Split Rock Lighthouse has the last operational Fresnel lens in the country remaining in the lens room of a lighthouse that still operates on its original mercury float and is rotated by a clockwork mechanism.
Last week one of the few people in the country who can be considered an old-school ”lampist”, Jim Woodward, along with Kurt Fosberg, cleaned the mercury and made adjustments to the lens, float, and rotating mechanism. Since mercury is a hazardous material special certification and special care and equipment is required to prevent exposure to mercury vapors during the process.
Nearly two gallons of mercury was drained, and the mercury bowl and float cleaned, and the mercury replaced. The very small surface area of mercury that is exposed to the air when the float is closed was covered with mineral oil to stop any mercury exposure to the air.
This was a fascinating procedure to watch especially in that the knowledge of the old classical lenses and their care is becoming a lost art. This tune-up, along with restoration on the lighthouse itself, were completed in time for the 100 year anniversary of the commissioning of Split Rock Lighthouse which will be celebrated in 2010.
The 34th anniversary of the sinking of the 729-foot iron ore carrier Edmund Fitzgerald was observed at Split Rock Lighthouse on November 10. Over 500 people visited the lighthouse for the annual beacon lighting.
Among them was the family of one of the Fitzgerald’s crew members. Siblings, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of one of the ship’s maintenance men attended the bell ceremony and the beacon lighting. Each year relatives of at least one of the crew members who perished with the ship attend the ceremony. This reinforces for us the importance of remembering and showing respect to the ship and crew. 
The weather was unusual for mid-November in that it was calm, clear and in the high forties at sunset.
Again tomorrow night, for the 24th year in a row, we will be holding the Edmund Fitzgerald memorial beacon lighting ceremony at Split Rock Lighthouse. This year the weather is supposed to be polar opposites of what it was 34 years ago when the mighty Fitz went down in heavy seas during an early winter gale.
This is the event of the year for me and all of the staff at Split Rock that really resonates and brings home the reason for the lighthouse being built on this rocky point. We enjoy seeing visitors who have become old friends and who have returned to the site each year on November 10 to experience Lake Superior in different weather and with a little different emphasis than a summer visit has.
So, even though the temperature will be in the 50’s and the sun will be out it will still be November. The sun will reflect off of the lake at a very low angle and it will dip behind Day Hill at 4:37 p.m. The long dusk allows for the lighthouse beacon to add its glow to what promises to be a glorious sunset.
Did you know that even though the lighthouse is closed for the season the Visitor Center, with exhibits, the 22-minute film and museum store, is open all winter, Thursday - Monday from 11 AM - 4 PM? New product for the store is arriving weekly in anticipation of our winter friends as well as the up coming Centennial. Stop in to say hello and enjoy the view from the Observation Deck.
Back in the day, the light keepers at Split Rock and other Great Lakes lighthouses always had relatively easy duty during the summer months. Short nights, warm evenings, and settled weather made their jobs easy at that time of year.
This time of year, late October and November, bring on the rain and snow and days and nights that the northeast winds howls in off of the lake as low front after low front bring in Canadian cold blasts. This October has been the wicked sister to a warm and quiet September that took summer with it.
Split Rock Lighthouse has the last operational Fresnel lens in the country remaining in the lens room of a lighthouse that still operates on its original mercury float and is rotated by a clockwork mechanism.
This was a fascinating procedure to watch especially in that the knowledge of the old classical lenses and their care is becoming a lost art. This tune-up, along with restoration on the lighthouse itself, were completed in time for the 100 year anniversary of the commissioning of Split Rock Lighthouse which will be celebrated in 2010.
