Yet, he and Sarah are still said to be the permanent residents of the home. 17 Haunted Places In Michigan. Lightkeeper William Robinson devoted 47 years of his life to the light and was forced out of his position due to age. Be sure to click on this Haunted Places in Michigan Google Map to aid you while driving. I took a picture of an older tombstone and William’s is actually a smaller, more unassuming and “newer” one to the right of the stone I took a picture of. After the light was abandoned, people nicknamed it, “Wobble Shanks.”. Big Bay Point Lighthouse. With Halloween approaching, many people find themselves in need of a spooky fix. Footsteps, self-opening doors, and eerie sounds are among the unexplainable occurrences. When the light was constructed and lit in 1875, the Robinsons were appointed the first keepers. White River Light Station: The Most Haunted Lighthouse of All Time. HOW TO VISIT WAUGOSHANCE LIGHTHOUSE Sheplers Ferry Service out of Mackinaw City offers a number of lighthouse cruises during the summer season. It is operated by the Gulliver Historical Society, Inc., in cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Division. Gwinn, MI: Avery Color Studios, 1999. It is privately owned and operated as a B and B right now but anyone can check out the grounds during day hours. Its very first light keeper, Captain Willian Robinson took his post there in 1876. Venture to the most haunted places in Michigan … The 78-foot lighthouse … Author Wes Oleszewski writes in his book Lighthouse Adventures, how he felt he captured a ghostly form pulling back the curtain in the living quarters while taking pictures of the lighthouse. So, no matter where you live, there’s probably a haunted lighthouse or two within about 100 miles. While Bill prefers to walk up the spiral staircase to the lantern room, Sarah is said to find peace in an upstairs bedroom where her youngest children slept. The lighthouse was in fact, outdated and a new one was badly needed. The museum that operates the tours today have one of Bob’s uniforms on display complete with a mustache along with several of his light keeping tools. He died in the upstairs bedroom and was laid in state in the parlor. Their “Westward Tour” includes passes by White Shoal, Grays Reef, Waugoshance and St. Helena Island. Michigan is home to plenty of frightening places that are often said to be haunted. The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse is the oldest in Michigan and still operational today. Guest blogger Dianna Stampfler gives the story behind a few keepers of Michigan's haunted lighthouses. I drove up a few weeks ago and as a sensitive I felt a primal magnetism to the place. Thanks for sharing! St. Clair, Michigan This inn was formerly a boardinghouse that opened in 1836. Waugoshance Shoal Lighthouse near Mackinaw City remains one of Michigan’s most endangered lighthouses...with increasingly high water levels affecting this 170 year old structure. Once the assistant managed to get out, he looked everywhere but never found John. Haunted or not, it’s a beautiful lighthouse, and I highly recommend visiting it near the town of Gulliver on Lake Michigan. Simply go to 672 North West Gulliver Lake Road in Gulliver Michigan, or call 906-283-3183 to schedule your visit to this haunted lighthouse. Archives go back to 2002. Subscribe Please! Seul Choix Lighthouse, Gulliver, Michigan Overlooking Lake Michigan from Seul Choix Point, this 78-foot tower went into service in 1892. Situated close to Alpena, Michigan, it is said that the Presque Isle Light is one of the scariest lighthouses to visit in the region. It became an actual lighthouse nineteen years later in 1851. “Considering that so much of lighthouse history has been lost, sometimes all that we have is legend,” writes Wes Oleszewski from his book, Lighthouse Adventures. Waugoshance is one of the oldest lights on the lakes and not many historical records exist for it. Because what’s a lighthouse without a ghost? Today, the keeper’s residence sits perched atop a bluff overlooking the Black River and out to Lake Michigan and the 35-foot red tower. Based on his research, after John’s long tenure as a lightkeeper, the turnaround rate of employees and keepers was about the same before John. For nearly 50 years, Robinson faithfully kept his light shining—passing away there in 1919 at the age of 87. Now known as Lighthouse Bob he still lives on site. Waugashance is located on the northeast end of Lake Michigan and was built in 1832 as a lightship. New Presque Isle near Alpena, is one of the tallest lights on the Great Lakes at 113 feet and was built in 1870. Isolation and loneliness are common themes in lighthouse ghost stories and this tale is the Michigan version of The Shining.  