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| - There are historic places because of how old they are and then there are history makers because of their significance to important events. Fairport Harbor is not just an old historic place, but a place steeped in history. I admit I didn't think much of its appearance, but looks are deceiving. Once known as Grandon lighthouse back when it was built and also goes by the name Grand River Lighthouse.
The current structure was built in 1871 at a height of 60 feet on the same grounds as the first lighthouse located here, which was completed 46 years earlier in 1825. It was decommissioned in 1925 and was dubbed "the light that shone for a hundred years." Fairport Harbor came to be known as sailor's town because of it's importance as a shipping gateway as well as being only one of eight ports with a lighthouse on the Great Lakes at that time.
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BLACK HISTORY
However, history shows this lighthouse became more than just a beacon for ships, but also proved to be the last stop in the Underground Railroad movement. According to Lighthouse Friends.com, The town of Fairport Harbor was not only firmly anti-slavery, but heavily active in harbouring and assisting escaped slaves to freedom. The lighthouse was said to be used often as a hiding place as angry slave masters searched the town for runaway slaves.
If you didn't know, many old slave songs were actually instructions and directions on how to escape to freedom. Although this has been widely disputed, I choose to believe it's true. How else could you unify and instruct a people who were not allowed to read or write, yet successfully navigate them across hundreds of miles to precise locations. I was proud to know this lighthouse lit the way for generations of slaves. I was equally proud to know the townspeople and ship captains risked their livelihoods for the sake of humanity, making this more than just some old lighthouse.
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There is also more than meets the eye. The flagpole on the west side of the building was actually the mast from the first iron US Navy warship named Michigan, built in 1843 and renamed Wolverine in 1905. Below the mast is an anchor used from the 1800's. The odd looking rounded green addition (also on the west side of the keepers house) was once the pilot house for the freighter Frontenac. At the base of the lighthouse is a windlass used to lift heavy objects and emergency freighter wheel.
As you survey the beautiful green surrounding landscapes and lake views, you will notice the amphitheater used for a variety of outdoor events. Also in view is the Fairport water treatment center, the mouth of the Grand River (very important to the early commerce of the region) and the Morton Salt mines. Last but not least in the far distance is the West Breakwater lighthouse; a square lighthouse that replaced the Fairport Harbor Lighthouse in 1925. The West Breakwater keeper's house is now a private residence, so we didn't bother to go view it.
A stone commemorating the history of the Mormon Latter Day Saints history is located here. A portion f the sign reads: "This is a meaningful place of comings and goings. From here, significant Latter-Day Saints missions were launched, including the first mission of the Quorum of the Twelve (1835), and also the first mission of the church to England."
FINAL THOUGHTS
We arrived before the museum was open, so we didn't get an opportunity to do the tour. Not a problem. They have plenty of historic information outside to fill your craving of knowledge. I do wish I had gotten the opportunity to climb the towers 69 stairs to the top. I would have loved to touch the interior walls that once helped so many black americans escape the brutality of slavery. I will definitely return here if ever I'm in the Cleveland area again.
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