The beacon light within the new lighthouse on the south side of Grand Lake St. Marys, Ohio shines brightly in memory of Stanley Mike Grimm, who was killed in an auto accident in 1997.  The lighthouse can be seen from Behm's Restaurant, owned by the Grimm and Dexter families, at the landing on the lake as well as from the boats on the water.

Designed by Mark Severt of St. Marys, the inside frame of the lighthouse is made of steel and was fabricated by Lefeld Welding & Steel Supplies, Inc. of Coldwater.  It was then assembled offshore before moving it into place on the small island.  The 48 feet-tall lighthouse is octagonally shaped and is covered in a stucco-like material.  It is twelve feet in diameter at the base and five feet in diameter at the top and is seated on a larger base.  Inside, the stairway leads to the marine light that can be seen up to seven miles.

The idea to build the lighthouse was shared by Stan Grimm (father of Stanley Mike Grimm) and Glenn Cobb, former Grand Lake St. Marys State Park Manager.  It is the third on the 13,500-acre lake, Ohio's largest inland lake.  There is a private lighthouse on the north side of the lake and a public lighthouse on the west side of the lake in Celina, providing boaters with navigational bearings.

You may contact Lefeld Welding at http://www.lefeld.com