Volume 1, Issue 3 - June, 2023

President's Letter

Dear Friends,

Welcome, June, and let the magic of summer begin!

We’ve had a busy month working on trying to save the Lighthouse. The word is getting out, the Lighthouse is receiving media attention, and our work is getting noticed.

Thank you to the Burnham Park Yacht Club, Preservation Chicago, and the Cliff Dwellers Club for hosting our presentations this month. It is great to share our love of the history of Chicago and the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse with others.

As I talk to more and more people about the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, or as Edward Torrez has referred to it, The People’s Lighthouse, I am fortunate to hear what it has meant to people over the years. Some have stories of watching the lighthouse from shore, some of sailing past it, and some even of visiting it as a child. Some have said that the Lighthouse opened up the rest of the world to them as a child and a memory that lasted a lifetime.

This is why we are working unapologetically to Preserve, Restore and Celebrate the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse which will allow public access to this incredible Chicago landmark.

The Chicago Harbor Light is a fully functioning aid to navigation, and while the lighthouse building is owned by the City of Chicago, the United States Coast Guard maintains the light and foghorn. The Light operates from dusk to dawn, seven days a week, 365 days a year, year-in and year-out.

Officially, the Chicago Harbor Light is light No. 19960 in the USCG Light List. It flashes red every five seconds, which can be seen from a range of 15 miles out into the lake. The foghorn operates, when conditions require it, with two blasts every 30 seconds (two-second blast) which you can hear along the lakefront on a foggy day.

I want to take a moment to say thank you to the staff at the Chicago Park District Lincoln Park Conservatory, who worked on the Spring House Show, “Cooler by the Lake.” It was a beautiful tribute to Chicago’s lakefront and the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse. I am in awe of the extraordinary work they do and the dedication and passion they bring to their efforts.

A special thank you to Matt, Sebastian, Neil, Steve, Rachel, Pedro, Adrianne, and Tim, for their hard work on the show and for donating the Lighthouse model to the Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, which will allow us to keep your little lighthouse shining on!

So, let’s embrace the warmth of June and the season of sun-soaked days.

Be Safe and Be Well!

Regards,

Kurt Lentsch

Chief Dreamer and President, Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse

Your contribution will enable us to offset the start-up costs for the

Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse

and begin the work of preservation and restoration...

We are very grateful for your generosity.

The Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse is a 501c3 organization

so please make a tax-deductible gift to help us Save the Lighthouse!

www.SaveTheLighthouse.org

Photo Credit: Chicago Sun-Times

Preservation Architect and Partner of

Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse

Edward Torrez, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP

As president of Bauer Latoza Studio, architect Edward Torrez has overseen the design and preservation of many iconic Chicago buildings including the Pullman National Museum, Water Tower Pumping Station, the Emmett Till Home and the Muddy Waters Home & MOJO Museum. However, participating in the restoration of the Chicago Harbor Light house has been a long-term dream for him.

“There’s nothing like it in the city,” says Ed. “Because it’s out in the water, there’s no official address. It’s only accessible by boat. And with its tall, wide tower, I feel this 130- year-old structure is the most magnificent lighthouse on the Great Lakes.”

In 2015, Ed’s firm was retained by the City of Chicago to assess the condition of the Lighthouse. Along with five engineering firms, including underwater divers to explore the concrete base, Ed and his team determined that the structure was in fair condition, but did need upgrades to the envelope and possible future systems to introduce modern-day elements and protect it from effects from climate change.

Chicago boater Kurt Lentsch met with Torrez in early 2021 to discuss how to move forward with repairing the Lighthouse and perhaps opening it for public tours and events. Lentsch subsequently formed the organization, Friends of the Chicago Lighthouse as a 501c (3) and currently serves as its president.

“Kurt was exactly what this effort needed,” says Ed. “As a long-time owner of a logistic company, he has the mindset to oversee the many resources needed for this project, including fundraising, communications and community outreach.”

Kurt and Ed connected and within a number of months presented their goals and strategic path to various local groups including the Chicago Yacht Club, the Chicago Maritime Museum, Burnham Park Yacht Club and the Cliff Dweller Club. The presentations have generated interest in the Lighthouse within the Chicago business community, local news media, philanthropic organizations, and various volunteers.

