St. Clair Flats Canal.—Before the construction of this canal the St. Clair River emptied, into Lake St. Clair through seven principal mouths or passes, the one most used being the South Channel. In 1866, in order to obtain a straight channel across the flats, a canal was commenced, and in 1871 finished to a depth of 13 feet, with a width of 300 feet, the channel being bounded on either side'by a dike. In 1873 the channel was deepened to 16 feet for a width of 200 feet. In 1893 the project was to dredge the area between the dikes to a depth of 20 feet, and to continue a channelabove the canal into the river, and below the canal into the lake.
The northern or river end of this channel was to have a bottom width of 650 feet, and from that to narrow gradually until the dikes were reached. Between the dikes a depth of 20 feet was to be maintained with a width of 300 feet for a distance of 7,221 feet. From the lake end of the dikes the width was to increase gradually until a bottom width of 800 feet should be attained, and this width to be continued to the 20-foot curve.

1865 – The necessity for establishing a system of range-lights at St. Clair Flats has been brought to the attention of the board, and has received careful consideration. Deeming these ranges of manifest usefulness, a special estimate is submitted.

1867 – St. Clair Flats.—The timber crib requires some repairs, also the plastering in the dwelling. The crib upon which the beacon is erected has settled some, but no damage of any importance is expected to result.
An appropriation of sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) is available for ranges to complete the lighting of the channel over the flats. It being understood that a material change in the channel will probably be made, it was deemed prudent to wait until that question was determined. So soon as the excavation of the new channel is sufficiently advanced to warrant it, the construction of the necessary range-lights will be commenced.

1868 – St. Clair flats and beacon.—The crib-work on which the structures are situated needs some minor repairs; also the plastering of the dwelling, and the boat.
It is probable that the new channel across the flats, now being dredged under the direction of the engineer department of the army, will be completed by the close of navigation of 1869; and it is proposed to commence the construction of range lights to mark it, under the appropriation of $60,000 now available for the purpose, sufficiently early next season to secure their completion by the time the channel can be used.

1869 – St. Clair Flats and beacon.—Crib-work wants some repairing; both towers are slightly cracked, and the plastering of the dwelling is off in several places; but these repairs are not deemed important at present, in view of the erection of the range lights at either end of the new cut now in progress. Plans and estimates for these two light-houses have been approved and construction authorized by the board, and the foundation piling will be driven before the close of navigation. It is expected that the light-houses will be ready for occupancy by the time the channel can be opened for navigation.

1870 – St. Clair Flats, Michigan, new channel.—These two light-houses were in course of construction when work had to be stopped owing to the law of July 12, 1870, carrying to the surplus fund all unexpended balances. The building at the north end of the channel had then reached the height of the first floor. The building at the south end had reached nearly the same height. The new channel is expected to be completed before the close of navigation, and it is to be regretted that the lights cannot be shown at the same time the channel opens for navigation. The unexpended balance of $33,000, which under the law reverted to the treasury, would have been ample to have completed both light-houses. It is recommended that the above amount be reappropriated.

1871 – Saint Clair Flats, new channel.—By the act of July 12,1870, returning to the Treasury the available funds, work on these Light houses was suspended while in full progress, and it was not until the appropriation of March 3, 1871, became available that operations could be resumed. An adequate working force is now upon the ground, and the two stations will be ready for occupancy before the close of the season. Meanwhile, temporary structures have been erected, and everything is in readiness to exhibit lights, as soon as the announcement is made that the channel is open to navigation.

1872 – Saint Clair Flats Canal.—These two light-houses were completed as proposed in the last annual report, and were lighted for the first time on the night of November 15,1871. Simultaneously the temporary lights were discontinued. It was found that the foundations were liable to injury from the impact of rafts in tow of steam-tugs, as well as from other causes not connected with the construction. They were protected by special constructions, which thus far have proven perfectly satisfactory.

1885 – Saint Clair Flats Canal (lower light) on the lower end of the western pier, South Pass, Michigan.—The renewal of the piling and sheet-piling at the rear of the light-house is under contract, to be commenced early in July and to be completed before September. Last fall the side walls of the dwelling, which had spread apart, were brought back and held in place by two iron rods passed through the building immediately under the joists of the first floor; a matched board floor was laid in the kitchen and basement, and various minor repairs were made.

1886 – Saint Clair Flats Canal (lower light), on the lower end of the western pier, Michigan.—About 221 linear feet of piling and sheet-piling in the rear of the light-house were done by contract. The space between the old and new work was then filled with cedar bark and earth, the low places in the lot were filled with earth, a new boat-house was built, 310 linear feet of picket fence were rebuilt, 145 linear feet of sidewalk were renewed, and certain minor repairs were made.