The most famous tale of this light says the lightkeeper went insane from the isolation and shut his wife up in a tunnel on the property. Get a taste of the paranormal at these haunted places in Michigan, courtesy of Kat Tedsen and Bev Rydel, authors of “Haunted Travels of Michigan”. According to maritime historian Wes Oleszewski, the Waugoshance ghost story is always the first told by lighthouse enthusiasts and historians. Maritime author and avid publisher of Great Lakes ghost stories, Frederick Stonehouse, writes that there are two ghosts residing at “Wobble Shanks.” A legend says a worker was killed during the lights construction and his cries can sometimes be heard. Waugoshance Lighthouse Preservation Society, Detailed Historical Information of Waugoshance, Point aux Barques Lighthouse Preservation Society, Historical Information about Point aux Barques, Haunted Howell and the History of the Old Hillcrest Sanatorium, Thelma, The Ghost of The Kalamazoo Civic Theatre. Click on the icons for more info, addresses and photos of the stops. Michigan Bell Telephone Co, Grand Rapids. It was my first book…go easy:). Isolation and loneliness are common themes in lighthouse ghost stories and this tale is the Michigan version of The Shining . Things fell apart when Warren lost one of his legs in an accident replacing it with a wooden leg. It withstood the Michigan storms and even survived the Great Fire of 1881 because the men of the life-saving station created a bucket brigade to douse the flames surrounding the lighthouse. The very secluded Point aux Barques lighthouse was built in 1847 near the tip of the thumb along Lake Huron. Ghosts and lighthouses are synonymous with each other and Michigan has the most lighthouses of any state in the U.S. At one point in Michigan history, we had over 200 working lighthouses on our lakes. As for them building another lighthouse to avoid the ghosts? This lighthouse sits on the White Lake channel of Lake Michigan. Jackson, MI– The Grave of “Little Mary” inside the Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery. Photo courtesy of Chris Light. Rather than continue to provoke the spirit of a dead keeper, new lighthouses were built and this tower was left empty and alone on Lake Michigan. Everyday chores, such as coal buckets being filled, would also mysteriously happen on its own. Mary McNaughton was born Sept. 5, 1884 and died at the age of 7. If a lightkeeper didn’t do his or her job correctly, lives could be lost. Oleszewski, Wes. Lighthouse Adventures: Heroes, Haunts & Havoc On The Great Lakes. Location: On Lake Superior, Michigan When built: 1896 The haunting: This stately brick lighthouse might be haunted by the ghost of H. William Prior, who was the facility's first keeper. He then eventually killed his wife. This haunted building stands on once a lavish mansion of a lovely couple named Warren and Virginia Randall who had a brutal ending. Depressed, William died soon after and it would seem he got his wish to stay behind and continue his “afterlife” at the old lighthouse. Visit these haunted Michigan lighthouses, and decide for yourself if there’s something paranormal at work! This lighthouse is the privately owned property of Dow Chemical Company. Two years after the lighthouse was constructed first the Lighthouse keeper died. They also do tours. Website: www.greatlakelighthouse.com Anyways the area is great to visit, Thunder Bay is one of ‘Graveyard of the Lakes’ and has the underwater preserve for sunken lakeboats…the whole area has a lot of history, Your email address will not be published. Regarded as Michigan’s most haunted lighthouse, the Gulliver Historical Society has logged hundreds of ghost stories at Seul Choix Point Lighthouse… New Book Spirits 2 at Seul Choix Pointe Available. Your email address will not be published. ; We created this Haunted Places in MI Interactive Map to help you pinpoint scary, abandoned attractions, houses and spots. Yet, during his 35 years of service, he is credited with saving more than a dozen lives. There doesn’t seem to be any historical evidence of John’s death at the light either. William felt he could still do his job no matter what, but the grandson, William Bush, was in charge and the Lighthouse Service in 1919 told Robinson to move on. The abandoned hulk stood sentry over the icy waters of Lake Michigan, forgotten until 2011 when it was transferred from the Coast Guard to the Waugoshance Lighthouse Preservation Society. Because the haunted happenings were so frequent, they eventually had a hard time staffing the light, so they built a lighthouse at White Shoals and left Waugoshance to the ghost who haunted it, or so that’s what the ghost story says. Big Bay Point Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast. We’ve assembled a list of 51 of Michigan’s most haunted places, from the scaries of Michigan’s haunted houses to spooky cemeteries to old psychiatric hospitals…what can we say, Michigan has a little bit of everything. The ghost of a 1930’s cleaning lady has been seen by a few people over the years. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Some may argue that the White River Light Station in Whitehall might never have been built had it not been for Captain William Robinson, who moved to the area in the 1860s with his wife, Sarah, and seven of their eventual 13 children. Big Bay Point Lighthouse. He began his career as an assistant lightkeeper in 1887 and in 1892 became the man in charge. Together, she has woven a narrative around 13 lighthouses more or less evenly distributed among Lake Superior, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Before Fort Gratiot Light, Michigan's oldest, was built in 1925, a lightvessel - a ship, strategically placed to warn passing ships of dangerous waters, was placed in Emmet County at Michigan's fingertips. Located in the city of Gulliver in the Upper Peninsula, this lighthouse is considered to be one of Michigan's "most haunted" beacons. Captain James S. Donahue was a wounded Civil War soldier when he was appointed the keeper of the South Haven Lighthouse in 1874. Native Americans and French explorers