Summer of 18-#41-McGulpins Point Lighthouse

Tuesday August 21st, 2018 - 1 of 2

We both had an early night last night and a good sleep.  The weather was going to be changeable today, but we really wanted to see two lighthouses in Mackinaw City.  Our bodies are tired, you know our routine is usually go out for the day, rest the next day.  Ha!!Ha!!  This will be the third consecutive day we have ventured out to explore and have covered quite a distance doing so.  Tomorrow we will be leaving, so Bryan will be driving again.

First we had to go to the local police department.  I needed to prove I was alive again for my UK pension.  Do you remember the problem I had earlier this year when they stopped it because I hadn't returned a form that I hadn't received.  Anyway, we finally got that resolved and the form sent to them in May, and now they need the form again.  That one was for 2017 and they need one for 2018!!!  I am not a happy camper!!! The first place we went to didn't have a police officer available so they sent me to the State Police building. I managed to get the form done, but they had never seen anything like it before and were a bit apprehensive.  I gave them three forms of ID and the guy was questioning that my hair was different, and my signature didn't match ONE of the Id's exactly.  Yep, I've had my hair cut but I'm still the same old girl in the pics.  To be fair, the guy that was with him was giving him the "really" look, but it was obvious he was uncomfortable confirming I was still alive.  I thanked them for their time and they said it was no problem. 😀 Now to get it in the mail.

We had to go back over the Mackinac Bridge, so paid a toll of $4 one way and will pay another $4  to get back.  It's a shame we don't have a smaller motorhome sometimes, where we could have just stopped to see these lighthouses on our way to our next campground tomorrow and saved some toll fees.

They had one lane blocked off on part of the bridge for maintenance, so we had to ride on the gridlike lane.  That could be interesting in the motorhome tomorrow!!

We went to McGulpin Point Lighthouse first.

There was a small car park and fortunately we found a space to park.  It was a pretty lighthouse.

The scouts have completed several projects here.   This is a historically reconstructed barn.

Inside there was a display showing pictures of artifacts found by an archaeological dig on the site.

There were several life size cutouts of people, birds and animals in the grounds.  These were quite realistic from a distance.

I thought this one was very realistic.

I loved the design of the building.

They are doing a wonderful job of restoring it.

Inside, the room re-creations were the normal things we have seen in lighthouses, but there's always something different as well.

Here's the STORY of how the pump organ got donated.

Bedpan on the bed

Loved this chest at the bottom of the bed filled with lace linens.

This placard states that Patrick arrived with British troops in 1761, but other articles I have read state that Patrick was John McGulpin's son, and it was John who arrived in 1760 as an officer in the British Army.  Here's a LINK that seems to confirm that Patrick was his son.  According to the link, this property was one of the first recorded in this county to Patrick, in 1811. That was ten years after John died, although John had lived here since the 1760's. That may be where the confusion lies, as Patrick has always been recorded as the owner of this land. You can never be sure though.  I didn't question this while I was there, as I hadn't researched the history at that point.  Hmmm, see why writing this blog takes me so long.  I go off on a tangent reading about things to find answers!!!!!

Another interesting part of history here was one of the  keepers at the lighthouse, James Davenport.  In winter, he & his family would move into their home in Mackinaw City, so that the children could get to school as the weather invariably made the journey from the lighthouse difficult.  He would travel once a week during the winter to inspect the lighthouse, and give a report on the Lake conditions.  

In one report, shown below, he apologized for missing the previous week but had not been able to go to the lighthouse as his wife and child had died.  I was curious how his wife and child had died and found THIS that shows she died giving birth to her 10th child.

Ok, sorry about that, I digress!!!  Back to the days events.  We climbed the tower, there was a sign with instructions and information.

Bryan going up

There was a landing and another floor halfway up.  I like this style as it gives you a chance to have a breather and look around the rooms at this level.

There was a bedroom on this level.

Hand Made Quilt. A lot of work went into this.

and more exhibits

see a photo of the vents mentioned here, three pictures down.

We continued to the top.

These are the vents mentioned in the ventilation picture above and can be opened or closed as needed.

The views from the top.

I was so absorbed in taking pictures I didn't notice Bryan go outside!!!  In fact, I didn't think you could go outside!!!  

So I searched for the door. Hmm, there it is or should I say a hatch or doggie door!!!  I didn't see him got out of it, but I watched as he squeezed his way back in.  I didn't even attempt it, so kudos to him. 

He got these pictures from outside.

We went back down the lighthouse steps and on to our next lighthouse.  You can continue with today's travels in the next blog HERE.