tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53485734660590202182024-02-22T04:09:06.287-05:00Let's Talk LighthousesThe official blog of Roland Babineau, lighthouse enthusiast, lecturer, and editor of The Cape Cod Store.com's Lighthouse Encyclopedia. Information and comments about the world of lighthouses, their history, and current news.Cape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348573466059020218.post-27831136022924955982009-05-22T07:09:00.003-04:002009-05-22T08:12:45.876-04:00Collector Forums Opportunity Drawing<div><a href="http://thecapecodstore.com/images/AB105_1_.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 284px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 249px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://thecapecodstore.com/images/AB105_1_.jpg" /></a> <div><div><div>I have recently been working with Harbour Lights collectors and another retailer, <a href="http://www.bronzelady.com/">Bronze Lady of Orlando</a>, in putting together what I think is a fantastic fundraiser to help a number of non-profit lighthouse preservation groups. The Collector Forums Opportunity Drawing is not only an "opportunity" for these lighthouse groups to get some much needed extra cash, it's also an "opportunity" for those who participate and donate at least $5.00 to this cause to win some very rare Harbour Lights lighthouses and Anchor Bay model ships. There will also be prizes of what is of this writing yet to be released Harbour Lights 2009 summer releases!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Prizes values for each individual piece are at least $75. The 1997 Anchor Bay Motor Yacht <em>Kim,</em> pictured above, is one of only 13 known to exist and is estimated to be worth $600.! </div><br /><div><em></em></div><a href="http://thecapecodstore.com/images/HL375_1_.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 286px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://thecapecodstore.com/images/HL375_1_.jpg" /></a> <div><em></em></div><div>Among the many other prizes available is a 1995 Harbour Lights replica Big Bay Point, Michigan, the first in what has become an annual special Christmas decorated piece. Another of the rare pieces is an artist proof, (a quality control piece used by Harbour Lights when manufacturing its replicas), of the very popular Cedar Point, Ohio Lighthouse, complete with roller coaster!</div><div>Yet another of the very rare prizes is a trio of "whiteware", or unpainted Harbour Lights replicas which were given as gifts to participants at various Harbour Lights events. </div><div>Also pictured here is one of the 2009 summer releases, Sabine Point, Louisiana. There is another yet to be announced summer release in the prize mix as well as a host of other "gotta have it" retired and rare collector's favorites!</div><div> </div><div> All of these prizes have been donated by us at <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/">The Cape Cod Store.com</a>, Bronze Lady of Orlando, and Harbour Lights collectors from their own personal collections. All are members of <a href="http://www.lighthousekeepers.com/forums/ultimatebb.php">Collector Forums</a>, a meeting place for Harbour Lights collectors and retailers, as well as lighthouse enthusiasts.</div><div>The lighthouse groups which are in line to be aided by this fundraiser include Jones Point Lighthouse in Virginia, New Canal Lighthouse in New Orleans, LA, Fort Gratiot Lighthouse in Michigan, Historically Significant Structures, Inc., caretakers of Execution Rocks, NY, Toledo Harbor, Ohio, and Ashtabula, Ohio. All of these groups are in real need of financial funds to help restore each of their lighthouses, and I, for one, am very proud to be able to help them out!</div><div>Please visit the <a href="http://thecapecodstore.com/opportunity_drawing/header">Opportunity Drawing website</a>, read about each individual lighthouse through the link provided, and, if you can, please help with a donation, no matter how small. Each of these lighthouse groups will be <em>very</em> appreciative of any money they receive, as it is much needed, and who knows, you may walk away with a great Harbour Lights or Anchor Bay collectible prize to show off to family and friens, or to give to another collector on your gift list! The Opportunity Drawing ends on August 15, 2009, so please hurry, it's closer than you think!</div><div>Thank you for your help!!!!</div></div></div></div>Cape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348573466059020218.post-3097107201457558652008-03-27T08:41:00.010-04:002008-12-10T17:40:12.983-05:00Pemaquid Point Lighthouse<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoPBjfAnWEUQDOvXiIoE0ApO3nQTk-EYJRV-z-Ck28IXHmpN-12-qmrsdjetg0Tn_BgaZUTspc-r_86oUxbGcdfqkcqzicQrXWMjrGcVIvfQRQIZGK7FZqn-NEgqWGK_ySvyLqAIYdBo/s1600-h/pemaquid+point.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182410519087297922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoPBjfAnWEUQDOvXiIoE0ApO3nQTk-EYJRV-z-Ck28IXHmpN-12-qmrsdjetg0Tn_BgaZUTspc-r_86oUxbGcdfqkcqzicQrXWMjrGcVIvfQRQIZGK7FZqn-NEgqWGK_ySvyLqAIYdBo/s320/pemaquid+point.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>For this post, I turn the reins over to Sue Clark for an update on the controversy which surrounds <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/pemaquid_point_me.html">Pemaquid Point Lighthouse</a>.<br /></div><div>Sue is a charter member of the <a href="http://www.mainelighthousemuseum.com/">Maine Lighthouse Museum</a>, a docent and former secretary of the Friends of <a href="http://www.lighthousefoundation.org/alf_lights/pemaquidpoint/pemaquid_info.htm">Pemaquid Point Lighthouse</a>, and a member of the <a href="http://www.lighthousefoundation.org/index.html">American Lighthouse Foundation</a>. Her second marriage took place at Pemaquid Point Lighthouse in September of 2000. She also is the creator of two great lighthouse blogs, <a href="http://lighthouse-news.com/">Lighthouse News</a> and <a href="http://hauntedlights.com/wordpress/">Spectral Keeper of the Lights </a>about haunted lighthouses.</div><div>I am extremely honored that Sue has agreed to do a "guest blogger" spot for me, as her knowledge of Pemaquid Point is second to none.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>Who Should Own Pemaquid Point Lighthouse?</strong></div><br /><div>At the Bristol Town Meeting March 18, 2008, voters overwhelmingly approved a warrant article to "accept the gift of the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Tower at such a time as it is declared excess property and offered to the town by the federal government (the U.S. Coast Guard). " </div><div>Wow, I knew the town had a severe misunderstanding of all things Pemaquid Point, but this is one of the better ones. </div><div>By way of background, the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, arguably one of the best known lighthouses in Maine by virtue of it being featured on the state quarter in 2003, is part of the Town of Bristol's Lighthouse Park. When the lighthouse was electrified in 1934 and the last lightkeeper left, the town later bought the land surrounding the lighthouse to turn into a park. And they did, and used the house as both a rental apartment (upstairs) and as the Fisherman's Museum (downstairs). The Coast Guard of course retained the immediate land surrounding the light, as it is still an active aid to navigation. </div><div>Everything was fine for the next sixty years. The light was there for everyone to view, but no access to the lighthouse tower was provided. Sometime around 1993, the Coast Guard, who only visited the tower three or four times a year to change the bulbs, offered to lease the tower to the town for maintenance. The Selectmen refused at that time, citing costs and liability reasons as to why they shouldn't accept it. </div><div>Fast forward to the year 2000, when the federal government enacted the National Lighthouse Preservation Act, which put non-profit organizations on an equal footing with municipalities. Several lighthouses were outsourced at that time, since the Coast Guard was getting out of the lighthouse preservation business. Pemaquid Point was not on the list, but since Bristol had earlier refused to maintain and open the light, the American Lighthouse Foundation was approached, and accepted the long term lease from the Coast Guard. The tower, sadly in need of a paint job, was painted by volunteers from New England Lighthouse Lovers, an ALF chapter. </div><div>Then came September 11, 2001. The Coast Guard was put in charge of Homeland Security as their priority, and in the switch over, records pertaining to Pemaquid Point Lighthouse and Bristol's refusal of same were lost or misplaced. The Coast Guard has never been the best record keepers at times, but this loss would prove to be the basis of the controversy. In early 2003, initial meetings with interested citizens were held to form a local chapter for Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. This group, calling themselves the Friends of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, set to work in May to clean up the ground floor of the tower, fix it up in preparation for opening it to allow visitors to climb the tower. On Memorial Day weekend, the lines waiting to climb wound all around the park. At first, the tower was only guaranteed to be open Wednesday afternoon, but as more volunteers signed up the days were extended. Eventually the tower would be open from Mother's Day to Columbus Day from 9 am to 5 pm, seven days a week. No money was charged to climb the tower, but donations were encouraged. The town of Bristol charges a $2 per person park entry fee, and encourages donations in the Fisherman's Museum, so this was felt to be the best way to raise money. </div><div>ALF and FPPL met with the Bristol selectmen and town manager, and went away with promises to work together for the good of the tower and park. A spirit of cooperation was in the air. When the quarter was released in June, 2003, the ceremonies were held at the lighthouse, and served to provide the publicity that the tower was open for climbing. </div><div>Enter John Allen, the head of the Fisherman's Museum. From the beginning, Allen resented the money the FPPL was "taking" from the Museum. The accusations started. First, the FPPL was accused by him of "selling" things at the lighthouse. This was because the organization had bought thousands of the quarters and were selling them as a fundraiser. </div><div>At one point, the ALF met again with the selectmen and park board and extended an offer to fund and build a replica of the original fog bell mechanism. This was refused because the "town didn't want anyone controlling the bell tower." Of course, it wasn't an attempt to take control, but to work in the spirit of cooperation that had supposedly been offered at that initial meeting. This type of non-cooperation on until November 2005, when matters were brought to a head at a presentation ALF gave at the school about their and FPPL's work by accusing the ALF of underhandedly stealing the lighthouse away from Bristol. Both in person and in a subsequent letter to the editor in the local newspaper. </div><div>Well, that set off a storm of controversy, especially when Allen claimed the lighthouse belongs to Bristol and should not be run by people "from away." Just to clarify, "from away" in Maine means anyone not a Maine native. The American Lighthouse Foundation was born in Maine, and is still in Maine and has no plans to leave Maine. Hardly from away. And it has been the position of ALF, the National Park Service (the owners of the lighthouse), and the FPPL that the lighthouse, like all of them, belongs to everyone, not just Bristol. And of course, all the transfers of ownership have made access to the lighthouse by the public a requirement for any entity taking over the deed. </div><div>But the town saw money to be made. After all, visitors have come from every corner of the planet to climb, over 50,000 per year, and the dollar signs started spinning in their heads, as in, "What's an extra two dollars to climb the tower? We can get that money instead." </div><div>One of John Allen's better statements in a letter to the editor came when he claimed that because Bristol doesn't own the tower, no one will ever be able to use that image of the lighthouse again because "ALF has it copyrighted." Hmmm, tell that to the US Mint. If that's the case, they owe mucho bucks to the ALF. </div><div>And then came Town Meeting 2007, when the town voted to spend $10,000 to find a lawyer to break this sneaky and underhanded lease and return the tower to Bristol. Of course, by now, no one can find the original refusal, and the town can't find it either. And no one remembers being offered it in the past. A Lighthouse Committee was then started to seek out ways to break this lease. This false pride of ownership is strongly reminiscent of what happened at Currituck Beach Lighthouse. See </div><div></div><div><a href="http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/news/fight_for_the_light.htm">http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/news/fight_for_the_light.htm</a><br /><br />And now the voters have spoken. The town will graciously accept thelighthouse when the US Coast Guard offers it to them. Well, that's not how it works, people. The lighthouse has to be formally excessed, which the National Park Service will then add to their notice of availability list. For a period of time, applications will be accepted. The Park Serivce will then review the applications, and grade them accordingly. At that time, the possible applicants will be asked to submit further documentation. In anywhere from six months to a year, or even longer, the decision will be made. And I strongly suspect the American Lighthouse Foundation will come out ahead. A major renovation was undertaken by ALF on the tower this past summer, and the Town of Bristol contributed not one thin dime. Nor have they ever contributed any monies. In fact, they didn't think the lighthouse needed anything at all as far as maintenance.<br /><a href="http://mainelincolncountynews.com/index.cfm?ID=27293">http://mainelincolncountynews.com/index.cfm?ID=27293</a> </div><div><br />What do you think? Should the Town of Bristol "own" this tower, like they think they should, or does this historic and beautiful lighthouse belong to all of America? </div>Cape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348573466059020218.post-90168599168302996682008-03-16T13:36:00.005-04:002008-03-16T16:47:35.409-04:00The Battle of Point JudithThe northern Atlantic was a dangerous place to be during WWII. Allied merchant ships were at the mercy of German U-boat submarines and many ships and merchant seamen were lost to the roving U-boat attacks. For most of the war years, merchant vessels were forced to travel in convoys, with U. S. warships deployed as escorts in order to abort attacks.<br />As with any war, technological advances progressed with great speed due to necessity. WWII was no exception. The emergence of such scientific tools as RADAR, SONAR, and LORAN, a very early form of global positioning, as well as other communication advances, made great strides in helping Allied warships detect and destroy large numbers of German U-boats, making the waters around the North American coast a much safer place for merchant ships to travel.<br />As the war progressed and technological advances emerged, U-boat attacks within the waters between Long Island Sound and the Gulf of Maine became so scarce, a complacency emerged among many of the merchant marine's vessels. This complacency was further enhanced on May 4, 1945 when Admiral Dönitz, the successor to Adolph Hitler who committed suicide on April 30, declared a cease-fire. The order was sent out to all of the German armies, air force, and naval fleet. A number of the remaining U-boats, however, were submerged at the time of the communication, and were unable to hear the news of the German surrender. Such was the case of U-853.<br />One week before Hitler's suicide, U-853 was patrolling near the Gulf of Maine when it discovered a lone vessel, the PE-56. A member of a class of patrol craft known as Eagle Boats, the PE-56 was slow and no match for the modern U-boat. 62 men were on board the PE-56 that day. Only 13 survived the U-boat attack.<br />Upon a court of inquiry, the reason for the sinking was determined to be a boiler explosion, not a submarine attack. The highly secret U-Boat Tracking Room at Eastern Sea Frontier headquarters knew better, but was unable to give testimony at the court of inquiry for fear that the highly classified program would be discovered by the Germans.<br />Following the attack on PE-56, U-853 headed south along the New England coast, biding its time in search of another easy target. It was during this time, submerged while eluding detection from patrolling U. S. warships, that the unheard cease-fire order was issued.<br />On the morning of May 5, 1945, the merchant collier SS Black Point was sailing northwest off of Block Island, RI, en route to Boston. Cargo was 7000 tons of coal to be delivered to the Edison Power Plant in South Boston, MA. These waters had been void of U-boat attacks for quite some time, and the captain and crew of the Black Point had no reason to think that this trip would be any more dangerous than countless others they had made previously in this region. In fact, the captain was so confident of the ship's safe passage, that the U-boat lookouts weren't even posted.<br />At about 5:40 PM, the Black Point was approximately three miles south of the Point Judith lighthouse, and could be seen quite clearly by the lighthouse's lookout. As the lookout was entering the sighting within the lighthouse's logbook, he heard a large explosion. It was at that moment that the Black Point's stern was blown off by a torpedo fired by the U-853.<br />It took approximately 15 minutes for the Black Point, or what was left of her, to roll on its side and sink completely. Twelve of the Forty-one merchant seamen aboard the ship were killed. Lonnie Whitson Lloyd, a member of the Black Point's crew, was the last American sailor to die in WWII's Atlantic campaign.