Art Gallery

White River Lighthouse

In the early 1800's western Michigan consisted of seemingly endless forests. By 1850, several saw mills had begun to work the area forests, which increased local ship traffic. With a growing frequency of wrecks in the area, it appeared that a lighthouse was needed. A survey of the area was conducted and land was obtained for the new lighthouse in 1874. The foundation was laid from native limestone blocks, and the walls constructed of yellow Michigan brick. The spiral cast iron stairs were manufactured in Muskegon, and the cast iron lantern room was prefabricated at the Milwaukee lighthouse Depot, and delivered by lighthouse tender. The lens rotated at a speed of one half a revolution per minute, and showed as a fixed white light varied by a flash one a minute. In 1875, William Robinson became the first keeper of the new White river light.

Unfortunately, the new lighthouse did not prevent a number of shipwrecks and vessels from running aground in the area over the ensuing years. The shore-based light station was decommissioned in 1960, and the Fresnel removed, crated and shipped to the Detroit Coast Guard Depot. Fruitland Township purchased the structure in 1966, and converted it into a maritime museum. The museum was opened for the first time in the summer of 1970.

The Champion Mine and Copper Range Railroad

The Champion Mine features the oldest standing rock house in the copper county, and is located in Painsdale Michigan. Recently, restoration has begun in an effort to restore this site to the condition of its glory days, and reflect on its history. The Champion Mine, part of the extensive Copper Range Company, was once a major producer of native Michigan copper. The drawing, inspired by an old photograph, depicts the Copper Range Railroad engine No. 29 being loaded at the mine. Engine No. 29 was a 2-8-0, and is shown as it and the mine looked in 1924.

THE KEWEENAW CENTRAL

The Keweenaw Central, a short line railroad, carried the copper ore rock down grade to the Lac La Belle gravity fed stamp mill where the ore was extracted. The town of Delaware was built around the mine. This reporduction also depicts the area logging operations. The logs were used as supports in the mines and tunnels as well as to build the town.

THE COPPER RANGE RAILROAD

Locomotive number 29 departed the mining town of Calumet, Michigan, located in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. This is an area in Michigan rich in copper and silver and where the first mineral rush of our great nation occurred. Copper was mined here starting in 1845 and ending in the 1960s. Exploratory mining continued until the 1970s. The Copper Range Railroad was the first standard gauge rail road in the Keweenaw Peninsula and was incorporated in 1898. The railroad served the copper mines and stamp mills of the area as well as logging, freight and passenger service.

THE CALUMET & HECLA

The Calumet & Hecla railroad, located in the center of the Keweenaw Peninsula, served the Calumet & Hecla mines in the area, which were the largest copper mining operations in Michigan. There were many shafts under the center of the city itself. In the drawing the locomotive Torchlake, is at the water tower and is taking on water for the day's chore, while the locomotive on the bridge is pulling an ore train from the Calumet mines. Seen though the portal, under the bridge, is the old Mineral Range railroad, once a narrow gauge line that was absorbed into the Copper Range railroad. All railroads in the Keweenaw Peninsula have been abandoned and all tracks have been pulled up. The mines are closed and the structures have been torn down. The locomotive Torchlake, built by Mason Boggie in 1878, is the only existing locomotive of its kind and is operating at Henry Ford Museum during the summer months.

THE QUINCY MINE

The Quincy Mine shaft house number two is located in the south end of the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. This drawing of Quincy number two shaft house depicts the mine as it looked in 1897. A newer steel shaft house was constructed in the early 1900s to replace the outdated wooden structure. Shaft house number 2 has been restored and displays a great history of an era that is gone forever.

THE EASTWOOD FARM

Located in the northwest part of Michigan's lower peninsula, the Eastwood Farm was constructed in the late 1800's. This drawing depicts life during the depression era of the 1930's. The Eastwood farm survived the depression by raising cattle. The house, now more than 120 years old still stands.

THE SHCULZ MILL

In January of 1886 three brothers from Germany purchased a piece of land off Hannon Road in New Boston Michigan for $170. In August of that year they took out a mortgage for $1,500 to build a mill near the Huron River. It was a perfect place to build the mill since the property was located on a sharp bend in the Huron River. The rear of the mill was once used as the Shculz family home. Two larger additions facing the North is where all the work was conducted.

OLD MACKINAC POINT LIGHTHOUSE, 1900

The Straights of Mackinaw is a treacherous waterway with shoals and islands dotting the Straights between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Construction on the Mackinac Point Lighthouse started in 1892, and the lighthouse enabled safe navigation of the waterways until 1957 when it was closed. The Lighthouse has been restored and tours are available.