Lighthouse Preservation

The race for a national museum is on! Many of Michigan's newspapers have written editorial comments about the choice of Staten Island for a national lighthouse museum. Now they are touting New York, saying the race is on to see who will open a lighthouse museum first. John Truscott, a spokesman for Gov. Engler of Michigan, said the committee was biased and Michigan really didn't have a chance in the selection. Supporters of a Great Lakes Lighthouse Museum say there is room for two lighthouse museums and let the race begin. It seems like everybody's forgotten about the Shore Village Museum in Rockland, Maine, which already has the largest selection of lighthouse artifacts in the United States. It will take the others a while to catch up to Maine. On the other hand, if I was a betting person, I would place my money on Michigan. They have what it takes to quickly and correctly, get a true world-class lighthouse museum open to the public. While in Rockland, Maine, where the largest lighthouse collection is housed in a cramped old building, the people of Maine and especially the community of Rockland have been slower than a turtle to get behind their museum and really help it. Staten Island has a royal flush in the hand, but just how long will it take to play that hand, is the real question.

There is a new web site

about the National Lighthouse Museum. It gives some detailed information on the site; ie: history, visitors, support, frequently asked questions, when it will open, how much it will cost etc. The site can be reached at http://www.lighthousemuseum.org. For those inquiring minds who don't have access to the internet, the total construction costs are estimated to be $17.67 million dollars. The first phase, using two buildings closest to the water will cost approximately $5.5 million.

What type of battle will we have next?

The Steering Committee, which selected Staten Island as the site for the National Lighthouse Museum, didn't copyright the name or apply for a trademark (they don't even have a logo decided on yet). Some folks in Michigan have stated that they will copyright the name, thus depriving Staten Island of the use of the name. Time will tell who's right here. We will keep you posted.

Speaking of the lighthouse museum:

the Great Lakes people are looking for donations and membership for their museum. If you are interested in becoming a member you can contact Dr. Dandy Planisek, P.O. Box 712, Mackinaw City, MI 49701 for a membership application.

To prove what type of problems

all of this museum name stuff can cause, there is a bill pending in Congress that would declare the Mariners Museum in Newport News, Va., and the South Street Seaport Museum in New York City, jointly as America's National Maritime Museum. That's not digesting well with the nation's other maritime museums, Some have complained that there was no competition for the title. It seems two U.S. Senators, one from Virginia and one from New York, slipped the amendment into a bill to create the designation. What happened to a choice by the people?

Lighthouse Moved

The Five Islands Lighthouse, a/k/a Sand Point Lighthouse in Five Island's Nova Scotia has been moved back approximately 200 feet to a new foundation. The lighthouse, located on the property of the Sand Point Campground, is open to the public in daylight hours from May through October. The lighthouse can also be viewed during the winter months by hiking in on foot. For the past year the lighthouse has been leased for one dollar per year to the Five Islands Lighthouse Preservation Society which is trying to raise money to maintain the historic structure. To learn more about the lighthouse you can write them at Five Island Lighthouse Preservation Society, P.O. Box 60, Five Islands, Nova Scotia BOM 1KO, Canada.

Erosion threatens lights

A 1987 engineering study predicted that it would be 20-40 years before erosion would be a problem at Wisconsin's Raspberry and Outer Island Lighthouses. However, as soon as the ink dried on that report water levels rose and storms, coming at just the right angle, changed everything. The eroding bluff at Raspberry Lighthouse is now only 100 feet away from the structure and the Outer Island Lighthouse has already suffered structural damage caused by erosion. Senator Russ Feingold recently toured the lighthouses and said he hope that Congress will pass the "Gaylord Nelson Apostle Islands Stewardship Act of 1998," which he introduced in Congress. The bill would provide $3.9 million to stabilize the bluffs by the lighthouses. Volunteers have already contributed a lot of time to restoring the sites, but want to be sure their work is not in vain and the lighthouses will not topple into the water. Feingold said that people from all over the country come to enjoy these lighthouses and they must be saved.

New Director at MMM

The Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven, Mi has a new executive director. She is Dr. Kristin M Szylvian who is a Assistant Professor of History at Western Michigan University. Previously she taught history at the University of North Carolina and has been a historian for the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Delaware Bay Keepers

The Delaware Bay Lighthouse Keepers & Friends Association invites former lighthouse keepers, Coast Guard personnel from the Delaware Bay, or anyone with an interest in the Delaware Bay lighthouses to join their association. Dues are $10 per year for individual, or $20 for a family. The organization's mission is to swap stories and photos and have fun keeping alive the memory of the stories and history of the Delaware Bay lighthouses. Anyone interested in joining, can contact Carole Reily at 609-697-3260.

