It's Michiana landmark that you see at the beginning of our newscast every night. But now, the Coast Guard no longer has a use for the St. Joseph lighthouse, so they're giving it away.

The lighthouses are in "excess of the needs of the United States Coast Guard."

City leaders say this has been in the works for years, as lighthouses throughout Michigan have been turned over to local governments or non-for profit organizations.

It's given to them at no cost, as long as they pay for the upkeep.

For many, that's a small price to keep such a recognizable landmark.

It's been part of countless memories in the St. Joseph community.

“When we were young, you know, young boys, you run up and down the pier, and you know I had one friend fall in,” Arthur Reed said, laughing. He was fishing on the pier Thursday afternoon.

People that have used the pier for decades can't imagine it without its iconic beacon.

“That'd be weird to come out on the pier and not see the lighthouse,” Reed said.

“The area would never allow it to leave the area. I guarantee you that,” said Wayne Petzke, a long-time resident who walks his dog on the pier 3 or 4 times a week.

The city of St. Joseph agrees the lighthouse shouldn’t go anywhere.

“We've indicated that we are interested in acquiring it when the time comes, it's this lighthouse's turn, so we're interested in securing it for the heritage of our community,” said St. Joseph Mayor Robert Judd.

If no one expressed any interest in paying to keep the lighthouse up to historic preservation standards, that heritage would have been in jeopardy.

It would be put up for auction in the private sphere if no public entity stepped up to take over the responsibility for the nearly 100-year old structure.

“I think at some point they'd tear it down, and it'd be disposed of, and that'd be a shame, because it's the signature,” Judd said.

Other local agencies and non-profits also have a chance to reel in the historic property. They can all apply to use it for educational, recreational, cultural, or historical purposes.

Ultimately, the U.S. Department of the Interior decides who gets the lighthouse, but the city just wants to make sure the lighthouse stays.

“We're open to partnering with people but I think that we want to control our destiny,” Judd said.

Even though it's no longer needed by the coast guard, replaced by more modern but less picturesque equipment, it's irreplaceable for those who have it as a fixture in their everyday lives.

“St. Joseph wouldn't be St. Joseph without it,” Petzke said.

The city says they're already getting the paperwork together to try to get the lighthouse and the inner lights on the pier turned over to them.

Groups that are interested have until July 19th to send an application.

The city isn’t entirely sure what they’d do with the lighthouse; maybe turn it into a museum, or open up tours.

Some of it depends on how much work needs to be done to keep up with the historical status.

The property is available to “federal agencies, state and local agencies, non-profit corporations, educational agencies or community development organizations.”

Here is information provided for those organizations:

Any group interested in acquiring the lighthouse should submit a letter of intent by July 19, 2008. Eligible parties will be sent an application and be given an opportunity to inspect the property.

Letters should include the following information:

Name of property (St. Joseph Pierhead and Inner lights)
Name of interested party
Point of contact, title, address, phone, email
Non-profit agencies must provide a copy of their state-certified articles of incorporation

Please send letters to both of the below individuals:

Ms. Lisa A. Tangney
U.S. General Services Administration
Property Disposal Division
230 South Dearborn St., Rm 3774
Chicago, Ill, 60604

Mr. Brian D. Conway
State Historic Preservation Office
Michigan Historic Center
717 W. Allegan St.
Lansing, MI 48918

For more information, interested parties can contact state senator Ron Jelinek’s office at 517-373-6960

For more information on the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000, click on the link below.