<br />Word of the Black Point's sinking spread rapidly. Not far away, the Yugoslavian freighter Kamen witnessed the explosion, and within two minutes a radio message was transported from the Kamen. Risking attack from the submarine, the Kamen immediately changed course and sped to the rescue of the surviving Black Point sailors.<br />Almost immediately after the explosion, a message was transmitted from the Point Judith Light Station to the 1st Naval District headquarters in Boston, which immediately passed the message on to Eastern Sea Frontier headquarters in New York City. The remnants of an anti-submarine task group, TG 60.7, had left New York at noon that day, headed to the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston for a complete overhaul. The remaining force consisted of destroyer Ericcson, destroyer-escorts Amick and Atherton, and the patrol frigate Moberly. All were diverted to the scene of the attack. Far to the southwest at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey, two Navy blimps, K-16 and K-58, were ordered to move immediately toward the site of the Black Point sinking and join in the hunt. They were not to arrive at the scene until approximately 5:40 the next morning.<br />After patrolling the area and searching for the sub, it was determined that the U-853 had most probably headed south toward a steep shoal known as East Ground, which was approximately 12 miles south of Point Judith and 9 miles from the Black Point's sinking. It was here that many U-boats in the past had gone to in order to avoid detection from American sonar.<br />Just after 8:00PM, only 2 1/2 hours after the Black Point sinking, the sub was located by the Atherton's sonar operator. At 8:30PM, the captain of the Atherton ordered his crew to commence firing upon the sub. Thirteen magnetic depth charges were dropped into the sea. One explosion was detected, complete with air bubble and an oil slick. It was uncertain if the explosion was caused by a hit on the U-853, or had merely hit a wreck on the bottom of the ocean floor. The Atherton conducted two more attacks within the next three hours, and more explosions and oil and air bubbles were observed, along with some life jackets and pieces of wood and other debris.<br />Just after midnight on the 6th of May, the Atherton let loose one more barrage of depth charges, resulting in more explosions and debris. At just after 1:00AM, the captain of the Atherton radioed headquarters with confirmation of the kill. The reply from headquarters ordered him to continue the attack.<br />Perhaps no other warship ever took such a beating as U-853 got that day. The Atherton dropped another barrage of depth charges upon the U-boat, then the Moberly took a turn. Each barrage resulted in more explosions and debris, oil and air bubbles. For good measure, the Moberly dropped one more round of depth charges upon the dead sub.<br />At 5:30 AM, though no movement was detected, the Moberly delivered one more round of depth charges upon the U-boat's hull. Shortly thereafter, one of the blimps arrived from New Jersey. In order to mark the area, the blimp dropped dye markers and a smoke float. It also informed the warships that no movement was detected.<br />The Atherton moved in and picked up debris from the scene. Among the items collected were, "German escape lungs and life jackets, several life rafts, abandon-ship kits, and an officer's cap which was later judged to belong to the submarine's skipper."<br />Undeterred by the evidence, the attack continued. The Ericsson delivered another depth charge attack, followed by rocket bombs which were dropped by the two blimps.<br />At 6:40AM, the Atherton launched first one, then another attack, followed by yet another depth-charge attack by the Moberly. After a short respite, the Moberly dropped one more barrage upon the sub, followed by another by the Atherton.<br />At 7:45AM, the Atherton lowered a whaleboat in order to collect more of the debris floating to the surface. It was while lowering the whaleboat that the sole American casualty in the Battle of Point Judith occurred. TM3c Robert A. Griep fractured his left arm and was treated by the ship's medical officer.<br />At 8:00AM, the task group commander, Cdr. Francis C.B. McCune, radioed Eastern Sea Frontier headquarters that he believed that due to the nature and mass of the recovered debris, the U-boat was destroyed. Not receiving any orders from headquarters to cease and desist, McCune ordered the attack to continue.<br />The morning which ensued consisted of the warships dropping depth charge barrages, then picking up the scattered debris each round produced. Alternating turns, each ship ship was able to keep its crew in high form while waiting for orders from headquarters to stop the attacks.<br />Finally, at 12:25PM, the ships received a radio message from Eastern Sea Frontier headquarters to cease the bombing. A marker buoy was placed at a point bearing approximately 099° True, 14,000 yards east of Sandy Point Light on Block Island. The three ships which remained at the scene, the Atherton, the Ericcson, and the Mobley then departed the scene and headed to Boston, reverting back to their earlier mission. The blimps were also redeployed.<br />The Penguin, a submarine rescue vessel, arrived shortly thereafter to the marked area. Divers from the Penguin determined that the U-583 was indeed lying at the bottom of the ocean, and showed no signs of life. It was also determined that of the 465 depth charges, hedgehog projectiles, and rocket bombs which were launched at the sub, only two were direct hits.<br />The U-853 remains at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean and is a popular site for divers. The crew, with one exception, remains on the boat. The body of one of the German sailors was found floating near the Rhode Island coast and was buried at the Rhode Island Cemetery Annex. On the third Sunday of November 2001, the traditional day upon which German military dead are honored, several German and American naval personnel gathered at the grave site to pay respects to the unknown sailor.<br />The Battle of Point Judith was the final incident of WWII in the Atlantic. In retrospect, it is a shame that so many lives were lost, including their own, due to the sole fact that a cease-fire radio message was unheard by the crew of the U-853.<br />*Most of the info for this article was obtained from <a href="http://www.desausa.org/Stories/battle_of_point_judith_2.htm">"The Battle of Point Judith"</a> by Ralph DiCarpio, which appears on the website <a href="http://www.desausa.org/history.htm">DE History and Stories</a>.Cape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348573466059020218.post-7826802543485328312008-03-09T11:17:00.009-04:002008-12-10T17:40:14.126-05:00Martha's Vineyard Lighthouse Challenge<div><div><div><div>We have recently learned that the Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring the island's very first Lighthouse Challenge on the weekend of June 13, 14, and 15, 2008. </div><div>As of this writing, four of the five Martha's Vineyard Lighthouses would be involved in this event, and the Chamber is very hopeful of being able to add the one remaining holdout to the loop. Already committed to the Challenge are Edgartown Light, Cape Pogue Light, Gay Head (Acquinnah) Light, and East Chop Light. West Chop Light, which remains owned by the U. S. Coast Guard and serves as quarters for Coast Guard personnel, remains the only holdout due to security reasons. The Chamber is working with the Coast Guard at this time in attempting to work out some sort of agreement which would satisfy both parties and add West Chop to the Lighthouse Challenge.</div><div>Unlike Lighthouse Challenges which are conducted in other parts of the country, the MV Challenge will not be selling tickets at each individual lighthouse. </div><div>A reception is planned on Friday evening (June 13) at the Martha's Vineyard Museum in Edgartown to welcome participants, collect fees, and hand out passbooks. The lighthouses will be open on Saturday for the participants, and an awards ceremony is being planned for Sunday morning at the Museum.</div><div>The Chamber is still workong on the logistics, such as cost to participate, exact times, lodging, and transportation information. Questions can be directed to Susan Gibbs at the Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce at 508/693-4486 ext. 10.</div><div> </div><div>The following links have been provided for more information.<br /></div><div>Edgartown Lighthouse:</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpR_wDLe_Znh4riPVFFti2BM35thTzvE5UWN5SfpJlAA3ux6pMhsPc99R_2oSCLopwci2lUkK3p5j3ZI3p-xs4OuDfi0nDkyS5YOyTeNWTAsdwRZoZYqkas4MFUkwFbhDT2-psyFc35EA/s1600-h/edgartown.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175775135023192882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpR_wDLe_Znh4riPVFFti2BM35thTzvE5UWN5SfpJlAA3ux6pMhsPc99R_2oSCLopwci2lUkK3p5j3ZI3p-xs4OuDfi0nDkyS5YOyTeNWTAsdwRZoZYqkas4MFUkwFbhDT2-psyFc35EA/s200/edgartown.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/edgartown_ma.html">http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/edgartown_ma.html</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>East Chop Lighthouse:</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DOl8HSjEH-8S4zxJ16oe1Wpi64NoaOsZBNoSKbwa7qoXniTICMrQbGOQ2adJpIYzUQaC1GxWrJ6Phc8lHmGc5BnTHv_n_YJ_WqKZQOdggTDyUjvpx8FHLdmWg0lCM_l0IKz03CLuYXw/s1600-h/East_Chop.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175773919547448098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DOl8HSjEH-8S4zxJ16oe1Wpi64NoaOsZBNoSKbwa7qoXniTICMrQbGOQ2adJpIYzUQaC1GxWrJ6Phc8lHmGc5BnTHv_n_YJ_WqKZQOdggTDyUjvpx8FHLdmWg0lCM_l0IKz03CLuYXw/s200/East_Chop.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/east_chop_telegraph_hill_ma.html">http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/east_chop_telegraph_hill_ma.html<a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/east_chop_telegraph_hill_ma.html">ww.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/east_chop_telegraph_hill_ma.html</a></a><br /><br /><br />Gay Head (Acquinnah) Lighthouse:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwYjEz-n2LUJxn9rsfBV5h9oogIgcngW_qn4ddOpl6okQaG4cOUDzxHRmMoZRCAWDkNqNJz0cWkb2VIb8P5GJH75og6Z-oS_ETHynkr9Psh1p9vfRoPREwxz7n5QdwqNPhE27BBdjTHU/s1600-h/gay+head.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175773374086601490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwYjEz-n2LUJxn9rsfBV5h9oogIgcngW_qn4ddOpl6okQaG4cOUDzxHRmMoZRCAWDkNqNJz0cWkb2VIb8P5GJH75og6Z-oS_ETHynkr9Psh1p9vfRoPREwxz7n5QdwqNPhE27BBdjTHU/s200/gay+head.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/gay_head_ma.html">http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/gay_head_ma.html</a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><br /><div>Cape Pogue Lighthouse:</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWViS-6qT7OeKMNEBC-9jnEyLR-Zex2CV9qK5-9ZIKYfhYxKXk9qpaKBVe-Mv9hMk3VxrcxYyk_m5zljnhMUzO5uApiOrgAUEsqAry2br-GM_b5gSXBAvooLXAcnJVfbQDKrEOKWt6PU/s1600-h/cape+pogue.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175772553747847938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWViS-6qT7OeKMNEBC-9jnEyLR-Zex2CV9qK5-9ZIKYfhYxKXk9qpaKBVe-Mv9hMk3VxrcxYyk_m5zljnhMUzO5uApiOrgAUEsqAry2br-GM_b5gSXBAvooLXAcnJVfbQDKrEOKWt6PU/s200/cape+pogue.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.lighthouse.cc/capepoge/index.html">http://www.lighthouse.cc/capepoge/index.html</a><a href="http://www.lighthouse.cc/capepoge/index.html">hthouse.cc/capepoge/index.html</a></div><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><br /><div>West Chop Lighth<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WeN9ACRwUizWOqtQ6PFutn-xLKJP2U-0txHprgVsuaiOC0jwZFTSo3oDs2n9EiuNY_HbCcjHVFhBsyrBrEGMebvMAKSGU0b-WStcrtralwP_YJr_R1jRUoURRGCYjuMCRtA9BZ80d-Q/s1600-h/west+chop.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175770590947793650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WeN9ACRwUizWOqtQ6PFutn-xLKJP2U-0txHprgVsuaiOC0jwZFTSo3oDs2n9EiuNY_HbCcjHVFhBsyrBrEGMebvMAKSGU0b-WStcrtralwP_YJr_R1jRUoURRGCYjuMCRtA9BZ80d-Q/s200/west+chop.jpg" border="0" /></a>ouse: <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/west_chop_ma.html">http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/west_chop_ma.html</a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div></div><br /><div>Martha's Vineyard Museum:</div><div><a href="http://www.mvmuseum.org/index.php">http://www.mvmuseum.org/index.php</a></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce:</div><div><a href="http://www.mvy.com/">http://www.mvy.com/</a></div></div></div></div>Cape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348573466059020218.post-52687623967619466932008-02-24T09:02:00.004-05:002008-02-24T11:34:04.076-05:00ALF Spring Spectacular 2008It is with great pleasure that I am able to announce our partnership with the <a href="http://www.lighthousefoundation.org/index.html">American Lighthouse Foundation</a> in their May 16-18 fund raiser, "<a href="http://www.lighthousefoundation.org/events/alf_springspec08_info.htm">Spring Spectacular, 2008</a>", taking place in Portsmouth, NH.<br />The ALF has a fantastic fun and educational weekend planned that has us really excited! Anyone who has even the slightest interest in lighthouses will undoubtedly enjoy the festivities over this weekend!<br />It all kicks off on Friday, May 16th when, for the first time ever, the ALF will conduct what it hopes to be an annual event, the "Lighthouse Trivia Challenge". Styled after the popular TV game show "<em>Jeopardy</em>" and hosted by ALF's executive director Bob Trapani, Jr and vice-president Jeremy D'Entremont, ALF's resident lighthouse historian, the Trivia Challenge invites players to test their lighthouse knowledge in exchange for great prizes. (Many retailers, including <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/index.html">The Cape Cod Store.com</a>, have donated items to the ALF to be given out as prizes.) Prizes for the Trivia Challenge include a stay at <a href="http://www.lighthouseinn.com/index.htm">The Lighthouse Inn</a> in West Dennis, MA. on Cape Cod. The inn is the site of the historic <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/bass_river_west_dennis_ma.html">Bass River Lighthouse</a>.<br />On Saturday, climb aboard the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company's <em>M/V Thomas Laighton </em>for an unforgettable lighthouse viewing cruise. The ship leaves Portsmouth Harbor at 9:25 AM and cruises past Portsmouth Harbor and White Island lighthouses in New Hampshire, and Whaleback, Boon Island, and Cape Neddick (“Nubble”) in Maine. Also on the agenda will be a number of other historic sites around Portsmouth Harbor. Narrated by Jeremy D'Entremont, this cruise is sure to be informative, as well as scenic, providing for numerous great photo opportunities. Numerous items will be raffled off on the cruise as well, (that's where we come in again!).<br />On Saturday evening, enjoy a wonderful dinner, then join former lighthouse keeper, broadcast journalist, and author Chris Mills in what should be a very fascinating program detailing his life as a lighthouse keeper and preservationist in Nova Scotia. This should be a fantastic evening as Chris is a wonderful, entertaining speaker whose perspective on the world of lighthouses is different from most lighthouse lecturers.<br />Also included on Saturday evening will be an overview of the American Lighthouse Foundation and its many chapters. The audience will be able to see exactly what the ALF does for lighthouse preservation, including their current efforts on some of the country's best and least known lighthouses.<br />The festivities wind down on Sunday with a free tour to all who attend the ALF events of the <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/portsmouth_harbor_nh.html">Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse</a> in Newcastle, NH. Tours of the lighthouse will be conducted by volunteers of the Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, a chapter of ALF.<br />For more information, or to purchase tickets for one or more of these events, visit the ALF website at<br /><a href="http://www.lighthousefoundation.org/events/alf_springspec08_info.htm">http://www.lighthousefoundation.org/events/alf_springspec08_info.htm</a><br />or call the ALF at 207-594-4174.<br />Don't miss out on what will be a thoroughly enjoying weekend, as well as a chance to support one of the best lighthouse preservation organizations around! See you there!Cape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348573466059020218.post-83146946642525779132008-02-03T09:23:00.001-05:002008-02-24T10:23:27.747-05:00Nuclear Powered Lighthouse<a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/images/baltimore.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/images/baltimore.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The events of September 11, 2001 shed a new light on the world as we knew it. Terrorism hit home and became a concern for all of us here in the U.S.<br />The recent developments in North Korea and Iran, as well as other countries throughout the world, have put nuclear reactors and the threat of nuclear war on the front burner.<br />Just think what could happen if any of these entities were to get their hands on a nuclear powered lighthouse! Think that's far-fetched? Never heard of a nuclear powered lighthouse? Believe it or not, nuclear powered lighthouses have existed in what is now the former Soviet Union. Even the U. S. had, for a time, a nuclear powered lighthouse, as well as a few buoys.<br />Surprising? Maybe, but during the mid-1960's, the world was a much different place.<br /><a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/baltimore_md.html">Baltimore Lighthouse</a> in the Chesapeake Bay was built to mark the entrance to the Baltimore channel at the mouth of the Magothy River. Begun in 1894, the lighthouse wasn't completed and lit until 1908, a full 14 years later!<br />This became one of the most difficult and challenging aids to navigation the U. S. Government ever undertook. The desired site probes found that there was a full fifty-five feet of soft mud on the floor of the ocean. On top of that, the lighthouse had to be able to withstand 30,000 pounds of ice pressure per square foot during the winter months, 100 MPH winds, and a constant 3MPH current.