Green Island (Wisconsin)
Encyclopedia
Green Island is an island in Green Bay and part of Marinette County, Wisconsin
. The Green Island Light
is on the island.
the territory was in British control until the War of 1812
, when the territory now comprising Michigan
, Wisconsin
and other states was ceded to the U.S Government by treaty. In the summer of 1816 a flotilla of four ships established a U.S. fort, Fort Howard, at La Baye, now the city of Green Bay
.
The expedition had been split up by a squall around "Death's Door." The flagship Washington, guided by French trapper August Grignon, took refuge upon an island to the north of Death's Door, which is now called Washington Island. The second group headed south to seek refuge at an island, then called Vermillion Island. This group was guided by French fur trapper Stanislaus Chappieu, or Louis Chappee, as he is sometimes called.
Whether the names Sullivan's Island or Vermillion Island are actually what is known as Green Island today is speculation, and when the term Green Island was first applied is still being researched. But by the year 1840, the year of the first government survey, the island was called Green Island and was in possession of the local Native Americans. Whether these were Menominees or Ho-Chunk
is in question. The 1840 surveyors didn't actually visit the island; it was hand-drawn on the plat map of the areas around Marinette and Menominee.
The years 1840–1850 saw a great expansion of the area's lumber industry. The area around Marinette, Wisconsin
and Menominee, Michigan
grew at an accelerated rate. By 1860 the need for a navigational aid on Green Island was addressed by the 4th district of the U.S. Light Keepers based in Detroit, Michigan
. Previously, on March 2, 1854, Peter McBride had been issued a land patent, making him the owner of the entire 87.72 acres (354,990.6 m²) island.
On March 3, 1859 the United States government appropriated $6000 to be spent on erecting at lighthouse on Green Island or any adjacent islands. Then on April 2, 1860 the State of Wisconsin passed an act ( Chapter 374 of the Laws of 1860) authorizing land to be seized for use by the state. On September 12, 1860, the island was surveyed and five stone monoliths were placed to mark the borders of the 1.998 acres (8,085.6 m²) site that was seized for use by the United States Light House Service. The fifth stone depicting the U.S. Light House Service insignia was placed next to marker #4. With the funds already appropriated, construction of the lighthouse began immediately. The State of Wisconsin ceded the property to the U.S. government and by September 9, 1863 notice was issued that the lighthouse was nearing completion and that a lighthouse keeper was to be assigned immediately. Of the $6000 appropriated for construction, $5998.06 was spent.
A Notice to Mariners (#115) was published on September 10, 1863 of the new lighthouse in Green Bay and its first exhibition was on October 1, 1863. The light, 50 feet (15.2 m) above the mean level of Green Bay, is a 4th-order Fresnel lens
showing a fixed white light, which under normal conditions is visible for 12 nautical miles (22.2 km).
The position of this light is: Lat. 45 degrees 03 minutes 23 sec.North Long. 87 degrees 30 minutes 00 secs West of Greenwich.
Prior to the 1863 building of the lighthouse, there are records of a light boat that was stationed at the Green Island shoals. A letter dated September 5, 1861 from 10th District acting inspector Mayhew of Buffalo, New York
states, "Green Island Lt. Station Wis. Transmits Bill & Letter relating to Repairs of Boat."
When the lighthouse was first lit on October 1, 1863, the type of fuel used is not known, but it could have been fish oil, Sperm whale
oil, colza
, or lard oil. At the time, kerosene
was considered far too dangerous. By 1863 sperm whale oil had risen to $ 2.43 per gallon and in consequence colza, or rapeseed oil, was introduced. Around 1867 lard oil was substituted for sperm whale oil, and colza oil in cold weather.
It is not known who was on duty for the first lighting of the lighthouse lamp, but the first assigned lightkeeper was Samuel P. Drew, previously the keeper at Chambers Island, Wisconsin
. His appointment began on October 26, 1863 at a salary of $400 per year.
On July 9, 1867 Samuel Drew's salary was increased to $560 per year. This was the same year that his wife, Mary Drew, was appointed assistant lighthouse keeper, at a salary of $400 per. This appointment was disallowed by the Lighthouse Service in 1870, as a change of policy. Around this same time, Samuel Drew's salary was increased to $600 per year.