As an Advisor to the National Trust of Historic Preservation and former commissioner for the City of Chicago Commission on Landmarks, Ed’s relationship with the preservation community, elevates the mission of Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse.

The Lighthouse at Dawn,

Photo Credit: Chris Smith, Flickr, Creative Commons License\

In 1716, the first lighthouse was built in the United States. By 1862, when the first maritime navigational charts were published by the US government, nearly 500 lighthouses had been built in the US and their locations were noted on the charts to act as critical signposts or known points of reference to mariners.

Sometimes lighthouses marked dangerous parts of the lake, to be carefully navigated in order to avoid disaster. This is the case with the Grays Reef Light which marks the Grays Reef Passage, a very narrow channel in the northeasterly end of Lake Michigan, which is the only navigable opening for deep-draft commercial vessels between the Straits of Mackinac and the waters east of Beaver Island and the Manitou Islands.

Other times lighthouses were built to clearly mark the safe approach and entrance to ports on the lake, guiding the captain to their destination.

The Chicago Harbor Lighthouse was built for this second reason in 1893; as an aid to navigation intent on guiding ship captains safely into Chicago Harbor, past the shifting sandbars at the mouth of the Chicago River, and ultimately up the river to wharfs where cargo was loaded and off-loaded on the busiest commercial port on the Great Lakes. Modern advances in marine navigation such as radar and GPS systems have made marine navigation more reliable and safer, but lighthouses continue to play an important role in navigation.

Just like street signs that help you figure out where you are and find your way around your neighborhood or city, lighthouses were built with locally-unique physical attributes to help captains. Traveling down a coastline, they could observe the characteristics of a visible lighthouse and compare it to information on their navigational charts to better understand their current location and plot a safe course to their destination.

During the daytime, the varying shapes of each lighthouse along with the colors and building styles were useful to captains. Lighthouses could be square, round, conical, hexagonal or rectangular and be of different heights, and made from different materials, such as iron, brick, frame construction or a steel framework tower. They would each be painted a specific color and sometimes have distinguishing painted pattern, such as stripes, diamonds, or spirals to make them more easily identified. This is all very helpful during daytime when visibility is good. Nighttime identification requires a completely different approach and is the reason these structures are known as light houses.

How does a captain discern one lighthouse from another nearby in the nighttime darkness of the lake? It becomes all about the light at the top of the lighthouse. From dusk to dawn, each lighthouse emits a specific pattern of flashes which includes the style and color of the flashes, which are known as the “characteristic” of the light. Color is easy to understand, with red, green and white being the most common light colors seen in lighthouses. The style of flashing is slightly more complex given the need for the unique light characteristic if there are many lights visible in a local area. Each style and a brief explanation of how to recognize it are shown here:

Fixed – This is a light that shines continuously, with no off-and-on pattern.

Flashing – This is a light that has a longer period of darkness, than of light.

Occulting – This is a light that has a longer period of light, than of darkness.

Isophase – This is a light that has equal periods of light and darkness.

Group Flashing – This is a light that has a specified number of regularly repeating pattern of flashes.

Morse Code – This is a light that flashes characters using the dots (short flash) and dashes (long flash) of Morse Code.

Alternating – This is a light that alternates between different colors.

All of the important physical attributes for daytime identification as well as the characteristic of the light for nighttime identification are documented in a publication to mariners called the Light List. This invaluable document was originally published by the US Light House Establishment as early as 1839 and is now published annually by the US Coast guard, and updated weekly. This indispensable publication now covers lights, sound signals, buoys, day-beacons, and other aids to navigation in all waters around and within the US. This publication is found on the bridge of every commercial ship, as well as on recreational vessels operated by prudent mariners.

So back to our opening questions about the whys of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse. Here is the entry from the 2023 edition of the US Coast Guard Light List for the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse.

We see the unique light number assigned to the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, its official name along with its precise latitude and longitude. Next is the all-important characteristic of the light, which indicates that (from dusk till dawn) this light flashes red, every five seconds. Height shows the number of feet and meters the focal plane of the light is from the water’s surface. Range indicates how many miles away the light is visible, and lastly, the structure supporting the light is described as we see it today when we look out into the lake, a white conical tower.

