The Seul Choix Point Lighthouse was built in 1895 and is located in Gulliver, MI. It was large enough to accommodate two families, the keepers and the assistant keepers. Due to the 24/7 duties of keeping the light and fog horn going, two keepers were necessary. The original third order Fresnel lens has been replaced with a modern airport beacon lens. Airport beacons are a standard replacement lens in lighthouses. This is the only tower that we have climbed where you can go in the light room with the light in operation. While visiting in the living quarters of the house, the hum of the beacon in the tower made an oddly comforting sound. It would be difficult for any one of us to imagine what the smell of oil or kerosene might be like on a daily basis…a humming beacon is good!
One of the nice things about Seul Choix is the very good collection of period furnishings that fill the rooms. Only a few items have been authenticated as original to the lighthouse; however, many items from the time period have been donated from area homes. The inside has been refinished. Numerous layers of white and gray paint has been removed from the beautiful woodwork. The guide related that when the Coast Guard was not busy, they painted…everything!!
The three rooms that were added for the assistant keeper have copper trim around all the inside woodwork. The only explanation for the copper trim is that possibly a lot of copper was left over from the installation of the roof and it was used inside. This is another unique touch in the house.
The lighthouse also had a cistern underneath the house. The rainwater was collected to use for laundry and watering the flowers…”green” ahead of its time.
The outside is in need of a few repairs. Painting will be coming in the next year. A grant has been awarded to the lighthouse for the needed repairs. Note the top, left of the house.
As you probably know by now, food is a very important part of our travels. Our stop today was at a last year’s find, the Legs Inn.
Many American dishes are served at the Legs Inn, but the specialty is authentic Polish food. Everything from the stand-by, a plain grilled cheese, to Bigos, which is Hunter’s Stew. This stew is a blend of various meats, and Polish sausage, simmered with sauerkraut and fresh vegetables. Another favorite for many, and Cheryl’s, is Pierogi. This is a small dumpling filled with your choice of Farmer’s cheese and potato, or ground sirloin, or sauerkraut with mushrooms. It is served with a side of homemade tomato sauce. Today we ate some of THE best homemade mushroom soup ever, and for desert there was Berry Szarlotka.
This is a crumble cake baked with fresh apples, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. For good measure to complete all the fruit, we asked that it be served a la mode. Rest assured, it is all two people can consume, and oh so tasty! There are lots more yummy items to tempt you, but we cannot pronounce them, and we don’t have the space to describe them all!
Lake Michigan (see photo) was being driven by high winds from the northwest today. Last year, the water was about two feet lower in this same spot. The lakes have a very small tide, about an inch or two but the winds create a false tide that can push waves to over 14 feet.
Tomorrow we will be traveling to the Cherry Republic. Cherry Time!!!!!!!
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