Digest>Archives> November 2009

Keeper's Korner

Tidbits and Editorial Comments from the Tower

By Timothy Harrison

Comments?    


Missing Lens

Craig Morrison who leads the group that is restoring New York’s Execution Rocks Lighthouse is trying to find out what happened to the Fresnel lens that was once in the lighthouse. If any of our readers can help him out please call him at 215-906-5103.

Repairs at Wisconsin Point

The United States Coast Guard commissioned repair work to the Wisconsin Point Lighthouse that marks the entrance to the Port of Superior in Superior, Wisconsin. Scaffolding was reported around the lighthouse. If any of our readers have photos to share with us of the scaffolding, we’d appreciate having copies.

Split Rock To Celebrate 100

Minnesota’s Split Rock Lighthouse will be celebrating its 100th birthday in 2010. For more information on its centennial and upcoming events visit www.mnhs.org/splitrock

Lighthouse University

A new sweatshirt that every lighthouse aficionado is sure to absolutely fall in love with called "Lighthouse University," is available from Lighthouse Depot as product item #40167. If you have not yet seen it, you can view it at www.LighthouseDepot.com or call them for a catalog at 1-800-758-1444. I ordered one the minute I saw it. In fact, I’m going to order a couple of them for gifts.

New Exhibits at MLM

Thanks to the efforts of volunteer Ted Panayotoff, two new interpretative exhibits have been installed at the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland, Maine. One exhibit is about Boats and Boathouses at lighthouses and the other in an international lighthouse exhibit that displays artifacts and uniforms of lighthouse organizations from around the world. Much of the international exhibit came from items of the Museum of Lighthouse History that were collected by our editor Tim Harrison before the two museums were merged together. The Maine Lighthouse Museum has an amazing collection of artifacts and the largest collection of lenses in the United States that was collected through the efforts of the late Ken Black, who was known by many as "Mr. Lighthouse." The Maine Lighthouse Museum is a must see for anyone visiting Maine.

Crown Point Shining Again

Lake Champlain’s Crown Point Lighthouse has recently been relit after extensive renovations. More commonly known as the Champlain Memorial Lighthouse in Crown Point, NY was attended by many dignitaries including Vermont’s Governor James Douglas.

The Big Turnoff

In a clever publicity move, the Georgia Historical Society hosted what they called "The Big Turnoff Event" on Sept. 27 when the light in the tower at St. Simons Lighthouse was turned off for the first time since World War II. The light was turned off while extensive restoration takes place at the lighthouse that are expected to be completed inDecember or January.

Sable Points Lighthouse Membership

Michigan’s Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association (SPLKA) has awarded me with an Honorary Membership in their organization. In awarding the Honorary Membership, Ceil Heller, president of the group, in a letter to me said, "I would like to thank you for your continued support of us and all lighthouses through your efforts to save such a vital piece of history." I am deeply touched and humbled by their wonderful gesture and am proud to be a member of such a great group. The group is the steward of Michigan’s, Big Sable Point Lighthouse, Little Sable Point Lighthouse and Ludington North Breakwater Lighthouse, which is also known as Ludington North Pierhead Lighthouse.

Cape Bear to be Moved

Canada’s Cape Bear Lighthouse near Murray Harbour, Prince Edward Island needs to be moved to save it from toppling over the eroding cliff. In 1963 the old keeper’s house was moved one quarter of a mile from the lighthouse.

Artifacts For Sale

The Maritime Exchange Museum in Howell, Michigan is now offering a massive, 30 year collection of never before offered Lighthouse Antiques, Life Saving Service Antiques, and Maritime Shipwreck artifacts. The collection consists of over 1000 items ranging from 16 Lighthouse Fresnel Lenses, 100 Restored AGA Bronze Buoy Lanterns, 4 USLSS Lyle Guns, Powder boxes, Numerous USLSS artifacts such as faking boxes, breeches buoys, Keepers hats, Life saving service Medals, Documents, rare lithographs, Pictures, postcards, Gas Burners, oil lamps, Lighthouse Establishment clocks, brassware, oil cans, burners, Lightship artifacts, keepers letters, US Lighthouse service annual reports, log books, medicine chests, pans, trays, stoves, barometers and much more. There is a small amount of the available items at the web site: www.lighthouselens.com. The Museum is still active in Fresnel Lens recovery and restoration, and is currently restoring 3 large lenses from Peru. They are open to the public by appointment, and can be reached at 810-599-5147.

Heceta Lighthouse Coin Available

The Heceta Lighthouse medallion is the newest lighthouse bronze medallion available from the North Bend Chief Petty Officers Association. Previous coins in the series of Oregon lighthouses are Cape Arago Lighthouse, Yaquina Head Lighthouse and Umpqua River Lighthouse. They can be ordered for $19.95 plus $3.00 shipping each from the North Bend Chief Petty Officers Association at NBCPOA, 20000 Connecticut Ave., North Bend, OR 97420.

Setting the Record Straight

We goofed. We did not fact check the submitted story "It’s Always Neat at Pigeon Point," that appeared in our July issue. In that story the author stated that Pigeon Point Lighthouse in California is the oldest operating lighthouse in California." This is incorrect and we should have caught the error and we apologize. In fact, it is Point Pinos Lighthouse in Pacific Grove, California that has the oldest building, the oldest lens and is still active using its original 3rd order lens. Point Pinos is the oldest operating lighthouse on the West Coast of the United States.

This story appeared in the November 2009 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.

All contents copyright © 1995-2024 by Lighthouse Digest®, Inc. No story, photograph, or any other item on this website may be reprinted or reproduced without the express permission of Lighthouse Digest. For contact information, click here.


Subscribe
to Lighthouse Digest



USLHS Marker Fund


Lighthouse History
Research Institute


Shop Online












Subscribe   Contact Us   About Us   Copyright Foghorn Publishing, 1994- 2024   Lighthouse Facts     Lighthouse History