Tenders Should Be On Doomsday List

In looking at the Doomsday List of endangered lighthouses, your list only includes structures.

However, almost extinct, and never to be found again are the ships that not only built most of the lighthouses, but also maintained them and supported the lightships as well. These venerable Lighthouse Tenders served the Lighthouse Establishment from 1840 until 1939 (when they merged into the Coast Guard and became cutters). Over 230 plus named tenders existed, and served, and then disappeared.

I know of only two United States Lighthouse Service Tenders that exist today.

One, the former Lighthouse Tender, LILAC, built in 1933 and served until 1972, when decommissioned and sold, becoming a training platform. It was the last steam driven tender in service. Now it sits in rusted condition in Virginia, for sale for $37,500, and will apparently go to the scrap heap because of neglect and lack of care.

The other, the former Lighthouse Tender, FIR, was the last tender built for the U.S. Lighthouse Service in 1939 and the last Lighthouse Service Tender in service (retiring in 1991). Efforts to preserve her in her home-port of Seattle, WA, failed due to a lack of funds, and FIR now sits in the Suisun Bay Fleet Storage Facility pending final disposition.

The tenders of the old Lighthouse Service should not be ignored or neglected. The history these ships wrote, for the service, as well as the nation, should not be forgotten.

Let's add these vessels to the "Doomsday List," and make an effort to preserve both of these ships. Time is running desperately short.

D.R. Peterson

Fairfield, CA

Editor's Reply: It is unfortunate that the last two Lighthouse Tenders of the United States Lighthouse Service are about to go to the scrap heap. Unfortunately, the various lighthouse groups across the country can barely raise enough funds to maintain and restore lighthouses let alone vessels. I am afraid that unless some private benefactor comes forward with at least $300,000, these vessels will be lost forever.

A Little of Everything

I have been a subscriber of Lighthouse Digest since 1995 and wanted you to know how much I appreciate the constant improvement in the content, the layout, and reproduction quality of the Digest. It has come a long way since 1995, and, as you probably have heard many times, "I look forward to each issue."

I especially like your forthright editorial approach to lighthouse issues like the lighthouse license plate for Maine, and the way you took on Wayne Wheeler (of the U.S. Lighthouse Society) on the preservation issue.

One thing that concerns me is, on this new lighthouse museum they are putting together in New York: How is the driving and parking situation? I would not look kindly on leaving the museum area and finding my car gone. There would have been an advantage in locating the museum "up your way." It seems like the principle issue in locating the facility in New York, was the money provided by the local government. I can think of a lot of advantages in starting out small in an environment which is more lighthouse condusive, like Ken Black's Shore Village Museum in Rockland, Maine. I do not think driving to New York City is going to appeal to some of us older "wickies."

James L. Slechta

Stevensville, MD

Editor's Reply: Sorry, I don't know about the National Museum's parking plans once the museum opens. I assume they have plenty of parking and the area will be safe. We have heard nothing about what is progressing for the National Lighthouse Museum on Staten Island. We would have assumed that they would be sending out monthly updates on their progress and keeping themselves "in the news," but so far they have been silent. I agree about the location, I was not pleased with the site chosen. However, since that was the site they picked, we will do whatever we can to help them out. I especially like the idea of the planned Great Lakes Lighthouse Museum. Now there's something I can get behind and sink my teeth into.

Loved December Cover

I just wanted to add my "Hoorays" for the Christmas cover on the December issue. I made sure it was always on top of our magazine stack as an added Christmas decoration. I really admire Virginia Souza for her talent. On another matter, I would like to recommend that you include a tiny location map with your wonderful articles. Many times, I don't know where a specific lighthouse is until I'm well into the story (example: The Willapa Bay story in last month's issue). If there was a small outline of a state with a location dot at the beginning, it would help me appreciate the story. Thank you again for your wonderful magazine.

Barbara Murphy

Columbus, Ohio

Editor's Reply: Virginia thanks you. We'll see what we can do about the map. It's a good idea.

A Little Humor at Lefton's Expense

We just received the February issue of Lighthouse Digest and wasted no time starting to read it. Imagine our surprise at the Lefton advertisement on the inside front cover that offers "Full-size ceramic lit lighthouses." One has to wonder how such an item would be shipped, and whether it might violate local zoning ordinances! (grin)

Bruce and Susan Krobusek

Farmington, NY

Editor's Reply - When we passed your e-mail message around the office, we all got quite the chuckle, and everyone said, "PUT THIS IN THE MAIL BAG!" But, we think you should know, that full size is not necessarily life size.

This story appeared in the March 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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