By 1875 the lake had deposited so much sand near the location of the original lighthouse, it was said to be on the shoreline. The first lighthouse was replaced in 1875 when a new light was placed at the end of a newly constructed 600-foot pier that led from the west side of the mouth of Black River. Every day the keeper had to take the oil to the lighthouse. Because of the continuing danger of being washed over the sides during storms, it was decided to build a 3-4 foot high metal walkway on top of the pier so that the keepers would be above the "green" water of the waves.