So whether it be today, or 150 years ago, a mariner can look at a lighthouse in the daytime or at night, compare it to reference information on the Light List and understand more about their current position.

In the excerpt below from a 1918 marine navigation chart showing Chicago Harbor, the yellow highlighted points on the chart are each a lighted aid to navigation. These numerous lights include the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, the Harbor Entrance South Side Light, lights to mark the ends of breakwaters (that sit only one to two feet above water level), water intake cribs, a light marking the end of Municipal Pier (now Navy Pier) and lights marking the entrance to the Chicago River, and more. A mariner approaching Chicago Harbor during the daytime on a clear day would be able to look at his chart and observe the surroundings, to establish a pretty good idea of their position and pursue a safe course to the harbor.

Imagine the plight of the mariner approaching at night. If each of these lighted aids to navigation did not have a locally-unique light characteristic, it would be nearly impossible to tell which light was which, and the approach would be far more dangerous. Each of these lights was, and still is described on the Light List, an indispensable tool to mariners approaching Chicago or any unfamiliar port.

Excerpt from 1918 US Dept. of Defense - Chicago Lakefront Chart No. 1 Winnetka to Hyde Park, Including Chicago Harbor

The Light List is contained in a set of large volumes of data. For easier reference, marine charts also contain information taken from the Light List, placing it closer-at-hand for mariners. The chart excerpt below is from the most current version of the same chart as above, showing the entrance to Chicago Harbor, between the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse (highlighted) and Harbor Entrance South Side Light, below the lighthouse on the chart. Notice that within the highlighted text you see some of the critical information about this light from the Light List, including the abbreviated name of the light, the light characteristic, the height of the light, and how far it can be seen. Also note that the chart indicates the presence of a fog horn at the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, which will be the subject of a future article. Having this data on the chart makes it easier for an approaching mariner to compare what is observed around them to the chart at the helm of their vessel, to gain a better understanding of what they are seeing, their position, and best course. Every light and other aid to navigation has similar critical information shown on marine navigation charts.

Excerpt from NOA Chart 14928 – Chicago Harbor, Published 2011

Now that you know “the code” for understanding light characteristic, see if you can determine the characteristic for the Harbor Entrance South Side Light, located on the south break wall (right below the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse in the chart excerpt). If you decoded it properly, you’ll see the characteristic of that light as being a Green light, which flashes every 4 seconds. It is 27 feet off of the water, and is visible for 6 Statute miles.

The space between the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse and the Harbor Entrance South Side Light remains the main entrance to Chicago Harbor. The squiggly purple line between the lighthouse and the South Side Light indicates the presence of an underwater cable. Boats regularly pass through that opening, to move between the open waters of Lake Michigan and Chicago Harbor. Also note that in a historical nod to the importance of Chicago Harbor and the busy wharfs along the Chicago River, the red line shows the entrance to Chicago Harbor still directly aligns with the mouth of the Chicago River, as it has done for more than 100 years since the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse was moved to its present location in 1917.

So next time you look out toward the lighthouse at night and observe the flashing red light every 5 seconds, you’ll know more about the importance of the characteristic of a light and the important role it plays in determining which light you are observing. While gazing eastward, see if you can also find the Harbor Entrance South Side Light, now that you know what light characteristic to look for.

Sources:

The Lighthouse Preservation Society, “Lighthouse Facts,”

https://lighthousepreservation.org/facts/#:~:text=Every%20lighthouse%20emits%20a%20distinctive,publication%20called%20the%2

0Light%20List.

United States Lighthouse Society, “Simulate Established Years,” https://uslhs.org/light_lists/simulate_established_years.php

United States Coast Guard, “Light List Volume VII Great Lakes,” 2023 edition, https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/light-list-annual-

publication

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Coast Survey, “Chart 14928 – Chicago Harbor,” Updated 2011

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Coast Survey, Historical Map and Chart Collection “Chicago

Lakefront No. 1 Winnetka to Hyde Park, Including Chicago Harbor.” December 23, 1918, https://historicalcharts.noaa.gov/

VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME AND TALENT

Photo credit: Barry Butler

We need your help. Volunteer and join us in our mission to save the

Chicago Harbor Lighthouse and keep its legacy alive for generations to come. 

