Death at the Lighthouse

by Loren R. Graham

The U.S. Coast Guard had long abandoned the North Lighthouse on Grand Island, erecting a pole light instead when, in 1972, summer residents, Professors Loren and Patricia Graham, became interested in buying and preserving the property which was in great need of repair. They were not aware of the mysterious disappearance of two Lighthouse Keepers in 1908 until Graham found a newspaper clipping from The Detroit Free Press of June 15, 1908, under the oilcloth on the rickety kitchen table in the lighthouse. It read: "Slain and Set Afloat, Grand Island Lighthouse keeper and his assistant are believed to be victims of brutal murder and robbery. Mutilated body of one found in boat. Keeper George Genry missing from his isolated post and thought to have met same fate." Graham began a thirty year investigation of the event and has recorded his findings in his new book, Death at the Lighthouse: A Grand Island Riddle. This non-fiction work begins with a systematic investigation.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, True Crime

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Loren R. Graham was an American historian of science, particularly science in Russia.

Reviews

[Fran Darling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one small book really brings a sharp picture of the cultures, economies, and regional perspectives of the volatile melting pot of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Graham expertly weaves all these historical backgrounds using primary accounts and interviews to develop the "true" story of the deaths of both the Assistant and main Lighthouse Keeper at Grand Island North Lighthouse in 1908, many of the facts and details still mysterious and conflicted today.
Having attended many, many historical presentations in the 12 years we have lived in the Upper Peninsula (even serving as a volunteer for the Marquette Regional History Museum) I have never read or seen any book or presentation that so expertly pulls all the most interesting and disparate UP stories together to clearly and interestingly. It answers so many subtle questions I have had over the years in our past experiences here in the UP. I really appreciated this "big-picture" perspective.

[HJ Vanny · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s 1908 on Grand Island in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. There are two dead bodies, the lighthouse keeper and his assistant, and at least six different theories as to what happened. While exploring each theory, the author gives us a fascinating history of the U.P., its development, industries, notable people & events, and the many divergent cultures that shared and/or exploited the land.

Although it is a true crime story, it’s more of a history book and is well-written and researched. The author lives in the actual lighthouse that the two unfortunate men inhabited, and his time spent on the island gives him a unique perspective. In only one case, did he add his own drama to the story and he freely acknowledges that fact.

There is no exciting conclusion to the crime story but the book is definitely one I will re-read for the Michigan history.

[Trevor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up at Falling Rock Cafe in munising because I love lighthouses and a good mystery. What I really got out of this book though was the history and past culture of the UP I’ve never heard or even thought about before. Really a lot of the book focuses on how the UP was inhabited by white people and taken from the indigenous people. A sad but important thing we should all be aware of. All in all I loved everything about this!

[Alice Harbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

We have a good friend who is full-blooded Chippewa. I have never lived in an area where there were many Native Americans, so I was never exposed to the discrimination against them. This book clearly shows how the "White Americans" felt about the natives.
Having lived in the UP for some 32 years, I am familiar with the Yooper dislike, to say it kindly, of government officials and even big business.
That being said, I have been living in Gwinn, George Mather's model town for the past 14 years.Though the town distrusted government and big business, yet they realized that Mather provided many positive things for the town.
I no clue of Mr. Mather's being snubbed by the Huron Mountain Club nor of his purchasing Grand Island with the idea of making it his own "special and private" hunting and fishing place (to outshine the HMC).
Previous to living in Gwin we lived in Marquette for 13 years and knew of Kaufman, Harlow, White, and Longyear. These were the "blue bloods" of the UP. As it was, we were told that our neighbor, an elderly lady who was once a woman of great beauty, had been a longtime mistress of one of the Kaufmans.
I'd heard of Breitung and Schoolcraft as county names and because before Marquette we lived on Stonington Peninsula and prior to that in Manistique, in Schoolcraft county. There we learned about provincialism. These were the "blue bloods" of the UP.
To sum it up, the book added to my knowledge of the area and was fun to read.

[Dan Pepper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll spoil a bit here and say that Graham doesn't have a for-sure solution to the riddle of what happened on Grand Island at the north lighthouse in 1908, but his suppositions sounds pretty sensible. He alternates that story with tales of the U.P. in that era, especially the Munising area, some of which have more or less to do with the story, but all are interesting. Like the fact that Seney once bragged at having no government and no law, while being jammed with saloons, bordellos and lumberjacks fighting each other at all times. And that the lighthouse keepers were usually Anishinabe or mixed race in that era. And the name of Jimmy Kishketog should be remembered just because he was pretty awesome.

All in all, a well-written and enjoyable work of history and journalism about a little corner of the word.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well researched book. Sort of a sociological piece about three different cultural groups: the Chippewa, the Yoopers, and the elite industrialists--with a lot of lighthouse stuff mixed in. Although the author's conclusion leaves us with a much tamer story than what I was hoping for, it's hard to argue against. I've really enjoyed the trips I've taken to the UP, so that made me appreciate the book more.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed Mr. Graham's previous book about Grand Island and bought this one on a return trip to Munising. This book is similarly well-researched and written, explaining the many theories behind the deaths and the social, political, and economic factors of the area that contribute to the riddle. I will be recommending and sharing this book with others.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book that details important U.P. history as it sets the stage for the mysterious disappearance of a lighthouse keeper and his assistant. I only wish the publisher had taken the time to edit this captivating book properly to support the time and effort Loren Graham put into compiling such an important account of a time and situation that deserves a voice.

[J.D. Holman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This doesn't have the conclusion one might expect. Overall, a pretty good book, though more a book on the history of the area, the lighthouse, and the keepers than a "whodunnit" true crime. Review available at http://moonlit-librarian.blogspot.com...

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a fictional mystery as i assumed when i first picked it up in Munising. Rather, it is a well-researched history with unexpected depths of a mysterious deaths in 1908 of the lighthouse keeper and his assistant keeper.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Great history lesson and all of the intrigue.

[Kendra Schaap · Rating 2 out of 5]

Epilogue Book Reading Challenge - Michigan Author

A great look into the complicated history of Michigan's U.P.