Bigwigs Drop By

A group of 20 Lansing bigwigs dropped by for a visit today.  This bevy of bureaucrats (Department of Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, etc.) and legislators are making a two-day Cook's Tour of Heritage Route 23, which runs along the Huron shore on US-23 from Standish in the south to the Straits of Mackinac in the north.

This junket was requested by the Northeast Michigan Council of Governments (NEMCOG) which had noticed that Michigan's award winning tourism program, called Pure Michigan, tends to spotlight the west side of the Lower Peninsula, especially Traverse City.  Although no one will admit it, Traverse City's prominence may have something to do with its major ($1 million) contribution to the program.  Meanwhile, Northeastern Michigan has been largely ignored, although Rogers City pitched in $2,000, Presque Isle Township gave $1,500, and other NEMCOG members also contributed.

Well, in truth, we haven't been entirely blacked out.  The Pure Michigan TV spots often include a quick look at Presque Isle's New Lighthouse.  But the light's location is not indicated.  It could be any lighthouse on the Great Lakes in Michigan... or Wisconsin!

So NEMCOG leaned on people to travel the Heritage Route, learn what is here, and then in turn lean on the tourism people in Lansing to give the Sunrise Shore more exposure.

The wigs arrived a bit late.  Their itinerary was absurdly jammed: starting the day at Mackinac City, they headed south to Cheboygan, visited the 40 Mile Lighthouse, had lunch at Rogers City, and then drove over to the newly renovated Ocqueoc Falls County Park.  They were scheduled for a tour of Thompson's Harbor State Park, but bypassed that facility in favor of Presque Isle.  We met them at the Old Lighthouse, and then drove down to the New Light.

Drew (red shirt), president of the Historical Society, welcomes
the wigs to the Old Light, which the Society manages.

The Lansing worthies make the acquaintance of our
longest serving keeper, Patrick Garrity Sr.

Inside the Old Light Keeper's House, the docent gives the
wigs (and a family) a good talking to about lighthouse history.

Their stop at the New Light was brief — not long enough
for any wigs to climb the 130 steps to the Lamp Room.

Drew welcomed them on behalf of the Presque Isle Township Historical Society, and Supervisor Patrick gave each a copy of the newly printed newsletter.  The docent at the Old Lighthouse then gave them a detailed recital of the light's history, and the latest on its ghostly occupant (an old man in a slicker, apparently a former keeper) and the strange light which sometimes is seen glowing at the top of the tower (apparently confirmed by Coast Guard personnel who saw the light while out on Lake Huron).

Then the group drove down to the New Lighthouse for a very brief visit.  After 15 minutes, they piled into their cars and headed off to the Besser Museum in Alpena.  Whether their visit makes any difference in the Pure Michigan program remains to be seen.  But at least these folks know about Heritage Route 23.  For information, go to the Route's web site:

http://www.us23heritageroute.org/     •••