FOX ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE ASSOCIATIONNews & Latest Additions
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INDEX 2006: History of Updates and Additions Board meeting of May 8, 2006John McKinney, John Nelson and Phil von Voigtlander met in Traverse City. Phil reported on his efforts to recruit members, so far mainly based on correspondence in the guestbook of the South Fox Web site. Phil is also in touch with Jan Nickerson at Brittany Banners for the development of a poster to be displayed at various places such as the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum, other local museums, marinas etc.. Bylaw procedures were discussed as well as correspondence and the future structure of the board. Phil is working with Stephanie Staley of the GTLighthouse Museum to define a closer cooperation between the two light stations. Stef will present the proposal to her board this month. With the boat now being safely stored in Phil's boat shed, plans were made for the next steps to be taken. A trip to the island aboard another boat is scheduled for May 24, with evaluation of the most urgent measure, general assessment and documentation as the main items on the agenda. H.J. Rothenberger, based
on the minutes by Phil von Voigtlander Boat moved to NorthportAlthough not strictly speaking a trailable
boat, the motor vessel Lightkeeper was delivered
today via a borrowed trailer (Phil von Voigtlander's)
and a volunteer (Jack Nowland) tow master. Jack is the
president of the local sports fishing association and
a member of the Watershed Board of Directors. His F-350
diesel truck and well honed trailer maneuvering skills
brought the Lightkeeper safely into the boat
shed where she will be recommissioned for Fox Island
duty.
Web site migration: new host, new URLThe entire FILA Web site has been moved to a new Web host with servers and backup systems in several countries. This will make access more reliable, and the ample storage space we now have will enable us to incorporate additional features on our Web site. The new URL (a.k.a. Internet address) is southfox.org (with or without leading "www." The old URLs like fila.us.tc, southfox.us.tc etc. will still work, so visitors won't notice a difference other than different URLs in the address field of their Web browser. However, in order to make access as reliable as possible, we suggest you use the new URL of our Home page as your bookmark (or Favorite in Microsoftese). Hans Joerg Rothenberger FILA board meets with MDNR staff
On April 13, 2006 FILA board members,
Phil vonVoightlander, Sandy Bradshaw and John McKinney
met with Michigan Department of Natural Resources staff,
Craig Gulseth and Ham Hobson to exchange thoughts on
how FILA goals will mesh with DNR responsibilities
John McKinney Board meeting of April 3, 2006Phil von Voigtlander, Sandy Bradshaw and John McKinney met in Traverse City and discussed a wide agenda. Much of it was spent on the details of organizing a non-profit, working with the various government agencies, and details on the boat we shall soon bring to Phil's boat shop in Northport. Laura Heintzelman, Manager of the Great Lakes Nonprofit Institute at Northwestern Michigan College, soon joined us. Her advice and direction were invaluable! We will continue to work with her in our quest to raise the necessary funds for the light. It was noted that there is an important difference between Preservation and Restoration. As soon as possible after our initial inspection with experts and the DNR, the goal is to have the light sealed up against the harsh elements before next winter falls upon us. Laura mentioned it is essential to convey to all the significance of this light in our Great Lakes. That is the beginning of the preservation part. As to the restoration, where the light is to be brought close to her original state - we are willing to work with that end goal in mind. How long this will take, no one knows. How much shall this finally cost? The light is in need of much - hence we spoke of the necessity to create a membership of patrons, persons who see her significance and graciously donate their time and financial aid. We as board members also realize we too must give financial aid, setting the proper example. Later, Leelanau county builder John Evans, and Traverse City photographer Chuck Brackett joined us. Both asked excellent questions and the conversation was lively and informative. This project being in the initial stages, there are questions none of us know the answer to, but we all share in the firm desire and commitment to save South Fox Island Light. Sandy Bradshaw Presentation at the Chicago Maritime FestivalJohn Nelson and Phil von Voigtlander prepared a presentation for the Chicago Maritime Festival to be held on March 11, 2006. John's historical relationship to the Light and his ability to personalize the South Fox story made him the first choice to present the talk; however in the case of logistical