<br />The 1894 allotment for this project was for $60,000, and in 1899 tests were conducted to see if a screwpile foundation, common on the Chesepeake with the likes of Thomas Point Shoals, Drum Point, and others, was a feasible option. The test failed miserably and the original allotment was found to be extremely lacking. In 1902, after much haggling and debate, Congress approved an allotment of another $60,000 in order to build a caisson-type "sparkplug" lighthouse.<br />Bidding for the project was conducted in 1903, and only one bid was received, a full $80,000 more than the budget allowed! The bid was rejected.<br />The request for more money was sent back to Congress, and another $60,000 was alloted to the project. The original allotment of $60,000 had now tripled to $180,000!<br />Once again the lighthouse was put out to bid, and once again it received only one bid. This time, the new bid received came in under the alloted budget and was approved.<br />Construction of the lighthouse was finally begun in 1904. The first section of the 30-foot diameter base was towed to the site from the Lazaretto Lighthouse Depot near Baltimore, MD. Predictions of this being one of the most difficult lighthouse projects to ever be attempted in the country rang true, and very quickly, at that.<br />Two days after the base piece arrived on scene, high seas filled the inside and tilted it about seven feet. It only had been sunk 8 feet into the ground at that point. Before the base could be righted, a major storm struck the area and caused the base to turn on its side. Exasperated, the contractor abandoned the scene, never to return.<br />The government sued the contractor, and the insurance company which had bonded him was forced to step in and complete the job. For three years, they attempted to right the base, and finally succeeded in getting it into its proper position and sunk into the shoal the required 82 feet below the high water mark. The remainder of the lighthouse was then built on top of the caisson and completed in 1908.<br />The lighthouse lived a "normal" life for the next 56 years until 1964, when an experimental nuclear reactor was installed. The strontium-90, (a radioactive isotope), reactor was described as being "smaller than a 55-gallon drum" and was expected to power the lighthouse for ten years without maintenance or refueling. It was activated on May 21, 1964.<br />Perhaps the reason why the nuclear reactor was installed was the fact that the government was given it, at no cost. A company which was researching and developing nuclear reactors for various applications paid for the reactor and installation, with the stipulation that it could conduct tests on the feasability of its use. The same company also paid for reactors in a number of buoys, oil rigs, and on an Antarctic weather station.<br />By 1966, the reactor had been removed from the lighthouse. Citing "environmental impact issues", (more likely cost was the major factor for discontinuing the reactor, as the issuing company stipulated that at the end of the test period, the government would have to buy the reactor and assume all costs). The lighthouse then reverted back to a conventional power source.<br />Can you imagine what the impact would be in today's world if the Baltimore Lighthouse remained nuclear powered? Also, what damage to the environment would have occured? Also noteworthy would be the fact that if the Baltimore Lighthouse was successful as a nuclear powered structure, would that mean that others would also be converted to nuclear power? If lighthouses were successfully powered by nuclear reactors, would that lead to other type structures? (Don't forget, there were a few buoys which were nuclear powered as well at that time. Thankfully, those were only test sites as well and now have more conventional and safer power sources). Makes one wonder what almost was......</div>Cape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348573466059020218.post-47223491759375341082008-01-13T09:26:00.001-05:002008-01-13T11:15:12.593-05:00The "American Army of Two"<a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/images/scituate2.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/images/scituate2.jpg" border="0" /></a> Approximately 15 miles north of the historic settlement of Plymouth, the town of Scituate, Ma. was settled in 1627 by members of Plymouth Colony. By the late 1700's, Scituate had a thriving fishing fleet and a growing population.<br />By the early 1800's, the local mariners petitioned the town selectmen for a lighthouse to mark the entrance of Scituate Harbor. Due to shallow areas and mud flats, the harbor could be treacherous to enter, especially in foul weather, without the aid of a lighthouse to show the way. The selectmen referred the problem to their local congressional representative, and federal funds were appropriated in 1810 to build a lighthouse at the entrance to the harbor.<br /><a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/scituate_ma.html">The Scituate Lighthouse</a>, pictured above, was completed in 1811 and put into service in April of 1812. Simeon Bates, a local ship captain, was assigned the job of keeper, and moved into the adjacent keeper's house with his wife and nine children.<br />These were treacherous times in America. The War of 1812 had broken out, and many towns along the coast were plundered and burned by British warships. In early June of 1814, the harbor of Scituate was attacked, and although they didn't make landfall, ten fishing vessels were burned by the British.<br />Upon the British attack, the local militia was called out to stand guard over the town in the event of another Redcoat visit. Sentinels were placed at the lighthouse, as well as other strategic spots within town, with the expectation that the British would soon return.<br />As summer wore on, there was no sign of the British. The lighthouse sentinels befriended the Bates family, especially daughters Rebecca, (age 21), and Abigail, (conflicting sources place her age somewhere between 15 and 17). Abigail was taught how to play the drums, and could replicate the different military signals, and Rebecca was taught four different military songs on the fife, of which "Yankee Doodle" was the one she felt she did especially well.<br />After months of no British activity, the militia was slowly called back from their posts. By late summer, all of the sentinels, including the ones at the lighthouse, were no longer posted.<br />It was on one of these late summer days, when Simeon Bates was away from the lighthouse, during one of his frequent trips to town, that the British returned. Remaining at the lighthouse were only Rebecca, Abigail, and their mother. As Rebecca was beginning to prepare the evening meal, she spotted through the kitchen window the British frigate HMS Bulwark anchored outside the harbor. Running to the top of the lighthouse to get a better look, she and Abigail saw first one, then a second barge filled with Redcoats being lowered from the ship and headed toward the harbor.<br />Memories of the earlier British attack were still in the girls' memories. Knowing that once again what was left of the town's fishing vessels were in danger of being destroyed, let alone the town itself, brought great trepidation to the Bates girls. Also to consider were the two cargo ships which lay anchor in the harbor, their holds filled with flour. Food was scarce at this juncture of the war, and the flour would be just as coveted by the British soldiers as it was by the townfolk.<br />Knowing that the girls could never get to town quick enough to warn the citizens, Rebecca had to think fast to try to save the town. The girls ran back down the stairs of the tower and to a storeroom, where the sentinels had left their muskets. Considering the action of using the muskets to fire upon the British, Rebecca quickly dismissed the idea because she knew that not only were they outnumbered greatly by the soldiers, but that would also draw cannon fire to the lighthouse from the warship. Quickly considering other plans of action, she came upon another idea.<br />Rebecca and Abigail grabbed their drum and fife from the storeroom, and ran as quickly as they could to the water's edge. Hiding behind a grove of trees near the beach, Rebecca instructed Abigail to play "Roll Call" on her drums, while she fervently belted out "Yankee Doodle" on her fife. The girls played as loudly as they could, and the sound drifted upon the approaching British.<br />Looking through the thickets and trees, the girls could see that the British in both barges had stopped rowing. "Could it be that they've heard us?", Rebecca thought to herself, and played her fife with even more spirit than before. Indeed, not only the sailors in the barges heard the girls, but those on the frigate as well. Not able to see who was actually playing the instruments, the British assumed that the local militia had been alerted to their arrival and was gathering to meet them. A signal appeared from the frigate, and the men on the barges turned around and returned to the ship. It wasn't long afterwards that the frigate raised its anchor and left Scituate for the open sea.<br />Recounting the story years later, Rebecca was adamant that the story was true, despite the fact that there were a number of "naysayers" which scoffed at the idea. Upon review by many local historians, although the story hasn't been 100% corroborated, many believe it to be the truth.Cape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348573466059020218.post-38649943634900969262008-01-04T20:52:00.000-05:002008-12-10T17:40:14.415-05:00Biography- Orlando Metcalfe Poe<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvl4TK4umrX07D5LVOetb1XAx5zx2P5G2pLXfYyMWsKjgyds8ei5dK4Mh7eabGiwMnXOT89GIgJ9HDoHw8OEIp_Yp3xOek6rTt2GjEt0SWr2UcwQKCUH2FQs_0lEXBaH-6W2v64nyNG78/s1600-h/ompoe.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151826112111122066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvl4TK4umrX07D5LVOetb1XAx5zx2P5G2pLXfYyMWsKjgyds8ei5dK4Mh7eabGiwMnXOT89GIgJ9HDoHw8OEIp_Yp3xOek6rTt2GjEt0SWr2UcwQKCUH2FQs_0lEXBaH-6W2v64nyNG78/s320/ompoe.jpg" border="0" /></a>Some of the most ornate and architecturally sound lighthouses on the Great Lakes were designed and built by the army's Chief Engineer of the Upper Great Lakes Lighthouse District, Orlando Metcalfe Poe.<br /><br /><br /><div>Poe was born on March 7, 1832, in what is now the Village of Navarre, Ohio. Located on the banks of the Tuscarawas River, Navarre is adjacent to the town of Canton, which houses the American Fooball Hall of Fame, and approximately 40 miles south of Cleveland.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>Entering the United States Military Acadamy, (West Point), at the age of 20 in 1852, Poe graduated sixth in his class in 1856. Assigned to the Corps of Topigraphical Engineers, (the map makers of the Army), he was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1860 while he was Asst. Topographical Engineer on the Survey of the Northern Great Lakes from 1856-1861.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>At the outbreak of the Civil War, Poe returned to Ohio and assisted in the recruiting of volunteers to aid the Northern cause. He soon caught the attention of General George McClelland and was assigned to the general's staff. It was in this capacity he participated in the battle of Rich Mountain.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>When McClelland was promoted to General of the Army of the Potomac by President Lincoln, Poe was also promoted. The newly appointed colonel of the 2nd Michigan volunteers was in command of the defenses around Washington D.C. He also took part in the battles of the Virginia Peninsular campaign, leading his men from Yorktown through the battle of Seven Pines, then given a field command prior to Second Bull Run.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>On November 29, 1862, Poe was commissioned Brigadier General of volunteers, (a commission which never was confirmed by Congress), and took part in the battle of Fredricksburg.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>Reverting back to his rank of captain, Poe was transferred to the Western Campaign as chief engineer of XXIII Corps, the Army of the Ohio. It was during this time that he successfully led the defenses of Knoxville, Tennessee against the Confederate army of General James Longstreet. It was because of these efforts that Poe was selected to be General William T. Sherman's chief engineer in his march through Georgia. It was Poe who was responsible for the almost total annihilation of Atlanta, as he directed the destruction forces there. He continued as chief of engineers for the remainder of Sherman's march to the sea, as well as the subsequent final battles of the war.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>At the conclusion of the Civil War in 1865, Poe was appointed the Lighthouse Board's chief engineer. In 1870, he was reassigned to the position of Chief Engineer of the Upper Great Lakes Lighthouse District.It was in this position that Poe designed some of the best-known and best built lighthouses on the Great Lakes.</div><a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/images/grosse_point.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 183px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 275px" height="393" alt="" src="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/images/grosse_point.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>The first light he designed, the new Presque Isle light station in 1870, displayed the distinctive Poe signature which would be found in many of his lighthouses. These tall brick structures, gently tapering from top to bottom, displayed an embellished array of masonry gallery supports and arched top windows. This unique mix soon came to be known as the "Poe style". Other "Poe style" lighthouses included <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/south_manitou_island_mi.html">South Manitou Island</a>, (constructed in 1872), <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/outer_island_wi.html">Outer Island</a>, <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/au_sable_mi.html">Au Sable</a>, and <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/little_sable_point_mi.html">Little Sable</a>, (all built in 1874), <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/grosse_point_il.html">Grosse Point</a>, (1873), and <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/wind_point_wi.html">Wind </a><a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/wind_point_wi.html">Point</a>, (1880). All of these lights remain standing to this day.</div><div></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><br /><br /><div>Along with all of the previous land-based lighthouses, Poe was instrumental in designing one of the very first off-shore lighthouses, <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/spectacle_reef_mi.html">Spectacle Reef</a>. The Spectacle Reef Lighthouse took nearly three years to build and cost a whopping $406,000, much more than the average $40-$70,000 lightstation cost at that time. During this time, he also served as general Sherman's aide-de-camp from 1873-1883.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>In 1883, Poe's engineering role was once again redefined, as he became Superintendent Engineer of improvements of rivers and harbors on Lakes Superior and Huron. It was in this role that he designed what many believe to be the finest work of his career, the Poe Lock at Sault Ste Marie. At a length of 800 feet and a width of 100 feet, it was, at the time it was completed in 1896, the largest in the world.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>Unfortunately, Poe never got to see the completed project. While inspecting a problem at the lock, he slipped and fell, breaking a number of bones in his body. While bedridden and recovering from the accident he contracted what was believed to be malaria and died ten days later, on October 2, 1895 at the age of 67. Lieutenant-Colonel Orlando M. Poe, a career military man, was buried with honor at Arlington National Cemetery. Buried with him are his wife Eleanor, sons Orlando Wanrner and Charles, and daughter Winifred.</div>Cape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348573466059020218.post-28147703985546643282007-12-02T08:53:00.000-05:002007-12-02T12:24:03.909-05:00New England's Flying SantaIn 1929, aviation was in its infancy. Only two years removed from the Trans-Atlantic flight of Charles Lindbergh, the airplanes of the day were piloted by stout and courageous men.<br />Navigation in the 1920's was nothing at all like it is today. Not only were there no aids such as GPS, which is the scientific navigational wonder of the modern world, airplanes of the day didn't even have the aid of an installed compass. Forced to fly on only dead reckoning, pilots of the day had to be trained on navigating by landmarks, (night flying was much too dangerous at that time and only the most experienced or foolhearty of pilots would attempt a night flight).<br />Penobscot Bay is littered with islands, some inhabitable, but a great many were home to the stout people of Maine. With the technology of the 1920's, the quickest way to get from the islands to the mainland was by amphibious plane. We've all seen these aircraft, the kind with the two huge floats under the fusilage which allow the plane to land on the water. A few of the more adventurous spirits around the coast of Maine were making a living transporting people and goods between the islands and mainland.<br />Enter William Wincapaw.The Friendship, ME native was perhaps the most skilled pilot around these waters. A pioneer in the very early days of aviation, Capt. Wincapaw had honed his trade and was known and respected throughout the region. He was a master pilot of all types of aircraft, but was most at home piloting floatplanes.