Alpena Christmas Light, Alpena, MI.

I enjoyed painting the black coal pile and power plant with this small red light celebrating Christmas all by itself in the marina at the mouth of the Thunder Bay River. This was the 2016 Christmas Card and is still available as a card or prints.
The Alpena Breakwater Light in the painting is the 3rd light to mark this spot. In 1877, the first light was built. Alpena was a huge port for paper, wood and millions of wood shingles annually. In 1888, in a horrific fire that started in one of the sawmills on the pier and destroyed 200 homes and floating burning logs destroyed the wooden light. It was rebuilt with an open leg structure and large fog bell that had to be rewound every 2 1/2 hours in bad weather. A black 4 leg pyramid steel skeleton 34’ tower with black cast iron lantern room with a4th order Fresnel lens. In 1950, the light was painted red to make it a more visible day marker.
The Fresnel lens was removed to Grand Traverse Lighthouse in 1987. The Coast Guard put the light up for bid and Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy took ownership in June 2011 and is in the process of doing a restoration. For more info www.lighthousefriends.com. Go to www.michiganlighthouseart.com for prints and cards.