Samuel Drew and his wife Mary seem to have been in the lighthouse service for some time prior to his Green Island appointment. Their children are as follows: James, born 1845 in Lockport, New York
; Helen Marie, born April 9, 1846 in Buffalo, New York; George W., born June 8, 1850 in Buffalo; Kate, born March 11, 1856 on Rock Island; Mary, born September 15, 1858 on St. Martin's Island; Wilbur, born 1861 on Washington Island; and Anna Hilda, born June 30, 1869 on Green Island, who died September 26, 1869 and was buried on the island. Some websites show the gravestone of Anna H. Drew, which is near the ruins of the lighthouse, but this is not the original burial site. Vandals removed the original two markers and it took some 30 years before the culprit came forward with them. A great-grandson of Samuel Drew returned the grave markers to the island ca. 1990 and remounted then under a large lilac tree just 4 feet (1.2 m) from the front door of the old lighthouse. Anna's original burial lies to the southeast and was supposedly under another lilac tree that was on Drew property. The last son, Frank Albert Drew, born March 3, 1868 on Green Island, later became a heroic lighthouse keeper and has a U.S. Coast Guard buoy tender named in his honor. Two daughters were married on the island: Helen Marie on June 27, 1871 and Mary E. on April 9, 1878.
In 1864 there was a fire at the lighthouse, although not documented by name. One report(by George Putnam) indicates, "in 1864 a Lake Michigan Lighthouse keeper on his own responsibility, used kerosene in his lamp, but after several nights an explosion scattered oil all over the keeper, and a second violent explosion blew out the whole lantern from the tower and destroyed the lens." A second document from Lighthouse Service engineer J. D. Graham of the 11th District Detroit, dated March 29, 1864 states, "Green Island Light Station Wis. Estimate as to erection of temporary Structure and report of Clerk of Works A. Lederle, on damage by fire to.."
60 ft (18.3 m) steel tower erected in 1957 to present, at present is solar powered.
, around 9000 to 8500 B.C. It is composed of several types of glacial deposits consisting of sandstone, limestone, granites, and white and black marble.
and oak. The island is now heavily forested with a mix of hardwoods and softwoods, including white cedar
, aspen
, lombardy poplar, pin oak
, willow
s, maple
s, white ash
, and others. The once cultivated areas are now heavily forested with lilac
s, staghorn sumacs, and several fruit-bearing berry trees. The island is also thickly covered with poison ivy
and poison oak
, thistle bushes, red raspberry, ragweed
, and various mosses and lichens. One should wear protective clothing to prevent exposure from the poisonous plants.
The U.S. government surveyed the 1.9 acres (7,689 m²) lighthouse site in 1860 and four stone monuments were placed, along with a fifth monument bearing the U.S. Lighthouse Service inscription. 0.79 acres (3,197 m²) of the southeast side remained private property, which was purchased by Samuel Drew, around 1867, when Leroy Ireland sold half interest to Drew. Ireland and Drew were to hold the title to the island in common. Then on July 30, 1867 Ireland sold his interest in the island to Daniel Nason, who in turn sold his interest to Elezner Ingalls for $200. Samuel and Mary Drew bought Ingalls half of the island on June 15, 1870 for $200. The Drews then owned the entire island except for the government's 1.9 acres (7,689 m²). On October 16, 1878 Drew sold the southeastern tip of 0.79 acres (3,197 m²) to the U.S. government for $150.
Marinette County, Wisconsin
Marinette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 43,384. Its county seat is Marinette.Marinette County is part of the Marinette, WI–MI Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According to the U.S...
. The Green Island Light
Green Island Light (Wisconsin)
The Green Island Light is a lighthouse located on Green Island in Green Bay. Abandoned since its deactivation in 1956, it survives as a hollow shell near the existing skeleton tower.-History:...
is on the island.
Overview
The 87+ acre island is crescent shaped and has submerged shoals extending out half or more on each of the southern sides. The northern side consists of large boulders and rock. The southern side is weathered gravel and small stone. Safe anchorage on the southern side can be had up to 25 to 50 feet (15.2 m) off shore. As for the northern side, one must stay out at least 150–200 feet.History
Green Island was once called Sullivan's Island during the fur trapping era (from Jean Nicolet's account of his exploration of La Baie des Puants) and before the expansion of U.S. territory. In the mid 18th century it was in French possession. After the French and Indian WarsFrench and Indian Wars
The French and Indian Wars is a name used in the United States for a series of conflicts lasting 74 years in North America that represented colonial events related to the European dynastic wars...
the territory was in British control until the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, when the territory now comprising Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
and other states was ceded to the U.S Government by treaty. In the summer of 1816 a flotilla of four ships established a U.S. fort, Fort Howard, at La Baye, now the city of Green Bay
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
.
