One of Massachusetts historic lighthouses will soon be gone forever. The 101 foot high Buzzards Bay Light Tower, which sits on four legs like on ocean oil station, will be cut off at its base, sliced into three sections and sunk off the coast of Long Island, where it will serve as an extension to an artificial reef system. The new tower to be built in its place will be 75 feet high, rest on three legs and contain no helicopter landing pad or living quarters like the old one did. The Buzzards Bay Light Tower was manned until early 1981, when it was automated.

We are looking for historical information, old newspaper stories, photos of keepers and recorded memories on the following lighthouses, Solomons Lump Lighthouse, MD; Greenbury Point Shoal Light, MD, Barataria Lighthouse, LA and the Craighille Channel Range Lights. If any of our readers have information or know of someone who does, please write to us at Lighthouse Digest, P.O. Box 1690, Wells, Maine 04090.

It's official, Massachusetts will now have a lighthouse license plate. The new plate will feature Cape Cod's Nauset Light in a rendition done by artist Linda Wilkins. The new plate is expected to be available in early May. The plate will cost $80.00 of which $50.00 will go to economic and tourism development on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

We are sad to report the passing of Wes E. Gamage, Jr. Wes was a subscriber to Lighthouse Digest and wrote to us many times. Having served in the United States Coast Guard, he retired as Keeper at Portland Head Light in Maine.

We are looking for copies, of the Mentor Magazine, July 1925 issue. We are willing to purchase as many as can be located. If you have some or know where we can locate them, please write to: Tim Harrison, Lighthouse Digest, P.O. Box 1690, Wells, Maine 04090.

The Ocean Place Pantry in Hull, Massachusetts offers a sandwich on their menu called The Lighthouse. The sandwich is tuna with tomato & melted Swiss cheese on toasted rye.

The Committee to Save Cape Cod Light will be allowed to continue selling souvenirs near the lighthouse. Gordon Russell said, "In our mind, until people have access to the light, it has not been saved." He said to make the lighthouse accessible after the move, improvements would have to be made to the stairway, and other numerous additional improvements to make it safe for people to climb the tower. Plus, there will be the need for continued maintenance to the station.

A group of concerned citizens has negotiated an option for the city of South Portland, Maine to buy 14 acres of prime waterfront property, known as Breakwater Point, for a city park. The land, adjacent to historic Portland Breakwater Lighthouse, has a spectacular overview of Casco Bay. The price for the privately owned parcel is $2.5 million. The group wants the city to pay $996,000 and says it will raise the rest of the money.

Doug Peterson is looking for any and all information on Lighthouse Tenders prior to 1900. He currently has a file of 234 named tenders that he has researched. If you have any information on buoy or lighthouse tenders prior to 1900 please contact Doug Peterson at 2989 Gulf Dr, Fairfield, CA 94533.

Harbour Lights will be releasing a new replica of Stonington Harbour Light which will only be available to members of the Harbour Lights Collectors Society. Membership in the Society is $30 for one year or $58 for two years. To receive a membership application call 1-800-758-1444.

The Canadian Coast Guard has torn down the Head Keepers House at Head Harbour Lighthouse on Campobello Island, Canada. The red cross lighthouse which is familiar to nearly all lighthouse aficionados is commonly referred to as East Quoddy Light. The local Chamber of Commerce and Historical Society wanted the house for a museum and visitors center. There was nothing wrong with the property that repairs wouldn't fix. It is now understood that the Canadian Coast Guard is planning to tear down the boat house. This would dramatically alter the appearance of one of the most beautiful and one of the most photographed lighthouses on the Atlantic coast. This is just another case where the Canadian government has not learned from the past mistakes made by its neighbor country. Write your letters of protest and to save the boat house at Head Harbour Light to, W. T. Tucker, SR Rep. Canadian Coast Guard, P.O. Box 7730, Station A, St. John, NB E2L 4X6, Canada.

Erie Pennsylvania is getting a new museum. The Erie Maritime Museum now under construction on the eastern bayfront also just received a check from the State for $574,000 to be used for exhibits. Also, tourists to the Independence State may soon be able to view lighthouses from a new tour boat which will originate in Misery Bay on Presque Isle State Park.

Norman Boyd, 81 of Westbrook, Conn. died recently. He was a retired chief petty officer, serving 25 years in the U.S. Coast Guard. He served his last duty as keeper of the Lynde Point Lighthouse.

The town of York, Maine is searching for a new town logo. Currently each division of the town government has a different logo. The logo on the town documents features Nubble Lighthouse similar to the one on the town's police cruisers. The one certain town officials like is a generic lighthouse with just a white tower, rather than their famous and historic Nubble Light. These town officials must be off their rockers. What's wrong with Nubble Light? It is one of the most famous lighthouses in America, and the towns most recognizable landmark. Leave it up to a politician to gum up a good thing.

Film makers from Varied Directions have filmed "The Lighthouse Ghost" at Maine's Curtis Island Lighthouse. The tale, is part of a series of ghost stories the film company is shooting for Turner Broadcasting. No air date has been announced.

Drivers travelling down Florida's Rickenbacker Causeway recently were surprised and delayed by seeing part a lighthouse lantern room moving down the highway taking up one and half lanes of the road. The steel section, actually only the tower half of the total new top belonged to Cape Florida Lighthouse. The tower is ongoing major renovations a project of the Dade Heritage Trust. Relighting ceremonies for the lighthouse are scheduled for July 27.

This story appeared in the May 1996 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.

All contents copyright © 1995-2024 by Lighthouse Digest®, Inc. No story, photograph, or any other item on this website may be reprinted or reproduced without the express permission of Lighthouse Digest. For contact information, click here.