were traveling in canoes and later small 'Mackinac' boats. According to Big Bay Point Lighthouse History by Jeff and Linda Gamble, "Prior was despondent after the death of his … South Haven Lighthouse - South Haven: Captain James S. Donahue Drunk one night and looking to play a practical joke on a co-worker, John locked one of his assistants in the lamp room. The White River Light Station was built in 1876. Discover more about this property by reading the extended version HERE. It seems the second floor of the White River Light Station is his stomping grounds in the afterlife and phantom footsteps have been heard occasionally. Karen McDonnell, now retired, was the curator of the White River Light Station Museum for over 20 years. When it comes to hauntings of the Great Lakes, this lighthouse is considered to be one of the most popular haunted places to go! Big Bay, Michigan After his disappearance, strange things started to happen around the lighthouse. The lighthouse in Big Bay, about 25 miles northwest of Marquette in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, opened in August 1896. The only keeper to have ever drowned at the light was Thomas Marshall on May 28, 1886. Supposedly, the ghost story about John came from a newspaper article published in Petoskey sometime in the 1930s. There are a few ghosts who also spend time at the Thunder Bay Inn, a young man downstairs in the restaurant. Their collection of photo, video, and audio evidence is the envy of any haunted property, but they display it with respect. New Presque Isle near Alpena, is one of the tallest lights on the Great Lakes at 113 feet and was built in 1870. Travel Tips For Planning Your Pure Michigan Vacation, Ski Safe, Stay Safe at Shanty Creek Resort, Detroit Shopping Guide: Support Small Businesses in Pure Michigan, Every Day, Shop Small: 6 Can't-Miss Metro Detroit Gift Ideas, Shop Local Gift Ideas from Across Michigan, Freshwater Snorkeling in Michigan: Your Ultimate Guide, Things to Do Near Sleeping Bear Dunes: The Ultimate Pure Michigan Guide, Winter In The Central Upper Peninsula: A Pure Michigan Guide, Go On A Michigan Coffee Adventure In The Great Lakes Bay Region, Spend a Night at These Historic Hotels in Michigan, Things to Do at Isle Royale National Park: The Ultimate Pure Michigan Guide, Travel Michigan Virtually While Planning Your Vacation, Family-Friendly Outdoor Activities in Michigan, Michigan Economic Development Corporation. http://goo.gl/yLIHMX Today we go to four different lighthouses, included the haunted lighthouse of Presque Isle Michigan. Whether you’ve heard of these creepy sites or not, one thing is for sure: your skin is about to crawl. PromoteMichigan.com The Ghost of Captain James S. Donahue — South Haven A disabled veteran of the Civil War (losing his leg in the Battle of the Wilderness), Captain James S. Donahue began his service in South Haven in April, 1874—at … Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Well, we’re here to help. Dense forests, looming light houses, and iconic structures full of history and hauntings. The beautiful White River Light Station graces the cover of my first book. 3. The Old Presque Isle Light (1840) also may be haunted, by a caretaker from mid 1900’s, the light was closed long before that, he was just restoring/looking after the grounds. Having lost a leg in battle, the physical demands of tending were, even more taxing for him. Oleszewski points out the turnaround for offshore lights, especially remote ones like Waugoshance, was always high. Next time I get to his grave I’ll snap a new picture. The story you gave is from the New Presque Isle Light (built 1870 so its not that new). With the amount of traffic traveling in and out of the White River, Robinson was surprised there was no light to guide their safe passage. Ghostly Talk Podcast Find new shows on the Ghostly Talk website or use your favorite podcast app to listen. Michigan, surrounded by water on three sides, has about 125 lighthouses and of those, 40 or more have a ghost story tied to them are said to be haunted. An alternative story also says that he and his grandson simply did not get along. The Irish-themed inn and pub has a resident ghost that has been seen in just about every guest room. Sources Stonehouse, Frederick. Great Lakes Lighthouse Tales. West Michigan 6. Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association (www.GLLKA.com) 15 Haunted Lighthouses in Pure Michigan! John Herman, a drinker and a “funny man” was a lightkeeper at Waugashance. Visit the property. If any of the lightkeepers fell asleep on the job, their chair was kicked out from beneath them. Folks say the most often-haunted rooms, though, are the Lancaster Room and the Devonshire Room. Point aux Barques is now a museum open to the public. He began petitioning the lighthouse service to have a beacon built, and in the interim would hang a lantern on a pole at the end of the channel every night to aid the passing ships. something to remember about Presque Isle Light is..theres really two lighthouses at Thunder Bay (Alpena) . Not Many People Realize These 9 Little Known Haunted Places In Michigan Exist. Big Bay Point Light in Big Bay up in da U.P. Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did. The Michigan Maritime Museum uses the building as an archive and research facility, and many have reported sounds they attribute to Donahue. 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