Passings

Nancy A. Colgan has died at the age of 86 in Moorsetown, NJ. She spent her childhood years at Sandy Point Light, Cove Point Light, and Drum Point Light on Maryland's western shores, where her family tended the lights.

A 66 year old New Jersey man died of a heart attack at the top of North Carolina's Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Sine 1993, the lighthouse has had over one million people climb the 257 stairs to the top and this was the first heart attack. Volunteers stationed at the top of the light responded, along with a local rescue squad, but to no avail.

In the News

Newspaper promotes RI Lights Rhode Island readers of the Providence Journal Bulletin were recently captivated by the newspaper's lighthouse promotion of its state's lighthouses. They offered the 2 page spread of photographs by William K. Daby as a poster, and received 3000 orders for it within 3 days. The poster retails for $9.95 plus shipping and handling. You might still be able to obtain one by calling 401-277-7200.

Speaking of Cape Hatteras Light,

the controvesy on whether to move the light has finally made it to the New York Times. A half page artice appeared in the August 11th edition. Their headline read "In Face-Off With the Sea, A Lighthouse Is Losing." The story featured one photo of the light and an interior photo of the stairwell. What will happen with America's tallest lighthouse is now a truly unknown factor. If you have not yet written your United States Senator with your opinion on what should be done to save the lighthouse - move it or leave it where it is and build a groin - now is the time to send your letter. Time is running out.

USAOPOLY features lighthouse

A Rhode Island version of Monopoly features the Point Judith Lighthouse as one of the properties. The game is a fund raiser for Hasbro Children's Hospital and is available at Filene's stores in Warwick and Providence, RI.

On the Road

The State of Massachusetts has made an all-out drive to promote its lighthouse license plate, which features Nauset Lighthouse. In a recent marketing drive, singer Patti Page is singing praises of the lighthouse plate; former Red Sox catcher Gerry Moses is making a media pitch, and even CBS newsman, Dan Rather, is urging people to buy the special conservation plate, which costs an extra $50 to buy.

In the state of North Carolina, you can now choose from four background designs for your drivers license, one of which depicts the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. It is amazing how some states can be so aggressive in helping to promote their lighthouses while others do nothing at all. Remember, you can make a difference. Write to your state congressmen and let them know how you feel.

Musical News

A new music video featuring country singer T. Graham Brown has been filmed at Maine's Portland Head Light. The video, "Wine into Water" features Graham singing with the lighthouse and crashing surf in the background.

Whimsical Lights

For those of you that wrote or called us concerning the Cape Blackfly Lighthouse in Connecticut that was featured in the July issue of Yankee Magazine . . . There is no such lighthouse, it is not real and was meant as a practical joke. If you get a copy of the magazine, carefully read the text that goes with the artwork and you will also realize the humor. Also, the August issue featured a story on the Lava Lighthouse built on Woodstock Point in 1969. There is no such place in Maine and no such lighthouse. Again, both stories are meant as practical jokes or whimsical stories.

The Climb to the Top

Michigan's, Big Sable Light, near Ludington, is starting to look like a new lighthouse. New sidewalks, which go completely around the building have been finished, new cement pads for the picnic tables have been installed, a new coat of paint has been applied to the quarters, the inside heating system has been repaired, a new replicated door has been installed, and even some new furniture has been purchased. The lighthouse is open to the public and this fall it will be open from 10am to 6pm, Friday through Tuesday. A $2. donation is requested to climb the tower. For more information, or to join this very active group, write, Big Sable Lighthouse Keepers Association, P.O. Box 673, Ludington, MI 49431.

Another active group that you might want to join is the Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society. Contact them at - 2750 East Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach, FL 33062.

Tinicum open for tours New Jersey's Tinicum Rear Range Light is now open for tours on the third full weekend in the months of April through October. The Friends of Tinicum Light is a brand new group formed to save and preserve this historic beacon. If you are interested in joining the group or learning more about them, contact: Alice Hillary, 1111 Country Mill Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512.

Cruise Control

As a reminder . . . all lighthouse cruises don't go as planned, as is evident by a recent one in Wisconsin. What was scheduled as a sunset lighthouse cruise found itself with perfect weather, clear skies, in the mid-70's, a calm lake and a few puffy white clouds. However, somebody filled up the boat with 700 gallons of gasoline instead of diesel fuel and 177 ticket refunds had to be handed out. Some people had travelled hundreds, if not thousands, of miles for the Apostle Island's cruise and one individual had purchased tickets as long as seven months ago. This type of occurrence is unusual. Generally, and only rarely, are cruises cancelled, with the most common reason-the weather.