problems either one carried a copy of the presentation and was prepared to present it. Good planning! John presented while Phil was trapped on a stalled train. The presentation was well received and well attended. As we progress with the Lighthouse project, this festival will be a good place to update the broader regional audience. Phil von Voigtlander Board meeting of March 6, 2006FILA board members John McKinney, John Nelson, Phil von Voigtlander, and Brandon Fewins, regional manager for US Senator Debbie Stabenow, met in Traverse City to outline future actions and strategies: John Nelson will present our project to the public at the Chicago Maritime Festival on March 11, assisted by Phil. Phil is preparing a mid May trip to the lighthouse to start documentation and evaluation. Several options for transportation are being checked. John McKinney is contacting the Great Lakes Nonprofit Institute. He and Phil are planning on attending the institute's fund raising workshop. John also contacted the MI Department of Natural Resources concerning a work permit for the summer. Based on a guestbook entry on our Website, Sandy Bradshaw is being in touch with Henry Kotula, born in Australia, who provided quite a lot of useful ideas for the development of our organization and the project proper. Plans are being made for a moniker / motto that can be incorporated into a logo and flag to underline our presence and involvement. Brandon Fewins was invited to the board meeting by Sandy. His input was very useful. He reported on the support for three other lighthouse projects in Michigan through the Preserve America First legislation last year and is looking in possibilities for 2006. He also provided important advice for grant applications. The board is working on issuing new bylaws. Phil von Voigtlander Annual meeting of the Michigan Lighthouse AllianceThe Michigan Lighthouse Alliance annual meeting was held February 24 in Gaylord. Approximately 20 persons attending enjoyed great camaraderie and swapping information. South Fox light was the only group there that was just getting started. Two huge issues loom in the forefront for the light organizations in the whole country. The first issue is that of bottomlands. A Bottomlands Use Permit may be required in order to transfer a light. This does not (currently) apply to S. Fox to my knowledge, but it involves 42 lighthouses - 1/3 of the state's lighthouses. The issue is being discussed with higher-ups in the government (DEQ etc), and may go before legislation in the near future. The other important issue which does affect South Fox is that of liability insurance. Before we will be granted the one-year Land Use permit from the DNR, we will be required to carry it. And apparently, this kind of insurance is not easy to procure. Anyone reading this with any knowledge underwriting lights - please contact us ASAP. FILA is now a member of the Michigan Lighthouse Alliance. Sandy Bradshaw Board meeting of February 22, 2006John McKinney, Sandy Bradshaw and Phil von Voigtlander met in downtown Traverse City to discuss the following topics: Great Lakes Water Institute has received grants to help non-profits. John is contacting the institute to see what help FILA may possibly get. Money is in grants. The law was changed a few years ago - the State creating the Alliance to have non-profits take over the lights and find funding / grants. "There's a competitive atmosphere among light groups to get money," as Phil put it. Sandy said she will look into learning to write grants, as we need someone ASAP and that is us. John said, "We have to prove ourselves to the State - take what we learn (after assessment), talk to them. There are lots of steps, but we are taking them, one small step at a time." He mentioned the restoration of St. Helena; they have been at it two decades now!. Our final thought was to have FILA attend the Michigan Lighthouse Alliance annual meeting in Gaylord on February 24th in Gaylord and ask if we may join the alliance. Also to glean what we can at the meeting in spearheading our efforts towards rescuing the South Fox lighthouse. Sandy Bradshaw FILA has obtained non-profit statusJohn McKinney e-mailed Sandy Bradshaw February 19th with the words we all have so eagerly awaited, "The IRS designation is 501-c-3. And we got the letter today. We have it!" In other words, our association now has non-profit status. What wonderful news! Now we can forge ahead with all of our ideas and aspirations - making our plans to restore the lonely little lighthouse. Sandy had joined with three other groups over the past fifteen years, each who attempted to start efforts in rescuing the light - and each of those gave up. When John returned from Europe in the late summer of 2004, Sandy called and the two of them met, and over lunch decided, ""Let's go for it!'" Ever since that momentous (for us at least!) lunch, things have just kept progressing better and better. Obstacles were