Fairport Harbor Lighthouse and Museum.

This morning I woke up and for some reason I thought of Fairport Harbor. Not just Fairport Harbor but, specifically Fairport Harbor lighthouse. Now the city of Fairport Harbor itself is an interesting place and has its own place in Ohio History. The City at one time was the greatest port on Lake Erie and handled more shipping than even Cleveland. Located on the Green River just East of Cleveland and North of Painesville it was a bustling harbor town that served the early coal and steel industry. Settled mainly by Finns the city still has a festival celebrating its Finnish heritage. It's been suggested that the climate and landscape of Northeast Ohio resembled Finland and early Finnish settlers let other Finns know that Fairport Harbor was a place they could thrive. The harbor was also the largest port of access for members of the Church of Latter Day Saints on their pilgrimage west. Over 3,000 of this pilgrims disembarked at Fairport Harbor.
The harbor was the last stop on the underground railroad for many escaping slaves. I can imagine the beacon of the lighthouse was a beacon of hope as well as salvation for these tired travelers.
The lighthouse itself was completed in 1825 however the construction did not take into account the type of soil on which it was built. Within ten years it began to sink and by the civil war it was in a terrible state of disrepair. A new lighthouse was proposed and approved. It was to be built on the same site and a temporary light was posted on a tower. The new light began operation in 1871.
The lighthouse is built on a rise above the harbor and is 102 feet over the water. It was outfitted with a third order Fresnel lens and shone a fixed beacon out over the lake. This lens can be viewed in the museum today. By WWI the harbor had changed to the point that the lighthouse no longer served its purpose and a new lighthouse was constructed on the Fairport Harbor west breakwater. This new light was finished in 1925 and it looked like the end for the original light. The town and area rallied twice to save the old lighthouse and at the end of WWII the Fairport Harbor Historical Society was formed to keep and protect the lighthouse.
The museum is located in the old keeper's house and is an excellent example of what a lighthouse museum should be. There is even the story of a ghost cat in the old keepers house. If you go be sure to ask about that. The museum is filled with memorabilia and old photos. It is well run and staffed by volunteers. It is an amazing place to learn of life on the eastern part of the lake during the formative years of Ohio.
If you are feeling active be sure to climb the 69 steps to the top of the old lighthouse. The view is definitely worth the energy expended. If the weather is good take a bathing suit as the light now looks over the Fairport Harbor beach as well as the west breakwater lighthouse.
If you are going you may want to check and make sure the lighthouse is open. They are closed in the winter but will open by appointment. In the summer they are open Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday, and legal holidays, 1-6PM. Cost is $3 or $2 for seniors.
The email is fhhs@ncweb.com.