Mission Point Lighthouse, OMP Historical Society, Lighthouse
Mission Point Lighthouse | Jane Boursaw Photo
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The Mission Point Lighthouse Friends and Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society are hosting a Founder’s Day Celebration Tea at the Lighthouse on Sept. 10, 2016, which marks the 146th anniversary of the Lighthouse opening in 1870. The festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Lighthouse, which is located at the north end of Center Road (M-37).

Mission Point Lighthouse has a long and storied history, including being decommissioned in 1933 and the target of extensive vandalism in the following years. Due to the foresight and generosity of 43 concerned citizens of the Old Mission Peninsula, under the leadership of George Altenburg and M.J. Pratt, $1935 was donated to secure the Lighthouse from the State of Michigan, allowing it to be protected and restored.

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Everyone is invited to attend the celebration, during which Tim Carroll, whose family helped to purchase the Lighthouse, will say a few words. The event includes Lighthouse tours, as well as a trip to Odgensburg Cemetery to place a Lighthouse Keepers special marker on the grave of Jerome Pratt. The cemetery is located next to the Old Mission Peninsula United Methodist Church, 16426 Center Road on the Old Mission Peninsula.

If you plan to attend, RSVP to Laura Johnson, (231) 223-7400, or Anne Griffiths, (231) 313-8217.

mission point lighthouse, founders
Mission Point Lighthouse Founders

Following is a list of Old Mission Peninsula residents who helped to purchase Mission Point Lighthouse. Forty-three families are represented, with an average donation (or subscription, as it’s called on the document) of $45.

  • Altenburg and Pratt
  • Theodore Ayres
  • Elmer S. Brown
  • Lester Buchan
  • A.P. Carroll
  • Fred Carroll
  • Harry Christopher
  • May Cowan
  • Fay Dohm
  • Hall Flack
  • Mrs. Edith Ghering
  • Merton Gilmore
  • Gleason and Company
  • R.J. Heller
  • Roy Hooper
  • G.E. Hutchinson
  • Bernard Kroupa
  • Clarence Kroupa
  • Vernon Kroupa
  • Pearl Langworthy
  • George Lardie
  • Ken Manigold
  • Albert Miller
  • David Murray
  • C.F.O. Nelson
  • Mr. J.P. Marshall
  • W.A. Marshall
  • Axel Ostlund
  • M.J. (Jerry) Pratt
  • Mrs. Marshall Pratt
  • W.E. Prussing
  • Robert Seaberg
  • Evelyn Spruit
  • Otto Steffes
  • Harold Titus
  • Mrs. Oliver Tompkins
  • Douglas Tompkins
  • Murry Tompkins
  • Seth Tompkins
  • W.G. Tompkins
  • Dr. Eloise Walker
  • Frank Weatherholt
  • W.E. Wilson

SUPPORT YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER: I started Old Mission Gazette in 2015 because I felt a calling to provide the Old Mission Peninsula community with local news. After decades of writing for newspapers and magazines like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal, I really just wanted to write about my own community where I grew up on a cherry farm and raised my own family. So I started my own newspaper.

Because Old Mission Gazette is a "Reader Supported Newspaper" -- meaning it exists because of your financial support -- I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks our way if I mention your event, your business, your organization or your news item, or if you simply love reading about what's happening on the OMP. In a time when local news is becoming a thing of the past, supporting an independent community newspaper is more important now than ever. Thank you so much for your support! -Jane Boursaw, Editor/Publisher, Old Mission Gazette

To keep the Gazette going, click here to make a donation.

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