Pilot Island Lighthouse
1858: Pilot Island Lighthouse is built. William Shurtteffy transferred from the 1st Plum Island Lighthouse and is the first keeper of the new Pilot Island Light Station. The 1st Plum Island Lighthouse is abandoned after only 9 years of service.
1862: Pilot Island Lighthouse given a 500lb bell, struck in foggy weather.
1875: A first-class steam siren is installed as the fog signal. It was later reported this was one of the loudest signals on the lakes.
1880: A second wooden building housing duplicate fog signal equipment is built to lessen the chances that the siren will be inoperable.
1891: A new pier and boat house were built on the west side of the island. A new lens is also installed in the lantern room, going from flashing white to fixed red.
1892
- Oct 17: Schooner J.E. Gilmore grounds on Pilot Island in a storm.
- Oct 28: Schooner A.P. Nichols grounds on Pilot Island in a storm. Keeper Knudsen rescued all eight crewmembers aboard the ship.
1894: The lens is replaced once again with a fixed white light that would flash every 15-seconds as well. The sirens were replaced with 10" diameter steam whistles. Characteristic was 5-second blast every 35-seconds.
1898, December: Assistant Keeper Peder Pederson is killed when the sailboat he is in capsizes on the way to Detroit Island. Assistant Keeper Charles Boshka is unharmed.
1901: Lighthouse is remodeled to a duplex configuration. Summer kitchens built behind each side. Fog Signal building #1 is remodeled to quarters for the 2nd Assistant Keeper and his family.
1904: The brick fog signal building is built, equipped with duplicate 16 horsepower diesel engines, each driving an air compressor. A siren was reinstalled as the signal, powered by compressed air.
1944: The fog siren is replaced by duplicate two-tone diaphones (view photo)
(How they work) YouTube
1945: Anderson leaves as the keeper. The Coast Guard continues to staff the light.
1962, June 13: The fog signal is no longer considered essential to assist shipping and is removed. The Coast Guard removes its personnel and installed an automatic light.
2007: Pilot and Plum Island are handed over to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
2008: Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands, Inc. was formed, dedicated to preserving historic structures on both islands.
2009: Roof on the Pilot Island Lighthouse replaced
2022: Summer kitchen roof replaced with metal roof. New gutters & downspouts installed
Pilot Island Lighthouse Interesting Facts
July 4, 1874 Keeper Rohn was unable to leave the island to attend any Fourth of July celebrations because of a strong southeast gale - much to his dismay.
"Independence day came in fine after a heavy southeast gale. This island affords about as much independence and liberty as Libby Prison, with the difference of guards in favor of this place, and chance of outside communication in favor of the other."
In 1880, John Boyce, the second assistant under Keeper Emmanuel Davidson, committed suicide. Many thought it was because of the loneliness and isolation of the island but his relatives said it was depression due to a failed relationship.
When Keeper Martin Knudsen was assigned to Pilot Island the second time in 1889, a family friend provided a ride for his family cow, Nellie, when she could not ride on the Lighthouse Tender with the rest of the family. The waters were too rough around Pilot Island when Knudsen’s friends were to drop off Nellie. Instead they pushed Nellie overboard near Plum Island, where she swam safely to shore and was later picked up when the waters calmed.
Keeper Martin Knudsen received a lifesaving silver medal after rescuing eight crewmembers from a schooner that ran aground on the reef around Pilot Island.