1890 – Eight circular iron oil-houses were procured, under contract of June 24, 1889, and six of these were delivered at the stations for which they were intended, viz: Windmill Point, Belle Isle, Upper and Lower St Clair Flats Canal, Fort Gratiot, and Cheboygan. The Cheboygan and Windmill Point oil-houses are now in service; the others await funds to erect them. The houses are of two sizes, one 7 feet in diameter and 7 feet high, with capacity for forty-five cases of oil or 225 gallons; the other, 8 feet in diameter, 8 feet 6 inches high, and capacity for seventy-two cases or 360 gallons. The inside shelving is of iron, and between this and the shell a brick wall is laid up in cement. The larger house has ample capacity for the oil needed by a third-order light run the year round. They are light and portable, and can be set up at the stations without the employment of skilled labor. By far the greater number of light-stations are unprovided with oil-houses, and their supplies are either kept in the dwelling or under the tower, exposed to danger of fire, in which case the station would probably be destroyed.

1890 – St. Clair Flats Canal (lower range), Lake St. Clair, Michigan.— A circular iron oil-house, of 225 gallons’ capacity, was delivered and will soon be erected. The crib protecting the site is in an advanced state of decay. It is expected that the United States engineers will soon begin repairs.

1891 – St. Clair Flats Canal, lower, Lake St. Clair, Michigan.—A circular iron oil house, of 225 gallons’ capacity, was built, and various repairs were made.

1894 – St. Clair Flats Canal, lower, Lake St. Clair, Michigan.—A new prism of the lens was placed in position. The low places surrounding the station buildings were filled in, graded, and seeded. The filling consists of 39 cords of cedar bark, 280 cubic yards of sand, and 20 cubic yards of black earth.

1901 – St. Clair Flats Canal (lower), Michigan.—The material required to reline the interior of the lantern was purchased, and delivered at the station by the tender Amaranth.

1913 – St. Clair Flats Canal Lower Light. This light was changed from red to white on May 1, 1913, and intensity increased to 520 candlepower. St. Clair Flats Canal East Pierhead Light. On June 12, 1913, an unwatched intermittent white light of 55 candlepower every ten seconds, thus, light 5 seconds, eclipsed 5 seconds, was established on the lower end of the east revetment of the St. Clair Flats Canal. The light is exhibited 29 feet above the water from a red cylindrical structure on a concrete foundation placed 5 yards from the western edge of the revetment, opposite St. Clair Flats Canal Lower Light. The illuminant is petroleum vapor.

1934 – Rearrange aids. Plans and surveys are under preparation. Cost to June 30, 1934, $86.

1934 – The removal of the west (center) dike at St. Clair Flats Canal to a depth of 25 feet and the dredging of the channels on either side to same depth was started under contract on October 7, 1933, and completed on August 7, 1934.

1935 – See annual report, 1934, page 114. Sites for both range lights and for keeper’s dwelling have been acquired. Steel towers for all lights and all wood piling purchased and delivered on the sites. Materials for dwelling being purchased. Cost to June 30, 1935, $13,184.

1936 – St. Clair Flats Canal Range Light Station. The erection of a keeper’s dwelling, boathouse and radio remote control station is nearing completion. All of the signals, light, fog signal and radiobeacon on Lake St. Clair Lightship are controlled from this station about eight miles from the lightship. This project also included additional lighted buoys and the establishment of St. Clair Flats Canal Range Lights.

1937 – St. Clair Flats Canal Range. See 1936 annual report. The keeper’s dwelling which was under construction at the beginning of the fiscal year has been completed, this concluding the work on this project. Cost, $31,048.

1937 – Improvements in the channel across Lake St. Clair and in the St. Clair River necessitated moving and improving the range lights and other aids to navigation in the vicinity. Lake St. Clair Flats Canal Range Light Station was entirely rebuilt, the range now occupying two sites about 4,000 feet apart. The front light is located on a 40-foot and the rear light on a 100-foot standard structural-steel tower with sold daymarks on the range sides. The tower foundations are concrete piers supported on wooden piles. The illuminating apparatus for each light is a 14-inch locomotive headlight reflector using 110-volt commercial electric current providing a light of 120,000 candlepower. A small generator set was installed as stand-by equipment for both lights. A six-room keeper’s dwelling adjoins the front light and serves also as the control station for the radio-controlled Lake St. Clair Lightship (no. 75), 8 miles away.

1941 – The intensity of St. Clair Flats Range Front Light 1 and Passing Light will be changed to 65,000 candlepower and 1,000 candlepower, respectively. (in 1942).

Keepers: Albert L. Hatch (1872 – 1883), William F. Hodgson (1883 – 1890), Thomas Lappin (1890 – 1937).

No light exists at this location today.

The Fresnel lens from St. Clair Flats Canal Lower Lighthouse is on display at Port Huron Museum at 1115 Sixth Street in Port Huron.

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