Little Sable

LINK	DESCRIPTION
timeline	timeline for Petite Pointe Au Sable Light Station

1873 and 1874 - Little Sable built

site

• named Petite Pointe Au Sable
•  lake access only
• $35,000 cost
•  39.4 acres 

tower

• substructure (stone over wood piling)
• rust brick superstructure, 
• 139 steps, 
• walls tapering 5’-2’
• 4 landings, 
• 3 rooms (service, watch, lantern), 
• 107’ tower height, 
• 115’ top of lantern 

keeper house

• keeper and assistant
• 2 story brick,
• attached, 
• driftwood heating 

lamp

• lard oil fuel
• 3 wick 

lens 

• 3rd order Fresnel lens (half rotating, half fixed)
• 5 sec bright flash and 25 sec dim flash
• visible 19 miles 

1889 - stable added 

1893 - boat landing added 

1900 - tower painted white, 

1902 - access road, brick oil storage building added 

1910 - name changed 

1911 - conversion attic 

1915 - kerosene oil vapor lamp 

1930s - oil cooking fuel 

1954 - 1000 w electric lamp 

1955 - house demolished 

1974 - site transfer to State 

1977 - tower paint removed 

1985 - 250 w lamp, on 1 sec off 5 sec, visible 17 miles

2005 - SPLKA operates and maintains

LINK	DESCRIPTION
Henry	1st Assistant Henry Vavrina
Hunters	Gertie and J. Arthur Hunter
Arthur	J. Arthur Hunter
1890	Little Sable circa 1890