overcome, there have been no "strains on the reins" so to speak. The right people are coming aboard, at the right time. Ahead we go and we won't give up! Sandy Bradshaw Presentation at the GTB Power Squadron meetingThe Grand Traverse Bay Power Squadron invited us to make a presentation about the future plans for the S. Fox Island light station. Sandy asked and Phil von Voigtlander kindly consented to give a presentation for our group at the Power Squadron's meeting of February 2nd in Traverse City. Along with him, John Nelson, Baykeeper for the Watershed Center of Grand Traverse Bay, gave his historical perspective. Nelson comes from a long line of descendants in Northport. Nels Nelson, his great-uncle, was an assistant lightkeeper at the South Fox light. With his Norwegian whimsy, Nelson gave a rendition of his ancestors, mimicking the old-world speech pattern as he sung the lively jig much to the delight of Power Squadron members. Phil outlined our goals, focusing much on our donated boat and how important it will be to keep our dream alive in being our work boat going to and forth from the mainland and the island. We now have two experienced captains, Phil and our webmaster, Hans Joerg Rothenberger. Phil, who both built and captains the Watershed Center's tugboat, the Baykeeper, also kindly has bought a trailer for the FILA boat so she can be moved safely "home" to the Leelanau. John Nelson will be moving the Baykeeper's summer mooring in front of his family's home at Seven Pines in Northport Point and has graciously offered to let us moor our Fox Islander there. There couldn't be a better place for her. Nelson joked and said, "... as long as she fits in with the neighborhood - no floating 'junk' here!" Aside from lots of jesting and great
food, it was a wonderful evening for all. We are
grateful to the Power Squadron, especially Charlie and
Mary Dietrich, for their invitation. Thanks
to each who attended. We hope you will join in
our efforts in one way or another, as we all work together
to restore this light.
Sandy Bradshaw Further activities in January 2006On Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006, John McKinney, Sandy Bradshaw and Hans Joerg Rothenberger, met with Ray Minervini of the Minervini Group in Traverse City, the folks pursuing the preservation and restoration of the Grand Traverse Commons, the center of which is known as Building 50. Already last year, Ray had shown interest in our comparatively pretty modest project. His expertise and his connections may be very helpful some day. John notified us of further delays in the non-profit status application process due to formal requirements such as a budget for 2007 -- as though we could conjure up reliable figures even for 2006. The next day, Sandy and Joerg visited
Phil von Voigtlander at his boat shed in Northport,
where the Grand Traverse Baykeeper's tugboat is stored
over winter and where maintenance work on the FILA boat
can be done in the future. Joerg, who is not quite a
novice to boat building, was pleasantly surprised to
find a well-equipped and spacious boat workshop. Having
gotten Phil aboard sure has been a very important step
for our group.
Meeting with GTB Power SquadronOn Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006, our group met with Charlie Dietrich and his wife Mary of Northport, at Sandy Bradshaw's home in Suttons Bay. Last summer, Charlie had asked us to present our restoration project at the Grand Traverse Bay Power Squadron meeting of February 2. We had a nice get-together with interesting
conversation, also concerning the boat. Phil, who joined
our group last fall, is an old sailor and skilled boat
builder, and Joerg is an old salt, owning a gaff cutter
in the Aegean Sea. However, none of them is a real muscle-boater,
so contacts to those in the know are important. Terry
and Greg Reisig, Barb and Phil von Voigtlander, Mary
and Charlie Dietrich spent a nice evening with goodies
from Sandy's kitchen including Joerg's Swiss specialties.
Boat InspectionOn January 5, the hard core of our group met in Traverse City with John Nelson, the Baykeeper for the Grand Traverse Region. Nelson has kindly granted a mooring for the boat of our association in front of his family cottage at Northport Point. Actually, there is no place on the entire mainland that is more suitable for mooring our boat than Northport Point, so we are all the more grateful. After lunch, John McKinnney, Phil von
Voigtlander, Sandy Bradshaw, and Hans Joerg Rothenberger,
went to Onekama to inspect the boat, which actually
still doesn't belong to the FILA due to delays in the
non-profit status application process. The boat was
in remarkably good condition. Phil, who is the driving
force behind the Grand Traverse Baykeeper's tugboat,
pumped some water out of the bilges. The hatch scuppers
were cleaned to keep precipitation out of the space
down below, and some of the equipment below deck was
inspected.
Northern Michigan Site of the Year!
