Tid-bits from the Tower

Saving the Lights

A cannon that has rested on the ocean floor for 300 years will be retrieved this summer as archaeologists launch a series of shipwreck explorations off the coast near Florida's St. Augustine Lighthouse. The cannon will be donated to the St. Augustine Lighthouse Museum to be put on display.

Grand Haven Michigan will be getting another lighthouse if the city fathers have their way. They want to build a 55 foot tall lighthouse at the entry-way of Centertown. The lighthouse would be purely ornamental, as a tourist attraction, however it would have a light in the tower. And again, the popularity of lighthouses continues to grow.

Maine's Isle au Haut Lighthouse has a unique fund raiser this month, that we are sure you will want to see. Direct from New York's Theater Row comes The Logic of Solids (The Lighthouse Play) to Maine's Isle au Haut Lighthouse. The play is inspired by, written about, set at, and now for one day only preformed at the lighthouse. The play, to be preformed by the original New York cast, will take place at the lighthouse on Sunday, July 19 at 2:30pm. Tickets cost $35.00 per person and can be obtained by calling 207-367-2261 or they will be on sale at the lighthouse. Remember that the lighthouse is on an island and you must have either your own boat or take the mail-boat from Stonington, Maine to get there. When ordering your tickets, be sure to make reservations for the mail boat. The boat leaves Stonington at 1:30pm sharp and returns at 5pm. This is an outdoor performance, so be prepared for the weather. It's all part of the fund raising effort to restore the lighthouse and well worth the trip.

The folks of the Faulkners Island Light Brigade must be jumping up and down with joy as the result of the announcement in $2.6 million in federal aid to assist in the erosion control of the lighthouse. The Connecticut lighthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Brigade has been working for years to save their lighthouse.

The Governor of Ohio, George V. Volnovich, has announced the state's newest and 73rd state park. The park will be called Marblehead State Park and the centerpiece of the park will be the 176-year old Marblehead Lighthouse. "Marblehead Lighthouse is one of Ohio's very special places, a distinction we now recognize with its new status as a full fledged state park," the Governor said. He concluded with, " This designation will raise Marblehead's profile throughout Ohio and the Midwest as an attraction for tourists, photographers and artists. It also demonstrates the State of Ohio's commitment to maintain and restore this historic property for generations to come."

Hugh Morton and his Save Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Committee (which doesn't want Cape Hatteras Lighthouse moved) recently chartered a 44 seat aircraft to fly a group of civic leaders, government officials and news media to Muskegon, Michigan to view Lake Michigan sites where the Holmberg erosion control technology has been used to protect beach property. They are doing this to show what they believe can also be used to protect Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, rather than move it. That's what I really call comparing apples to oranges. The Great Lakes are a lot different than the Atlantic Ocean. If someone actually believes that the same erosion controls used on the Great Lakes can be used on the Atlantic Ocean, they better go back to school. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the entire Dare County Board of Commissioners should resign and get some people involved that really care about saving Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Again, the only way to save Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is to move it. You must write to your Congressmen in the United States House of Representatives and your United States Senators. Tell them that Cape Hatteras Lighthouse belongs to the people of the United States. It was built with taxpayer money, it is maintained with taxpayer money and you want it moved to save it! Write today.

The Delaware Bay Lighthouse Keepers & Friends Association is a newly formed group interested in the preservation of Delaware Bay Lighthouses, former keepers, their friends and families and any other lighthouse enthusiasts. Dues are $10 for individual or $20 for family. The group has T-shirts and other items for sale as fund raisers. For more information on the group write to Carole Reily, 276 Mayflower Dr., Buena, NJ 08310

The town of Jupiter Florida may take over the lease of the Jupiter Lighthouse from the Florida History Center & Museum. This would be done so the lighthouse could qualify for a possible federal grant for restoration from the Island Surf Transportation Act which is funded through the State Department of Transportation. The Florida History Center and Museum would continue to operate the lighthouse.

A group called "Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse" has been formed to raise money for the restoration of the historic lighthouse. It is estimated that restoration will cost nearly $250,000. Membership is available in the following categories - $500 Commissioner - $100 Head Keeper - $50 Keeper and $20 Member. Donations are tax deductible and can be sent to - Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, c/o American Lighthouse Foundation, P.O. Box 889, Wells, Maine 04090.

The North Light Commission was presented the 1998 Block Island Tourism Council Regional Tourism Award at the 13th annual Rhode Island Tourism Luncheon. The North Light Committee has done a wonderful job of restoring Block Island's North Light and opening it to the public.

