Long Tail Point Lighthouse (Tail Point Lighthouse), Green Bay, Wisconsin
TAIL POINT LIGHT (LONG TAIL POINT (OLD) LIGHTHOUSE)
Location: TAIL POINT, WISCONSIN
Station Established: 1847
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1847
Operational? No
Automated? No
Deactivated: 1859
Foundation Materials: Stone
Construction Materials: Stone
Tower Shape: 84 foot conical tower
Markings/Pattern:
Relationship to Other Structure: Independent.
Original Lens: unknown – oil lamps
HISTORICAL INFORMATION:
- Construction was completed and the light was first lit in 1848.
- In the 1850’s the light received a Fresnel lens and according to the Great Lakes Lighthouse Encyclopedia, the old lens was taken to the Fort Howard Museum.
- In 1859 the tower was surrounded by water and new tower was built to the north. The lantern and lens were transferred to the new tower.
- In 1870 the old tower was given away with the hopes that the tower would be torn down removing what was considered an eyesore. But the purchaser was unable to demolish the old tower. The old tower (minus the lantern) is still standing.
Researched and written by Anne Puppa, a volunteer through the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society.
TAIL POINT LIGHT (LONG TAIL POINT (SECOND) LIGHTHOUSE)
Location: TAIL POINT, WISCONSIN
Station Established: 1859
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1859
Operational? No
Automated? No
Deactivated: 1899
Foundation Materials: Iron Piles
Construction Materials: Wooden Frame House
Tower Shape: 27 Foot Square
Markings/Pattern:
Relationship to Other Structure: Wooden dwelling with lantern on top
Original Lens: Fresnel
Range: 15 Miles
HISTORICAL INFORMATION:
- Construction was completed and the second light was first lit in 1859 when it was feared the first light would be swallowed up by the waters of Lake Michigan.
- In 1899 the light was deactivated. A new channel had been dredged and the light was now too far from the shipping channel to be a useful for navigation. The light was transferred to a new offshore light built to mark the submerged tip of the peninsula.
- In 1929 the old house used as living quarter for the keeper’s of the new light was severely damaged.
- The keeper’s were removed from the old dwelling when the new light was automated 1936. The house was sold with the provision that it be removed from the site.
Researched and written by Anne Puppa, a volunteer through the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society.
TAIL POINT LIGHT (LONG TAIL POINT (Crib) LIGHTHOUSE)
Location: TAIL POINT, WISCONSIN
Station Established: 1899
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1899
Operational? No
Automated? No
Deactivated: 1973
Foundation Materials: Wooden Crib with concrete pier
Construction Materials:
Tower Shape: Square
Markings/Pattern:
Relationship to Other Structure: 1 ½ story structure with lantern on top
Original Lens: Fresnel
Range: 15 Miles
HISTORICAL INFORMATION:
- In 1899 the second Long Tail Point Light was deactivated. A new channel had been dredged and the light was now too far from the shipping channel to be a useful for navigation. The light was transferred to the offshore crib light built to mark the submerged tip of the peninsula. A wooden crib was sunk and a concrete pier was built to support a square 1 ½ story frame structure.
- In 1929 the old house used as living quarter for the keeper’s of the new light was severely damaged.
- In 1936 the newest Long Tail Point (Crib) Lighthouse was automated and the keeper’s were removed from the old dwelling. The house was sold with the provision that it be removed from the site.
- In 1973 the structure was washed into the lake by a severe storm. It was replaced by a pole light mounted on the old foundation.
Researched and written by Anne Puppa, a volunteer through the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society.