Tag: Glawe School

RV Adventures: A trip to the Upper Peninsula, Michigan Day 3

Sunday, October 4, 2020

We started our exploration early. The weather was a little gloomy and some raindrops this morning. Our first stop was Alpena. It is the second most populated city in the Northern Michigan area. It is known for its proximity to Lake Huron and Thunder Bay.

As we drove into town we saw this beautiful underwater dimensional mural. We stopped for a picture. Hundreds of community members helped paint the 3-D fish! This mural had to be reconstructed after severe weather destroyed it!

Our next stop was Thunder Bay on Lake Huron. Thunder Bay has the nickname of “Shipwreck Alley” because it is estimated that over 100 shipwrecks lie in the bay! (I’ve also read over 200 shipwrecks!)

  • Calm water where it is protected from the wind
  • Rough water
  • Alpena Lighthouse

The Alpena Lighthouse was built in 1914 and is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Our next stop was the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse. It was built in 1840 and is not operational anymore.

  • Statue of Patrick Garrity Sr.
  • The bell from Lansing City Hall clock tower and is bigger than the Liberty Bell.
  • Old Presque Isle Lighthouse

Ringing the Lansing City Hall Clock Tower Bell

We then visited the “new” Presque Isle Lighthouse. It was built in 1870. You can climb the 130 steps in the lighthouse but due to Covid-19 we found that the lighthouses that permitted you to climb the steps were closed to the public.

New Presque Isle Lighthouse and both of the keeper’s residences.

We drove to the Forty Mile Point Lighthouse and it is located on Lake Huron. It was completed in 1896 and is still in operation.

Nearby was the shipwreck of the Joseph S. Fey. It was a wooden steamer and it encountered a strong gale on Lake Huron. The steamer hit the rocks at Forty Mile Point. It broke apart and we could still see a large portion of the starboard side of the ship on the beach!

  • Shipwreck of SS Joseph S. Fay

Before returning to our campsite we stopped at a one room schoolhouse, the Glawe school. When it opened in 1885 the first teacher had 17 students that she taught for 3 months of the school year! Her pay was $20.00 a month!

It was a dreary but fun day with all of our stops!