Michigan’s many historic lighthouses were home to dozens of women who served as keepers while also raising their families in often remote locations. This Mother’s Day, we pay tribute to these “Mothers of the Lights” here in the Great Lakes State!
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Lighthouse keeper Aaron Sheridan was a Civil War soldier who lost the use of his arm in battle and as such, he was able to get his wife — Julia — appointed his assistant keeper oft his important beacon in the norther part of Lake Michigan. Given his injuries, when he needed to make the trip across the waters to the mainland, Aaron would often hire a local fisherman named Christ Ancharson to man the 25-foot Mackinaw sailboat. During such a trip, on Friday, March 15, 1878, high waves and bad weather overturned the boat just as it was approaching the harbor on South Manitou Island. Sadly, the Sheridans — including their infant son, Robert — died that day.
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The Michigan Sports Alliance will host the 2021 Michigan Lighthouse Tour starting March 1 – May 3, 2021. The tour is a virtual team-based challenge for groups of 6-24 people to collectively run or walk 2,021 miles over the course of two months while visiting 28 of the featured Michigan lighthouses.
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While tropical storms and hurricanes continue to attack the region in and around the Gulf of Mexico, the “Gales of November” are stirring up the Great Lakes region just as they have for centuries. This unique weather phenomenon is created when cold, dry air from northern Canada converges with moist air from the Gulf of Mexico, over the still warm summer waters of the Great Lakes.
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Every fall, a growing interest in the paranormal means that people around Michigan (and beyond) begin talking about the state’s many spirited sites…most notably, it’s historic lighthouses. Of the more than 125 lighthouses in the state, 30 or so are also rumored to be haunted…and 13 of those are included in the pages of the best-selling book “Michigan’s Haunted Lighthouses” by Dianna Stampfler.
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Michigan storyteller, historian and author Dianna Stampfler will present a lively and upbeat historical program on Wednesday, July 17 at 6:30pm at the Alice and Jack Wirt Public Library in downtown Bay City – drawing stories from her newly released best-selling book “Michigan’s Haunted Lighthouses” (which includes the Saginaw River Rear Range Light in Bay City on the cover). The program is free and open to the public as the community rallies to welcome the 2019 Tall Ship Celebration.
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St. Julian Winery, recognized as Michigan’s longest-operating and most-awarded winery, submitted 34 wines into the 28th Annual Indy International Wine Competition and every single one of them was awarded a medal. Two wines were also named “Best of Class” including the 2018 Braganini Reserve Gruner Veltliner in the White Vinifera category and 2018 Braganini Reserve Vignoles Late Harvest in the Dessert Wines category.
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Michigan storyteller, historian and author Dianna Stampfler will be traveling around the eastern Upper Peninsula mid-June to share stories from many of the state’s historic lighthouses. Michigan is home to more lighthouses (and freshwater coastline) than any other state and during her six entertaining and educational presentations, Stampfler will delve into the keepers’ lives.
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Michigan is home to more lighthouses than any other state and some 30 of those are rumored to be haunted
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It’s finally happening. My book is getting closer to publication every single day and it has recently appeared for pre-order on The History Press website and Amazon.com (AMAZON….OMG). Autographed copies will also be sold on this website in March. It’s also listed with the popular book review site, GoodReads.com. It’s surreal…to say the least.
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Michigan will have a new wine magazine. Dedicated mostly to Michigan wines, the digital, quarterly publication — michiganUncorked — will be sent electronically to those who subscribe via the website: michiganuncorked.com. The annual subscription rate is $9.99.
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For nearly 20 years, Dianna Stampfler has been speaking about Michigan’s lighthouses, their keepers and their ghosts. This fall, she will present a series of free programs called “Michigan’s Ghostly Beacons” at libraries around the state.
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One of the most unique hands-on Pure Michigan experiences is to spend several days sailing the freshwaters aboard a dual-masted tall ship. You’re invited to board one of the largest sailing vessels in the Great Lakes during one of these autumn windjammer cruises aboard the Tall Ship Manitou with the Traverse Tall Ship Company. These trips combine nature, history and education in a fun and relaxing environment, free from the stress and worries of today’s busy lifestyle.
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