The expedition had been split up by a squall around "Death's Door." The flagship Washington, guided by French trapper August Grignon, took refuge upon an island to the north of Death's Door, which is now called Washington Island. The second group headed south to seek refuge at an island, then called Vermillion Island. This group was guided by French fur trapper Stanislaus Chappieu, or Louis Chappee, as he is sometimes called.
Whether the names Sullivan's Island or Vermillion Island are actually what is known as Green Island today is speculation, and when the term Green Island was first applied is still being researched. But by the year 1840, the year of the first government survey, the island was called Green Island and was in possession of the local Native Americans. Whether these were Menominees or Ho-Chunk
Ho-Chunk
The Ho-Chunk, also known as Winnebago, are a tribe of Native Americans, native to what is now Wisconsin and Illinois. There are two federally recognized Ho-Chunk tribes, the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin and Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska....
is in question. The 1840 surveyors didn't actually visit the island; it was hand-drawn on the plat map of the areas around Marinette and Menominee.
The years 1840–1850 saw a great expansion of the area's lumber industry. The area around Marinette, Wisconsin
Marinette, Wisconsin
Marinette is a city in and the county seat of Marinette County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 11,749 at the 2000 census.Marinette is the principal city of the Marinette, WI–MI Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Marinette County, Wisconsin and Menominee...
and Menominee, Michigan
Menominee, Michigan
Menominee is a city in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 9,131. It is the county seat of Menominee County. Menominee is the fourth-largest city in the Upper Peninsula, behind Marquette, Sault Ste. Marie, and Escanaba...
grew at an accelerated rate. By 1860 the need for a navigational aid on Green Island was addressed by the 4th district of the U.S. Light Keepers based in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. Previously, on March 2, 1854, Peter McBride had been issued a land patent, making him the owner of the entire 87.72 acres (354,990.6 m²) island.
On March 3, 1859 the United States government appropriated $6000 to be spent on erecting at lighthouse on Green Island or any adjacent islands. Then on April 2, 1860 the State of Wisconsin passed an act ( Chapter 374 of the Laws of 1860) authorizing land to be seized for use by the state. On September 12, 1860, the island was surveyed and five stone monoliths were placed to mark the borders of the 1.998 acres (8,085.6 m²) site that was seized for use by the United States Light House Service. The fifth stone depicting the U.S. Light House Service insignia was placed next to marker #4. With the funds already appropriated, construction of the lighthouse began immediately. The State of Wisconsin ceded the property to the U.S. government and by September 9, 1863 notice was issued that the lighthouse was nearing completion and that a lighthouse keeper was to be assigned immediately. Of the $6000 appropriated for construction, $5998.06 was spent.
A Notice to Mariners (#115) was published on September 10, 1863 of the new lighthouse in Green Bay and its first exhibition was on October 1, 1863. The light, 50 feet (15.2 m) above the mean level of Green Bay, is a 4th-order Fresnel lens
Fresnel lens
A Fresnel lens is a type of lens originally developed by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel for lighthouses.The design allows the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the mass and volume of material that would be required by a lens of conventional design...
showing a fixed white light, which under normal conditions is visible for 12 nautical miles (22.2 km).
The position of this light is: Lat. 45 degrees 03 minutes 23 sec.North Long. 87 degrees 30 minutes 00 secs West of Greenwich.
Prior to the 1863 building of the lighthouse, there are records of a light boat that was stationed at the Green Island shoals. A letter dated September 5, 1861 from 10th District acting inspector Mayhew of Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
states, "Green Island Lt. Station Wis. Transmits Bill & Letter relating to Repairs of Boat."
When the lighthouse was first lit on October 1, 1863, the type of fuel used is not known, but it could have been fish oil, Sperm whale
Sperm Whale
The sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, is a marine mammal species, order Cetacea, a toothed whale having the largest brain of any animal. The name comes from the milky-white waxy substance, spermaceti, found in the animal's head. The sperm whale is the only living member of genus Physeter...
oil, colza
Colza oil
Colza oil is a nondrying oil obtained from the seeds of Brassica rapa, var. oleifera, a variety of the plant that produces turnips. Colza is extensively cultivated in France, Belgium, the United States, the Netherlands and Germany and Poland. In France, especially, the extraction of the oil is an...