News from the island:
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We are very excited and utterly grateful to Lori and David Morrison of Traverse City for their most generous donation. We would also like to thank the board of the Maritime Heritage Alliance in Traverse City, MI. After all, the boat had been given to them for their annual Boat Auction, and it was their idea to pass it on to our group. |
We were told that one of the engines
needs repair. Now we are looking for a mechanic who
is willing to volunteer an assessment of the engines
some time in summer, i.e. as soon as the donation proper
has taken place and we know a bit more about what's
wrong with that engine.
If you are an expert on Chevy 305
engines and willing to sacrifice some time to our group,
please contact Sandy Bradshaw (contact
address on our home page) or leave a message
in our guestbook.
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Sandy Bradshaw &
Greg Reisig
June 6, 2005
Leelanau.com has selected our Web site as the Northern Michigan Site of the Week. This means more than it may sound like, because this award is not a weekly matter. According to their mission statement, "The Northern Michigan Site of the Week is designed to honor web sites made in Northern Lower Michigan (& the UP) that deliver something extra."
Many thanks to Andy McFarlane!
Hans Joerg Rothenberger
June 1, 2005
Northport, Grand Traverse Lighthouse: May 26, 2005, a cold rainy day turned into a sunny evening to host the South Fox Island Research Project Exhibit Opening. Northport and Fife Lake fourth and fifth grade students' work over the winter culminated in what is now a year-'round display of photos, memorabilia and information on the South Fox Island lighthouse and Great Lakes maritime history. Approximately ten stations are now on display filled with facts and photos. Included in the display is an original brick from the lighthouse proper as well as an original log book and a screen double door from the lighthouse building.
On hand to watch the opening ceremony were over one-hundred guests who clapped in appreciation as the ribbon was cut allowing entrance into the new museum quarters. Doug McCormick, a former S. Fox lighthouse resident as well as keeper at Grand Traverse Lighthouse, was on hand adding more wisdom to the special event.
A gift shop is now open adjacent to
the new exhibit. It includes items pertaining to South
Fox Island as well as Grand Traverse Light.
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Sandy Bradshaw
May 27, 2005
Our first visit to the boat to be donated to us had to be rescheduled to the first week of June. Sorry about the inconvenience if you've come back to read more.
Sandy Bradshaw
May
18, 2005
Here is a sketch of the boat, just what she roughly may look like. The picture does not show the boat we are going to get. It was sort of stitched together using patches from various photos of boats of the same type and vintage.
Here she is:
Currently we are seeking a slip, mooring or berth, if possible in the northern part of the Leelanau peninsula. Since financial support isn't coming in as long as we haven't gotten non-profit status yet, this is a pretty difficult task. If you know of something that could be available and affordable, please contact Sandy Bradshaw (contact address on our home page).
More information on the boat will be available around May 20.
Hans Joerg Rothenberger
May 10, 2005
We were told that a boat will be donated to our group. Not just a boat, though. She's a beautiful and powerful cabin cruiser. This utterly generous donation will solve our transportation problems. Some work will be needed before she can be used, but she's beyond anything we could ever have dreamed of. The funniest thing is, our partner John McKinney, of whom we believe he's our president, is off on an archeological dig on the Shiant Isles (Outer Hebrides) of Scotland. He doesn't even know about this donation...
Details to be announced a.s.a.p..
Hans Joerg Rothenberger
May 3, 2005
If you are interested in learning more about South Fox Island and its light station, please attend the presentation at Northport School Wednesday, April 20, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. To see details click here.
Hans Joerg Rothenberger
April 18, 2005
An informal meeting of some board members took place on April 7 in Suttons Bay. A bank account was opened. This will allow us to receive much needed contributions. Details will soon be published on the new Donations page of this Web site.
Another important item on the agenda was the name of the group, which had been discussed already on the occasion of the meeting of Jan. 13, 2005. So far, we had only used the name of the project, South Fox Island Lighthouse Restoration Project. This is a pretty long and bulky name, as is its acronym, SFILRP. So we decided to keep the old name for the project proper but to use the new name Fox Island Lighthouse Association (FILA) for the group.
We hope to have the non-profit (501C-3) status by mid-summer. Persons who donate to FILA may deduct their contributions on their income taxes.
