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Presque Isle Community begins journey to restore Old Presque Isle Lighthouse

(Photo Courtesy/Mike Beiermeister) Members of the Presque Isle Township Community celebrate the beginning of a journey to restore the 1840 Old Presque Isle Lighthouse.

Presque Isle — The Old Lighthouse is in need of restoration and, the community of Presque Isle reaffirmed that on Tuesday morning by launching the Presque Isle Township Lighthouses Restoration Fund.

Karen Pettalia, wife of the late former State Representative Peter Pettalia, made the inaugural donation of $15,000 from the Honorable Peter Pettalia Lighthouse Memorial Fund that was made when the former state representative passed away. The check was presented to the Community Foundation For Northeast Michigan who will take on all donations for the project. The generous donation kicked off the pursuit to gather $250,000 for Phase I which will look to completely redo the structural problems facing the lighthouse.

“We probably have a year and a half to two years to restore this structure before it starts getting very perilous,”said President of the Presque Isle Township Museum Society Katie Wolf. “I’m not sure what will happen if we don’t step in very quickly.

The Township will supervise the construction and restoration since the lighthouse falls on Township property. Presque Isle Township Museum Society will do the fundraising for the four phases.

This project will not require local tax dollars and be separate from the ballot item for tax money to be used on upkeep and restoration to the 40-Mile Point Lighthouse Park. The tourist destination also has limited accessibility to the property and bathrooms which will be the second item to focus on once the structure is secured.

To make a donation, visit the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan website and click the “Make a Gift” button. You can locate the Presque Isle Township Lighthouses Restoration Fund. You can also drop off a donation at the Community Foundation or Presque Isle Township office just make sure to address the envelope to the “Presque Isle Township Lighthouses Restoration Fund.”