Return to the Light


Researching Isle Royale history over this past winter, often from the notes and files of my writer and publisher father-in-law, enhanced memories of my time in Washington Harbor last summer. Living and walking among the cabins, fish houses, and boat houses of Washington and Barnum Islands, boat trips to the Rock of Ages lighthouse, and visits to the site of the shipwreck America brought some of that history to life for me. 

It was so enjoyable, rewarding, refreshing (read: cool), and informative (thanks to descendants of the Sivertson fishing family), that I'm returning again as a volunteer this year. The Rock of Ages Lighthouse Preservation Society (ROALPS) was desperate enough to ask me to run the Rock Hopper workboat again to move supplies and work crews back and forth to the lighthouse for another season. 


Plans were to "Paint the Rock" this season. Over the winter, as part of their fundraising, I wrote a couple of articles to support publicity efforts. One, A Rock for the Ages, was published in Lake Superior Angler magazine. Another, Volunteers Rock, is still out for publication, probably not until next off-season. 

The project would have meant transporting contractors and lots of supplies and equipment, with the end result being the protection of the lighthouse and all the previous interior work from further water incursion (see Paint the Rock). 

Unfortunately, very late in the planning and scheduling the National Park Service determined, based on their recent assessment of the condition of the lighthouse exterior, that additional work needed to be specified. Because of the late date and the additional expense, ROALPS decided to postpone the project to next year.

That means I'll have more time over nearly five weeks to assist the neighbor Washington Harbor Preservation Group in their island projects, explore the area, and rekindle more memories. That's "living the dream" in my book.

For more details on my previous experience, read from last year's "Washington Harbor" blog:




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