, or lard oil. At the time, kerosene
Kerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
was considered far too dangerous. By 1863 sperm whale oil had risen to $ 2.43 per gallon and in consequence colza, or rapeseed oil, was introduced. Around 1867 lard oil was substituted for sperm whale oil, and colza oil in cold weather.
It is not known who was on duty for the first lighting of the lighthouse lamp, but the first assigned lightkeeper was Samuel P. Drew, previously the keeper at Chambers Island, Wisconsin
Chambers Island
Chambers Island, named in honor of Col. Talbot Chambers, is a 2,834 acre island in Green Bay, about off the coast of the Door Peninsula, near Gibraltar, Wisconsin. It is part of Door County....
. His appointment began on October 26, 1863 at a salary of $400 per year.
On July 9, 1867 Samuel Drew's salary was increased to $560 per year. This was the same year that his wife, Mary Drew, was appointed assistant lighthouse keeper, at a salary of $400 per. This appointment was disallowed by the Lighthouse Service in 1870, as a change of policy. Around this same time, Samuel Drew's salary was increased to $600 per year.
Samuel Drew and his wife Mary seem to have been in the lighthouse service for some time prior to his Green Island appointment. Their children are as follows: James, born 1845 in Lockport, New York
Lockport (city), New York
Lockport is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 21,165 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a set of Erie canal locks within the city. Lockport is the county seat of Niagara County and is surrounded by the town of Lockport...
; Helen Marie, born April 9, 1846 in Buffalo, New York; George W., born June 8, 1850 in Buffalo; Kate, born March 11, 1856 on Rock Island; Mary, born September 15, 1858 on St. Martin's Island; Wilbur, born 1861 on Washington Island; and Anna Hilda, born June 30, 1869 on Green Island, who died September 26, 1869 and was buried on the island. Some websites show the gravestone of Anna H. Drew, which is near the ruins of the lighthouse, but this is not the original burial site. Vandals removed the original two markers and it took some 30 years before the culprit came forward with them. A great-grandson of Samuel Drew returned the grave markers to the island ca. 1990 and remounted then under a large lilac tree just 4 feet (1.2 m) from the front door of the old lighthouse. Anna's original burial lies to the southeast and was supposedly under another lilac tree that was on Drew property. The last son, Frank Albert Drew, born March 3, 1868 on Green Island, later became a heroic lighthouse keeper and has a U.S. Coast Guard buoy tender named in his honor. Two daughters were married on the island: Helen Marie on June 27, 1871 and Mary E. on April 9, 1878.
In 1864 there was a fire at the lighthouse, although not documented by name. One report(by George Putnam) indicates, "in 1864 a Lake Michigan Lighthouse keeper on his own responsibility, used kerosene in his lamp, but after several nights an explosion scattered oil all over the keeper, and a second violent explosion blew out the whole lantern from the tower and destroyed the lens." A second document from Lighthouse Service engineer J. D. Graham of the 11th District Detroit, dated March 29, 1864 states, "Green Island Light Station Wis. Estimate as to erection of temporary Structure and report of Clerk of Works A. Lederle, on damage by fire to.."
Green Island lighthouse keepers
| Name | Position | From | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel Drew | keeper | October 27, 1863 | May 27, 1881 |
| Mary Lee Drew | asst. keeper | August 6, 1867 | September 30, 1870 |
| Joseph Harris | keeper | May 28, 1881 | February 11, 1882 |
| Benjamin Cain | keeper | February 11, 1882 | August 31, 1882 |
| Thomas Robinson | keeper | August 31, 1882 | February 7, 1883 |
| William Wheatley | keeper | February 7, 1883 | September 10, 1885 |
| Soren Christianson | asst. keeper | April 19, 1890 | April 28, 1890 |
| Soren Christianson | keeper | April 28, 1890 | September 15, 1893 |
| Peter Duer | keeper | September 16, 1893 | October 13, 1897 |
| William Schroeder | keeper | October 13, 1897 | May 1, 1900 |
| James Wachter | keeper | May 1, 1900 | July 16, 1909 |
| Frank Drew | asst. keeper | November 1903 | July 16, 1909 |
| Frank Drew | keeper | July 16, 1909 | March 31, 1929 |
| Edward Cornell | keeper | March 31, 1929 | 1931 |
| Alfred Cornell | asst. keeper | 1929 | 1931 |
| Alfred Cornell | keeper | 1931 | July 1933 |
| Michael Drezdzen | asst. keeper | 1931 | July 1933 |
| Unmanned automated battery power | 1933 | 1957 |
60 ft (18.3 m) steel tower erected in 1957 to present, at present is solar powered.
