Concern prompts $1.1M push for Frankfort North Lighthouse restoration
BENZIE COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- A recent post on social media has the community concerned at the condition of one of its lighthouses.
Parts of the Frankfort North Breakwater Lighthouse are nearly or more than 100 years old.
It's going to take little over $1.1 million.
That's the magic number Frankfort Superintendent Josh Mills said will fully restore the North Breakwater Lighthouse.
"Financially that's a big burden to the community," Mills said.
But Mills said the lighthouse is a symbolic structure and testament to the community's maritime heritage.
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"They [community] look at the condition and they want to know who is responsible for this,” Mills said.
That would be the city itself.
Frankfort has owned the lighthouse since 2011.
And $42,000 has been donated to them for restoration of it.
"When we received the structure it needed maintenance, and now that maintenance is continuing to provide a visual impact,” Mills said.
The iconic structure towers over Lake Michigan at 70 feet.
And Mills said the city wants to see it shine just as much as the community does.
The problem is the city just owns the lighthouse and not the pier and breakwater.
That's the responsibility of the Army Corps of Engineers.
“They have funding to design a new structure. They currently do not have the funding to build a new structure,” Mills said. “But nonetheless, we want to maintain that collaboration with the Corps of Engineers to ensure that we're moving in the right direction.”
But Mills said until a full restoration can happen the city is working to make some immediate improvements.
Improvements they need the community's help with...
That graffiti has got to stop.
The white paint means any colorful writing stands out.
Mills said the city paints the bottom of the lighthouse at least five times a year.
"We had barricades out there. It was obvious it was freshly painted,” Mills said. “People walked out there, grabbed a Sharpie out of their pocket and started signing it."
Mills said the city would like to see a local group get together to lead fundraising efforts for the restoration.
"If you look at other communities that have been successful their Lighthouse restoration wasn't necessarily the local or US government taking the lead it was citizens that take that on,” Mills said. "People are amazing when they get behind something that they believe in and they have passion for so that's what we're hoping happens as we move forward."
Mills said with the recent conversation around the lighthouse, the city has received more than $500 in new donations.