Officials Work to Make Ashland Lighthouse Part of the Apostle Islands

ASHLAND - The Harbor Breakwater Lighthouse in Ashland has been standing tall for 99 years, and now state officials are working to make sure it stays that way.Ashland residents know the lighthouse in the middle of Chequamegon Bay carries a strong history, and now state officials are trying to preserve that history as making it a part of the Apostle Islands. A bill heading through the Wisconsin legislature will add Ashland’s lighthouse to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. If the bill doesn't go through, the lighthouse could be demolished."The lighthouse itself is just as historic as all the other lighthouses in the National Park,” said superintendent of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Bob Krumenaker. “This park has more lighthouses than any other in the country, and this is the only one that's missing." Built in 1915, the Ashland Harbor Breakwater Light was meant to lead ships to the city's rich industrial waterfront."It's a part of our history,” said Ashland’s Mayor, Deb Lewis. “It's part of the history of our area that tourists may be interested in seeing." In the 1980's, the Apostle lighthouses joined the national park and the lighthouse in Ashland was left out."I don't think anyone thought of it,” explained Krumenaker. “It's still a distance from the rest of the islands." Nestled nine miles from the national park boundary, Senator Tammy Baldwin and Congressman Sean Duffy proposed a bill to add Ashland’s beloved lighthouse to the national park. "It's going to mean that that lighthouse will be there in perpetuity and will be cared for lovingly," Mayor Lewis said. The city hopes to market its lighthouse as the gateway to the Apostles turning the focus to attract more tourists to the area."We can have tours going to there,” Lewis dreamed. “We can maybe have cruises out to other islands from here." Currently, the Coast Guard is in charge of keeping the lighthouse in good shape. If the bill goes through, the national park will be responsible for keeping the 99 year old lighthouse in perfect condition. The long break connected to the lighthouse will not be included in the state park proposal."We hope that we would be able to take it within our inventory and over time get the money that's necessary to improve the condition," Krumenaker said.Officials are hoping the lighthouse becomes part of the chain of islands by the end of 2014.The bill has already passed a house committee, and a meeting with the senate should happen in the coming months.If legislators don't pass the law, the process will start over next year.