'Twas a banner day this week, getting to explore the Pointes aux Barques lightkeeper's house and see Michigan's oldest continuously operating lighthouse. The first keeper here in Lighthouse County Park near Port Hope was Peter Shook in 1848. When he drowned in 1849, his wife Catharine became Michigan's first female lighthouse keeper. The 89 foot tall structure dates back to 1857. Cindy Krueger, the great great great granddaughter of Peter and Catharine Shook presented the Michigan Historical Marker here a few years ago. It's pretty neat that they have a framed rubbing of her ancestors tombstone in the keeper's house. The largest
lighthouse festival in North America takes place this weekend, Oct 11-14 in Alpena.
