Biography- Orlando Metcalfe Poe

Some of the most ornate and architecturally sound lighthouses on the Great Lakes were designed and built by the army's Chief Engineer of the Upper Great Lakes Lighthouse District, Orlando Metcalfe Poe.

Poe was born on March 7, 1832, in what is now the Village of Navarre, Ohio. Located on the banks of the Tuscarawas River, Navarre is adjacent to the town of Canton, which houses the American Fooball Hall of Fame, and approximately 40 miles south of Cleveland.

Entering the United States Military Acadamy, (West Point), at the age of 20 in 1852, Poe graduated sixth in his class in 1856. Assigned to the Corps of Topigraphical Engineers, (the map makers of the Army), he was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1860 while he was Asst. Topographical Engineer on the Survey of the Northern Great Lakes from 1856-1861.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Poe returned to Ohio and assisted in the recruiting of volunteers to aid the Northern cause. He soon caught the attention of General George McClelland and was assigned to the general's staff. It was in this capacity he participated in the battle of Rich Mountain.

When McClelland was promoted to General of the Army of the Potomac by President Lincoln, Poe was also promoted. The newly appointed colonel of the 2nd Michigan volunteers was in command of the defenses around Washington D.C. He also took part in the battles of the Virginia Peninsular campaign, leading his men from Yorktown through the battle of Seven Pines, then given a field command prior to Second Bull Run.

On November 29, 1862, Poe was commissioned Brigadier General of volunteers, (a commission which never was confirmed by Congress), and took part in the battle of Fredricksburg.

Reverting back to his rank of captain, Poe was transferred to the Western Campaign as chief engineer of XXIII Corps, the Army of the Ohio. It was during this time that he successfully led the defenses of Knoxville, Tennessee against the Confederate army of General James Longstreet. It was because of these efforts that Poe was selected to be General William T. Sherman's chief engineer in his march through Georgia. It was Poe who was responsible for the almost total annihilation of Atlanta, as he directed the destruction forces there. He continued as chief of engineers for the remainder of Sherman's march to the sea, as well as the subsequent final battles of the war.

At the conclusion of the Civil War in 1865, Poe was appointed the Lighthouse Board's chief engineer. In 1870, he was reassigned to the position of Chief Engineer of the Upper Great Lakes Lighthouse District.It was in this position that Poe designed some of the best-known and best built lighthouses on the Great Lakes.

The first light he designed, the new Presque Isle light station in 1870, displayed the distinctive Poe signature which would be found in many of his lighthouses. These tall brick structures, gently tapering from top to bottom, displayed an embellished array of masonry gallery supports and arched top windows. This unique mix soon came to be known as the "Poe style". Other "Poe style" lighthouses included South Manitou Island, (constructed in 1872), Outer Island, Au Sable, and Little Sable, (all built in 1874), Grosse Point, (1873), and Wind Point, (1880). All of these lights remain standing to this day.

Along with all of the previous land-based lighthouses, Poe was instrumental in designing one of the very first off-shore lighthouses, Spectacle Reef. The Spectacle Reef Lighthouse took nearly three years to build and cost a whopping $406,000, much more than the average $40-$70,000 lightstation cost at that time. During this time, he also served as general Sherman's aide-de-camp from 1873-1883.

In 1883, Poe's engineering role was once again redefined, as he became Superintendent Engineer of improvements of rivers and harbors on Lakes Superior and Huron. It was in this role that he designed what many believe to be the finest work of his career, the Poe Lock at Sault Ste Marie. At a length of 800 feet and a width of 100 feet, it was, at the time it was completed in 1896, the largest in the world.

Unfortunately, Poe never got to see the completed project. While inspecting a problem at the lock, he slipped and fell, breaking a number of bones in his body. While bedridden and recovering from the accident he contracted what was believed to be malaria and died ten days later, on October 2, 1895 at the age of 67. Lieutenant-Colonel Orlando M. Poe, a career military man, was buried with honor at Arlington National Cemetery. Buried with him are his wife Eleanor, sons Orlando Wanrner and Charles, and daughter Winifred.

Haunted by a Lighthouse Ghost

With Halloween still a blip in the rear view mirror, I'm reminded of how, at this time of year, we have so many stories circulating about "haunted" lighthouses. It seems that every town with a lighthouse and a community newspaper or TV station does the "obligatory" story on how their local lighthouse is "haunted".