<br />In the late 1920's Capt. Wincapaw was directing the operations of the Curtis Flying Service at Rockland's airfield, as well as their operation at a nearby seaplane base. On numerous occasions, he was called upon for emergency transports of the sick and injured on the islands who needed the medical care of the mainland's hospitals. Many times, these transports would occur during storms, or the frequent fogs which would overtake the region. These were, shall we say, less than ideal flying conditions, especially in an aircraft which had no navigational instruments. When landmarks couldn't be seen, Capt. Wincapaw could always count on the dedicated lighthouse keepers, who would always have their beacons shining and foghorns blowing in the worst of what Mother Nature would bring to Maine. By following the lights of the many lighthouses in the region, Capt. Wincapaw would always find his way back to the mainland. The keepers would keep a watch out for his plane, and relay to the next lighthouse that he was coming. They would also relay a message to the airfield, letting them know exactly where his plane was. In that manner, the airfield knew when to expect the plane and would signal the skies around the time it was expected in the area. With every flight he made under those conditions, his appreciation for the keepers and their unfailing dedication to service grew.<br />In calmer weather, Capt. Wincapaw would often stop at the lighthouses along the bay and chat with the lightkeepers and their families. He got to know their lifestyles better, and realized the sacrifices they made every day. Even the most common necessities of life were often hard to come by, especially for those who served at the more remote lights. Capt. Wincapaw decided it was high time that appreciation was shown to these dedicated keepers.<br />On Christmas Day, 1929, the captain loaded his plane with about a dozen packages. Included in each package were magazines, coffee, candy, some personal care items and little luxuries to help the families cope with the remoteness of life at these lonely stations. He dropped the packages at lighthouses around the Rockland area, then went home to spend the remainder of Christmas with his family.<br />In the days to come, word got back to Capt. Wincapaw just how much his small token of kindness and recognition was appreciated by the keepers' families. He realized that this was not only something he needed to do on annual basis, but also an event which needed to be expanded to more lighthouse keepers. The Christmas flights continued every year, and were eventually expanded to keepers along the coast in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. In order to service all of these keepers, Capt. Wincapaw enlisted the help of his son Bill, Jr., who was to become an accomplished pilot in his own right. When the recipients of the gifts began calling him their "Flying Santa", he began to dress the part, complete with a red suit and whiskers.<br />By 1933, the Wincapaws had moved to Winthrop, Massachusetts. Their Christmas pages were now accepted at 91 different lighthouses and Coast Guard stations.<br />As you can imagine, the cost of this program was getting to be quite expensive. The Wincapaws were able to procure a number of sponsors to aid in the cost of not only the packages, but also the planes, themselves. Adriel U. Bird, president of the W.S. Quimby Company of Boston, parent company of La Touraine Coffee, was one of these sponsors. The planes would be painted with the La Touraine name, and the company provided coffee and other financial aid for the packages and flights.<br />In 1934, Bill Jr., at the age of 16, became the youngest licenced pilot in Massachusetts. That Christmas, he piloted a portion of the route with his father. The following year, Bill, Jr. piloted his own plane for the Christmas runs, enabling the Wincapaws to nearly double the number of lighthouse stations receiving packages.<br />Around this time, Bill Jr. introduced hi father to one of his high school teachers, Edward Rowe Snow. Snow, a descendant of ship captains always had a keen sense of maritime history. In later life, Snow would author a number of books on lighthouse and maritime history and be considered one of the greatest maritime historians of the twentieth century. The elder Wincapaw knew he needed another capable hand in the Christmas operations, and in Snow, found the perfect man for the job. In 1936, while the elder Wincapaw flew the northern lighthouse route, Snow joined Bill, Jr. on the southern leg.<br />By 1938, the elder Wincapaw was flying planes in South America and was unable to return to make the Christmas flight. By this time, Snow, (who never learned to pilot a plane), knew the routine and was able to hire a pilot and direct one of the planes, making all of his drops successfully.<br />In 1940, Bill, Jr. had accompanied his dad in South America and neither could make the Christmas flights. Comfortable in his role of "Flying Santa", Snow was now the master of the Christmas flights, (which now had to take place over a number of days). On one of the flights that year, Snow's wife, Anna-Myrle, played the part of "Mrs. Claus". That would be the first of many flights in which she would accompany her husband. That was also the first year that Wiggins Airways provided a charter plane and pilot Charles Cowan to aid in the drops. Throughout the remainder of the twentieth century, Wiggins provided a number of planes and helicopter "sleighs", as well as pilots, to aid in the Christmas drops.<br />During WWII, most of the Christmas flights were either cancelled or minimized. In 1945, with the war at an end and the nation getting back to "normalcy", the flights were again being conducted. Our friend Sue Clark, who is a past member of "Friends of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse", recently recounted a story in her blog about a doll dropped at Cuttyhunk Lighthouse that year. You can read about it by clicking <a href="http://lighthouse-news.com/2007/11/23/love-from-an-airplane/">here</a>.<br />The Wincapaws returned in 1946 to help with the Christmas drops. It would be the elder's last.<br />On July 16, 1947, at the age of 62, Capt. Wincapaw suffered a heart attack while at the controls of his plane. Both he and his 20-year old passenger, Robert Muckenhirn were killed in the crash.<br />A memorial service was held in Rockland on July 19 and was attended by lighthouse keepers, their families, island residents and representatives of the Coast Guard, Navy and Army. At 2:00, as the service began, fog horns and lighthouse-warning bells rang out across Penobscot Bay in memory of Capt. William H. Wincapaw, the Flying Santa of the lighthouses.<br />Edward Rowe Snow now was left in charge of the "Flying Santa" program. In 1947, for the first time, packages were dropped along the Atlantic coastline from the Canadian border to the shores of Florida. In all, 176 lighthouses and Coast Guard stations received packages.<br />In 1953, with the help of a Coast Guard plane, Snow, after starting Christmas Day dropping packages on the East Coast, was able to finish the day with a package drop to stations in Oregon and California on the West Coast. The program, which started as just a way of saying "Thank you" to a dozen lighthouses in Maine, now encompassed more than 200 lighthouses and Coast Guard stations from coast-to-coast!<br />Eventually, lighthouses on the Great Lakes, Bermuda, and the outreaches of coastal Canada were also added to the Christmas drops.<br />By the mid-1970's insurance costs and Federal flight regulations almost ended the "Flying Santa" program. By 1977, only Nantucket, Block Island, and Rockland, Maine were on the Christmas package routes.<br />Frustrated by the restrictions, and with the entire program seriously threatened, Snow searched for a way to rejuvenate the Christmas drops. The answer came to him when he thought back to the aforementioned story in Sue Clark's blog. Although more expensive to charter, helicopters were able to fly without the restrictions of fixed wing aircraft, and wouldn't require the exhorbitant insurace, either. It was a revelation that saved the "Flying Santa" program.<br />In 1981, Edward Rowe Snow had suffered a stroke and was not expected to be able to make the Christmas drops. Judith Van Hamm, director of the Hull Lifesaving Museum in Massachusetts, just happened to be putting together a tribute to Snow. Upon getting news of his stroke and the impending cancellation of the "Flying Santa" program, She contacted Anna-Myrle Snow, and together they found a way to revive the program. With only a month's preperation time and a very limited budget, Judith Van Hamm was able to procure the help of Wheelabrator-Frye of Maine, a Boston television station and the International Fund for Animal Welfare of Yarmouthport, MA. Raising enough funds for three flights, Ed McCabe, the newly recruited Flying Santa, was able to drop packages at more than 20 stations from West Quoddy Maine to Warwick, RI.<br />On April 12, 1982, Edward Rowe Snow passed away at the age of 79.<br />The Hull Lifesaving Museum was now the keeper of the program. In 1982, George Morgan, who saw an article on the efforts of the museum to keep the program alive, joined Ed McCabe as a "Flying Santa". Ed would take the northern route, while George would direct the southern route. Eventually, George Morgan, with an assist from his wife Jean, would become director of the museum's "Flying Santa" program. By 1987, due to the automation of nearly all of Maine's lighthouses, the northern leg of the trip was cancelled. Only 15 southern New England lighthouses were visited by George that year.<br />With the automation of every lighthouse in the country except Boston Harbor Light, it appeared as if the "Flying Santa" program was dead. Only a ceremonious drop at Boston Light was keeping the program alive.<br />With the advent of lighthouses being handed over to non-profits, and some lighthouses, although automated, remaining manned by Coast Guard personnel, the program slowly expanded once again. By 1997, having outgrown the museum's capabilities, the program was taken over by a newly-formed volunteer group called "Friends of Flying Santa". Many of the group's members are involved with other lighthouse organizations, making their tie to this program a personal one.<br />Today, under the direction of this group, the "Flying Santa" program is alive and well. Although the role of Santa has been filled by a number of different individuals in recent years, the program still sticks to its roots, delivering packages to many of the lighthouses first visited by William Wincapaw in his intial "thank you" flight!<br />(*Thanks to the "Friends of Fling Santa" and their <a href="http://www.flyingsanta.org/">website</a>, which contributed much of the history for this article.)Cape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348573466059020218.post-26162438921185586822007-11-18T08:39:00.000-05:002008-12-10T17:40:14.597-05:00Proof That America Gives a Poop!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS00bHPhJKC45lwXNe09MhmieE5nH6fBubp_94CPS4EBr5mjxl85FiT9tA5vLNrto3O5tO6N8x53vmvsMwnkNELb_8ykXr-dOhDXK6ntszutoHUGBKi4_VUCQ0bts0Wk9HWdm2vTN-GVA/s1600-h/Navassa+Island.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5134175166809413042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS00bHPhJKC45lwXNe09MhmieE5nH6fBubp_94CPS4EBr5mjxl85FiT9tA5vLNrto3O5tO6N8x53vmvsMwnkNELb_8ykXr-dOhDXK6ntszutoHUGBKi4_VUCQ0bts0Wk9HWdm2vTN-GVA/s320/Navassa+Island.jpg" border="0" /></a> U.S. Code, Title 48, Chapter 8, Sections 1411–1419, better known as the Guano Islands Act of 1856, empowered U. S. citizens to claim any island in the world which was uninhabited and not under the jurisdiction of any other country as U. S. territory, so long as the island had large reserves of guano.<br />"Whenever any citizen of the United States discovers a deposit of guano on any island, rock, or key, not within the lawful jurisdiction of any other Government, and not occupied by the citizens of any other Government, and takes peaceable possession thereof, and occupies the same, such island, rock, or key may, at the discretion of the President, be considered as appertaining to the United States." (first section of Guano Islands Act)<br />Now for those who may wonder what guano is, basically it's another word for bird droppings, which are rich in minerals and make an excellent natural fertilizer. The U. S. economy of the 1800's relied heavily on agricultural products, and guano was the best known fertilizer at the time.<br />In 1857, Peter Duncan, a citizen of the U. S. and ship captain, claimed Navassa Island in the Caribbean for the U. S. under the Guano Act. He turned possession over to his employer, who in turn sold the rights to "mine" the guano to the newly formed Navassa Phosphate Company of Baltimore, Maryland.<br />Mining guano is one of those awful jobs that even Mike Rowe from Discovery Channel's "Dirty Jobs" would probably balk at. Done in extreme heat, with bird doo that is putrid smelling and back breaking when it is dried up and layered after thousands of years, (it took pick axes and dynamite to break up this stuff), it's no wonder that finding workers to handle the stuff was a daunting task. Peru, who up to the time of the U. S. Guano Act had the monopoly on guano production, would capture unsuspecting Chinese and other Asians and shackle them in the holds of ships to be transported to the guano mining islands, (a scene very reminiscent of the U. S. African slave trade).<br />In order to mine the guano on Navassa Island, the Navassa Phosphate Company struck up a deal with the state of Maryland to use incarcerated prisoners which the company would ship to the island and put to work there. It was a win-win situation for both sides, but after a short time, one which proved ineffectual for the company.<br />After the Civil War, freed black slaves were looking for work. Job offers were scarce, so when the Navassa Phosphate Company offered them $8.00 a month plus room and board for signing up for a length of 15 months, many freed blacks jumped at the opportunity. What they didn't realize was that they pretty much signed up to be placed back into slavery.<br />The conditions on Navassa Island were brutal. Not only the weather and stench were unbearable, but so were the white foremen. With no water at all on the island, the imported drinking water was probably rationed. The working week consisted of dawn-to-dusk mining, (which makes for a very long day when you're near the equator), six days a week. Add to that the abusive treatment of stringing up "slackers" from a tree by their wrists and dangling in the hot sun for hours, as well as other similar attrocities, one could say the working conditions weren't ideal. In time, a rebellion ensued.<br />On Sept. 14, 1889, the tensions finally came to a head. At that time, Navassa had 139 black workers and a dozen white supervisors. When one of the more violent supervisors kicked and struck a worker that day, a riot ensued. A number of the black workers attacked the supervisor, slamming him aside the head and took his sidearm, which all of the white supervisors carried to help them "get their point across". These workers, along with countless others, then surrounded the island superintendant's house, demanding better working conditions. Shots were exchanged between the holed up whites and the black workers, and even dynamite was tossed at the superintendant's dwelling. When the workers threatened to set a blasting cap to the house, the whites fled in terror.<br />Not all of the workers got involved with the riot. Most merely fled the scene to the interior of the island to escape the happenings. The workers who remained, however, sought out only those whites which were the most abusive. Four of the whites were killed that day, with a fifth dying shortly thereafter from injuries suffered during the attack. One of the supervisors was shot in the face, two others had their heads bashed in, while the most abusive of the supervisors was dismembered with a hatchet.<br />The rioters were soon transported back to Baltimore for trial, where three of the ringleaders were sentenced to death. Upon a grass roots swell of protest within the black community, as well as letters from the white judges who oversaw the cases, President Benjamin Harrison commuted the sentences to jail time only. A letter which reached Harrison from one of the black workers about the working conditions on the island didn't hurt the cause either, especially when the details were confirmed by a U. S. Navy vessel which was sent by Harrison to investigate.<br />A new black work force was sent to Navassa, and the murdered white workers were replaced by new white supervisors. Even after the riots, the working conditions remained virtually the same as they had always been.<br />By 1898, other guano reserves were discovered in South Carolina and Florida, and scientists were discovering new inorganic fertilizers. Add to that the advent of the Spanish-American War, Navassa Island was no longer a guano entity and the Navassa Phosphate company pulled out, then went into receivership. Guano would never be mined there again.<br />O.K., so what does that have to do with a blog about lighthouses? I'm getting to the lighthouse part, but first I had to tell you how the U. S. ended up on the island in the first place.<br />In 1914, the Panama Canal was opened. Ship traffic from the Atlantic to the Pacific, or vice versa, no longer had to traverse around Cape Horn and the tip of South America, it could cut the long and dangerous journey virtually in half by cutting through Central America. New shipping channels through some dangerous waters were now being used.<br />One of these channels, the Windward Passage, happened to pass between the islands of Cuba and the western coast of Hispaniola, where the nation of Haiti lies. Aids to navigation became sorely needed along the channel, so, in 1917, the U. S. constructed a lighthouse upon Navassa Island, which is smack dab in the channel. Outside of the Florida Keys and Puerto Rico, this was the only lighthouse operated by the U. S. in the Caribbean.<br />The lighthouse tower stood 162 feet tall and was on the highest point on the island, making for a focal plane of 395 feet. A keeper and two assistants were assigned to the light station.