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Connecticut Not Lighthouse Tourist Friendly

I read with interest the article "Meeting the Ladies I Had Admired Only From Afar" by Ron Foster in the July 1998 issue of Lighthouse Digest. He did an excellent job of describing the lighthouses that most of us only "admire from afar." He also did an excellent job of describing what I call "The Connecticut Attitude Toward Lighthouse Hunters" and just about anyone else that has an interest in things connected with the seacoast.

I have attempted numerous times to photograph the beacons that Connecticut appears to be so proud of but wants to keep to themselves. I, too, have been met with signs such as "NO TRESPASSING," "KEEP OUT," "PRIVATE PROPERTY," NO PARKING" and on and on. These signs become more abundant the closer one gets to the ocean and other waterways.

The writings by Mr. Foster further illustrate "The Connecticut Attitude . . . the road to Morgan Point is a private road . . . I continued through a private golf course, waving to neighbors who must have thought I was one of them . . . (I hesitate to think what would have happened to Mr. Foster if they found out he wasn't "one of them"). Further comments by Mr. Foster as ". . . there was a chain link fence around the property (Lynde Point Light) and there was a dog inside . . . I had to pass through a private yard along the way . . . I kept walking toward the breakwater expecting to be thrown off the beach at any moment" all illustrate "The Connecticut Attitude."

At one time, in an attempt to find and photograph the light at Old Lyme, I stopped to ask directions of a resident near by and was greeted with a not so pleasant, "It's in a private community. You can't get in and you can't park here."

Evidently, Connecticut thinks quite highly of their lighthouses. They certainly like to use them in their vacation guides. In their 1997 guide (page 93) they used a photograph of lighthouse and harbor, Old Saybrook. Not being familiar with this lighthouse my wife and I went hunting. We found the lighthouse depicted in the guide. We also found the usual signs that we have become accustomed to in Connecticut: "Keep Out," "Members Only," "Private Property." In an attempt to obtain information regarding the lighthouse, I wrote a letter to the manager of the establishment on which the property of the lighthouse was situated. Naturally, I never did receive an answer. By the looks of it and without information available, I do not believe it is an authentic lighthouse. It appears to be a facsimile.

On the cover of the current travel guide Connecticut River Valley & Shoreline appears a photograph of Old Saybrook Lighthouse. I can't imagine why this lighthouse is used to lure travellers when Mr. Foster's comments seem to contradict the availability of the light to the everyday traveller

" . . .past signs saying 'residents only beyond this point,' and 'Private Property' . . ."

Well, enough said. I hope I have made my point. Connecticut is not visitor friendly, at least not along the coast, and definitely does not make it easy for us lighthouse lovers to satisfy our quest for more information.

Once again, thank you for a most interesting magazine and for articles such as Mr. Foster's who is daring enough to go beyond the "KEEP OUT" warnings.

William G. Kaufhold

Pequannock, NJ

Editors Note: While it is true that many lighthouses are difficult to get to because of private property, we do not condone trespassing. Let's hear from other people who have experienced these types of problems. Let's hear from some Connecticut people and your thoughts.

We would recommend purchasing a copy of Ken Kochel's book, America's Atlantic Coast Lighthouses - A Traveller's Guide. This book has exact directions that will make it easier for you to see and photograph lighthouses. Now, if we only had a book like his for the west coast.

Looking for info on North Island Light

You are my last resort in finding information on my great great grandfather who was a lighthouse keeper in 1810 in Georgetown, SC, at North Island Lighthouse (Georgetown Lighthouse). I have written to several places in a an effort to locate some information about him, but to no avail. I read an article in the newspaper that said all lighthouse keepers were trained at Staten Island and I began to take hope that perhaps your organization might have a record of him there. The U.S. Navy has no record of him, nor does the archives.

His name was Robert Marsh (he was called Captain Marsh). He was born in 1777 in Morristown, Patterson, or Elizabeth, NJ.

Pat Graham

P.O. Box 2118

Pawleys Island, SC 29585

Editors Reply: Sorry we do not have any information in our files. Perhaps one of our readers will be able to help you.

How About West Coast?

I thoroughly enjoy your magazine and read each issue cover to cover. Since I live in California, I would like to see more articles on West Coast lighthouses.

Speaking of West Coast lighthouses, do you know of any cruises, tours, etc., scheduled for the West Coast or California specifically? If not, do you know what agency or individual I could contact regarding any such cruises or tours. If you have any information please contact me, or if I am able to locate something on my own, I will be sure to get the information to you for inclusion in Lighthouse Digest.

Margaret Reedy

Ripon, CA

Editors Reply: Sorry, we only know about the tour and cruise information that is sent to us by the various groups around the country. The west coast is lacking in this area. We can only hope our readers and the various nonprofit groups on the Pacific send us the information. If they don't send it to us, we don't know about it.

Yes, Jamie, You're Not Alone!

First off, I would like to give a BIG THANK YOU to you and yours for this great magazine! It is one of my brightest spots each month.

I just have to share this with you, I know you will get a laugh out of this. For the longest time, I thought I was the only one who was just nuts about lighthouses! I thought nobody else enjoyed and loved lighthouses as I do. Most of my friends think I am crazy, as I am only 28 years old and spend most of my weekends "lighthouse hunting." I guess that is what made me feel sooo alone! BUT! I found your magazine and it has proved to me that I am not alone, not alone at all! There are plenty of lighthouse fanatics to keep them alive and well into the next century! Thank you for your wonderful publication. Please keep up the good work . . . it shows through your magazine!

Jamie Glover

Belfair, WA

Opposed to Staten Island

There is nothing like having to fend off the smells of the largest municipal dump, New York City traffic, the backdrop of steel mountains, tainted waterways, and an island that has virtually no scenic landscape other than the southern end which looks out to an ocean which we have so easily polluted with all our wonderful sewage and runoff. Do I seem opposed to Staten Island as the site for a National Lighthouse Museum? You're right! Training center or not, New York has enough sightseeing tours. Let's share the wealth with struggling New England or the Great Lakes regions. Just as many people will travel to a non New York location and no doubt enjoy a lighthouse museum in those areas with more natural settings. And yes, I voted for New England.

Tony Esposito

Editors Reply: Tony, you are not alone in your feelings. The mail has been overwhelmingly packed with feelings of disappointment, dismay, and even outrage that Staten Island was picked as the site for National Lighthouse Museum. However, to the best of my knowledge, the decision can not be changed, and we must learn to live with it. We must move on and should support the Staten Island museum in every way possible. On the other hand, Michigan is proceeding with plans for a Lighthouse Museum in Mackinaw City and anyone not satisfied with Staten Island can certainly support the Michigan agenda. The City of Rockland, Maine also has some long range plans for a first class museum building to be built on the waterfront to house the lighthouse artifacts of Shore Village Museum.

Many Thanks

May I take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to you and your capable staff at Lighthouse Digest. I refer to your June issue and the story of my father, Christian Heim as a lighthouse keeper on the Hawaiian Islands. He would have been pleased to have read it. May you and Lighthouse Digest enjoy continued success.

Joe Heim

Prescott, AZ

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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