Currently we are seeking permission from DNR officials to assess the buildings in the hope we are able to get a one year Land Use Permit from the DNR as discussed in prior news releases.
An important problem yet to be solved is how to get to the island in summer for some basic work to prevent further deterioration. If there are boat owners who are willing to take a few of us (3 - 5 persons without heavy equipment) out to the island and back the same or next day, we would be very glad to be contacted. We don't need a speedboat that guzzles a 30 gallons an hour. An hour or two more for one leg won't matter. Needless to say we will pay your extra expenses.
If you are a boat owner who wants to help, please .
Sandy Bradshaw &
Hans Joerg Rothenberger
April 11, 2005
The Record Eagle published an article on the meeting. Click here to read it.
To read our own comment please click here.
Hans Joerg Rothenberger
March 21, 2005
Some people think restoring the South Fox Island Lighthouse is a daunting project because there is no safe docking facility. However, for almost a century there was one, so it's possible to make a new one. And we don't don't even need a real dock to start with. Just a sufficiently safe place to unload material and equipment will do.
Other lighthouses on islands without any docking facility at all were successfully restored, so we have nothing to complain about. Terry Pepper of the Great lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association sent us the photos below. They restored the wonderful light station on St. Helena Island in the western Straits of Mackinac without any docking facility.
Terry wrote: "The water around
the island is extremely shallow, and open to the elements.
(After all - that is why the lighthouse is there!).
For the past 20 years, we at GLLKA have traveled
to our lighthouse on St. Helena Island via our 45-foot
WWII J-Boat, Cake and Ice Cream. We secure this
vessel to permanent mooring weights approximately
500 feet offshore, and then transfer EVERYTHING to the
island by way of an 8-foot Zodiac-type inflatable with
a small outboard for power.
When I say EVERYTHING
... I mean EVERYTHING.... Up to 25 people per trip,
bricks, generators, scaffolding, doors, windows, 20'
long lumber, table saws, picnic benches, shingles, bags of
cement, plywood, cement mixer, beds, kitchen
stove - even a PUMP ORGAN.
It isn't high-tech,
and it isn't elegant, but it works great - just
have to exercise caution and patience!"
Well, our Webmaster does own a pump organ, so, just for fun, we asked Terry how they got theirs into their dinghy. Here's his reply:
"You carry a pump organ on an inflatable
the same way you get a cement mixer, generator or wheelbarrow
on an inflatable. You lay three two-by-fours across
the gunwales and then place two sheets of plywood
on the two-by's, leaving just enough open space in front
of the transom for the 'captain' to man the outboard
tiller.
You then have six people lower
the pump organ down on top of the plywood deck, and
have six people on shore to lift it off when you get
to shore.
You just have to be willing to accept
the possibility that if the pump organ falls in the
water during the trip, that you will end up with something
to show visitors when you pass over it on future trips!"
Unfortunately there is no photo of the
pump organ in the dinghy, but Terry sent us some other
very interesting pictures of their low-tech approach
to dock-less landing on St. Helena Island:
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As Terry put it: Where there is a will,
there is a way!
Many thanks to Terry Pepper and the GLLKA for the great photos and encouraging comments!
Hans Joerg Rothenberger
March 21, 2005
As representatives of our group, John McKinney and Sandy Bradshaw attended the public presentation at the Maritime Academy in Traverse City, organized by Stephanie Staley of the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum (see announcement below).
It was great listening to S. Fox Island recollections of Doug McCormick, Kathleen Craker Firestone and her brother Sterling Nickerson. Questions were posed to them by the fourth and fifth graders. The teachers for the project were Sally Frye from the Fife Lake School, 4th grade and Sue Boss, from the Northport School, with kids from 4th/5th grade. All kids have log books which they have been working on this winter. In them they write the memories of those who lived on S. Fox Island.
Doug was raised with five brothers and six sisters which he laughingly says, "A half dozen of one and six of the other." He was eight when the family moved to the island in 1916. His father was lightkeeper on S. Fox between 1916-1921. Doug's sister Ann related how often they would boat over to the island, spend the night in a tent, and how keen Douglas was to the weather for safe journey back to the mainland.
