Digest>Archives> May/Jun 2018

Keeper's Korner

Tidbits and Editorial Comments from the Tower

By Timothy Harrison

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Admiralty Facelift

An amount of a little less than $200,000 has been approved by the State of Washington for exterior work on that state’s 1903 Admiralty Head Lighthouse. According to a press release, Washington State Parks originally asked for $1.6 million over two years, but the governor’s budget phases the project over four years. Most of the work that needs to be done is exterior work on the stucco and masonry, as well as the chimney and lantern railings.

John Chidester Dies

It has been reported to us that John Chidester, an avid Harbour Lights collector, passed away on Feb. 12, 2018. In 2006 he authored the book The Official Collectors Guide to Harbour Lights, which was considered by most to be the most definitive resource for collectors of Harbour Lights models. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.

Lighthouse Plate Tops $1M

Sales of Washington State’s Lighthouse License Plates have topped the million-dollar mark in benefits for that state’s lighthouses restoration and maintenance. The plates cost $40 and funds go toward the state’s twelve lighthouses.

New Beach Beacon

Waveland, Mississippi is topping its new beach area public restrooms with what they call a lighthouse that they hope will be also an attraction for the community. The structure is being funded with Mississippi Tidelands funds paid primarily by waterfront casinos. Shown here is an artist rendition of what it will look like.

Lighthouse Benefactor Richard L. Petri Dies

Richard L. Petri a former cook on a lightship who went on to start a highly successful business that enabled him to support many maritime projects, passed away at the age of 89 this past February 7th. In 1985, he became a founding member of the Buffalo Lighthouse Association in New York. He also served on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Foundation and the U.S. Coast Guard Foundation, and he was a member of the Lightship Sailors Association. His hand-crafted exquisite models of Coast Guard vessels, which are valued at half a million dollars, were in the process of being transferred to the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park where he was inducted into the Wall of Honor this past January. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.

Southeast Light To Be Restored

The beautiful 1875 Southeast Lighthouse on Block Island, Rhode Island will soon be undergoing a major restoration. The work will include restoration, repair or recasting of deteriorated cast iron decking at the watch room and lantern levels, installation of newly cast historic tower railings, doors, ladder and additional cast iron components, restoration of interior watch room masonry and select exterior re-pointing. In August of 1993, the lighthouse was moved by International Chimney Corp. back 300 feet from eroding bluff. The move was considered an engineering marvel.

Cleanup for Trowbridge

The nonprofit group Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior has announced that they have received a $25,000 grant from The Great Lakes Community Guardian Fund to do a general cleanup of Trowbridge Island Lighthouse Station, which is located in Thunder Bay in Ontario, Canada. The nonprofit group currently leases the 1910 light station from the Canadian Coast Guard.

Mystery Photo Solved

The name of the mystery Scottish lighthouse keeper, whose photo we published in the March-April edition of Lighthouse Digest, has been solved. Thanks to family members, he has been positively identified as David Milne Scott, who was born in 1836 and entered the Scottish Lighthouse Service as an assistant keeper in 1863. He served at a number of Scottish lighthouses until he retired in 1895.

St. Augustine Gets New Status

The St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum in St. Augustine, Florida has been approved as an accredited museum, the highest recognition allocated to museums. Reportedly, of the nation’s 33,000 museums, slightly over 1,000 are accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. (Photo by Joseph F. Manual.)

Correction

On page 60 of the March/April 2018 edition we incorrectly identified this photo as the Point Reyes Lighthouse, when it should have been identified as the 1877 Point Bonita Lighthouse in Sausalito, California. Since this editor typed the caption, all I can say is that my mind must have been thinking something else when I typed it. I apologize for the error.

Conneaut Light For Sale

Our condolences go out to Karen Killilea and her family on the passing of her husband Jerry. In 2012, the couple purchased the 1936 Conneaut Harbor West Breakwater Lighthouse in Conneaut, Ohio. Karen is now accepting bids to purchase the lighthouse, which she hopes to sell for $72,000. If you are interested, you can email her at conneautlight@gmail.com.

5th Annual Lake Ontario Tour

The H. Lee White Maritime Museum in Oswego, NY is offering its 5th annual Lake Ontario Lighthouse Challenge Bus Tour on August 4 and 5, 2018. The guided Lighthouse Challenge Bus Tour fee of $169 pp includes all transportation, admission to eight lighthouses, boat tour fees to two lighthouses, and more. To register or learn more go to www.hlwmm.org, or call them at 315-342-0480.

This story appeared in the May/Jun 2018 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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