The original Port des Morts light was built on Plum Island in 1848. Maritime interests complained that the light was too far west into the Deaths Door Passage and that a light further east and south would be more useful. The Lighthouse Board recommended a change in location, and on May 28, 1858, President Buchanan reserved the 3.5 acre island then known as Port du Mort from the public domain for a lighthouse site.
In 1858 the Port des Morts Light was rebuilt on Port du Mort Island as a two story rectangular cream colored brick dwelling. A square tower projected from the root at the western gable of the house and was topped with a ten-sided cast iron lantern containing a fourth order Fresnel lens. The base of the tower was 11 feet above lake level, and the focal plane of the light was 46 feet above lake level. Because of the frequent fogs in the area, in 1864 a fog-signal consisting of a trumpet blown by means of a caloric engine went into operation. After many complaints about the poor quality of the fog-signal, in 1875 the Lighthouse Board erected a more powerful steam siren at the station. In the official reports in 1875 the location of the Port du Morts Light changed from Port du Mort to Pilot Island as it is known today. Because of the time it took to recycle the steam engine and get steam up and because of the need for a backup in case of repairs, in 1880 a duplicate steam-siren in its own separate building was erected. Earlier a boat house and landing had been built on the east side of the island. Because of the exposed position of the station, it was often impossible to land or leave Pilot Island for days at a time. In 1891 a new pier and boat house were built on the west side of the island. This helped, but there were still times that Lake Michigan made it too tough to land on the island. Later various different fog-signals were used, until in 1904 a compressed air system replaced the old steam operated signals. The dwelling was then enlarged to provide separate quarters for the keeper and first assistant. Each had and entrance, stairway, five rooms, and a cellar. The unused fog-signal building was converted into a dwelling for the second assistant keeper. There were also an oil house, privy, barn, workshop, and several other small buildings at the station. All were connected by walkways.

Pilot Island was viewed by some as a dreary, bleak, isolated, fog shrouded spot, although the records show the fog-signals at the Sturgeon Bay Canal Light operated more frequently than at Pilot Island. Victor Rohn, a Civil War veteran, who was keeper from 1866 to 1876 once disparagingly compared it with Libby Prison, the infamous Civil War prison. And while much is made of first assistant keeper John Boyce's suicide on June 20, 1880, it appears depression caused by a lost love was more the cause than depression resulting from his assignment on Pilot Island. In fact, the keepers regularly visited Washington Island and the mainland for mail and supplies as well as to see family members. A surprising number of people came to picnic and chat with the keepers and their families. In September 1890, Ben Fagg, a Sturgeon Bay printer, visited the light and wrote, "This is truly an isolated spot but I have spent five days on Pilot Island and they are among the happiest days of my eventuality....On moonlight nights it is like being in a dream of ideality to walk alone on the moss-covered rocks and listen to the swish of the breakers that break over the breakwater at the boat landing, hear them roaring on all sides of the little island, and to see huge vessels under full sail crossing the moonglade on their way through the Door. One seems to be completely separated from all that is worldly and bad. There is no field for gossip out here. The land is not suitable for general farming purposes, but it is a splendid place to raise an ample crop of good, pure thoughts." Fagg then went on to describe the steam fog sirens at the station, one of which was a duplicate of one on display at the Paris World's Fair. According to Fagg, when the siren sounded, "all the lights in the signal house must he hung by strings to prevent them from going out. The sound is so intense that no chicken can be hatched on the island, as the vibration kills them in the egg, and it causes milk to curdle in a few minutes."

In 1962 the fog-signal was no longer considered essential to assist shipping and it was removed. At the same time the station was automated. Today the grounds are overgrown and only the dwelling and empty fog-signal house remain as reminders of the days when faithful keepers manned the station making sure the light shown out through the dark and the fog-signal sounded when the fogs obscured the passage.

Historical information prepared by Steven Karges, Janesville, Wisconsin

Jack has had some wonderful (as well as trying) experiences during his years of servicing lighthouses. He's written some of his life into a journal that he's shared with me.  With his permission I will soon have some of his writings on this page so check back soon.