Of great interest to the kids was Doug talking about the two grave's behind the lighthouse. One is of a Civil War Vet and the other of a dog named "Leader."
Kathleen's family logged S. Fox Island and owned 2/3rds of the island during the 'sixties. Having an entire island as one's childhood's playground seemed to be most memorable for the three speakers.
Sandy read Zane Bourisseau's memories of which we include his latest: "It is such a delightful project to think about but it is going to take a very imaginative person with the vision to see what a beautiful place for respite it can be. It was almost park like and environmentally protected as it should continue to be. There was an element of pride among the keepers that their first intent always was to protect the light and its attendant facilities. Imagine being there at the time there was no phone service,no electric lights,of course no television...only the beauty of that lighthouse ground with its birds and chipmunks and seagulls and crows. Was truly the sound of music what with the waves cascading ashore with absolute regularity. The crows were so numerous at times it seemed they owned the sky and wanted all of us to know it....it was pure crow harmony."
A trip is being planned this May with a ferry from Leland taking the students out to the island. They are not planning on being able to go ashore due to the lack of safe dockage facilities. A tour of the new Great Lakes Water Studies Institute, a part of Northwestern Michigan College, was given to all at the meeting.
The new facility is beautiful and fills a major role in the country in training students both in culinary and seamanship. Their motto is "Inspiring lifelong stewardship of freshwater and partnership." In February 2004 the Traverse City Rotaries and Rotary Charities of Traverse City granted one million to the institute to create an "Alliance of Great Lakes Stewardship." It was inspiring to all the students.
Sandy Bradshaw
March
17, 2005
The Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum has just set the date for a meeting on a special project director Stephanie Staley has kindly designed to benefit S.Fox Island's lighthouse complex. She mentioned the museum's plans at our January 13th meeting - two fourth grade classes are doing oral history interviews of persons who lived on the island. These two classes are from Forest Area and Northport Public Schools. Oral histories will be presented by author Kathy Firestone and 90-year old Doug McCormick. McCormick's father was lightkeeper on South Fox between 1916 and 1921 and his memories are keen and sharp. Firestone lived on the island in the 'fifties when her father, Sterling Nickerson, owned the island and logged it.
The children will also be able to peruse an original logbook of the last lightkeepers who lived on the island; it is on loan by Northport resident Hugh Bilyea. The museum is spending approximately $10,000 on this educational event with plans to take the children out to the island later this year. We have been asked by Stef Staley to speak a few words to the students about our project. Author, local writer and acting board member of the SFILA, Sandy Bradshaw, will also read some of Zane Bourisseau's memories of his life on the island to the children.
Date for the meeting is set for March 10th at the Maritime Academy in Traverse City from 9:30 a.m thru 2:00 p.m. This will be both fascinating and educational for all involved.
On April 20th at 7 p.m. there will be a lecture called The History of South Fox Island and South Fox Island Light Station as part of the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum (GTLM) Winter Lectures Series and will be presented at Northport school. Speakers will be Stephanie Staley, director of the GTLM and president of the Michigan Lighthouse Alliance, and Kathleen Firestone, author and maritime historian who lived on S. Fox as a young girl. This program is a part of an educational series and used as a fundraiser for GTLM. Reservations are requested. Cost is $10.00 per person. Please phone GTLM at (231) 386-7195.
Sandy Bradshaw
Feb.
21, 2005
A meeting was held on January 13, 2005 at the Grand Traverse Lighthouse near Northport. The group decided to move forward with application for non-profit 501C-3 status and schedule two visits to the island in the spring and summer of 2005. These visits would allow the group to photograph and assess the South Fox Lighthouse and six related historic buildings at the site for temporary repairs. The group is also interested in a more comprehensive assessment of how restoration efforts could be implemented and will be seeking help from the National Park Service and others with historic preservation experience in Leelanau County.
Anyone who can provide passage to the island this summer should contact Sandy Bradshaw as soon as possible. Her e-mail address and phone number are on our Home page. The group will need help from many interested indivduals to make the restoration efforts successful.
Greg Reisig
Feb.
3, 2005
Below are a few photos of our second
meeting, this time with intercontinental attendance
(hey, looks like this project is getting pretty big
;-). We'd like to thank Stephanie Staley of the Grand
Traverse Lighthouse Museum for her huge efforts.
