The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1889-05-23
Kenosha Historic Lighthouse.

pose of a light house at this point
was contrived in 1887. About that
time during the season of naviga-
ton vessels began to pass this point,
and not long after steamboats, called
here with frequency, wind and
weather permitting. A line of
steamboats, was organized between
Buffalo and Chicago. These steam
ers were at first not of large kind,
but subsequently Of a class much
larger than any seen on the lakes in
later years. The great body OF
travel between Buffalo and Chicago
| was by water around the lakes. The
steamers before the running of rail
roads, were fitted up in elegant style,
with every convenience for the trav-
cling public nearly as the ocean
steamers. There was a demand for
this, because the distance by Way OF
the lakes between the two points
mentioned, is nearly equal to one.
third the distance across the Allan
tic, from New York to Liverpool,
and the time required for the jour
ney was correspondingly long. This
was also the freight route for the
goods and merchandise destined
west of Lake Michigan until railroads
went into operation. The railroads
spoiled the passenger business OF
the large magnificent steamboats,.
and they were hauled off and con-
verted into freight carrying vessels.
The necessity for night light at
this place for the convenience of
vessels on the lake was apparent.
There was then no improved harbor
on the lake shore between Chicago
and Milwaukee, a distance of about
ninety miles. Steamers and vessels
having passengers and freight for
this place, needed shore light in
the night time to guide them where
to stop. The first expedient adopt
ed by the few residents of the pros
pective city was the building of a
fire on the bank of the lake at night
fall. This answered the purpose for
the first year, 1896. The next year
George Kimball conceived of plan
for a more conspicuous light; a
large oak tree stood on the bank
near where the Wire Mattress COM
pany is now located. This tree Mr..
Kimball caused to be cut down,
leaving a stump twelve feet high;
the top of the stump was cut to a
level service on which was put lay
er of stone and mortar; on this a
fire of wood was built every night
after shutdown A word may be
said of Mr.. Kimball, the protector of
this light; he was gentleman OF
courtly manners, by education a law
yer, Of aldermanic proportions, and
might easily have been taken for an
English nobleman; he came to- this
place from Canada He was the
owner of a large part Of the real es-
tate on the south side Of the river,
on which large part of the city
now stands, which was then desig-
mated the ''Kimball quarter" Being
a gentleman of leisure, he undertook
keeping the new contrlved light
himself; this service he performed
to general satisfaction. This beacon
light served the purpose of land
mark to vessels on the lake until the
citizens of the town resolved on a
more pretentious structure for a
light James M. Stryker, public
spirited merchant of the town, led
the enterprise of constructing more
conspicuous light house. 1t was the
erection of four posts. twenty feet
high, ten feet apart at the base, lean.
ing inwards; on the top Of the posts
a platform was constructed, and up
on this sash frame about two feet
square, with common window glass
was placed. In this sash frame en-.
closure oil lamps were kept burning
nights, This last substitute for {
light house answered a good purpose
until the present government light
house was built on Washington Is
land, north side of the harbor.
BuckIen's Arnca Salse