Geology
Green Island was formed during the glacial period at the end of the Pleistocene EraPleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
, around 9000 to 8500 B.C. It is composed of several types of glacial deposits consisting of sandstone, limestone, granites, and white and black marble.
Ecology
The center of the island is 690 feet (210.3 m) above sea level and is of mixed forest, with large stumps of white pineEastern White Pine
Pinus strobus, commonly known as the eastern white pine, is a large pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and southeastern Manitoba, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to the northern edge of Georgia.It is occasionally known as simply white pine,...
and oak. The island is now heavily forested with a mix of hardwoods and softwoods, including white cedar
White Cedar
White Cedar may refer to several different trees:* Cupressaceae:** Chamaecyparis thyoides – Atlantic White Cypress** Cupressus lusitanica – Mexican White Cedar** Thuja occidentalis – Eastern Arborvitae* Meliaceae:...
, aspen
Aspen
Populus section Populus, of the Populus genus, includes the aspen trees and the white poplar Populus alba. The five typical aspens are all native to cold regions with cool summers, in the north of the Northern Hemisphere, extending south at high altitudes in the mountains. The White Poplar, by...
, lombardy poplar, pin oak
Pin oak
Quercus palustris, the Pin oak or Swamp Spanish oak, is an oak in the red oak section Quercus sect. Lobatae.-Distribution:...
, willow
Willow
Willows, sallows, and osiers form the genus Salix, around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
s, maple
Maple
Acer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...
s, white ash
White Ash
For another species referred to as white ash, see Eucalyptus fraxinoides.Fraxinus americana is a species of Fraxinus native to eastern North America found in mesophytic hardwood forests from Nova Scotia west to Minnesota, south to northern Florida, and southwest to eastern...
, and others. The once cultivated areas are now heavily forested with lilac
Lilac
Syringa is a genus of about 20–25 species of flowering woody plants in the olive family , native to woodland and scrub from southeastern Europe to eastern Asia, and widely and commonly cultivated in temperate areas elsewhere....
s, staghorn sumacs, and several fruit-bearing berry trees. The island is also thickly covered with poison ivy
Poison ivy
Toxicodendron radicans, better known as poison ivy , is a poisonous North American plant that is well known for its production of urushiol, a clear liquid compound found within the sap of the plant that causes an itching rash in most people who touch it...
and poison oak
Poison oak
Poison oak may refer to* Toxicodendron diversilobum, grows on West Coast of North America* Toxicodendron pubescens, grows in the Eastern United Statesdamnnnnn tissss is terribleee...
, thistle bushes, red raspberry, ragweed
Ragweed
Ragweeds are flowering plants in the genus Ambrosia in the sunflower family Asteraceae. Common names include bitterweeds and bloodweeds....
, and various mosses and lichens. One should wear protective clothing to prevent exposure from the poisonous plants.
Property transactions
The first recorded deed for Green Island was issued to Peter McBride, on March 2, 1854. McBride had mortgaged half interest in the island to A. C. Conn on September 29, 1857. In 1864 McBride was compensated $39.96 for the parcel ceded to the U.S. government for the 1.9 acres (7,689 m²) lighthouse site. Later, in 1866, A. C. Conn foreclosed on the McBride property and sold the entire island to Leroy Ireland for $190. This deed was recorded on July 21, 1866.The U.S. government surveyed the 1.9 acres (7,689 m²) lighthouse site in 1860 and four stone monuments were placed, along with a fifth monument bearing the U.S. Lighthouse Service inscription. 0.79 acres (3,197 m²) of the southeast side remained private property, which was purchased by Samuel Drew, around 1867, when Leroy Ireland sold half interest to Drew. Ireland and Drew were to hold the title to the island in common. Then on July 30, 1867 Ireland sold his interest in the island to Daniel Nason, who in turn sold his interest to Elezner Ingalls for $200. Samuel and Mary Drew bought Ingalls half of the island on June 15, 1870 for $200. The Drews then owned the entire island except for the government's 1.9 acres (7,689 m²). On October 16, 1878 Drew sold the southeastern tip of 0.79 acres (3,197 m²) to the U.S. government for $150.