HAUNTED MICHIGAN: The Apparition of Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse
Driving the backroads of Michigan's thumb area is extremely creepy at night...you got the guts? Make sure you have enough gas...you wouldn't wanna run outta gas on any of those backroads late at night.
There are plenty of lighthouses in Michigan...plenty of 'em are rumored to be haunted, too...and this one is located in Michigan's thumb (which, as before-mentioned, has miles and miles of creepy countryside and backroads), the Point aux Barques Lighthouse, located near the tip of Michigan's thumb on US-25.
THE LEGEND:
In the early-to-mid 1800's, Peter Shook had been Point aux Barques' first lighthouse keeper. In 1849, Peter drowned while he and a couple of friends were sailing to Port Huron to pick up supplies for the lighthouse. He left behind eight kids and his wife Catherine; she took over Peter's duties, thus becoming Michigan's first female lighthouse keeper.
Since then, people have claimed to see the spirit of Catherine walking along the edge of the cliff, dressed in mourning clothes...she has also been spotted in the window of the second floor, wearing an apron. Along with an apparition being seen, footsteps ascending & descending the tower stairs and giggling has been heard, cold spots have been felt and burning tobacco has been smelled.
According to Scott, team leader of the South East Michigan Paranormal Society, “there is every reason to believe the lighthouse proper is haunted. As we were doing some evp (electronic voice phenomenon) work in the living room, we heard loud thuds coming from overhead. Climbing the stairs, the sounds of something scraping along the floor came from the same area. We found in the bedroom to the left of the staircase the rocking chair had moved about two feet and it was rocking.....when we were downstairs, we heard heavy footsteps coming from upstairs.....when we were upstairs we heard movements downstairs. We recorded heavy footsteps on the tower stairway and in the hallway.....they are just lost souls searching for eternity.”
This is a public place, so getting inside is not hard, HOWEVER:
ALWAYS GET PERMISSION TO ENTER LOCKED BUILDINGS, LOCKED CEMETERIES, ETC. TO PROTECT YOURSELF. MANY SELF-CALLED “GHOSTHUNTERS” HAVE BEEN APPREHENDED THAT DID NOT GET PERMISSION.
The lighthouse keeper's quarters are now being used as a museum; both lighthouse and museum are open Memorial weekend thru October 15th, 10am to 6pm all week long, with no admission charge.
The lighthouse is located at 7320 Lighthouse Road, about 12 miles north of Harbor Beach, between Grind Stone City and Port Hope.
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