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Column: Lighthouse listing inspires thoughts of alternative living quarters

A lake in the front, a beach in the back, a cloud-dotted blue sky above ... does this sound like a dream house?

Actually, it's a reality for the potential buyers of the Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance lighthouse, which has been listed on auction and could be purchased for as little as $16,000, the current bid, according to realestatesales.gov.

I can't lie. I've been thinking about it.

I love water - swimming, boating, dipping my toes in it. The lighthouse sits between Lake Superior and the southern end of the Portage River. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers breakwater draws a line between lapping waves and glass-top stillness. The dual sight plays tricks on your mind. Photos appear to be manipulated in a time-lapsed scene. I can attest it's no optical illusion.

I don't mind a remote lifestyle. Roughly 2,250 steps down the breakwater from car to front door isn't too far to haul the groceries, is it? With no neighbors - except hundreds of seagulls, the 68-foot-tall property would keep us focused. The lighthouse is an active aid to navigation and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014, requiring an appropriate level of attention and maintenance.

My obsession with tiny homes is well-documented. The Portage Entry Light provides 1,000 square feet of interior space. I can envision creating living space and storage from all the stairways, angles, nooks and crannies. I inherited my mother's flair for interior design, and HGTV could evoke plenty of nautical-themed inspiration. My husband - once he gets over his unfortunate relationship with water - could find sufficient amounts of lighthouse-to-home projects to keep him busy.

When I moved to the Keweenaw a year ago, I searched for a home in Chassell - close to work in Houghton, water access, a quick jaunt to The Pines. Although the lighthouse is located in Torch Lake Township, its mailing address is White City Road, Chassell. The summertime ride to the Chassell Post Office across Portage Lake could make for a regular enjoyable adventure. Have you heard of "postcode envy?"

While these are viable points and life in a lighthouse checks a lot of boxes, I won't be outbidding you for a chance to own the Portage Entry Light. For me and mine, I'm better off keeping my feet - and my house - on land.

Candace Wolf is publisher of the Daily Mining Gazette. She can be reached at cwolf@mininggazette.com.