In the 1600’s, French explorers in search of valuable beaver pelts and
undiscovered shipping routes explored the Great Lakes region of America.
One can only imagine the thrill of discovery as they turned each corner,
seeing the horizon shift and change with each nautical mile. In 1679,
French voyagers set sail from Niagara Falls, entering the Detroit River
and discovering “Lac Sainte Clair” or Lake St. Clair. Named in honor of
Sainte Claire of Assisi, who established the order of Franciscan nuns,
Lake St. Clair became a well-traveled waterway.
Connected to Lake Huron to the north by the St. Clair River and Lake Erie
to the south by the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair became heavy with
traffic as settlers populated the region and shippers utilized the
convenient route.
The waterway had many hidden dangers that were mapped by trial and error.
Over time, sailors discovered an unobstructed channel running through the
Lake, marking it with buoys and on maps. Officials followed their lead and
placed two lighthouses along the route to serve in tandem by marking the
channel.
The Front Range Light came into operation in 1859. Standing atop a
submerged timber crib, the red brick sentinel featured a 17-foot, conical
tower with a sixth order Fresnel lens. No Keeper’s Dwelling was placed
here, for the Lightkeepers would reside at the second channel light.
The Rear Range Light was illuminated the same year and was also placed on
a foundation of wood and stone. But this brick and block beacon reached a
height of 40-feet and housed a fourth order Fresnel lens. Attached to the
tower was a two-story, brick Keeper’s Quarters, with room for Keepers that
tended both the range lights.
For decades, the beacons guided vessels towards the St. Clair River
entrance, however, back in the 1800’s, ships were smaller and could manage
the sharp river bends with relative ease. But as ships grew in size and
capacity, the shallow tributary became harder to navigate and the winding
river became a hazard. An alternate route was established, taking shipping
traffic through a man-made channel called the “St. Clair Cutoff”. Thus,
the St. Clair Flats South Channel Range Lights were taken out of service.
Over the years, the foundation on both the sentinels has deteriorated,
threatening the future of these historic beacons. The Front Range Light
was automated in 1970 and remains operational, however, the Rear Range
Light was deactivated in 1907. Its Keeper’s Quarters were totally
destroyed in the 1930’s. Vandalism has played a big part in the
deterioration of both lighthouses and plans for major foundation work are
underway.
Preservationists have placed a sea wall at the Front Range light and are
actively pursuing restoration for both historic beacons. For more
information about this important project, please contact: Save Our South
Channel Lights at P.O. Box 46531, Mount Clemens, Michigan, 48046-6531.
