Lake Superior

Our Pages from the Past article in Volume 10, #2 (Winter 1994) related the 1874 opening of the Outer Island Light Station in the Apostle Islands of Lake Superior by Keeper O.K. Hall and the Assistant he had appointed, John Drouillard. Keeper Hall's log entries, through December of that year, tell of the trials and tribulations of opening a new station, but don't mention any problems with his assistant. However, something must have occurred over the winter to sour the relationship, as evidenced by the following letters which were sent in the spring of 1875.

Showed the light on May 12, 1873

July 24 - U.S. Steamer Haze arrived, Cdr. Murray Inspector, new keeper and wife came ashore. Charles Corgan Principal Keeper transferred to Copper Harbor lighthouse per Str. Haze.

Sept. 8 - first three masted steam barge passed up.

Sept. 17, 1874 - I got ready to move my household goods from Bayfield to Outer Island on a sailboat, but three gentlemen that were going to put up the fog whistle arrived at Bayfield and employed a tug to bring them out, so we improved the opportunity and came with them. When we got there we found Mr. Crump, the Lampist, had arrived that morning, so I was just in time to learn and improve all I could in running it. From Friday until Tuesday night Mr. Crump worked diligently and completed it in a workman like manner, with pleasure to himself and honor to the craft, if I am any judge.

My parents, Otto and Anna Olson, were married in Kenosha, WI on March 1906. After the wedding they traveled tp Bayfield, WI where he was assigned Assistant Keeper of the Outer Island Light Station. Mother had her first lighthouse experience on Outer Island from May through October, 1906. Their first child, Jeabette was born in Bayfield next year, I was born 1909 also in Bayfieldand my brother, Alvin, was born in 1911 at Ashland, WI.

The date was November 10. The anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, the ill fated 729 foot ore carrier that had loaded at the docks in Superior, Wisconsin and headed downbound across the big lake past Split Rock Lighthouse to be swallowed up by Lake Superior during a massive storm on November 10, 1975 with the loss of all 29 hands. As historic site manager for the Minnesota Historical Society and resident keeper at Split Rock Lighthouse I have lit the beacon on the eve of November tenth for the last six years as a tribute to the ship and crew.

August 5, 1875 - Principal Keeper left for Houghton at 4:30 p.m. with Steam Launch "Little Will" for inspection. Went to L'Anse saw there the Hon. Jay Hubball from this district who informed me that I and my wife were to be removed from this station, the cause thereof he did not know. Also of the removal of P.C. Bird of Eagle Harbor and Ashman of White Fish Point Light. And in anticipation of removal I sent in my own and my wife's resignation to take immediate effect.

June 24, 1900 - I opened this journal today after having used the old one for nearly fifteen years. Our two children grown from infants to a full grown young man and woman and this little house is the place that they have learned to call home, Sweet Home ! ! Be it ever so humble there is no place like home. What an uncertain world this is. Who can look into the future? And who would want to? I made the first entry in this journal on a quiet Sabbath afternoon. Who will write the closing one? echo answers, who?

July 22, 1872 - A very busy night fighting large blue Miller moths off of the outside of the plate glass with an old feather brush. We almost despaired conquering them, they were actually in myriads although it was drizzling rain. But fortunately a puff of cold air from the Lake about 3 o'clock a.m. caused them to vanish as suddenly as they appeared.

The year 1897-
Nov. 11 - Keeper left station at 11 am to go to Marquette on foot being called by message to the deathbed of his only sister and remaining until after the funeral.

The first sign of Spring at the lighthouse was flocks of large, black, ragged-winged birds: squalling, squawking and squabbling against the blue March sky and white patches of snow. The crows had come back.