Tid-bits from the Tower

Renovations

Portsmouth Harbor Light, in Portsmouth, NH has had some recent sprucing up with a new coat of paint and some other minor restoration. The lighthouse is on the site of Fort Constitution, the oldest military fort of the United States of America. The fort was originally named Fort William and Mary and was the site of the first overt act of the Revolutionary War. Unfortunately, the federal government turned the fort over to the State of New Hampshire, which has done a deplorable job - in other words, nothing has been done in maintaining or restoring the fort. Adjoining the fort are the historic Walbach Towers, built by the oldest General to ever serve in the U.S. Army. They are also in ruins. It's too bad that the state of New Hampshire doesn't stand behind much of the state's motto which meant so much to the patriots that once served at these historic sites. We would urge our readers to write to the Governor of New Hampshire and demand some action.

Maine's Egg Rock Lighthouse is now using solar power to run the light and the fog signal. The lighthouse has been powered for last the two decades by an underwater cable from Mount Desert Island. The cable will be abandoned. The new solar equipment is equipped with humane, bird repelling spikes designed to prevent fowl from landing on it and dirtying the solar collectors. The frame itself is 8 feet wide, 21 feet long, and 12 feet high.

Nuptuals and Milestones

When Patrick & Kimberly Foss decided to elope, they chose the loftiest altar they could find, the top of New Jersey's Barnegat Lighthouse. The July marriage at the top of the lighthouse was performed by Beach Haven, NJ, Mayor Deb Whitcraft. Although there have been lots of weddings at the base of the lighthouse, to the best of anyone's memory, this was the first wedding at the top.

Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. H. Ray Veit of the New Jersey Lighthouse Society. The couple recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. The couple are actively involved with lighthouses and keep Lighthouse Digest posted on all lighthouse activities in New Jersey with number of their photographs having appeared in Lighthouse Digest.

Oak Tree Quarterback

At the rate we are going none of the new state's quarters will have a lighthouse. Connecticut, which already has a lighthouse license plate came out with the famed Charter Oak tree. Although historic, it does absolutely nothing to promote the state. When are the politicians going to wake up and go with what people want and what helps promote their state!

Potpourri

We will soon be updating our "Lighthouses You Can Stay at List" which we distribute free to thousands of people each year. If you know of a lighthouse that we should mention, or have one of their brochures, please send to: Editor, Lighthouse Digest, P.O. Box 1690, Wells, Maine 04090.

Patches... We are still in need of patches with lighthouses. If you have one that you can donate for our lighthouse patch display, please send to: Tim Harrison, Lighthouse Digest, P.O. Box 1690, Wells, Maine 04090.

The West Michigan Tourist Association has put together a Lake Michigan Lighthouse B&B Sampler Package. For more info you can write them at WMTA, 1253 Front Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 or call them at 616-456-8557 or e-mail them at info@wmta.org

The Maine Educator magazine, 1999-2000, jointly published by the Maine Education Association and the National Education Association featured a lighthouse at sunset picture on the cover. Also the header of each page featured a photograph of Maine's Portland Head Light.

Also the Brass Business Bulletin, which promotes itself as "A Beacon for Business in the Northeast" features a picture of Maine's Portland Head Light on the cover. Everybody seems to be using lighthouses!

Lighthouse Passings

A. "Betty" Husaril, 77, of Elizabeth Pennsville Township, NJ has passed away. As a volunteer coordinator for the Finn's Point Rear Range Lighthouse in Pennsville, NJ she had petitioned Congress for its restoration and during those negotiations, met then President Ronald Reagan. She was a member of numerous lighthouse organizations and an avid lover of lighthouses. Surviving are her husband of 45 years, two sons, two daughters, a sister and seven grandchildren.

Preservation News

With all the recent coverage of the move of North Carolina's Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, I suddenly realized that we forgot to publicly thank the one man who really made a difference . . . former United States Senator Lauch Faircloth. The whole matter of moving the lighthouse was entangled in complex state and federal issues on how best to protect and save the lighthouse and how best to protect coastal areas. The former senator said on numerous occasions, "One can move the lighthouse, or one can move the ocean." It was his dedication to the move as the only way to save the lighthouse, that federal funds were obtained for "the move of the century." To former U.S. Senator Lauch Faircloth, "we salute you!" You helped save America's tallest lighthouse for future generations into the new millennium.

The old Alpena Township Hall in Alpena, Michigan which was scheduled for demolition has been saved, thanks to the efforts of Marv Theut of the Middle Island Lighthouse Preservation Society. Marv will be moving the building next to the Huron Lights Store in Alpena and hopes to turn the building into a lighthouse museum.

The American Lighthouse Foundation has a really neat bumper sticker which is being sent to renewing members. If you are not a member and would like one, please send a $3.00 donation to American Lighthouse Foundation, P.O. Box 889, Wells, Maine 04090.

The Point Abino Lighthouse Preservation Society has just come out with a beautiful full-color calendar of their lighthouse. Each month features a different scene of this gorgeous lighthouse, winter, fog, night, aerial, etc. This calendar, their first, is one that every lighthouse buff should have. This small group has very little funds to work with and this calendar is a fund raiser for them. Your purchase will certainly help them out. Send $12.95 in U.S. funds (which includes postage) to: Janet Truckenbrodt, P.O. Box 546, Crystal Beach, Ontario, LOS 1BO, Canada.

The Point Abino Lighthouse Preservation Society has also created a lead-free pewter replica on solid oak base of their lighthouse. This replica is available from the group for $25 U.S. plus $4.95 shipping from the address above.

It now appears that the National Park Service will be taking over North Carolina's Bodie Island Lighthouse. The Coast Guard will continue to maintain the lighthouse in the tower. Bodie Island Lighthouse was originally called Body's Island Lighthouse and the current tower is the third to stand in this area.

Let's not forget about our friends at Maine's Doubling Point Lighthouse. They still need lots of money to save the historic structure. Donations can be sent to: Friends of Doubling Point Lighthouse, c/o Betsy Coleman, HCR 33 Box 61B, Arrowsic, ME 04530.

The historic United States Coast Guard Station on Block Island, Rhode Island has been turned over to the township of New Shoreham. The station includes the picturesque main house, boat house, docks, tennis court, two story brick house and garage. It is estimated that the property is worth over $20 million. It was Capt. Oswald Littlefield, the keeper at North Lighthouse who originally convinced a wealthy land owner to sell 11 acres of oceanfront property to the Coast Guard in 1933. Apparently the keeper did a good job of convincing the land owner about his civic responsibility, since the government bought the land for one dollar.

This story appeared in the October 1999 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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