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Hans Joerg Rothenberger
Jan.
22, 2005
At last, we are able to publish a first series of pretty up-to-date photos. The Webmaster had to fly across the Atlantic to get things going. Yup, our group may still be small, but it has members in the Old World too...
Hans
Joerg Rothenberger
Jan. 3, 2005
"Fine progress is being made in our pursuit of the S. Fox Island Light Project. We are in the process of getting our 501c3 non-profit status. Support in the form of e-mails, telephone calls and letters from people of various walks of life and from ages 17-82 have kindly come forward from as close as Leelanau County and as far away as Germany. Ideas for fund-raising have been creative and viable. We thank you, one and all! Support is obviously growing and this lonely light surely needs it."
Sandy Bradshaw, Hans
Joerg Rothenberger and John C. McKinney
December
2, 2004
"I find myself, so many times, reflecting on our life on South Fox. It was lonely at times for me after my brothers were no longer coming to the island and were working in Northport. But I recall so much of the good, of watching the sunset with my dad up at the fog horn building, of walking the beaches and skipping stones along the way, of picnics at the west side beach and swimming every afternoon at the end of the day. I recall with much interest my father cooking for the crew that installed the tower from Georgia. Yes,there are many memories lingering with me. That you are interested in that wonderful island is gratifying and much appreciated. Please stay in touch."
Many thanks to Zane Bourisseau, son
of Frank Bourisseau (S.Fox lighthouse keeper 1928 -
1937) and grandson of Louis Bourisseau (1st assistant
keeper 1885 - 1891, keeper 1891 - 1915), who sent us
this touching note. The "tower from Georgia"
is the cast iron skeletal tower from Sapelo Island,
Georgia, reassembled on South Fox Island in 1934 to
replace the old brick tower that is the object of our
effort.
Hans
Joerg Rothenberger
Dec. 3, 2004
Currently, i.e. Nov. 2004, we are building
a network of connections to make it possible for our
group to reach the restoration site safely for assessment
of the situation as well as for the restoration proper.
Pretty promising contacts have already been made. More
will be posted here as soon as possible.
Hans
Joerg Rothenberger
Nov. 15, 2004
On Oct. 25, 2004, James Burnham, the
Webmaster of The
Leland Report, put a link to our Web site in the
"What's Happening" section of the Leland Report
forum. That's very kind and sure enhances public awareness.
The Leland Report, run by Keith Burnham (Jim's father),
is a wonderful window to this lovely area, with Keith's
outstanding photography and comments as well as the
daily forum. A must-see for all those who love Lower
Michigan's "pinkie"!
Hans
Joerg Rothenberger
Oct. 25, 2004
A public meeting was held on Monday, October 18th, 2004 at 7:00pm in Suttons Bay. Key speakers were Jerry Bukoski of the DNR (Department of Natural Resources), Stephanie Staley of the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum, and Steve Belko of the Michigan Lighthouse Project.
We are very excited to learn we can obtain a one year Department of Natural Resources (DNR) usage permit to thrust forward in our efforts to save the South Fox Island Light and accompanying buildings. Our biggest obstacle? We face harborage problems - there is currently no safe harbor to land on South Fox Island's state land.
John Nelson, the Baykeeper for the Grand Traverse Region,
suggests we get the boating and fishing community together
to gather funding - Federal, State and private
organizations to build a break wall, a Harbor of Refuge. This
was the original plan when the State of Michigan bought
the island's southern half in 1971. This we believe
is a necessity, both for the light preservation and
to allow safer boating for the many who travel these
sometimes treacherous waters.
Sandy Bradshaw
Oct.