Urgently need funds to move the light

The Cape Mendocino Lighthouse Preservation Society has dismantled the Cape Mendocino Lighthouse (circa 1858) and are in the process of bringing the structure to Shelter Cove, CA. The group is urgently seeking funds to have the 8900 pound lantern room moved by helicopter from its current location to Shelter Cove where it can be preserved for future generations to enjoy. Unfortunately, the top can not be dismantled or trucked to the new sight because of its height and weight. The group has been quoted a fee of $12,000 to have the lantern room moved. They are in desperate need of help for this project. If you would like to donate time, money or anything else for this worthwhile project, contact the group at Cape Mendocino Lighthouse Preservation Society, Box 454, Shelter Cover, CA 95589.

Lighthouse Birthdays

The Copper Harbor Lighthouse, one of the oldest lights on Lake Superior, celebrated its 150th anniversary this past August. The newly restored keepers quarters was dedicated and its new exhibits were opened to the public. For more information on the lighthouse contact the Fort Wilkins Historic Complex at 906-475-7857.

Michigan's Port Austin Lighthouse also recently celebrated a birthday, its 100th. At the open house celebration on display were artifacts and scrapbooks documenting the history of the lighthouse. Even John Wagner was on hand with a display of his aerial photographs and copies of his Michigan Lighthouse book were on sale. For more information on the Port Austin Light write to: PARLA, P.O. Box 546, Port Austin, MI 48467.

The Easternmost Inn

The next time you visit West Quoddy Lighthouse the easternmost lighthouse on the mainland of the United States, you might consider staying at the Lighthouse Tavern & Inn in Lubec, Maine. The building which was originally opened as a boarding house over 100 years ago at one time housed Tip's Restaurant. The new inn has nine rooms available for rent.

Shop Talk

There is a new book in the series of Lighthouses of England and Wales booklets, this one is The Smalls, written by Martin Boyle. As usual the book is jammed packed with historical information and black & white photos. It is available from Lighthouse Depot as item # 91864 for $7.95 plus 4.95 shipping. To order the book call 1-800-758-1444 or send a check to Lighthouse Depot, P.O. Box 427, Wells, Maine 04090.

New Lightships Anchor Bay, a sub-line of Harbour Lights, has announced the release of two new lightships to their "Great Ships of the World" collection. Both are available from Lighthouse Depot - The Columbia Lightship as Item #43107, selling for $153.95, honors the first lightship to serve on the Pacific coast and The Portsmouth Lightship, Item # 43109, selling for $169.95, served in the Chesapeake Bay and the waters off Cape Cod. They can be ordered by calling Lighthouse Depot at 1-800-758-1444.

Information Wanted

The Easter Seals Society of Ohio is looking for any information, including a photograph of the Straight Channel Range Light that once stood in Sandusky, Ohio. It was built in 1895 and was destroyed by fire in 1926. Easter Seals of Ohio uses lighthouse Christmas ornaments as a fund raiser. If anyone has information on this lighthouse please send it to Terri Bohl, Easter Seals, 1909 N. Ridge Rd #6, Lorain, Ohio 44055.

Rare Book

We recently purchased a copy of the book, The Modern Lighthouse Service by Arnold Burgess Johnson, printed by the Government Printing Office in Washington, DC, in 1890. Arnold Burgess Johnson was the Chief Clerk for the United States Lighthouse Board. The book was primarily written as a report to the Congress of the United States as requested by an act of Congress on May 24, 1888 for use of the delegates to the International American Conference. In includes a forward by James G. Blaine who was the Secretary of State at the time. While we have seen copies of this book in the past, this one is unusual because in the front of the book is a sticker which states "Notice - This Book is the Property of Aug. S. Burgess." On the opposite page written in pencil it states, "from library of Edward Rowe Snow." As many of you know, Edward Rowe Snow was one of New Englands foremost experts on lighthouse history and he wrote numerous books about the subject. He was also the Flying Santa of the Lighthouses. In the days when stations were still manned, he knew many of the Keepers and family members personally. What we would like to know is if Aug. S. Burgess was a keeper and, if so, at which lighthouse. Was he related to the famous Abbie Burgess? If you know the answer, please write to us.

This story appeared in the September 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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