"Pirate" Joe Perry
The webmaster cosplaying Perry.
Because of ever increasing lake traffic during the 1800's a lighthouse was finally construced in 1840 on South Manitou Island. However, it was considered inadequate due to it's weak light. It's light was so weak that a man named Joe Perry from Empire, Michigan occasionally placed a lantern along the slope of the nearby sand dunes. The mariners would see this light, mistake it for the lighthouse and run aground. When the crew abandoned ship Perry would row out to the ship and plunder the goods. People blamed the dimness of the lighthouse for Perry's success.
Perry was either an unsavory character, or a well-respected citizen of Empire, as many people not only knew of Perry's enterprising, but also allowed him to stash his loot in many of their homes.
There was nothing the local Coast Guard crew could do against against Perry, not untill the day he passed away. Nothing is known about the death of "Pirate" Joe Perry, not even whether he died peacefully, because of a salvaging accident, or whether the Coast Guard was finally able to do something.
The ruins of a rowboat are currently rotting away on South Manitou Island, possibly the one that Perry used in looting his wrecks.
This site created by Jon Lamphere, October 5, 2006
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