The group working to restore Ohio's Lorain Lighthouse hope to have the lighthouse open for public tours by the year 2000. The lighthouse is being restored a little at a time and this summer there will be some limited tours to the structure. But, you will have to agree to get dirty and help restore the lighthouse to be able to tour it. If you would like to be a volunteer on a work party call the Port of Lorain Foundation at 440-204-2269

The South Portland (Maine) City Council has made it official, the new park under development at the Portland Breakwater Lighthouse will be named "Bug Light Park", which is the nick-name for the lighthouse. They must not know is that there are a number of lighthouses around the country nicknamed "Bug Light." Perhaps, they might have thought of something more original.

Using newspaper advertisements, radio spots recorded by celebrities and 15 foot signs the state of Massachusetts has gone all out to make residents aware of its states lighthouse license plates. The specialized plates featuring Nauset Lighthouse cost $80, instead of the price of a regular plate of $30. However, the extra $50 goes to foster the funding of preservation and environment projects.

Lighthouse People

Lynn Marvin of Marvin Aerial Photography recently wrote to let us know that his mother in law is doing a genealogy search for her Jameson ancestors from the Camden, Maine area. She has a lead on a William Jameson who was a lighthouse keeper on Maine's Franklin Island Lighthouse around 1845. If any of our readers can help with any information please write to us at Lighthouse Digest or E-Mail Lynn Marvin direct at - marjnwlk@gwtc.net.

Bob & Sandra Shanklin, "The Lighthouse People" have been to and photographed nearly every single lighthouse on the contiguous United States. They have probably seen more U.S. Lighthouses than any person, ever. Their one final goal is to visit and photograph the lighthouses in Alaska and Hawaii, which they plan to do this summer. They are looking for travel tips on how to get to some of these remote beacons and hope that some of our readers might be able to help. If you have ever visited Alaska and Hawaii Lighthouses and can give them some advice, they would appreciate hearing from you. Sandra said, just about anything would be helpful. Pontoon plane information, boat travel info., Coast Guard contacts, current lighthouse owners or license holders and how to reach them, what to wear and expect and anything else to make their trip more productive and less costly. Please write to them at Bob & Sandra Shanklin, "The Lighthouse People", 517 Thornhill Road, Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32547. You can also call them at 850-862-4069 or fax them at 850-862-3690. You can also visit their web site at - http://www.siteone.com/tourist/lighthouse.

Ralph Stanley Andrews Sr. stopped by to visit us the other day. We featured "Stan" in the May issue with a story on Maine's Mark Island (Deer Island Thorofare) Lighthouse. Stan is now 80 years old and had many interesting memories which he recalled to us. But he was mainly grateful for having his photograph (when he was a lighthouse Keeper in the 1940's) published in Lighthouse Digest. Actually we have the folks at Island Heritage Trust to thank for the photo and information. If you haven't ordered their book on the lighthouse, we would highly recommend that you add it to your collection. For a copy send $18.00 plus $3.00 shipping to Deer Island Granite Co., P.O. Box 34, Deer Isle, Maine 04627.

It was Ken Black's birthday a couple of weeks back. Ken as most of you know is the founder of the Shore Village Museum in Rockland, Maine which has the largest collection of lighthouses lenses and lighthouse artifacts of any museum in the United States. Ken started collecting and saving lighthouse artifacts long before anybody realized how important it was to save them. If it had not been for his foresight, many of these rare and exquisite jewels of lighthouse history would have been lost or destroyed years ago. Now at 75-years he continues to be actively involved in lighthouse preservation. If you would like to send him a belated birthday card the address is, Ken Black, Shore Village Museum, 104 Limerock Street, Rockland, Maine 04841.

Speaking of birthdays, Connie Small, author of the wonderful book, The Lighthouse Keepers Wife, also celebrated a birthday several weeks ago. She turned 97. Connie has given over 500 lectures on lighthouses and has been interviewed many times for television programs and lighthouse film presentations. Connie even showed up at the recent fund raiser kick off for the restoration of Maine's Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse. She is still actively involved in lighthouse preservation efforts. You can write to her c/o of the Mark Wentworth Home, 346 Pleasant Street, Room 37, Portsmouth, NH 03801.

William Thomson, noted lighthouse author and historian and myself spent an enjoyable evening a few Sundays back on New Hampshire Public Television talking about lighthouses during the showing of the film Light Spirits, Lighthouses of the Maine Coast. The video produced by Jeff Dobbs is well worth having in your video library. If you don't have a copy, it is available from Lighthouse Depot for $19.95 plus shipping. It was aired during a pledge drive night. It proved once again how popular lighthouses are, the station had a good night.

Speaking of Bill Thomson, he is the producer of the video New England's Haunted Lighthouses and author of the book, Lighthouse Legends and Hauntings, both which are available from Lighthouse Digest. Bill is also a volunteer at the Sohier Park Welcome Center by Maine's Nubble Lighthouses. You can find him there several days a week during the summer months talking to tourists about what else - lighthouses! PS - the ghost and body on the beach of the young woman by the lighthouse in Bill's haunted lighthouses film is none other than our own Kathleen Finnegan.