<br />Now in the previous account of the guano mining on Navassa, I related how difficult the island was to live on. The tropical climate coupled with the lack of water and endless bird dropping stench made this a difficult station to man. Although I have yet to find a list of keepers for this station, I'm sure that I would probably find a number of resignations on that list.<br />In the 1920's acetylene lamps were being experimented with to automate lighthouses, and proved to be quite capable for the times. Electricity was also becoming more prevalent, but with the remoteness of Navassa Island, this definitely wouldn't be an option. In 1929, Navassa Island became one of the first U. S. lighthouses to be automated, most probably with an acetylene lamp. Twice a year the Coast Guard would service the station.<br />During WWII, the U. S. Navy set up operations on Navassa Island as an observation post for the Caribbean. (I wonder, as a member of the navy in WWII, which was more frightening, combat duty or being stationed on Navassa!). At the end of WWII, the navy left, and with the exception of some transient Haitian fishermen and occasional ham radio operators, the island has been uninhabited since.<br />In 1996, after nearly 80 years of operation, the U. S. Coast Guard decommissioned the lighthouse and shut down the station. On August 29 of that year, the Coast Guard dismantled the lighthouse. It then transferred the island to the Department of the Interior, which oversees all uninhabited U. S. territories.<br />A 1998 scientific expedition led by the Center for Marine Conservation in Washington D.C. described Navassa as "a unique preserve of Caribbean biodiversity." Virtually untouched for over 100 years, and despite the absence of water, the island supports many species of wildlife and fauna that are either endangered in other areas of the Caribbean, or just don't exist anywhere else. Navassa was then transfered to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife service and the island is now the Navassa Island National Wildlife Preserve. It is also off-limits to the public.<br />It would seem that the fate is now sealed for Navassa Island, but not so fast. The nation of Haiti, throughout the U. S. occupation of the island, has also laid claim to "La Navase", as they call it. An unstable government, as well as being the poorest nation in the Caribbean, have hampered their efforts to petition international courts to reclaim the island. It has been a sense of contention in Haiti in recent years and eventually, the matter will have to be settled.<br />Then there's Bill Warren.<br />A former gospel singer, Bill Warren is a modern day treasure hunter. Seeking a remote island under U. S. jurisdiction to base his shipwreck salvaging company from, Warren discovered Navassa Island just before the Coast Guard deserted it in 1997.<br />While attempting to secure the island from the federal government, the General Sevices Administration could find no proof that the U. S. Government owned the island. Warren then set out on a mission to find such a deed. Instead, he came upon the Guano Islands Act of 1856, which remains on the books. Warren shifted his sights from shipwreck salvaging to guano mining, and has claimed the island for the purposes of harvesting the guano, (organic fertilizers are once again big business). It seems, to Mr. Warren at least, that there is no stipulation in the law that excludes an island which has previously been claimed for guano mining from being claimed again. Due to the island now being part of the National Wildlife Reserve, a monkey wrench seems to be thrown in to that argument.<br />Warren, however, has another trick up his sleeve. He "purchased" the island from Gerry Patnode for $2.5 million, all to be paid from the guano mining profits. It seems Patnode's<br />great-grandfather, James Woodward, replaced one of the supervisors who was murdered during the 1889 riots. After the Navassa Phosphate Company went into receivership, Woodward, along with two partners, purchased the island in 1901 for $25,000. The legal status of the sale, like everything else concerning Navasse, is a bit, shall we say, "foggy".<br />Nevertheless, Bill Warren is still pursuing the island through the courts.<br />It appears as though Haiti, at least for now, has relaxed its claim on the island. As a measure of goodwill, (and obviously to try to take some of the pressure off), a Haitian scientist has been invited to join the Americans who are plotting all of the fauna and wildlife on the island. At least for now, it seems as though there are quiet times for the fight for Navassa Island.Cape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348573466059020218.post-69483791275036017752007-11-09T07:33:00.000-05:002007-11-09T19:29:17.993-05:00Haunted by a Lighthouse GhostWith Halloween still a blip in the rear view mirror, I'm reminded of how, at this time of year, we have so many stories circulating about "haunted" lighthouses. It seems that every town with a lighthouse and a community newspaper or TV station does the "obligatory" story on how their local lighthouse is "haunted".<br /><br />Now, I can't say as I'm opposed to all of these stories, after all, if that's what it takes to bring awareness to these lighthouses, then I'm all for it. The more people we can make aware of the plight and struggle most lighthouses face to survive, the better they all will be. And, I guess, the "hauntings" add to the lore of each beacon.<br /><br />I'm not saying, as well, that I don't believe in the possibility of some lighthouses being haunted. There are far too many unexplained events happening within the walls of not only lighthouses, but other structures as well. So with this in mind, I have come up with my favorite haunted lighthouse story and am obligated to pass it on.<br /><br />There are many famous haunted lighthouse stories out there, most notably about the girl who was visiting a boarded up <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/yaquina_bay_or.html">Yaquina Bay Lighthouse</a> in Oregon with some friends. While exploring the lighthouse, the group supposedly found a trap door inside a closet which led to an ominous large, deep hole. The group left the lighthouse, but the girl returned inside alone to retrieve a dropped handkerchief, (or some other personal item, depending on the account). The other members of the group heard a bone-chilling scream from within the lighthouse, and when investigating, found a trail of blood which led up the stairs and right to that closet trap door.<br /><br />That story has been recounted for years, and many people take it as Fact. There are a number of sources, however, who swear that this account actually started as a fictional story in the 1800's, and has just created a life of its own throughout the years, now to "mythic" proportions. I am convinced that that is the case.<br /><br />Other lighthouses have laid claim to "haunting" stories, as well, and seem more legitimate than this one. <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/marshall_point_me.html">Marshall Point </a>and Seguin Island, Maine, for example, have been the venues for "unexplained" phenomena. Others, (and this is just a short list off the top of my head), are <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/portsmouth_harbor_nh.html">Portsmouth Harbor</a>, NH, <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/new_london_ledge_ct.html">New London Ledge</a>, CT, <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/heceta_head_or.html">Heceta Head</a>, OR, Point Lookout, MD, and <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/st_augustine_fl.html">St Augustine</a>, FL.<br /><br />A while ago, I read a short <a href="http://www.wmta.org/south-pierhead-lighthouse-58/">story</a> which was posted by the Western Michigan Tourist Assn. about the <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/south_haven_south_pierhead_mi.html">South Haven South Pierhead Lighthouse</a>. It is condensed from "Ghostly Lights" written by Annick Hivert-Carthew. At first reading, it seemed like a recounting of an actual experience. After some lengthy follow-up, however, it appears as just a "tall tale", but one, for some reason, which has stuck with me.<br />The story is about lighthouse keeper Trevor Tavish, (there was no keeper by the name of Trevor Tavish to ever tend South Haven lighthouse. Trevor seems to be modeled after Civil War veteran Captain James S. Donahue, who lost a leg in the Battle of Wilderness and later became keeper at South Haven).<br />Now in this story, a Dr. McKenzie was alone in the lighthouse doing research on Keeper Tavish. After quite a long stretch of reading the keeper's logs, Dr. McKenzie nodded off to sleep. When she awoke, the room was in total darkness. Attempting to turn on the light, the good doctor found the switch didn't work. The phone was also dead. Now a slight bit apprehensive, the doctor was trying to decide what to do next when she heard a wailing sound. Frightened now, Dr. McKenzie shreiks out "Who's there?", but gets no reply. A second wail, then many panicked voices yelling "Help!", "Over here!", "Please save us!", and the like.<br />Frightened beyond her wits, Dr. McKenzie pressed herself against the wall. She heard a loud shrill nearby, followed by a blue mist which passed right in front of her and clung to her skin. Horrible creatures in black hoods formed a wall in front of her, wickedly cackling. Loud crashes of splintered wood, waves and suffering came crashing through the room. An ancient ship with a gaping hole on wild seas appeared, along with cries of suffering. Bodies can be seen floating past, while others are clinging onto floating pieces of the ship. Through it all came a bearded man rowing a small boat. As the man in the boat appeared, the horrible cloaked creatures removed their hoods to reveal leathery, misfigured faces, lips twisted by death into a ghastly grin.<br />Suddenly, from behind the ghouls, the bearded man appears, wooden leg tapping as he walks. The man strikes the cowering horde shouting, "Leave me in peace! How could I save everyone, especially with a wooden leg! I saved as many as I could! Quit tormenting me!"<br />As the man turned to show his face in Dr. McKenzie's direction, She recognized him as the keeper she was researching, Trevor Tavish.<br />You know, reading this story again and recounting it as I just did, I don't know how I could have taken it for real the first time I read it. It sure does have a lot of Hollywood, or Stephen King in it, don't you think?Cape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348573466059020218.post-15568475675975916342007-10-26T17:56:00.000-04:002008-12-10T17:40:17.304-05:00Lighthouses in Vermont?As most of us at The Cape Cod Store.com took a short sabbatical this past week in order to get ourselves geared up for the upcoming busy holiday season, my "vacation" actually turned into a working/ sightseeing excursion.<br /><div><div><div><div><br /></div><div>Autumn in New England is a spectacular time, and this year was perhaps the most spectacular we've seen in many years. With that in mind, my wife Karen and I combined two of our favorite pastimes, leaf peeping and lighthouses.</div><div><br /></div><div>When most people think of lighthouses, the state of Vermont isn't normally on the list. There <em>are</em> lighthouses in Vermont, however, on Lake Champlain. After the Great Lakes, Lake Champlain is the largest fresh water lake in the U. S. Accessible from the north by the St Lawrence Seaway, and from the south by the Hudson River, Lake Champlain played an important part in the country's early history.</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>It was along the banks of Lake Champlain where General Horatio Gates and a young Benedict Arnold lead the raw American troops to victory over the mighty British army at Saratoga, NY. The earlier efforts of Arnold and a small flotilla of American craft which drove the British navy out of Lake Champlain contributed greatly to the victory.</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>It was also on the New York shores of the lake where Vermont native Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys captured the British fort at Ticonderoga. It was the cannon which were captured here and dragged through the winter mountains which helped George Washington's fledgling "army" drive the British from Boston.</div><div><br /></div><div>Due to its size and proximity to both Canada and New York City, Lake Champlain became a vital waterway to commercial traffic in the 17 and 1800's. With its many islands and navigational hazards, it was only natural that lighthouses would be built to aid the maritime traffic.</div><div><br /></div><div>Burlington, Vermont, the largest city on the lake, has a natural harbor unequaled by few cities, even those which are on the ocean. In order to protect the harbor from rough waters from westward winds, a breakwater was constructed in 1823, with wooden lighthouses on both the north and south ends a few years later. When these lighthouses were destroyed by ice, new wooden lighthouses replaced them. Again destroyed by ice, the lighthouses were eventually replaced by steel skeletal lights by 1950. </div><div><br /></div><div>In 2003, the skeletal towers were replaced by lights which replicated the originals built during the 1800's.</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakUaqQfpJ1gBEJc9_Fg_A50qlsXSbonYnelwhY4JJYcjnRn0GY3AUq141LZ30WTpBXmlin9asD-aPHKc82Wbd-825f44Y0K5QNEbNeWm91tVb1FodbxBI10xHuDFcTFJ8CvW_NBV0TiI/s1600-h/burlington+north+breakwater.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125779446372360802" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakUaqQfpJ1gBEJc9_Fg_A50qlsXSbonYnelwhY4JJYcjnRn0GY3AUq141LZ30WTpBXmlin9asD-aPHKc82Wbd-825f44Y0K5QNEbNeWm91tVb1FodbxBI10xHuDFcTFJ8CvW_NBV0TiI/s320/burlington+north+breakwater.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Burlington North Breakwater </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeh-MhNTJ3lwp8yYEysYYmo4nol9WPYMW0Sl5egzcDt4SS2kzaKksp8HboipDBEeqIaCxplqiGDnY906rd6dMLcKPT-UaFb9ojkji0P60dTX9dKqUs0dWsnd4qUQnS_WfDUsE4TYBhEQ/s1600-h/burlington+south+breakwater.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125779454962295410" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPeh-MhNTJ3lwp8yYEysYYmo4nol9WPYMW0Sl5egzcDt4SS2kzaKksp8HboipDBEeqIaCxplqiGDnY906rd6dMLcKPT-UaFb9ojkji0P60dTX9dKqUs0dWsnd4qUQnS_WfDUsE4TYBhEQ/s320/burlington+south+breakwater.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Burlington South Breakwater</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div>On the very south end of Burlington Harbor is another lighthouse which was erected by the nearby condominium owners. This lighthouse isn't an official aid to navigation, although it does sport a light bulb which illuminates at night. Named "Phony Baloney Lighthouse" by the condo owners, the lighthouse was built just for aesthetics.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTmTKRrlZGhepuAf3MXsHK2cMXGSxNuWOwiWLLEHoRXM25gIJhoFrDTZBkbVw5ZVQSUvjHpz4J9LAbJ2aWChlPxAO7phKAznJY6-J9LAzLGVicZTXsfq_o77xhe6rZpCJL3TnwfMPLDE/s1600-h/phony+baloney+lighthouse.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125781847259079298" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTmTKRrlZGhepuAf3MXsHK2cMXGSxNuWOwiWLLEHoRXM25gIJhoFrDTZBkbVw5ZVQSUvjHpz4J9LAbJ2aWChlPxAO7phKAznJY6-J9LAzLGVicZTXsfq_o77xhe6rZpCJL3TnwfMPLDE/s320/phony+baloney+lighthouse.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>The "Phony Baloney Lighthouse"<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>At the north end of Lake Champlain, almost at the Canadian border, lie a number of large islands. Connected now by the bridges of Vermont Highway 2, these island passages were treacherous for 19th century mariners. <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/isle_la_motte_vt.html">Isle la Motte Lighthouse</a> is on the northernmost island in this group, aptly named Isle la Motte. Originally painted orange, the light has faded to a salmon pink color.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FCbBHx7P-_XQmvhV1-zLYC4nrD3Aps0hd4pkQNUGbU2vrRujsmksrcHJ4t51rHSGJUPjwg96BpgfBxfXQNQJotUg4p_NFo84j4UK73M4Edz_Sx77z90bTUHfoNAy06CWXTDW-EjuwuE/s1600-h/isle+la+motte.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125785686959841938" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FCbBHx7P-_XQmvhV1-zLYC4nrD3Aps0hd4pkQNUGbU2vrRujsmksrcHJ4t51rHSGJUPjwg96BpgfBxfXQNQJotUg4p_NFo84j4UK73M4Edz_Sx77z90bTUHfoNAy06CWXTDW-EjuwuE/s320/isle+la+motte.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Isle la Motte Lighthouse<br /></div><div>Just to the north of Isle la Motte, a peninsula hangs down into Lake Champlain from the Canadian side. Just below the border, a tract of land juts out into the American side of Lake Champlain. The <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/windmill_point_vt">Windmill Point Lighthouse</a> lights the way from the top of this jutting tract of land.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HiGhYGhtPBp7q7NWUJZNuMa502ohyhxS_LYxRpwLHt14cfl7_lrertw-IaLsx0TA5BpbyS7LXGjq8iPUqSdZ5XKMqIBkTglwqRZHqrPB0GMPuVubfEnKWPtTYrFRbMuQ2JHfeW5W6n0/s1600-h/windmill+point.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125788178040873634" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HiGhYGhtPBp7q7NWUJZNuMa502ohyhxS_LYxRpwLHt14cfl7_lrertw-IaLsx0TA5BpbyS7LXGjq8iPUqSdZ5XKMqIBkTglwqRZHqrPB0GMPuVubfEnKWPtTYrFRbMuQ2JHfeW5W6n0/s320/windmill+point.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div></div><div>Windmill Point Lighthouse<br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>Both the Windmill Point and Isle la Motte Lighthouses are privately owned, and are not open to the public.</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>Just to the south of Burlington, in the town of Shelburne, is the <a href="http://www.shelburnemuseum.org/">Shelburne Museum</a>. This large museum contains a host of buildings and other Americana, most of which date back to the 1800's. Trains and train stations, horse barns and buggies, circus items, a blacksmith shop, an 1800's working printing press, and a carousel are just a small sample of the numerous exhibits. The museum even sports the last walking beam side-wheel passenger steamer in existence, the 220 foot Ticonderoga.