plans to offer trips out to the light, and to restore the structure to its original 1931 appearance. The Society needs all the public support they can find to assist them in their noble endeavor.

Keepers of this Light

Click here to see a complete listing of all DeTour Reef Light keepers compiled by Phyllis L. Tag of Great Lakes Lighthouse Research.

Seeing this Light

Prior to our arrival in DeTour Village, we had contacted Jeri Baron Feltner of the DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society, who had in turn arranged for us to meet with fellow D.R.L.P.S. Board member Jim Charles at the DeTour Passage Historical Museum, so that we could photograph the Third and One Half Order Fresnel lens from the lighthouse which is currently on display at the museum.

Jim told us of how the Fresnel had been removed by a Coast Guard crew in 1988, and transported to Mackinaw City for storage. Thereafter, its location became unknown. In the early 1990's Bob Jones, President of the D.R.L.P.S., discovered the lamp in a number of wooden crates in an unlocked garage in Mackinaw City, while searching for something else. After many interactions with the Coast Guard Ninth District Command, the D.R.L.P.S obtained permission to display the lens in a specially constructed display case which Jim built for the purpose in the DeTour Passage Historical Museum. With the arrival of the lens at the museum, a specially trained unit of Coast Guardsmen were dispatched to reassemble the unit in the display case, where we were able to photograph the optic during our visit.

Jim enthralled us with his explanation of how the D.R.L.P.S. had just received a long-term lease on the lighthouse, and the plans that the Society has for the lighthouse in the future.

A big thanks to Jeri and Jim for all their help during our too brief visit to DeTour Village. We will certainly return next year, get some close-up views of the lighthouse, and spend some more time digging into the areas rich history.

Finding this Light

Until the D.R.L.P.S. can arrange for tours of the lighthouse, you will either need to bring your own seaworthy vessel to DeTour Village, or charter a boat locally. Island Queen Charters operating out of DeTour Village offer trips around the light, and can be contacted at (906) 297-3731 or (800) 206-8079.

Contact information

For further information on the DeTour Reef Light, or to join the Society, click here to visit the Society's website.

DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society
PO Box 519
DeTour Village, MI 49725-0519
Telephone 906-493-6079
or click here to email Jeri Baron Feltner, DRLPS Secratary.

Reference Sources

National Parks Service 1994 Inventory of Historic Light Stations
Personal observation at DeTour Village, 09/15/2000
USCG Historian's Office - photographic archives.
Email on foghorn disposition from Jeri Baron Feltner, 04/22/01.
Photographs from the author's personal collection.
The DeTour Passage Historical Museum.
The DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society
Keeper listings for this light appear courtesy of Tom & Phyllis Tag

This page last modified 12/02/2007