The Mission Point Lighthouse Keepers Association (MPLKA) is participating in a joint historical
preservation project along with The Peter Doughtery Society, 100 Women Who Care Monroe County, and The City of Monroe, Michigan, to install and dedicate a grave marker for Sarah E. Noyes Lane in the Woodland Cemetery in Monroe, Sarah was the only female Mission Point Lighthouse Keeper and is buried in an unmarked grave between her husband and another relative.

 

Sarah was buried without a marker, it is believed, because she was a woman.

Sarah E. Noyes and Capt. John Lane was married on December 24, 1857, in Monroe, Michigan.
Sarah was 18 years old, and John Lane was 30. Capt. Lane was the Keeper of the lighthouse at Old
Mission for 23 years until his death at about 80 years of age.

Though Sarah was the official Keeper for just a short period, for at least eight years preceding her
husband's passing, she had total charge of the tower and light due to John's failing health. While Sarah minded the light, John took care of the books. When John passed away on December 12, 1906, she continued to tend to the light on Old Mission until the following March, making her the only female Keeper of the light.

A grant has been submitted by the 100 Women Who Care Monroe County Organization to the Monroe County Museum System in support of the project with the purpose of:

 

• Honor Sarah Lane's Legacy: Recognize and pay tribute to the service and dedication of Sarah Lane, who contributed to maritime safety — a field historically dominated by men.
   

• Preserve Local and Maritime History: This marker will provide a tangible link to the past, educating current and future generations about the region's heritage and the vital role of lighthouse keepers.
   

• Promote Gender Recognition: Highlight the often-overlooked contributions of women in history,  particularly in roles of responsibility and public service, with the same dignity as others in similar roles.

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