</div><div><br /></div><div>Adjacent to the Ticonderoga lies <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/colchester_reef_vt.html">Colchester Reef Lighthouse</a>. The lighthouse's original home was on a reef in the middle of Lake Champlain. In 1952, the decommissioned lighthouse, along with its original granite pier, was relocated to the grounds of the Shelburne Museum.<br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKxJtSpqCs9di66MmL-gdyHC-HU24i83aT1JjbLF9vhdIdrkJeq_rHrdFCDaR3PYhNMiEKXL6cjzytAYNGurcqJEhz-mxJSRBpHBUw3l8ksbxxhYj3_CHsLQLFV3aVxa4ihLrjSdOw-M/s1600-h/colchester+reef.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125794663441490610" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKxJtSpqCs9di66MmL-gdyHC-HU24i83aT1JjbLF9vhdIdrkJeq_rHrdFCDaR3PYhNMiEKXL6cjzytAYNGurcqJEhz-mxJSRBpHBUw3l8ksbxxhYj3_CHsLQLFV3aVxa4ihLrjSdOw-M/s320/colchester+reef.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div></div><div>Colchester Reef Lighthouse </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0B6OANmzTrtYtF_rHZI0zA0gNpj7npIlN1eCRm9uP_Ui6wl4e0AxonfDysRwLmTKpiPLSGIQlqJtpgFZhd2Xy4MmmPpUIp64yhc8DoAuWmwW1W2AXRFEiNWGanXqAJijnDo0XEV50ZkQ/s1600-h/inside+colchester+reef+lighthouse.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125796286939128514" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0B6OANmzTrtYtF_rHZI0zA0gNpj7npIlN1eCRm9uP_Ui6wl4e0AxonfDysRwLmTKpiPLSGIQlqJtpgFZhd2Xy4MmmPpUIp64yhc8DoAuWmwW1W2AXRFEiNWGanXqAJijnDo0XEV50ZkQ/s320/inside+colchester+reef+lighthouse.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Inside Colchester Reef Lighthouse<br /></div><div>Unfortunately, though there are furnishings in two of the upstairs bedrooms of the lighthouse, the remaining rooms are empty, save for some photos and stories of Lake Champlain shipwrecks and the like. The tower is also unaccessible. I wish the museum would try to totally restore the inside of the lighthouse to the time when it was active, and attempt to better portray the lives of its keepers. The lighthouse was interesting to see, but quite lacking.</div><div></div><div>There are also other lighthouses on Lake Champlain which we weren't able to get to. We attempted to view Juniper Island Light near Burlington from a cruise ship, but the lighthouse, which is on a privately owned island, was very difficult to see through the trees.</div><div></div><div>On the New York side of the lake are the privately owned Barber's Point Light in Westport, the recently renovated Bluff Point Light on Valcour Island, (we missed the public tour excursion which ended for the season in September), the Point Aux Roches Light in Plattsburgh, Split Rock Point Light in Essex, (another privately owned lighthouse), and the Champlain Memorial at <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/crown_point_ny.html">Crown Point</a>.</div><div></div><div>So many lighthouses, so little time.....</div></div></div></div>Cape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348573466059020218.post-69535884088089728252007-10-07T10:40:00.000-04:002008-12-10T17:40:17.550-05:00Requiem for a Lightship<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyBi4G-TMJX8jzLSr6-UTtBGKL85QM-f5YutQgQLKsS_egg57cDWLNl5eEWCCAfFg_bak2cZNtAPVSPtRXRbTKaBZnzUeAMycp_O-xBmRHJrjwFmAKN8sZ_QYSM_DvPpUEkt-ccg-UzM/s1600-h/lightship+new+bedford.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5118656407694408882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyBi4G-TMJX8jzLSr6-UTtBGKL85QM-f5YutQgQLKsS_egg57cDWLNl5eEWCCAfFg_bak2cZNtAPVSPtRXRbTKaBZnzUeAMycp_O-xBmRHJrjwFmAKN8sZ_QYSM_DvPpUEkt-ccg-UzM/s320/lightship+new+bedford.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div> Shame on the City of New Bedford, Massachusetts!</div><br /><div> Lightship #114, built in 1930 at the Albina Iron Works in Portland, Oregon, was one of a "new breed" of lightships. At 133.3 feet long and a draught of 13 feet, LV114 was a very impessive specimen. It contained a new hull design, a new "direct diesel and diesel-electric propulsion" system, and state-of-the-art sound signals and locating devices. The lightship also boasted a 375mm electric lens lantern at each masthead, accounting for a 16,000 candle power capacity.</div><br /><div> Lightship #114 was the first lightship to ever make a west coast to east coast trip, (via the Panama Canal). </div><br /><div> LV114's first assignment after reaching the East Coast was to mark the shoals off Fire Island at the entrance to New York Harbor. It was removed from Fire Island in 1942, and until the end of WWII in 1945 served out of Bay Shore, NY as an "examination" vessel, armed with one 6-pound cannon.</div><br /><div> At the conclusion of WWII, 114 was assigned for two years to Diamond Shoal, NC, just off the Outer Banks near Cape Hatteras. In 1947, 114 was removed from Diamond Shoals and for the next 11 years, became a "relief vessel" throughout the northeast U. S. (The purpose of a relief vessel was to temporarily take the place of permanently stationed lightships so that repairs and maintenance could be made on those vessels and the hazards they marked were not left unattended).</div><br /><div> In 1958, 114 was again given permanent assignment, this time at Pollack Rip, a very dangerous "ship-eating" area just off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. After 11 years of serving Pollack Rip well, the lightship was again reassigned, this time to aid in the marking of Portland, Maine harbor.</div><br /><div> After 41 years of dedicated service, Lightship 114 was decommissioned by the Coast Guard in 1971 with the intention of turning it into a "floating" Coast Guard maritime museum. Plans for the museum fell through, however, and in 1975, ownership of LV114 was transferred to the City of New Bedford.</div><br /><div> There were grand plans for 114 in the mid 70's in New Bedford. Repainted and redubbed "New Bedford" by the city, the lightship was planned to be part of the newly revamped downtown area, complete with the remaking of the historical area around the New Bedford Whaling Museum, the Seamen's Bethel, and a number of other buildings which dated back to New Bedford's heyday as the 1800's whaling capital of the world. The lightship would be part of the historical tourist area, open to visitors with "interpreters" conducting tours. It seemed like the perfect match for a lightship which served the surrounding area well.</div><br /><div> Having grown up around the New Bedford area around this time, it seemed to me and the people of New Bedford that outwardly the city was turning a corner. After the collapse of the whaling industry, the city, once one of the richest in the world, became a shell of its former self. Eventually, textile factories replaced the whaling industry as the identity of the city, and a large fleet of fishing boats once again made New Bedford a maritime area of importance. As the textile industry slowly moved to the lower employment costs of Southern U. S. cities and closed their New Bedford factories during the 1960's and 70's, New Bedford unemployment was astronomical, (these were also the days of the 70's recession and gas shortages), and the city had to do something to revitalize the city, which was falling into disrepair. The city decided to try something new, to take its rich history and turn it into a tourist attraction.</div><br /><div> Lightship "New Bedford", as it was now called, fell into the trap which many historical buildings, etc. get caught in. Although the intentions of the City of New Bedford were great, there never seemed to be enough money in the city's coffers to maintain the lightship and open it up to tourism, as was the intention. Over the years, 3 different mayors pledged to restore the lightship and make it a tourist attraction, but always, other priorities arose in this city which always seems to be struggling with a depressed economy. After 30 years of neglect, LV114 just couldn't endure any longer.</div><br /><div> On May 31, 2006, the lightship rolled over on its side due to water which leaked in during a violent thunderstorm because of an open portal. In July of that year, while the City was still struggling with what to do with the lightship, and still on its side, vandals removed 23 historic brass portholes from the exposed side.</div><br /><div> In September of 2006, after almost four months, the lightship was finally righted and the city was continuing to explore options of how to dispose themselves of 114. In December, the City posted the lightship on eBay, of all places, trying to recoup their losses for the cost of righting the ship and the years of storage. Sea Roy Enterprises, a scrap metal yard in New Bedford, was the lone bidder at $1,775. The city pulled the lightship off eBay and attempted to sell it to other area scrap yards, with no takers. It then negotiated another deal with Sea Roy, this time for $10,000, nowhere near the $212,000 the city spent to right the lightship and clean it up, but got the most anyone was willing to pay them for it.</div><br /><div> Sea Roy towed the lightship from its mooring at the Commonwealth Electric Pier in June to its scrap facility just a short ways away on the Acushnet River, and by the end of that month, the once proud lightship was being dismantled.</div><br /><div> LV114, last known as the New Bedford Lightship, is now only a memory. The City of New Bedford should be ashamed of itself! There was absolutely no reason that it ever should have come to this. If the city was unable to go ahead with its initial plans, it should have found a new home for the lightship many years ago, one that would welcome and respect the historic significance of this treasure. Unfortunately, this episode is typical to the way the City of New Bedford has been managed for as long as I can remember. One can only hope that lessons are learned here by other municipalities and we will never experience another historic treasure to fall into the same fate as LV114.</div><div> So long, LV114. Thank you for your service. You deserved a better fate.</div>Cape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348573466059020218.post-74721993666653030062007-09-22T17:00:00.000-04:002008-12-10T17:40:18.403-05:00Sorry, Wrong Number!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58qr21-3ibsPhLeFGLiAdVqhQ6Tl7cBrDc2PhX5L_UD1YLgCONTmJaxB5ojJD9-5J8KXBYEVpifC1qpYlrVvXC622R_zakdeGxdB8jQgf-Hr-g7D62y8sDm8AQ1L-5J3Iboo09YLx378/s1600-h/lynde+point.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113158682051804322" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58qr21-3ibsPhLeFGLiAdVqhQ6Tl7cBrDc2PhX5L_UD1YLgCONTmJaxB5ojJD9-5J8KXBYEVpifC1qpYlrVvXC622R_zakdeGxdB8jQgf-Hr-g7D62y8sDm8AQ1L-5J3Iboo09YLx378/s320/lynde+point.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiF0KNqsD_xJq7luUhV-E0Q11El3LQ3Wymu_NM5tHJYurme2CHmVNhOuK0-aBljX_HoY4POJ7zLoTIpI6f6IPGQHrhwpHm8pCy7tUXIm1j55OJtSqq-bfxMVaE1MDuZOxRyziUyJRUp9U/s1600-h/saybrook+breakwater.jpg"></a></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Lynde Point Lighthouse </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><p></p><p></p><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IpSjgWlqKIjfeGPZRO8KaH6rmGMCDRs3tnShyw1ss-Gd5V39vwUpSOFrRjvbn9W28wJPtee483aeb_T1mzFobWICIbePa-TUhuyosHAsof6i_pjMJqhUDidzxXTScbr3lUHA0o-o890/s1600-h/saybrook+breakwater.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113157569655274642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IpSjgWlqKIjfeGPZRO8KaH6rmGMCDRs3tnShyw1ss-Gd5V39vwUpSOFrRjvbn9W28wJPtee483aeb_T1mzFobWICIbePa-TUhuyosHAsof6i_pjMJqhUDidzxXTScbr3lUHA0o-o890/s320/saybrook+breakwater.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Saybrook Breakwater Lighthouse</span> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div>Earlier this year, a number of lighthouses were made available for "adoption" by the U. S. federal government, (See earlier post titled "<em>Wanna Buy a Lighthouse?</em>"). Among the available lighthouses was <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com./encyclopedia/saybrook_breakwater_ct.html">Saybrook Breakwater</a> in Old Saybrook, CT. </div><div>This may be hard to believe, but an <a href="http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18832734&BRD=1630&PAG=461&dept_id=7736&rfi=6">article</a> which appeared Sept. 19th in Guilford, Ct.'s <em>Shoreline Times</em> makes light of the fact that the government may have made a mistake in adding the wrong lighthouse to the list!</div><div>Saybrook Breakwater Lighthouse is only about a mile and a half away from <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/lynde_point_ct.html">Lynde Point Lighthouse</a>. Unlike Lynde Point, which can be easily accessed by the public, Saybrook Breakwater is at the end of a large rock pier which must be accessed through private land. The only other access to the lighthouse is by boat.</div><div>What seems like a case of a "normal" government SNAFU, an employee of the Boston office of the General Services Administration, (the government agency which decides which lighthouses to divest each year), visited the area of the two lighthouses. Although the lighthouses look nothing like each other, (see above photos), the employee allegedly confused the two and posted the wrong lighthouse on the expendable list.</div><div></div><p align="left">What happens now is unclear. Although the Board of Selectmen in the town of Saybrook is exploring the option of acquiring Saybrook Breakwater should the feds still want to make it expendable, the town's attorney has advised the Board against such an acquisition, stating problems with public access insurance and the estimated astronomical cost of removing hazardous material within the lighthouse and restoring it.</p><p align="left">As for the Lynde Point Lighthouse, the GSA would have to begin the divestiture process all over again, according to the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/nhlpa/nhlpa.htm">National Historic Ligh</a><a href="http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/nhlpa/nhlpa.htm">thouse Preservation</a><a href="http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/nhlpa/nhlpa.htm"> Act o</a><a href="http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/nhlpa/nhlpa.htm">f 2000</a>. </p>Cape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348573466059020218.post-91057668499839470652007-09-02T11:39:00.000-04:002007-09-02T13:16:56.218-04:00The Most Lighthouses?Earlier this summer in a <a href="http://www.madison.com/tct/entertainment/roadstraveled/202311">story</a> from Madison, WI's <em>The Capital Times</em>, Mary Bergin wrote about Door County, WI's lighthouses. According to the story, the cities of Racine and Sturgeon Bay were conducting a contest for local artists. Nearly 100 miniature lighthouses were decorated at the whim of the artists and placed throughout the two cities as a tourist attraction.<br />Within the story, Ms. Bergin casually comments that Door County has more lighthouses than any other county in the nation. This is a false claim which has been spread by Door County, itself, for a number of years and has been irresponsibly echoed by a number of tourist sites throughout the region.<br />According to Door County, their 10 lighthouses are more than any other county's grand total. Upon reading her article, I took exception to this misstatement, (see comments section at the bottom of the story, provided by the previous link), and brought to her attention that Barnstable County Ma., (which is essentially Cape Cod), has 15 Lighthouses, itself, and makes the Door County claim false.<br />My comment was posted on July 28th, and though it remained on the web page, no acknowledgement was ever made to me or anyone at <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com./">The Cape Cod Store.com</a>. It was nearly forgotten, passed off by me as just the usual attempt of a tourist area newspaper doing anything to promote its area, until this past weekend when, among our regular web news updates, we received one which included a <a href="http://www.madison.com/tct/entertainment/209763">follow-up story</a> to Ms. Bergin's previous article.<br />It seems my comment may have struck a chord, as Ms. Bergin's new article focused on whether or not Door County's claim of having the most lighthouses was really factual.<br />Although my comment was alluded to in the follow-up article, and I commend Ms. Bergin for seeking the truth, I do take umbrage in how, as a journalist, she went about that.<br />The first rule of journalism is "get the facts correct". Obviously, in her initial article, she didn't ever think to check on Door County's claim, only to mimic the status quo of their claims, and jump on the county's coattails, as a number of other tourist sites have done. Having had it brought to her attention that the claim was incorrect, you would think that she would attempt to contact the person who has taken her to task, especially one with credentials such as was posted, "Roland Babineau, editor, <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com./lighthouse_encyclopedia.html">The Cape Cod Store.com's Lighthouse Encyclopedia</a>". Not only did Ms. Bergin not attempt to contact me, even though my contact info was left at the time I posted my comment, but she also made no attempt to contact anyone at The Cape Cod Store.com.<br />Now, that may not be a big deal, but if she's going to take the time to research whether or not the claim is true, shouldn't she interview someone other than just the local executive director of the Door County Maritime Museum to get another perspective? Although Executive Director Brian Kelsey admitted that Door County didn't have the most lighthouses, it seems to me that Ms. Bergin didn't use all the information available to her to form the story, she just took the short road and interviewed her local museum director.