The historic Barcelona Lighthouse in Barcelona, New York has new owners. Bruce & Ann Mulkin have purchased the lighthouse from the estate of Faith Scott. They intend to preserve the historical aspects of this old lightstation. We wish them the best of success in their new lighthouse home.

There are a couple of new faces (but old aquaintenances of ours) at Michigan's Grand Traverse Lighthouse. Stefanie Staley is the new Director/Curator and Pat Biggs is the new gift shop manager. Although a Michigan native, Stefanie was formerly with the Maine Maritime Museum and Pat and her husband Jerry have been long time photo and story contributors to Lighthouse Digest. The next time you visit the Grand Traverse Lighthouse, be sure you stop in and say hello to them.

Dr. David Carlson owner of the Carlson Veterinary Clinic and his wife Patti were mentioned in a nice newspaper article in the Westford, MA Eagle Newspaper. The Carlson family has been active in the restoration of the Race Point Lighthouse in Provincetown, MA and are members of the New England Lighthouse Foundation.

It seems like Dick Moehl is everywhere lately. This time it was a great article about him in Michigan's Ann Arbor Newspaper. Dick is president of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association. He's one of these people that keeps working day in and day out for the lighthouse cause. And, he's doing a great job of it.

Tidbits from the Media

The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather did a nice piece, on Friday June 5th, about Machias Seal Island. There were lots of shots of the lighthouse and Canadian keeper and the wonderful wildlife on the island. The story centered around the controversy of who owns the island, The United States or Canada. It was a great story, that again, helps keep lighthouses in the public eye.

The Canadian Tourism Commission recently aired a number of television commercials that promotes Atlantic Canada with a panoramic scene of Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. No, Maine was not annexed by Canada. It seems the Canadian tourism office advertising agency didn't know where Portland Head Light was and assumed it was in Canada. We don't know if the ad agency was fired or not but the commercial was quickly withdrawn from the air. A new commercial being made will feature a Canadian lighthouse to promote Canada.

It now appears to be official - The dates for the upcoming PBS-Mini Series, "Legendary Lighthouses" will start airing on most PBS TV stations nationwide on October 5 with Lighthouses of the Atlantic. This will be followed on October 12 with Lighthouses of Maine; October 26-Lighthouses of the South Atlantic; November 9-Lighthouses of the Great Lakes; November 23-Lighthouses of California and November 30-Lighthouses of the Pacific Northwest. Be sure to mark these dates on your calendar and check you local listings for time.

The March 1998 issue of Top Producer Magazine which is a magazine geared toward the farming industry had a neat lighthouse ad. The two page color ad features a lighthouse at night time shining its light onto acres and acres of crops. The ad is for a product called Beacon and said, "With Beacon in your postemergence tank mix, you get control of broadleaves plus an extra jolt against grasses like shattercane, johnsongrass and quackgrass. Beacon is the ideal tank mix." This just proves once again that lighthouses are being used in all types of advertisements.

A recent article in Where Boston magazine mentions the new bars that are springing up in some major cities. Popular with the power brokers of New York and LA, these bars don't serve alcohol, but instead oxygen. Customers pay a nominal fee to be hooked up to oxygen tanks and enjoy clean fresh air, a break from city smog and gridlock exhaust. The article says that people don't need to buy oxygen in Boston, site of the oldest light station in Boston Harbor, the air is always clear and clean in Boston. We have a better idea, travel to Maine, Nova Scotia, Michigan, Washington or Oregon and visit some of the coastal lighthouses where you will always find that clean fresh air.

Shop Talk

If you are a collector of Spencer Collin Lighthouses the following six pieces have now been retired - Cape Hatteras, NC; Highland "Cape Cod", MA; Rock of Ages, MI; American Shoals, FL; Admiralty Head, WA and Cape Neddick "Nubble" Maine. All were limited editions of 2400 pieces. Some are still available from Lighthouse Depot. For information call 1-800-758-1444.

If you are a Harbour Lights collector residing in Florida, there is a super friendly Harbour Lights Club there. For information you can contact them at Central Florida Harbour Lights Collectors Club, Attn: Karen Price, 4402 Willow Shade Court, Orlando, FL 32835. Ph # 407-298-1978 or E-Mail at -LadyKMAC@aol.com.

Don't forget, we have a really nice 1999 Oregon Lighthouse Calendar available. Supplies are limited. It is available as item # 93910 for $9.95 plus shipping from Lighthouse Depot by calling 1-800-758-1444.

