Lighthouse Presevation

The Coast Guard has officially turned over Cove Point Lighthouse to the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons, Maryland. The museum is now looking for volunteers (especially roofers) to get the lighthouse restored and open by summer 2001. If you wish to help contact Anne Puppa at anne.puppa@erols.com

A new historical marker has been dedicated at Michigan’s Big Sable Lighthouse. The marker dedication ceremony, which was part of the Big Sable Lighthouse Keepers Association annual meeting, was attended by Michigan State Representative David Meade. For more information on how you can be a host/keeper at Big Sable Lighthouse, write to them at P.O. Box 673, Ludington, MI 49431.

A recent editorial in the Day Newspaper out of New London, Connecticut urged people to get behind the fund raising efforts to save the endangered Avery Point Lighthouse. This is a lighthouse that needs lots of help now. For more information contact Avery Point Lighthouse Society, P.O. Box 1552, Groton, CT 06340.

The Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse in Maine recently held a silent auction for 5 pairs of tickets for a 2-hour sail on the Schooner North Wind with an onboard naturalist. The cruise tickets were donated by the Schooner North Wind. For more information on the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse visit their web site at www.midcoast.com/~brkwater

Lighthouse Donations

Speaking of the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, Harbour Lights is donating $5.00 to the Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse from the sale of each of their replicas sold. As an extra bonus, Lighthouse Depot is donating $10 from each replica that is purchased from them to the Friends of Rockland Breakwater. The replica can be ordered by calling 1-800-758-1444 or on line at www.lighthousedepot.com.

Many Thanks!

Many thanks to the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society for their 2000 Presidents Award presented to me at their annual Keepers Dinner in Kill Devil Hills, NC. I had been invited to speak at the dinner and the award was totally unexpected but greatly appreciated. The Outer Banks Lighthouse Society is an extremely dedicated group and well worth joining.

Sold!

Michigan’s Galloo Island Lighthouse has been sold by the General Services Administration by a sealed bid. The high bidder, at $87,000, was Cara Divnah from Vallejo, California. The development company that owns the rest of the island bid $55,000 for the lighthouse.

New Access

A recent grant approval will allow for the construction of a 600-foot walkway to Wisconsin’s Menominee Lighthouse. The walkway, already designed, will be approximately 8 feet wide, will cost $10,500 and will be handicap accessible. It is expected to be completed by April 2001.

Construction was recently completed on the north breakwall at Michigan’s Ludington Pier Lighthouse allowing people to again walk out to the lighthouse.

New Museum?

Although the City of New London, Connecticut came in second to Staten Island, New York as the site of the proposed National Lighthouse Museum, they may get a similar museum after all. It seems that many supporters are now gaining momentum to have New London as the site of a first-class, full-scale, national Coast Guard Museum. Only about 10,000 people a year visit the existing one-room museum on the grounds of the Coast Guard Academy in New London. The proposed site for a new museum is adjacent to Fort Trumbull State Park.

Potpourri

Two time capsules have been placed in the granite blocks of North Light on Block Island, Rhode Island. The cylinders, to be opened in 50 years, were prepared by a local art class and contain digital photos, essays and numerous other items. A third capsule to be opened in 100 years will contain objects gathered from the community at large.

A proposed windmill to be erected at Block Island Rhode Island’s North Light has drawn a little controversy. However, supporters say it’s needed since the cost of burying a power line to the light would cost $150,000, and solar power was also too expensive. Wind generated power was the best alternative, supporters said. It was also disclosed that a windmill was part of the setting many years ago, so it would not alter the historical significance of the site.

A man charged with stealing a lighthouse from the lawn of the Cumberland Road Elementary School in North Carolina has also been charged with the murder of his girl friend. The 10-foot tall lighthouse was recovered and returned to the school.

This story appeared in the November 2000 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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