<br />If not contacting me for more info on my comment, at least interview any number of other experts on the lighthouse subject, (<a href="http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/index.htm">Terry Pepper</a>, of the (<a href="http://www.gllka.com/">Great Lakes Lighthouse Keeper's Association</a>), or Tim Harrison, Bob Trapani, or <a href="http://www.lighthouse.cc/">Jeremy D'Entremont</a>, (all of the <a href="http://www.lighthousefoundation.org/index.html">American Lighthouse Foundation</a>), quickly come to mind), who could have given her even more input than most of us in the field. It just seems to me that she could have tried harder and really made an impact with her story, (or perhaps <em>real</em> journalism would be detrimental to a Wisconsin newspaper telling the absolute truth about Door County, Wisconsin, tourist attraction).<br />Not only did Ms. Bergin not try to contact us here, it appears she didn't even bother to see what <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/lighthouse_encyclopedia">The Cape Cod Store.com's Lighthouse Encyclopedia</a> even is. If she had done her research, she would have quickly seen that the Lighthouse Encyclopedia isn't a "product" of the Cape Cod Store.com, as she wrote. It is a free reference site with information, photos, history, and links to other websites containing information about each U. S. lighthouse, not something we sell, as she intimates.<br />As I stated earlier, I commend Ms. Bergin on her attempt at getting to the truth, but I wish she really would do a better job of "doing her homework".Cape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348573466059020218.post-77381832554763529322007-08-25T18:48:00.000-04:002008-12-10T17:40:18.669-05:00Wild Goose Chase<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102774179767551810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8-XjRwhEGI3W1PHenXRl1jNydSvamHWxqNfuyP9ghoOUNBKyHf6KxVrIufKmDpOU-0dUJrq6NWpZ7oKuipAhLdZEzpaHzBYBE4jKeKl82Z9S98sEO0ker2akjky76BJPUE8OE5-luLA/s320/west+chop.jpg" border="0" /><br />Every lighthouse has a story. Some have a million of 'em.<br />Take West Chop Lighthouse on the Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard, for instance.<br />Octave Ponsart was the keeper at West Chop from 1946-1957. Also with Ponsart was his family, wife Emma and daughters Bette and Seamond.<br />The following story is from an article written by Seamond (Ponsart) Roberts on the website <a href="http://www.jacksjoint.com/">jacksjoint.com.</a> (jacksjoint.com is a website dedicated to U. S. Coast Guard history recounted by those who lived it.)<br /><br />THE SAGA OF THE WEST CHOP WILD GOOSE CHASE<br />By Seamond (Ponsart) Roberts<br /><br />I was the lighthouse keeper's daughter on West Chop Lighthouse from 1946-1957, where my dad, Octave Ponsart, was the head keeper. Located on Martha's Vineyard Island in Massachusetts, this was a prime tourist spot in the summer, but in the winter all by itself in the middle of a summer' person's colony area, it got kind of lonely and isolated too.<br />We had animals to kind of fill in the social gaps this creates. Oh, I had, dogs, cats, chickens -- lots of them -- but one time we had the opportunity to acquire two geese and we thought this would be a welcome addition to our little menagerie and give us some additional amusement too. Well, Lucy and Goosey were big white geese and turned out to be very bossy and "argued" so much between themselves and chased anyone who showed up around the lighthouse that they were really the winged pariahs of the station.<br />We had them for about three years and I must admit they chased off most of the summer tourists quite well.<br />Each fall they would honk at their wild cousin buddies and flap their wings and threaten flight. Dad would clip back their wings and the most flight they would achieve was a sideways airborneness of about five feet in the air, come crashing to the ground, and then go off honking and complaining.<br />After their many unsuccessful attempts at this, we figured they never would really fly. However, one spring day, the wild geese over head, I guess something went "spong" in their little pea brains and before we knew it, they did a long take off running the length of the two houses, flapping frantically, and sailing right over the bluff into the water -- Vineyard Sound!<br />My mother was frantic. There was a strong tide running and we figured the next stop for Lucy and Goosey was Spain! Dad launched the dory and rowed toward them, but they got caught in the strong tide and were really heading east very swiftly. As luck would have it, the Menemsha Coast Guard Station boat crew was having a practice run and they saw our hapless birds. Someone said, "I bet that's the Ponsart's geese!" (They were pretty well known as the "Nasty West Chop Poultry."<br />Well, our good buddies, the Coast Guardsmen scooped them up from a certain watery death and delivered them back to us. The Chief on delivering them up to us said, "Well, we've been on wild goose chases before . . . but not where we actually caught two geese who went wild."<br />We all had a good laugh on that and Lucy and Goosey returned to the pen, never again to be tempted to go AWOL.<br />While the names Goosey and Lucy are feminine, by the time we found out they were ganders, it was too late to change them - I can safely say that they were probably the most notorious and the only ganders ever to roam West Chop Light.Cape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348573466059020218.post-57891782585423457942007-08-11T19:45:00.000-04:002007-08-18T11:57:36.269-04:00Lighthouse WebcamsSometimes I'm stuck in the office working and get a hankering to see what's going on within the outside world. My colleagues at <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com./">The Cape Cod Store.com </a>have come up with a list, (this may be a partial list, if anyone out there knows of any more, please forward us the url), of lighthouse webcams. Many of these give an excellent view into the workings of harbors, etc., and provide a little distraction from the sometimes hectic world all of us live in.<br /><br /><br /><br />*NOTE~~Most webcams require either <a href="http://official--site.com/QuickTime/index.html?OVRAW=quick%20time&OVKEY=quick%20time&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=14613406011&OVKWID=112795166011">Quick Time</a> player, <a href="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash">Flash</a>, <a href="http://www.java.com/en/">Java</a>, or <a href="http://www.real.com/">REAL Player</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nps.gov/archive/caha/livecam.htm">Cape Hatteras, NC</a>~~Perhaps the best known lighthouse webcam from the most recognizable lighthouse in America. Provided by the National Park Service.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nantucket.net/live/newharbor.php">Brant Point, MA</a>~~Nantucket Harbor. Provided by Nantucket.net<br /><br /><a href="http://www.portlandheadlight.com/webcam.html">Portland Head, ME</a>~~View of harbor from the lighthouse. Provided by Portland Head Lighthouse.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thekennebunkportconservationtrust.org/webcamtoday.html">Goat Island, ME</a>~~Excellent view of the lighthouse. Provided by The Kennebunkport Conservation Trust.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/webcams/lmfs/lmfs-webcams.php?cam=2">Muskegon, MI South Breakwater</a>, <a href="http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/webcams/lmfs/lmfs-webcams.php?cam=1">Muskegon South Pierhead</a>~~Both show excellent views of each lighthouse. Provided by Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory<br /><br /><a href="http://www.lakemichigancam.com/">Grand Haven, MI</a>~~Updates every 10 minutes. View of both pier lighthouses.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.graniteisland.com/cam1.shtml">Granite Island, MI</a>~~9 different camera views around the newly restored lighthouse and light station. Provided by the Granite Island Light Station website.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.lsmma.com/webcam_large.htm">Duluth, MN Pierhead Lights</a>~~Great resolution! Shot of both lights and Duluth harbor. Provided by Lake Superior Marine Museum Association. Refreshes every 30 seconds.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.millersismd.com/home/millers_island_md.htm">Craigville Rear Range , MD</a>~~Scroll down the provided page to find the webcam. Provided by Miller's Island Weather Station.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ococean.com/oclive.html">Ocean City, MD</a>~~View from atop Life Saving Station. Provided by WBOC-TV 16 and the Municipality of Ocean City<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mendotalighthouse.com/live_cam.html">Mendota, MI</a>~~Updates every 15 minutes. Provided by Mendota Lighthouse.<br /><br /><a href="https://webcam.crrel.usace.army.mil/stclair/">Fort Gratiot, MI</a>~~View from the top of the lighthouse, (slightly distorted). Provided by USACE Engineer Research and Development Center.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sealioncaves.com/webcam/">Heceta Head, OR</a>~~Updated every 15 minutes. Provided by Sea Lion Caves.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nlb.org.uk/mullofgallwebcam.htm">Mull of Galloway, U.K.</a>~~8 different cameras provide a fascinating high resolution view of the lighthouse and surrounding area. Continuous feed, so there's no waiting to refresh a new scene. Provided by European Region Development Fund.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.leasowelighthouse.co.uk/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=8">Leasowe, U. K.</a>~~View from top of lighthouse. Refreshes every 60 seconds. Provided by Friends of Leasowe Lighthouse.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.crtvg.es/cgi-bin/camweb/camaras.asp?id=4&idioma=ingles">Cape Fisterra, Spain</a>~~View of lighthouse from Hotel El Semáforo.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.der-warnemuender.de/webcam2.shtml" target="_blank">Baltic Sea in Rostock Warnemuende, Germany</a> - View from Hotel Hübner<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sylt-wetter.de/frames/hoernum.html" target="_blank">Hoernum, Germany</a> ~~Lighthouse is in distance. Provided by sylt-news.de.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.lsc.de/webcam/default.htm" target="_blank">Lindaur, Germany</a> ~~view of lighthouse and "Old World" harbor.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cableamerica.com/Michigan/Lake.shtml">Eagle Harbor, MI</a>~~View of Lake Superior from top of lighthouse. Provided by Cable America.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.portofmelbourne.com/shipping/webcams/ptlon_cam.asp">Point Lonsdale, Melbourne, Australia</a>~~Four cameras showing entrance to Melbourne Harbor. Provided by Port of Melbourne.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ntv.ca/cams/othercameras.html">St. John's, N.B., Canada</a>~~Views of St. John's, the Narrows and the Harbour from Signal Hill<br /><br /><a href="http://www.harbourtownlighthouse.com/lighthouse_view.htm">Hilton Head, NC</a>~~View from top of Harbour Town Lighthouse. Provided by Top of the Lighthouse Shoppe.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.qtm.net/sjwebcam/index.html">St. Joseph, MI</a>~~Provided by WNDU-TV 16<br /><br /><a href="http://www.villagesoup.com/webcams/Breakwatercam.cfm">Rockland Breakwater, ME</a>~~View of lighthouse. Must be manually refreshed. Provided by Village Soup Newspaper.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.fred-ezone.ca/webcams/">Fredericton, NB, Canada</a>~~A view from the lighthouse. Provided by City of Fredricton.<br /><br /><a href="http://members.cox.net/jankees/PtVicenteWeathercam.htm">Point Vicente, CA</a>~~View of lighthouse and surrounding area. Manually updates every 5 minutes.Provided by Jankees and Associates.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.halifaxwebcam.ca/live/index.php?CURRENT_CAM=cam6&SET_CAM=cam6">Chebucto Head, Halifax, NS</a>~~View of lighthouse and Halifax harbor. Provided by City of Halifax.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.pilor.com/">Kincardine, Ontario</a>~~Two views from top of lighthouse. Provided by Kincardine Yacht Club.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.campaniameteo.it/salernometeo/webcampositano.htm">Positano, Italy</a>~~Beautiful view of old cliff town and Galli's Island.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.woodislandlighthouse.org/webcam.htm">Wood Island, ME</a>~~Continuing stream view of lighthouse and surrounding beach. Excellent resolution. Provided by Wood Island Lighthouse.<br /><br /><a href="http://web.telia.com/~u49802711/cam.htm">Hoburg, Sweden</a>~~Personal weather cam provided by telia.com.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.peoplecameras.com/beach-cams/peggys-cove-lighthouse-cam-in-nova-scotia/">Peggy's Cove, N.S.</a>~~Real-time view of lighthouse. Excellent camera provided by Sou'Wester Restaurant and Gift ShopCape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348573466059020218.post-88251406942428379362007-07-29T10:39:00.000-04:002008-12-10T17:40:19.435-05:00A bizarre lighthouse history<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIKIV-aBi-nd2SoeBURu580SgPyMHOAR-ARxmaVfwpktEkSO-4r0LhSI-NVc6RjKavZUpHwZlLQRrxLOgUKAzecaDw7yMnIjOY7RQQwCZGSW-ZpLCcZXkovVus_M5ROCGuzTegyA1xEY/s1600-h/cape+florida3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092672536082887202" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIKIV-aBi-nd2SoeBURu580SgPyMHOAR-ARxmaVfwpktEkSO-4r0LhSI-NVc6RjKavZUpHwZlLQRrxLOgUKAzecaDw7yMnIjOY7RQQwCZGSW-ZpLCcZXkovVus_M5ROCGuzTegyA1xEY/s320/cape+florida3.jpg" border="0" /></a>Many people are intrigued by lighthouses for many different reasons. Whether it be the beauty of the coastline location of beacons, the architectural diversity, or the amazing engineering feats of building structures which have withstood the harshest of weather from their exposed locations, in many cases, for a hundred years or more. Perhaps you are intrigued because you are a boater and the lighthouse reflects a sense of security in a stormy sea. Or perhaps, there's just something about the wonder of a beam of light at night which rotates over a dark ocean for many miles.<br /><div>For me, the most intriguing aspect of lighthouses is reading about the diverse history of these structures. When visiting these marvelous beacons, it helps to put into perspective what they meant to our forefathers and the part they played in making our world what it is today.</div><br /><div>As editor for <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/lighthouse_encyclopedia">The Cape Cod Store.com's Lighthouse Encyclopedia</a>, among my jobs is to research the history of each U. S. lighthouse as its page is being created. I have found many intriguing stories, and each lighthouse has a unique tale. </div><br /><div>Of all the lighthouses within the continental U. S., the one which seems to have the most bizarre history is <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/cape_florida_fl.html">Cape Florida Lighthouse</a> near Key Biscayne, Florida.</div><br /><div>Even before the first lighthouse at this location was constructed, there were problems. Perhaps it was a foretelling of the fortunes of this light station when in August of 1824, Samuel Lincoln of Boston, who was awarded the contract to build the original Cape Florida Lighthouse, along with construction crew and building plans boarded a ship bound for the lighthouse site to begin building the much needed navigational aid to the treacherous shoals around the Florida Keys. The ship and its passengers were never heard from again, all assumed lost at sea.</div><br /><div>The lighthouse contract was again put out to bid, and was finally constructed and lit for the first time late in 1825.</div><br /><div>The early 1800's were a very turbulent time in South Florida. Seminole Indians, inhabitants of the area before the Spanish arrived in the sixteenth century, didn't take kindly to the white man moving in. The white man didn't like the Seminole Indian, either, and in 1817-1818, the First Seminole War took place. Florida Seminole colonies were havens for escaped black slaves, and the U. S. Government tried to put an end to the "free land" for slaves and recapture the escapees. General Andrew Jackson and his troops soundly defeated the Seminoles in 1818 and the U. S. reached their objective.</div><br /><div>Tensions between the two groups remained strained, but for the most part, violence was contained. </div><br /><div>In 1835, the two sides were once again at war. A group of white men killed Alibama, the Seminole chief. In the subsequent trial, William Cooley, the Justice of the Peace for the area, (which is now Miami), oversaw the trial of the accused white men. He ruled that there was not enough evidence to convict the defendants and let them go free.</div><br /><div>The Seminoles were enraged. The Indians attacked Cooley's home a short time later, but he was out of town. His family, however, was home and the Indians killed his wife, 11-year old daughter, 9-year old son, baby infant, as well as the children's tutor. Cooley arrived home a short time later to find his family massacred. He buried them hastily and escaped to the Florida Keys which afforded more protection for the Indian's hated target.</div><br /><div>For a short time after the attack on his family, Cooley was an assistant keeper at the Cape Florida Lighthouse. The Indians, getting wind of this, decided to come looking for him. On the afternoon of July 23, 1836, a band of Seminoles arrived at the lighthouse. What they didn't know was that Cooley had months before left the lighthouse and was on to other work.</div><br /><div>John Thompson, the assistant lighthouse keeper, was in charge of the lighthouse that day. The head keeper had business in Key West, and left Thompson and an elderly black man, (probably Thompson's slave), Aaron Carter, to care for the lighthouse. When the Indians arrived, the two men were outside on the grounds, between the tower and the keeper's house. They were fired upon by the Indians, but both managed to board themselves within the tower, barricading the wooden door just as the Indians came crashing upon it.