Wind Point Lighthouse Flag
by Scott Olsen
Title
Wind Point Lighthouse Flag
Artist
Scott Olsen
Medium
Photograph - Photographs
Description
In 1870, the Lighthouse Board petitioned Congress for $40,000 to construct a lighthouse and fog signal on Racine Point, located three-and-a-half miles north of Racine and eighteen miles south of Milwaukee. A lighthouse had been established at Racine in 1835, but this light was shut out by Racine Point for vessels approaching Racine from the north. The Lighthouse Board felt that a lighthouse on Racine Point could help mariners avoid Racine Reef, which lies well offshore, and reduce the number of shipwrecks that had occurred near the point.
The Lighthouse Board repeated its request each year until Congress finally appropriated $40,000 in 1878 for building a lake-coast lighthouse and fog signal on Racine Point. Once the structures were completed, the Lighthouse Service records started referring to the station as Wind Point instead of Racine Point. Wind Point was supposedly named after a tall, windblown tree on the point that was a familiar landmark for mariners on Lake Michigan. The tree was appropriately replaced by a tall lighthouse that proved to be even more beneficial to mariners.In May 1879, a lot on Wind Point measuring 295 by 292.5 feet was purchased for $1,000 along with a 33 by 628 foot right-of-way to the public highway. Also that year, plans for the station were submitted and approved, and duplicate fog whistles were ordered.Go to this link for the rest of the story. https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=242
Uploaded
October 31st, 2020
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