As you head to Washington Island, you can catch a glimpse of Plum Island; home to the Plum Island Life-Saving Station, built in 1896, and the 1930 boathouse addition. The island’s location in Death’s Door encompasses a rich history that is lifted up by the Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands (FOPPI), a non-profit consisting of dedicated volunteers who are on a mission to embrace the land’s legacy through preservation.
“Many Door County residents worked on Plum and Pilot Islands and their offspring still live and visit the islands; a lot of them are still on Washington Island,” said FOPPI President Mary Beth Volmer, “history, I think, is preserving the stories of those that came before us for those that are coming after us; it’s one of the last wild islands in Door County.”
The organization recently completed a $405,000 rehabilitation on the rear and front Range Lights on Plum Island that included lead paint abatement and restoration of the tower glass. According to documentation, it was the first time that the building had been repainted since its construction. Now, Volmer shared that the next project will focus on restoring the Roosevelt-type boathouse, the only example of this style in Wisconsin.
The boathouse is Volmer’s favorite structure on the island, and she says that looking inside is like peeking back into time to see the daily life of a fisherman and the skills they articulately applied to their trade. The wall panel still holds various tools that they once used and the spot contains a unique characteristic - painted tool markers to know where to replace what was being used.
“It’s pretty handy,” added Volmer, “a place for everything and everything in its place.”
The group will host a Volunteer Work Day on July 19th and individuals can help with various maintenance projects, picking up debris, and cleaning. Plum Island is open to the public from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. To get to the island, visitors will be chartered by boat, which has been generously donated by one of FOPPI's members. For more information, click here.
Photo Credit: Wisconsin Historical Society
