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Maine Lighthouse Plate Becomes Law

The new State of Maine lighthouse license plate created and sponsored by the Maine Lighthouse Trust, is finally official. On May 6, 2021, Governor Janet Mills signed into law LD 266 “An Act to create the Maine Lighthouse Trust Registration Plate. Sales of the lighthouse license plate will be used to fund Maine lighthouse preservation projects.” To learn more, go to www.MaineLighthouseTrust.org

A Lighthouse Gift

Joe Tartaglione received a model of North Carolina’s Cape Hatteras Lighthouse as a gift from a friend in Massachusetts. It even has a rotating beacon. You can tell by Joe’s Georgia state automobile license plate with the letters “LT HOUS” that he loves lighthouses.

Arson-Damaged Light will not be Rebuilt

The fire-damaged lighthouse in Lighthouse Cove in Dewey Beach, Delaware will not be rebuilt. The lighthouse, a replica of the long-lost Cape Henlopen Lighthouse, was damaged too severely to be saved and will be demolished. Because of the cost involved, the owners said it will be impossible for them to rebuild. The reward for the apprehension and conviction of the arsonists has been raised from its initial $10,000 to $30,000.

Delaware Lighthouse Tours

The last lighthouse boat tours of the season sponsored by The Delaware River and Bay Lighthouse Foundation will offer their Harbor of Refuge Tours on August 21 at 8:30am and 9:45am and September 25 at 11am and 12:15pm. A sunset cruse will be offered on September 11 at 5:30pm. To register go to www.delawarebaylights.org or call 302-644-7046. Warning: these tours sell out fast.

Power Lost at East Brother

The underwater cable from the California mainland to the 1874 East Brother Island Light Station in San Francisco Bay has failed. A GoFundMe page was established to raise money to either repair the cable or install solar power at the popular lighthouse bed and breakfast. Some estimates state that it could cost as much as $1 million to bring full power to the island lighthouse.

Money for East Chop Light

The Town of Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts has approved $259,700 to be used to restore the 1878 East Chop Lighthouse. Sadly, after the lighthouse was automated in 1934, all of its outbuildings, including the keeper’s house, were demolished. For many years when the lighthouse was painted brown, it was called “The Chocolate Lighthouse.” For 22 years, from 1912 to 1934, George W. Purdy, a one-armed man, was the keeper of the lighthouse.

Bomb Scare

The Police Department in Falmouth, Massachusetts recently received a phone call from a person who thought they spotted what might be a bomb on the grounds of the Nobska Point Lighthouse. A quick internet search revealed that the item was a Giottos Rocket Blaster Dust Removal Tool used to safely blow clean air to eliminate dust from sensitive and hard-to-reach surfaces, such as lenses on cameras. It was most likely dropped from the camera bag of someone photographing the lighthouse.

Seul Choix Lighthouse on Kegs

Bell’s Brewery of Kalamazoo, and Comstock, Michigan have issued limited edition mini-kegs of beer that support four of the favorite nonprofits of Larry Bell, the company’s president. One of them, named Third Coast Beer, features the 1895 Seul Choix Point Lighthouse near Gulliver, Michigan that will benefit the Gulliver Historical Society that cares for the lighthouse. The others will benefit the Midwest Labrador Retriever Rescue Association, the Alliance for the Great Lakes, and the North Country Trail Association.

Brick for Metropolis Hope Light Project

A red brick is being placed in the walkway surrounding the Metropolis Lighthouse “Hope Light” in Metropolis, Illinois by the Hope Light Foundation with the following inscription: “Tim Harrison – Lighthouse Digest. From: The Hope Light Foundation for your enduring support.” Obviously, I was surprised and honored when I was notified of the brick to be placed. I am extremely humbled and thankful. To learn more, go to www.HopeLightMetropolis.com (Metropolis Light by C. Currie)

Historian Hired

The Twin Lights Historical Society at the Twin Lights of Navesink in Highlands, New Jersey has hired Jenna Paterno as a full-time historian at the museum. We wish her the very best of success.

Break-in at Mukilteo

This past April, thieves smashed a window and broke into the 1906 Mukilteo Lighthouse in Mukilteo, Washington where they proceeded to smash a display case and steal artifacts. However, a local resident saw the individuals breaking into the lighthouse and called police. A short time later, a deputy sheriff pulled over a car with three people in it and saw the artifacts on the car’s floor. Two of the people were charged with burglary and theft and a juvenile was released to his father.

Tybee Island Door Knob Stolen

This is definitely a first. A 155-year-old historic door knob from the observation deck door was apparently stolen from Georgia’s Tybee Island Lighthouse. Using various tips and social media, police arrested the suspected thief in Indiana.

New Artifact at North Point

The 5th order Fresnel lens that was removed on June 6, 2019 from Wisconsin’s 1932 Algoma Pierhead Lighthouse is now on display at the 1888 North Point Lighthouse in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The museum at the lighthouse is open to the public from 1PM to 4PM on Saturdays and Sundays.

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This story appeared in the Jul/Aug 2021 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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