The idea of a lighthouse on the new U.S. quarters keeps popping up. U.S. Senator John Chafee of Rhode Island has suggested Southeast Light on Block Island for Rhode Island's coin. In previous issues we mentioned that Barnegat Light had been suggested for New Jersey and even some folks in Delaware have suggested a lighthouse. Remember, if you want a lighthouse on your state's quarter, we suggest you write to your state congressmen and governor.

The town of York, Maine has now officially stated it wants the lens from Boon Island Light. You may remember a while back there was a small battle between the towns of York and Kittery for the lens which wound up at the Coast Guard Station in South Portland, Maine. The town selectmen in York have voted to proceed with a plan to acquire the lens and put it on display at Sohier Park by Nubble Lighthouse. If they succeed the nine foot tall lens would make a magnificent addition to the park and be a tourist attraction in itself.

George and Dottie Carroll, former Keepers of Thacher Island Lighthouse in Massachusetts and Directors of the Thacher Island Association were recently presented the National Conservation Award by the Daughters of the American Revolution, at a luncheon held in Gloucester, MA. Medals and certificates of recognition of outstanding achievement were given to the Carroll's for their "Dedication to the Preservation of the National Resources of our Country, its Soils, Minerals, Waters and Wildlife." Though the island has been closed for the past two years due to the loss of the landing ramp, George and Dottie have still managed to maintain the trails and check on the lighthouses, buildings, and wildlife, by paddling to shore in a rubber raft. We at Lighthouse Digest salute them.

A freighter carrying an undisclosed cargo struck the Detroit River Lighthouse causing extensive damage to the ship. The Coast Guard said that damage to the lighthouse was not severe. No injuries were reported in the incident which happened at about 5:30am. The 635 foot freighter, Buffalo, was headed from Detroit to Cleveland with 27 crew members. At the time of the collision, visibility was clear and waves measured two to three feet. The collision caused a 25 foot gash across the bow of the freighter. The lighthouse continued to operate.

The residents of Lighthouse Drive in Canyon Lake, California by Sun City all got together this past Christmas to decorate a tree with nothing but lighthouses. It was all thanks to Bill and Alice Hall who visited all their neighbors and asked them to decorate the tree to the area's main entrance gate with lighthouses. The neighbors responded by turning in 184 lighthouses, some of them home-made for the tree. Several got together and painted a sign by the tree that said "Happy Holidays from Lighthouse Drive." Another neighbor, Dennis Beyle made a lighthouse on top of the sign that had a working light.

It seems that in a previous issue of Lighthouse Digest we inadvertantly gave an incorrect membership dues structure for joining the Big Sable Point Lighthouse Keepers Association. The correct dues are $15.00 for individuals and $25.00 for families. If you would like to join this group and we encourage you to, you may contact them at P.O. Box 673, Ludington, Michigan 49431.

A small battle has taken place over who should get Washington State's Point No Point Lighthouse. A recent meeting called by the Coast Guard drew a packed community center from the two groups vying for the lighthouse. The Coast Guard will soon make a decision between the County and the Point No Point Lighthouse Preservation Society. The county wants the lighthouse to become part of a larger county park as part of the 20 acres of land it owns by the lighthouse. The Society, on the other hand, comprised mainly of surrounding home owners, wants to limit access and only have the tower open during specific daylight hours.

Muskegon Michigan has welcomed the old S.S. Milwaukee Clipper to its town over the objections of some public officials who felt the aging ship would not help the waterfront economy and felt preservationists might not be able to raise enough money to restore it leaving a rusting hulk on the waterfront. A local group of preservationists acquired the old ship for $1.00 because scrap dealers didn't want it. An Indiana casino donated $35,000 to have the vessel towed to Muskegon and the group has already raised $12,000 in donations but needs much more. The old car ferry used to make regular lake crossings between Muskegon and Milwaukee, but stopped operations 20 years ago.

Rick Harrington, Jr. is working to create a monument at Massachusetts's Edgartown Lighthouse for children who have died. Harrington's vision is to rebuild the lighthouse foundation by using 8x5 inch granite stones, each engraved with the name of a child who has died. Each stone will cost $170 and there is room for 1,000 stones. Harrington started the idea to celebrate his son's life which was cut short by a car accident. The idea came to him as he viewed a picture of his deceased son Rick Harrington III and his other son in front of the lighthouse. He believes the Holy Spirit led him to create this monument. He said by not celebrating children's lives, we let them die. He felt he owed it to his son and other parents who have lost children. Hayward said "A lighthouse symbolizes safety...a beacon of light in turbulent times." He went on to say, "Lighthouses have helped so many people over the years. To remember our children at them is worth it." The lighthouse is owned by the Dukes County Historical Society on Martha's Vineyard.

Neil D. Jamieson of Greenville, Maine has passed away at 92. Mr. Jamieson was born and grew up at Cape of St. Lawrence, Nova Scotia where his father Charles was the lighthouse keeper for a number of years. During the 1920's he worked in northern Maine as a lumberjack. At one time he won the world record for cutting and stacking 92 cords of wood by hand in six days. He was also one of the founders of Big Squaw Mountain Ski Resort and a member of the Greenville, Maine Fire Department.

A new proposal for a lighthouse on St. Cloud's Lakepoint Park, near Kissimmee, FL has won approval from the town's fathers. Architect Richard Dodge plans on building a 1890's style lighthouse provided he can raise the necessary $150,000 to fund the project. The Pompano Beach architect said that he is motivated by tourism, as the lighthouse would certainly become an attraction.

The battle appears to have been won, thanks to the hundreds of letters sent by many of our subscribers. Michigan's Big Red Lighthouse at Holland Harbor will again be accessible to the public. The owners of the former Point West Resort and neighboring cottage association have announced they plan to ease access to the lighthouse. We don't know the final details yet but we have heard that the guards who previously stopped people will now greet them with an access card and perhaps a bit of history of the lighthouse. We will keep you posted. It looks like we will now have to withdraw our boycott of Amway products, now that their owners will again allow access to this historic lighthouse.

Will Maine be getting another lighthouse? Eventually it might, if some officials in the town of Bucksport get their way. A 10 year revitalization plan of the waterfront as a tourist attraction calls for a lighthouse to be built on Flag Point. Some residents however objected to the idea saying it would block the water view. Others thought they should light up the famous Waldo-Hancock Bridge and historic Fort Knox at night making them 24 hour tourist attractions. Time will tell.

The tall ships are coming to the Great Lakes. From July 17 to August 10 a fleet of historic vessels will grace the waters of Lake Michigan. They will visit Chicago from July 17 to 20; South Haven, Michigan from July 24-27; Milwaukee from July 30-31 and Racine, Wisconsin from August 6-9. At each port of call, ships and their crews will participate in spectacular celebrations of our nation's maritime heritage. This will be the largest gathering of tall ships since the Bicentennial Celebration. It appears that the City of South Haven, Michigan along with the Michigan Maritime Museum is planning the biggest celebration of all. It now appears that such mighty ships as the HMS Bounty, HMS Rose and the Toronto Brigantines will participate.

This story appeared in the February 1998 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

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