Lighthouse Construction

The Historical Association of South Haven (HASH) is pleased to announce the completion of the exterior phase of the South Haven Lighthouse Restoration Project.

An “unveiling” of the century-old structure on South Haven’s south pier entrance from Lake Michigan is scheduled to occur FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7 at 9:30 a.m.

The lighthouse has been surrounded by scaffolding and shrouded in plastic since early September while workers removed an estimated 10 coats of paint, made repairs and re-painted it with approximately 52 gallons of its signature red paint.

The interior restoration was completed this past spring.

The $300,000 restoration project was made possible from contributions to a community-wide “Save The Light” initiative sponsored by the Historical Association of South Haven. The project was also supported by a $60,000 grant from the Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program.

The restoration work was done by Mihm Enterprises of Hamilton, Mich.

A formal re-dedication of the lighthouse will be held next Spring.

The high waves on the Big Lake this morning necessitated the raising of a bottom section of the plastic shroud which in turn unveiled a portion of our red lighthouse. Fun!

Waves, as I write this, are 8.5 feet high at the buoy and predicted to reach 10 feet later today. Let’s hope the shroud can withstand the wind. The contractor wisely removed his equipment from the South Pier.

HASH Reps and our rehab team met at the lighthouse Friday to review progress.

The repair work is finished and the first RED primer has been applied. A second red primer is to be applied soon, then the finish coat and finally an anti-graffiti application.

The weather has really been cooperative and if things continue there could be an unveiling in less than two weeks!! We’ve been promised advance notice and will keep you informed.

Here are a number of photos from Tom Renner of the lighthouse rehab.

http://www.heraldpalladium.com/news/local/keeping-the-light-on/article_84c5f329-7d7f-5d10-9b58-b1b89ac3fa05.html