19, 2004
History of Updates and Additions:
May 16, 2006 |
News page updated. |
May 6, 2006 |
News page updated. |
May 1, 2006 |
Links page updated. |
April 27, 2006 |
Entire Web site moved to new host. New URL southfox.org |
April 24, 2006 |
News page updated. |
April 9, 2006 |
Major overhaul of the entire site. |
April 5, 2006 |
News page updated. |
March 19, 2006 |
History page updated. |
March 17, 2006 |
New page, "About Us" added to the Website. |
March 13, 2006 |
News page updated. |
Feb. 25, 2006 |
News page and History page updated |
Feb. 23, 2006 |
Donations page updated. |
Feb. 20, 2006 |
News page updated. |
Feb. 9, 2006 |
Links page updated. |
Feb. 5, 2006 |
Home page modified (new splash photo). |
Feb. 3, 2006 |
News page updated. |
Feb. 1, 2006 |
Home page and History page updated. |
Jan. 18, 2006 |
Home page and News page modified. |
Jan. 14, 2006 |
News page updated. |
Jan. 11, 2006 |
News page updated. |
Jan. 10, 2006 |
News page updated. |
Jan. 3, 2006 |
News page updated. |
Dec. 13, 2005 |
Links page updated. |
Nov. 7, 2005 |
News page updated. |
Oct. 22, 2005 |
Links page and Donations page updated. |
Sept. 3, 2005 |
Photos by John Bourisseau added to Gallery. |
Aug. 30, 2005 |
News page updated. |
Aug. 26, 2005 |
News page updated. |
June 18, 2005 |
Donations page updated. |
June 6, 2005 |
News page updated. |
June 1, 2005 |
Home page, News page and Links page updated. |
May 27, 2005 |
News page updated. |
May 25, 2005 |
History page added. Links page updated. |
May 18, 2005 |
News page updated. |
May 16, 2005 |
Links page updated. |
May 10, 2005 |
News page updated. |
May 6, 2005 |
Home page updated. |
May 3, 2005 |
News page updated. |
April 18, 2005 |
News page updated. |
April 11, 2005 |
News page updated; provisional Donations page added. |
April 7, 2005 |
Home page updated, News page revised. |
March 29, 2005 |
News page updated. |
March 21, 2005 |
News page updated. |
March 17, 2005 |
News page updated. |
March 1, 2005 |
New (invisible) visitor counter installed. |
Feb. 21, 2005 |
Home page and News page updated. |
Feb. 18, 2005 |
Links page updated. |
Feb. 15 & 17, 2005 |
New photos (courtesy of Steve Belko) added. |
Feb. 8, 2005 |
High resolution pictures added to Gallery page. |
Feb. 3, 2005 |
News page updated. |
Jan. 22, 2005 |
News page: photos of the meeting of Jan. 13. |
Jan. 13, 2005 |
News page updated. |
Jan. 8, 2005 |
Homepage updated. |
Jan. 3 & 5, 2005 |
Photos added to Gallery page. |
Dec. 23, 2004 |
Adaption of some layout features for Firefox browser. |
Dec. 16, 2004 |
Links page updated. |
Dec. 3, 2004 |
News page updated. |
Nov. 27, 2004 |
Links page updated. |
Nov. 23, 2004 |
News page updated. |
Nov. 19, 2004 |
Links page updated. |
Nov. 15, 2004 |
News page and Links page updated. |
Nov. 3, 2004 |
Home, News and Links pages updated. |
Oct. 29, 2004 |
Links page updated. |
Oct. 26, 2004 |
Home page and Links page updated. |
Oct. 25, 2004 |
News page updated (link in The Leland Report). |
Oct. 21, 2004 |
More links and brochure "Keep The Lights On" download added. |
Oct. 19, 2004 |
More links added. News page updated. |
Oct. 18, 2004 |
Guestbook and Gallery-to-be pages added. |
Oct. 16, 2004 |
News page added. |
Oct. 15, 2004 |
Downloads page added, incl. hand-out for meeting of Oct. 18. |
Oct. 13, 2004 |
Links page added. |
Oct. 12, 2004 |
Website home page installed and published on-line. |
Latest update May 16, 2006
Jack and the boat in front of Phil's boat
shed.
From left to right: Art Dundon SN (GTBPS),
John McKinney (FILA), John Nelson (GT Baykeeper).
Phil and his brainchild, the Baykeeper's
tugboat.
From left to right: Greg, Laddie (Sandy's
lighthouse mascot), Charlie and Phil.
Mary, Terry, Barb and Sandy.
From left to right: Phil von Voigtlander,
Ann and John McKinney, John Nelson, Sandy
Bradshaw.
Phil (left) and John (well, just parts of
him) cleaning the bilges.
