South Manitou Island Life Saving Station
South Manitou, MI. Lake Michigan

           Back to Life Saving Service Home

Station South Manitou Island, Michigan
Coast Guard Station #260

Keepers:

Gus B. Lofberg was appointed keeper on 12 FEB 1902 and transferred to Station Racine on 4 NOV 1903.

Jacob Van Weilden was appointed keeper on 4 NOV 1903 and transferred to Station Holland on 30 JAN 1907.

Eli E. Pugh was appointed keeper on 11 JAN 1907 and transferred to Station Charlevoix on 24 AUG 1910.

Allen A. Kent was appointed keeper on 1 AUG 1910 and was still serving in 1915.

Location: SANDY POINT/S. MANITOU ISLAND/LAKE MICHIGAN
Nearest city: LEELANAU
Owner: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Current use: SEASONAL QUARTERS/RANGER STATION
Hours: ONLY BOATHOUSES ARE OPEN TO PUBLIC
Public Phone: 231-326-5134
Access: FERRY FROM LELAND, MICHIGAN (SLEEPING BEAR DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE)

Location: SANDY POINT/S. MANITOU ISLAND/LAKE MICHIGAN
Nearest city: LEELANAU

Date station established: 1901 Rebuilt: 1915 (USCG)
Date current building(s) built: 1902
Builder: U.S. LIFESAVING SERVICE
Design Type: MARQUETTE
Designer: ALBERT B. BIBB

Is station active? NO Date deactived: 1958

Existing Structures: MAIN HOUSE (1901), FLAMMABLE STORAGE SHED (1938), BOATHOUSE #1 (1901), BOATHOUSE #2 (1903), WOOD SHED (1901), TOWER/FLAG LOCKER (1914), CISTERN (1905), FENCE & POSTS (1928-1930), LOOKOUT TOWER ABUTMENTS (1905), MARINE RAILWAY (1901), SIDEWALKS

OTHER STRUCTURES INCLUDE BENTH JOHNSON HOUSE (1902), JOHN TOBIN HOUSE, LOMBARDY POPLARS (1900S), FENCED GARDEN PLOT (1928-1930); THE BENTH JOHNSON HOUSE AND JOHN TOBIN HOUSE HAVE NO INTERIOR MODIFICATIONS

Are there existing vessels? YES
Type: COAST GUARD SURFBOAT (CA. 1930)

Current use: SEASONAL QUARTERS/RANGER STATION
Open to the public? YES - BOATHOUSES ONLY
Public Phone: 616-326-5134
Access: FERRY FROM LELAND, MICHIGAN ( SLEEPING BEAR DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE)

Owner: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
SLEEPING BEAR DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE
9922 FRONT STREET
EMPIRE, MI 49630-9797

National Register status: LISTED as SOUTH MANITOU ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE AND LIFE-SAVING STATION...

The South Manitou Life Saving Service crew posing for a photograph. The keeper is located on the far left noted with the insignia on his hat.