Now, I can't say as I'm opposed to all of these stories, after all, if that's what it takes to bring awareness to these lighthouses, then I'm all for it. The more people we can make aware of the plight and struggle most lighthouses face to survive, the better they all will be. And, I guess, the "hauntings" add to the lore of each beacon.

I'm not saying, as well, that I don't believe in the possibility of some lighthouses being haunted. There are far too many unexplained events happening within the walls of not only lighthouses, but other structures as well. So with this in mind, I have come up with my favorite haunted lighthouse story and am obligated to pass it on.

There are many famous haunted lighthouse stories out there, most notably about the girl who was visiting a boarded up Yaquina Bay Lighthouse in Oregon with some friends. While exploring the lighthouse, the group supposedly found a trap door inside a closet which led to an ominous large, deep hole. The group left the lighthouse, but the girl returned inside alone to retrieve a dropped handkerchief, (or some other personal item, depending on the account). The other members of the group heard a bone-chilling scream from within the lighthouse, and when investigating, found a trail of blood which led up the stairs and right to that closet trap door.

That story has been recounted for years, and many people take it as Fact. There are a number of sources, however, who swear that this account actually started as a fictional story in the 1800's, and has just created a life of its own throughout the years, now to "mythic" proportions. I am convinced that that is the case.

Other lighthouses have laid claim to "haunting" stories, as well, and seem more legitimate than this one. Marshall Point and Seguin Island, Maine, for example, have been the venues for "unexplained" phenomena. Others, (and this is just a short list off the top of my head), are Portsmouth Harbor, NH, New London Ledge, CT, Heceta Head, OR, Point Lookout, MD, and St Augustine, FL.

A while ago, I read a short story which was posted by the Western Michigan Tourist Assn. about the South Haven South Pierhead Lighthouse. It is condensed from "Ghostly Lights" written by Annick Hivert-Carthew. At first reading, it seemed like a recounting of an actual experience. After some lengthy follow-up, however, it appears as just a "tall tale", but one, for some reason, which has stuck with me.
The story is about lighthouse keeper Trevor Tavish, (there was no keeper by the name of Trevor Tavish to ever tend South Haven lighthouse. Trevor seems to be modeled after Civil War veteran Captain James S. Donahue, who lost a leg in the Battle of Wilderness and later became keeper at South Haven).
Now in this story, a Dr. McKenzie was alone in the lighthouse doing research on Keeper Tavish. After quite a long stretch of reading the keeper's logs, Dr. McKenzie nodded off to sleep. When she awoke, the room was in total darkness. Attempting to turn on the light, the good doctor found the switch didn't work. The phone was also dead. Now a slight bit apprehensive, the doctor was trying to decide what to do next when she heard a wailing sound. Frightened now, Dr. McKenzie shreiks out "Who's there?", but gets no reply. A second wail, then many panicked voices yelling "Help!", "Over here!", "Please save us!", and the like.
Frightened beyond her wits, Dr. McKenzie pressed herself against the wall. She heard a loud shrill nearby, followed by a blue mist which passed right in front of her and clung to her skin. Horrible creatures in black hoods formed a wall in front of her, wickedly cackling. Loud crashes of splintered wood, waves and suffering came crashing through the room. An ancient ship with a gaping hole on wild seas appeared, along with cries of suffering. Bodies can be seen floating past, while others are clinging onto floating pieces of the ship. Through it all came a bearded man rowing a small boat. As the man in the boat appeared, the horrible cloaked creatures removed their hoods to reveal leathery, misfigured faces, lips twisted by death into a ghastly grin.
Suddenly, from behind the ghouls, the bearded man appears, wooden leg tapping as he walks. The man strikes the cowering horde shouting, "Leave me in peace! How could I save everyone, especially with a wooden leg! I saved as many as I could! Quit tormenting me!"
As the man turned to show his face in Dr. McKenzie's direction, She recognized him as the keeper she was researching, Trevor Tavish.
You know, reading this story again and recounting it as I just did, I don't know how I could have taken it for real the first time I read it. It sure does have a lot of Hollywood, or Stephen King in it, don't you think?