Dedication Held For Restored St. Joseph Lighthouses

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The restoration of the St. Joseph lighthouses is complete. A dedication ceremony was held at Tiscornia Park on Saturday to mark the end of a process that began all the way back in 2008, when city leaders began talking about acquiring the historic structures. Leading the ceremony was St. Joe Mayor Mike Garey, who said the $2 million campaign to restore the lighthouses showed that the community cares.

“Just as we individually would help to save a friend in need, so too did our community save the lighthouses and catwalk in their time of need,” Garey said.

State Senator John Proos saluted what he called “the passion and the interest” shown by the supporters of the Lighthouse Forever Fund to restore the structures to their 1932 glory.

“We live in an extraordinary community led  by extraordinary people who understand the benefit of preserving our history for our future,” Proos said.

State Representative Al Pscholka said that he never doubted the community would be able to rally to save the lighthouses, while Congressman Fred Upton said he knows the structures are in good hands.

“It has already stood the test of time, and it’s going to stand the rest of time,” Upton said.

Also Saturday, the donor wall, featuring the names of some of the Lighthouse Forever Fund’s biggest supporters, was unveiled. The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center will soon begin offering lighthouse tours to the public. Details on how to sign up are expected to be released in the coming weeks.