A grassroots fundraising campaign is gaining momentum in Algoma as residents work to preserve one of the city’s most recognizable waterfront landmarks before a major reconstruction project permanently alters the harbor skyline.

The Save the Algoma Catwalk Committee is seeking to raise $500,000 to salvage, restore and eventually reinstall the historic steel catwalk that stretches along the city’s North Pier. The effort comes as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers begins a two-year reconstruction of the pier, a project that requires the removal of both the catwalk and the iconic red lighthouse. While plans call for the lighthouse to return after construction, the catwalk currently has no guaranteed future.

Committee Secretary and Treasurer Jacqueline Toepfer said preserving the structure is about more than saving steel and concrete.

“The catwalk is an important part of Algoma’s history and has become a symbol of our community,” Toepfer said. “We want future generations to be able to experience and appreciate that history.”

TOEPFER1

Originally constructed in 1908, the catwalk once allowed lighthouse keepers safe passage to the pierhead lighthouse during rough Lake Michigan weather. Though it no longer serves a functional purpose, the structure remains a favorite subject for photographers, artists and visitors drawn to Algoma’s shoreline.

“The catwalk has added a unique beauty to our harbor for more than 118 years,” Toepfer said. “It helps tell the story of who we are.”

The committee has already secured permission from the Army Corps of Engineers and support from the City of Algoma to reinstall the catwalk if funding can be raised privately.

For many in Algoma, saving the catwalk is about protecting a piece of the city’s identity. The Save the Catwalk foundation is holding fundraising events throughout the summer, including a Bon Voyage party for the lighthouse and catwalk at the Algoma Boat Club on Saturday, June 13. 

For more information, or to make a donation, please visit the Save the Catwalk website.