There is a new book out, called Lighthouse Chronicles, Twenty Years on the B.C. Lights by Flo Anderson. It is the true story as told by Flo of her family's life as lighthouse keepers. The eye opening memoir describes life on the lights from a women's point of view-what it was really like to raise a family on a tiny, exposed, isolated island, where her children had no playmates, schools, teachers, doctors, libraries, stores or mail delivery, where months of supplies had to be ordered in advance and where precipitous cliffs and icy gale force winds were constant hazards. She also shares the special joys of living in wild and natural places, and she describes the exacting work of light-keeping, a lost way of life. Truly an amazing book. It is available from Lighthouse Depot as item #91854 for $18.95 plus $4.95 shipping by calling toll free at 1-800-758-1444, or by mail at P.O. Box 427, Wells, Maine 04090.

Do you like anything New England? Do you want to see New England's lighthouses saved? If you do, Yankee Magazine is for you. For a $20 subscription (which is $4.00 less than a normal subscription) you can get Yankee Magazine for one year - plus, Yankee Magazine will donate $10 from each subscription to the New England Lighthouse Foundation. All you have to do is call Lorinda Graham at Lighthouse Digest at 207-646-0515 and she will be happy to take a subscription for yourself, a gift subscription or renew your current subscription to Yankee. Or if you prefer, we can mail you a special subscription form.

Speaking of applications - Have you applied for your MBNA Lighthouse Credit Card? If not, please call us today and we will mail you an application. By using this credit card you will help save America's lighthouses. The card is not just another affinity credit card, this one actually will raise funds for lighthouse preservation and restoration nationwide, For an application call Lorinda at 207-646-0515.

Oops!

In last month's issue we forgot to mention the name of the lighthouse in the cover photo. For those of you that didn't know, it was Diamond Head Lighthouse in Hawaii. The beautiful photo was taken by Lois Hrabrich of Whitewater, Wisconsin. We apologize for this oversight.

Alsom in last month's issue we advertised the new book, Sentinels of the Shore about New Jersey Lighthouses. We misspelled the last name of the author. The book is written by Bill Gately. Sorry Bill. P.S.The book is selling like hotcakes, have you bought your copy yet? It is available as item # 91849 for $12.95 from Lighthouse Depot by calling 1-800-758-1444.

Events

While in the Rockland-Camden area of Maine recently I had a few minutes to stop by and visit with Ted & Jo Panaytoff at the Elms Bed & Breakfast in Camden. Naturally, being the good hosts that they are they gave me the 50 cent tour. WOW! And that really sums it up. What a place. If you like lighthouses, I would highly suggest that while visiting Maine, you spend the night here. This old sea captains house, is beautifully and tactfully, decorated with lighthouse goodies. The warmth of their home truly typifies the nautical flavor of the coast of Maine.

Reminder - If you like to travel and love lighthouses and would like to go to one of the most beautiful areas of the world, South Africa might be for you. If you missed the story we did on South African lighthouses, it's in last month's issue. We are gathering names of people that would like to go on a South African lighthouse tour. If you are interested send us your name. Obviously, you are under no obligation since we still need to determine price etc. But, we would know if there is enough interest for us to spend the time planning the tour. It would be a once in a lifetime opportunity - use it for a second honeymoon, that first honeymoon you never took, a special gift, or that trip you said you were always going to take but never did. Write to Don Devine, Lighthouse Depot Tour, P.O. Box 427, Wells, Maine 04090.

Cape Cod Life magazines 13th annual photo contest winners were published in their July issue. The second place winner was a photo of the Highland (Cape Cod) Lighthouse taken by Dieter H. Susdorf.

Rhode Island's Beavertail Lighthouse is now planning for its 250th birthday bash to be celebrated in the summer of 1999. In preparation for the celebration the non profit association that runs the lighthouse is revamping the exhibit areas, making room for more memorabilia, and collecting more information on New England Lighthouses to be exhibited.

This summer is the 150th anniversary of Michigan's Copper Harbor Lighthouse. For the first time in it's history the keepers house will be open to the public. In the restored structure will be many items on display that were only recently discovered. During the 1997 renovations a crawl-space was discovered under the sealed floor reveling a time capsule with artifacts from the turn of the century keepers and families. Costumed interpreters will be on hand for the tours. For more information call Fort Wilkins State Park at 906-289-4215.

The Wilhelm Baum is celebrating it's 75th birthday. The Wilhelm Baum is a tugboat that is docked at the Maritime Museum in South Haven, Michigan. The vessell became a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary facility in 1976 and has been of much assistance to the U.S. Coast Guard. The birthday celebration takes place July 11th at 1pm in conjuction with the Michigan Maritime Museum Heritage Boat Gathering. Guided tours will be available.

A Trinity House Web Site has been established on the Internet providing information on the history and current day to day activities of the Corporation of Trinity House. The site may be reached at -http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk. Be sure to stop in and take a look.

This story appeared in the July 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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