Lighthouses are some of the things that make the Blue Water Area so special. Both the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse in Port Huron and the Peche Island Lighthouse in Marine City are getting some special treatment. Taking care of those lighthouses and celebrating them is a labor of love for many area residents. The Fort Gratiot Light Station turns 190 years old this year and has some unique projects coming to its grounds. It is the oldest lighthouse in Michigan, being commissioned by Congress in 1829. With such a long history come some unique maintenance issues. The Keeper’s Duplex, on the grounds of the lighthouse, will be getting a new roof with metal Victorian shingles and will also have a “Yankee” gutter system that actually sends water to a cistern in the basement. This is a renovation that will take the building back to what it looked like in the 1930s and is funded by the Friends of the Fort Gratiot Light and the St. Clair County Parks and Recreation Millage. Marine City is getting an interesting new addition to its lighthouse, with lights at the base of the lighthouse that can change colors for different seasons and awareness causes. The lights have been donated by Brenner Electric as a way to give back to the community and are certain to be enjoyed by all.
