Monthly Archives: July 2011

Keeper’s Log, July 30

Posted on July 30, 2011 by Ranger Bob

Looks like the assistant keeper must have snuck his girlfriend onto the island: Michigan Island Light Station, July 30, 1934 Emptied 4 drums of distillate. Sent down tramway all empties, also ladders. Painted wench in boathouse, also Assistant’s quarters. I’m … Continue reading →

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Major Violation Of Rule Number One

Posted on July 29, 2011 by Ranger Bob

Bayfield County Press, July 29, 1910 Pistol Bullet Brings An Outing To A Fatal Finish Perhaps the most tragic accident, resulting fatally, to occur in Bayfield or on the Bayfield Peninsula for a number of years, was that of last … Continue reading →

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Misguided Budget Decisions, Nineteenth-Century Style

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Ranger Bob

Bayfield County Press, July 28, 1883: The lighthouse keepers in this vicinity are advocating the subject of petitioning the powers-that-be to furnish them with assistants. It would seem as though if there were a class of government employees who were … Continue reading →

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Keeper’s Log, July 27

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Ranger Bob

On this day… …in 1835, the famed “Snowshoe Priest,” Fr. Frederic Baraga, arrived at LaPointe, establishing the first Catholic mission in the Chequamegon region since Fr. Marquette’s hasty departure in 1671. Madeline Island would serve as the intrepid missionary’s base … Continue reading →

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Keeper’s Log, July 26

Posted on July 26, 2011 by Ranger Bob

LaPointe Light Station, July 26, 1913 Cut wood for the house today. At 11:45 A.M. had a heavy thunder shower & lightning struck the house and tore up the cement walk and went in the cellar and broke some fruit … Continue reading →

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Big Ole Straightens Things Out

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Ranger Bob

The heck with the Dos Equis twerp; Ole Hansen of Stockton Island may well have been the most interesting man in the world. Bayfield Press, July 25, 1935 Rows boat 16 miles to settle $2 bill he didn’t owe Last … Continue reading →

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July 24: Another One Of Those Days

Posted on July 24, 2011 by Ranger Bob

On July 24, 1936, rookie assistant lightkeeper Alphonse Gustafson got himself in hot water for failure to heat water. Stationed at the Portage Lake Ship Canal Light Station, over on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Gustafson missed the signs that fog would … Continue reading →

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Hell Of A Day

Posted on July 22, 2011 by Ranger Bob

July 22 seems to be one of those days when you don’t want to open the newspaper. In 1910, the neighborhood was burning up: Bayfield County Press, July 22, 1910 High winds have again caused forest fires throughout the Bayfield … Continue reading →

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Keeper’s Log, July 1

Posted on July 1, 2011 by Ranger Bob

Michigan Island Light Station, July 1, 1935 Rain and fog since early this morning and thick tonight. Sounding radio. First Assistant Keeper left for Bayfield this AM, taking in Mrs. Sayles and Mr. Fred Wacksmith whose time has expired, leaving … Continue reading →

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