We are a passionate organization dedicated to preserving, restoring, and celebrating the historic Chicago Harbor Lighthouse for future generations.

Our mission would not be possible without the help of dedicated volunteers who share our passion and commitment to this iconic landmark.

As a volunteer with Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, you will have the

opportunity to gain valuable experience, meet new people, and make a meaningful impact in preserving a historic Chicago landmark that is cherished by our city.

If you are interested in donating your talents and joining our team, please visit our

volunteer page at savethelighthouse.org/volunteer to learn more.

Currently we are seeking talented and experienced part time volunteers to assist us in the areas of fundraising (especially grant writing), construction, and community outreach to help us build and maintain our connections to local and national organizations.

CHICAGO HARBOR LIGHTHOUSE IN THE NEWS

CBS 2 Evening News - 05/23/2023

Photo Credit: CBS News

"Group of boaters help the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse shine once more"

CBS 2's Noel Brennan tells us how a group of boaters hopes to do more than just restore the old lighthouse. 

View Story Here

Crain's Chicago Business - 05/23/2023

Photo credit: Barry Butler

"Preservationists hope to turn obsolete lighthouse into a tourism magnet"

Crain's Dennis Rodkin reports on the future of the Chicago Harbor LIghthouse.

Read Story Here

Chicago Sun Times - 05/23/2023

Photo credit: Chicago Sun-Times

"Group hopes to restore Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, preserve it for future generations"

Emmanuel Camarillo reports on Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse hopes to partner with schools and other organizations to bring children from under-served communities to the aging icon in the lake.

Read Story Here

LIGHTHOUSE POINTS

The Chicago Harbor Lighthouse is the only surviving lighthouse in Chicago and one of only two remaining examples in Illinois. Built-in 1893, the Lighthouse symbolically marks the Chicago Harbor, a historically pivotal point where the nation’s maritime transportation network connected the East Coast, the Great Lakes, and ultimately the Gulf Coast.

During the 1917 renovation of the breakwater, the lighthouse was moved to its present location, and its attached fog-signal room and boathouse were constructed.

The Lighthouse played such a significant role in the development of Chicago that it is commemorated in a relief sculpture, entitled Spirit of the Waters, located near the LaSalle Street entrance of City Hall.

Today its crisp white conical tower rising between two red-roofed buildings is a familiar sight along the Chicago shoreline just east of Navy Pier, where the Lighthouse continues to mark the harbor entrance.

Source:

https://webapps1.chicago.gov/landmarksweb/web/landmarkdetails.htm?lanId=1273

Photo credit: Barry Butler

NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE DAY - AUGUST 7, 2023

National Lighthouse Day, an annual commemoration of the anniversary of the federal lighthouse establishment and a day to celebrate lighthouses and the commitment and service of those who tended America’s lights for generations.

For the bicentennial of the U.S. Lighthouse Service in 1989, the Society petitioned Congress to declare National Lighthouse Day on August 7 -- the date in 1789 that the Ninth Act of the First Congress, establishing federal control of lighthouses, was passed and signed by President George Washington. Sen. John H. Chaffee of Rhode Island sponsored the joint resolution, which was championed in the House by Rep. William J. Hughes of New Jersey, and the measure was signed by President Ronald Reagan as Public Law 100-622 on Nov. 5, 1988.

But that designation only established the day for 1989. Another similar declaration was won in 2013 thanks to a Senate Resolution, but efforts to add the day to the official national calendar have not yet succeeded. The lighthouse law should be remembered as an altruistic act of the nation and the first public works program undertaken by the new federal government. The first members of Congress thought the bill so important that they passed the measure even before they got around to establishing pay for congressmen!

Stay tuned for special Chicago Harbor Lighthouse events and news in honor of National Lighthouse Day.

41°53'22"N 87°35'26"W

Copyright © 2023 Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse - All Rights Reserved.