</div><br /><div>Thompson went up to a window on the second level and fired upon the Indians, which kept them at bay for a short time. </div><br /><div>Knowing the two men were trapped within the tower, the Seminoles lit fire to the wooden door, perhaps as a way to enter after the men. The fire lit the large oil stores just inside the door, which then ignited the wooden steps. The inferno forced Thompson and Carter to climb to the top of the lighthouse and into the lantern room. The heat and flames were too much for the men, and they were forced out onto the balcony of the lighthouse. Here, they were easily within the gunshot range of the Indians, and both were wounded. Facing the prospect of either getting shot by the Indians or being burned alive by the inferno raging within the lighthouse, Aaron Carter decided his fate would be sealed by jumping to his death from the top of the lighthouse. Before he could jump however, the Indians picked him off as he was climbing over the rail, and his body remained on the balcony.</div><br /><div>Thompson now had a choice. Badly wounded and intensely burned by the fire, his thoughts ran to his own demise. Earlier, when he climbed the stairs of the lighthouse, Thompson carried with him his musket and a keg of gunpowder. He summoned all of his energy and pushed the gunpowder keg down the stairs and into the inferno. The resulting explosion didn't totally destoy the lighthouse and kill Thompson, as he intended. It did, however, put the fire out.</div><br /><div>Seeing no movement from the critically wounded Thompson, the Indians took him for dead and left. Thompson, still alive, had no escape from the top of the lighthouse, even if he were able to move. His feet were badly shot up by the Indians. Because of the inferno, his body was covered in oil, and all his clothing was burned from his body. He had no choice but to spend the night on the balcony, his body ravaged by mosquitos and the stench of Carter's burnt body nearby.</div><br /><div>It would seem that that would be the way it would end for John Thompson. Miraculously, however, the powder keg explosion was heard 12 miles away on the U. S. naval ships <em>Motto</em> and <em>Concord</em>. The sailors, investigating the source of the explosion, found Thompson at the top of the lighthouse. It took them an entire day, however, to get him down. Miraculously, John Thompson not only survived the ordeal, but within a few months he was named assistant keeper at Garden Key lighthouse in the Dry Tortugas.</div><br /><div>It would seem that this incident would be the highlight of any lighthouse's existence, and although it was, there were still incidents to come.</div><br /><div>Upon inspection of the lighthouse after the Seminole attack, it was found that the brick walls, which were supposed to be solid, were actually hollow. In order to maximize profits, the contractor used only half of the bricks he was paid for. </div><br /><div>It took 11 years and the end of the Second Seminole War before the lighthouse was finally repaired. The walls were made solid, a new iron staircase was installed, and an extra thirty feet of height was added to the tower and a new lantern placed on top.</div><br /><div>With the outbreak of the Civil War, many of the South's lighthouses were either destroyed or rendered useless by the Confederates to keep them from being of use to the Union navy. Cape Florida was no exception. In August of 1861, the lamps and burners were removed from the lighthouse. In addition, the Fresnel lens prisms were smashed.</div><br /><div>In 1867, after the end of the Civil War, the lighthouse was once again repaired and put back into service. It remained in service for only 11 years more. In 1878, the <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/fowey_rocks_fl.html">Fowey Rocks Lighthouse </a>was constructed offshore and the Cape Florida Lighthouse was decommissioned.</div><br /><div>The lighthouse remained, although left unattended. The shoreline, which was 100 feet from the lighthouse at the time of construction, was reduced by nature to only 10 feet from the lighthouse by the 1920's. The keeper's house and cookhouse were claimed by storms, and the tower seemed to be heading in the same direction. Then came Bill Baggs.</div><br /><div>In the 1960's Mr. Baggs, a local newspaper editor, spearheaded a campaign to save the lighthouse. His campaign convinced the State of Florida in 1966 to purchase the lighthouse from the federal government, as well as a large tract of land on the tip of Key Biscayne. In 1967, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park was created, and efforts were made to restore and preserve the lighthouse.</div><br /><div>A full 100 years from the time it went dark, the lighthouse was relighted on July 4, 1978. The keeper's house, cookhouse, and remaining buildings were rebuilt and the light station was totally recreated to look as it did in its heyday. A happy ending for this troubled lighthouse would seem to be at hand, but, after all, this is Cape Florida. Nothing is ever easy.</div><br /><div>In August of 1992, one of the worst storms to ever hit the U. S., Hurricane Andrew, struck South Florida. The lighthouse was right in path of the storm, and sustained extensive damage. The State of Florida had to once again step up to save the lighthouse. Major repairs were again done, and the lighthouse relighted for Miami's centennial celebration in 1996.</div><br /><div>It would seem that finally, Cape Florida Lighthouse may have a tranquil and peaceful existence. It definitely has earned it. Looking back on the long and troubled history, however, one can only wonder.</div>Cape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348573466059020218.post-47225029577692342062007-07-22T18:57:00.000-04:002008-12-10T17:40:20.335-05:00Lighthouse Raffle<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5090171327518323218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgey-xG7pBcf8I1_QG8dY7mwRTHNi4IB3RzC3sktEtwlyvPT3c0a8y8GMaJ0Ghg6lVGAeeMmNbZIezHYF1F8eECjudWfUqdvSwE1I6DPmF_6IvsCfLBQxhLVfs9xYHP_dv2A_JzA-z8KPE/s320/cape+neddick.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>An article which appeared in the <em>Portsmouth </em>(New Hampshire) <em>Herald News</em> this past Tuesday (July 17), caught the eye of many of us here. It's a great idea, I think, and I'd like to pass it on.<br />This past April, Cape Neddick Lighthouse in Maine, (most know it as just "Nubble"), had substantial damage done to its grounds due to a very powerful Nor'Easter. Estimates have come in as high as two million dollars worth of damage done to the island which supports the lighthouse. As is the case with most municipal coffers these days, there isn't enough money in the town of York's budget to make all of the repairs needed.<br />The Sohier Park Committee, (Nubble is part of Sohier Park), and the York Park and Recreations Department, (which oversees the lighthouse), have come up with a unique solution to raise $100,000, which would help toward making safety improvements on the island and pay for some of the much needed improvements. Their idea is to run a raffle.<br />Basically, the raffle would work like this;<br />1,000 tickets would be sold at $100 apiece. The only prize? One winner gets to stay in the keeper's quarters of the lighthouse for one full week.<br />Sounds great, doesn't it?<br />There are a few glitches, however. First of all, the town Selectmen must approve the plan, (they seem to be rather positively in favor of it, as long as there are no problems with insurance matters). Secondly, the keeper's house needs some major upgrades, ("bathroom issues" and running water were high on the priority list). The Park Commissioners feel, however, that the money raised last year from Nubble's Gift Shop, (approx. $138,000), could be used toward those improvements.<br />If all goes well, raffle tickets will go on sale in 2008, and the winner will be able to spend his/her week at the lighthouse in the summer of 2009. ( My question to the committee, if I win, can I bring a friend? or two or three?)<br />My guess is that if the raffle does come off and turns out to be a rousing success, it would probably be a regular annual event, (my hope is that, at least).<br />I, for one, will be keeping a close eye out for the town's decision, and if/when the tickets go on sale, I plan to be near the front of the line!</div>Cape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348573466059020218.post-30743467492556272302007-07-15T18:48:00.001-04:002008-12-10T17:40:22.636-05:00Wanna Buy a Lighthouse?The U. S. Coast Guard has made this year's expendable lighthouse list available to the general public. In accordance with the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/nhlpa/nhlpa.htm">National Historic Ligh</a><a href="http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/nhlpa/nhlpa.htm">thouse Preservation</a><a href="http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/nhlpa/nhlpa.htm"> Act o</a><a href="http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/nhlpa/nhlpa.htm">f 2000</a>, a number of lighthouses wil<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3Xo7U1g07oIKrDmEwyk7iJRkM3ki4DhM-R01-0UGxUTJWsdUJe2iLwXnk30TzUZmNrnf437bE5eAsyNE3-rghKuO4z0bXOUeTkyS0_zjEXrO4Ud4NCm6RosWdWygyY2um_n7eiAwqx4/s1600-h/whaleback.jpg"></a>l be deemed "expendable" each year and will be made available to municipalities and nonprofit organizations which apply for a particular lighthouse and can meet a number of requirements, (such as filing a financial plan for restoration and maintainance of the lighthouse, a plan for public viewing within a "reasonable" amount of time, proof of ability to secure insurance for the lighthouse, allowing the Coast Guard access to the working light, and much more). The entire process and requirements can be read by clicking on the above link.<br /><br />This year's 13 available lighthouses are;<br /><br /><br /><br />CONNECTICUT<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_pvKuh_TrVleNjBeKs-59T_banAapNLPFd0nnejJ62utHJX9oPx5feosNOR3AhIizkqFgJ_iR1TIEiGEIPJ3wlKGFiIDYqSFN7jrynUT2PwXBSIRQkmB_xvde-uAyuX_eTQ-1110az8/s1600-h/Penfield+Reef.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087565086616012834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 155px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 231px" height="274" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_pvKuh_TrVleNjBeKs-59T_banAapNLPFd0nnejJ62utHJX9oPx5feosNOR3AhIizkqFgJ_iR1TIEiGEIPJ3wlKGFiIDYqSFN7jrynUT2PwXBSIRQkmB_xvde-uAyuX_eTQ-1110az8/s320/Penfield+Reef.jpg" width="192" border="0" /></a><br />Penfield Reef ~~Located on Long Island Sound approximately 1 mile off the coast of Fairfield. This 35 foot tall lighthouse, constructed of wood and granite, was built in 1874 at a cost of $55,000 and lies upon a small "island" of rocks, (actually a cylindrical granite pier). It is said to be haunted by a former keeper who drowned nearby. The town of Fairfield seems to be quite interested in acquiring the lighthouse, but has not, as of yet, filed an application.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/saybrook_breakwater_ct.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087566924862015538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 158px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 137px" height="136" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijGa_PujYiaUDSMDjvq5HzYqkbPTJ9ZRG6i6jWwn1HXTaL-VR7Nga2CeS4e02HdFSSeIkaUvYTKJI0TtznUifLDRPlDm3fPnYoCa-TDcVm-cmha1LWwITv1fjSROWe9jQ3ZC7qq72U-WE/s200/saybrook+breakwater.jpg" width="163" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/saybrook_breakwater_ct.html">Saybrook </a><a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/saybrook_breakwater_ct.html">Breakwater</a>~~ Also located in Long Island Sound. It lies at the mouth of the Connecticut River in the town of Old Saybrook. Working in tandem with the Lynde Point Lighthouse, about a mile and a half away, it has been a working aid to navigation since 1886.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />DELAWARE<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYS9HD4EcSSf0xyWyuqTBaw0NEiUbs5jEqyAC8dWuaGkJ1U4Rt3iAhzo9Tk5qFSKdXYcI39mdB2FVctpOQJ5LdZsoFxoYAESnaE0QDnc3mu3IHAKjKLvwYU3J-aQnkUEPygHPhjoHVP4/s1600-h/bellevuerearrange+USCG.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087574222011451490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 178px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 157px" height="172" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYS9HD4EcSSf0xyWyuqTBaw0NEiUbs5jEqyAC8dWuaGkJ1U4Rt3iAhzo9Tk5qFSKdXYcI39mdB2FVctpOQJ5LdZsoFxoYAESnaE0QDnc3mu3IHAKjKLvwYU3J-aQnkUEPygHPhjoHVP4/s200/bellevuerearrange+USCG.jpg" width="184" border="0" /></a>Bellevue Range Rear Tower~~ Marks the entrance to the Christiana River from the larger Delaware River, this 104 foot tall skeletal tower was built in 1909. Due to river dredging over the years, the lighthouse, originally built out in the Delaware River, now stands well within the Christiana River! **note to buyer, this lighthouse is within sight and smell of nearby Cherry Island trash landfill!**<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />INDIANA<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/michigan_city_east_pier_in.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087573414557599826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 155px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 165px" height="167" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSu5WRyL-G7KFOhg6YMGoNx91swXuP-q4b0noE7zQUZ52ZmMNBXjgsNMcrFw__2Lr8OsuyGUOOeyo1CyZ7rNmdahUbMR5oMwN9uHoL0GC_VEaOCaSxMSDJBunpg2uTfvYJk8gw7GrrM0/s200/michigan+city+east+pier.jpg" width="161" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/michigan_city_east_pier_in.html">Michiga</a><a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/michigan_city_east_pier_in.html">n City East Pierhead </a>~~ Indiana's last surviving lighthouse. Built in 1904, this lighthouse originally used the catwalk pictured at left for access to the lighthouse from the keeper's home on shore. Please note that only the lighthouse is available, the new owner has to get permission from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, owner of the pier and catwalk, for access to the lighthouse! The Municipality of Michigan City seems to be the early frontrunner to get this lighthouse.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />MAINE<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/whaleback_ledge_me.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087578572813322370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUG3mWbZzgPemx_3-JxdEqnxthOlSkjcFLr5qGClTog9esS70FicsjQtU4cZNHpgGJ4hwd6HYSxus5xPx5gWU2vA6NqrJ1HnZhWIJdigiTd6HjGlPjqplC1rJ-GIZuAO-wtOxWIXMCNdA/s200/whaleback.jpg" border="0" />Whaleback Ledge</a>~~ This 50-foot tall granite lighthouse lies outside Kittery. Accessible only by boat, the perspective owner will have to have deep pockets, as the maintainance costs alone for this off-shore lighthouse can get very, very costly. As of yet, no party has shown any real interest.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />MASSACHUSETTS<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/cleveland_ledge_ma.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087582013082126482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxngqfDoiy6q_ExoOmSghgMdFr1zxwOrXVZuHdOoFXSYN2fIUoXwD1Brwxp2bJ7zwWxdF-F-cuXKgJSLMqgsNv1H04BGs32-iv3Cg2FS7dD_9nOVyuPCaQt8aKeJzTZAoc6jc2kgp-jI/s200/cleveland+ledge.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/cleveland_ledge_ma.html">Cleveland East Ledge</a>~~Located near the western entrance to the Cape Cod Canal, this may be the most expensive restoration project of any of this year's crop. Built in 1943, this 70 foot tall concrete lighthouse has had many years of neglect. Among other issues, the new owner must remove an extensive amount of asbestos inside the lighthouse, as well as layers of lead paint. Other than that, it makes a great Cape Cod vacation home!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />MINNESOTA<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOogqWcIoJ1jFvDbBMdTMGyhCMx_k9948SVcwk4WP24mDbESYEip3GoEN41E4Iuz30Y5b2cUQQQ4NYi0enpZYuzdgmGspPKzGTAF80Jcc8vQllE6qyDAYnSCsiLadcH6vk1IF8DOVSeHc/s1600-h/Duluth+Harbor+South+Breakwater+Inner.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087586123365828786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOogqWcIoJ1jFvDbBMdTMGyhCMx_k9948SVcwk4WP24mDbESYEip3GoEN41E4Iuz30Y5b2cUQQQ4NYi0enpZYuzdgmGspPKzGTAF80Jcc8vQllE6qyDAYnSCsiLadcH6vk1IF8DOVSeHc/s200/Duluth+Harbor+South+Breakwater+Inner.jpg" border="0" /></a>Duluth Harbor South Breakwater Inner~~Also known as the Duluth Rear Range Light. New owner of this 1901 built 68 foot tall skeletal tower will have to deal with the frequent raising and closing of the large lift bridge right in its own back yard. No word, as of yet, of interested parties.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />NEW JERSEY<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/brandywine_shoal_nj.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087590401153255634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 187px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 172px" height="118" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOXcxthTzeJ5Q7e6lISwssNXJlxXcXrsytlRZE_lLdM7uKAJF61iS27Ds_0Q2Akr2M8VAMSiLc9wCBGC1QHhBFvYi4egxsMCXDyj6JoPAuA2ST5qkf-CoEHWfNdUUghDK-a61rDziDWI/s200/brandywine.jpg" width="164" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/brandywine_shoal_nj.html">Brandywine Shoal</a>~~Another off-shore lighthouse. This 45-foot tall cast iron "spark plug" lighthouse was built in 1914. Unlike most off-shore caisson-based lighthouses, Brandywine is surrounded by its own little island of "rip-rap" stone protection. An easy jaunt to Philadelphia may be one of this lighthouse's best (or worse, depending on one's outlook of the City of Brotherly Love), selling points.<br /><br /><br /><br />NEW YORK<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/execution_rocks_ny.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087596014675511538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="157" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfz8-T99phk-pb4nw9OkvahYkhWFbpt5UyDIyk0QL559FDX33L2i1AN45rtWNS92B7ARA0NCEIL2lTIiPOhQYQKRIQRLhx216h4ZgkcAwFNUzXpxbAfFfBHTpQX1hNq88mpZDBKNtt9Zw/s200/Execution+Rocks.jpg" width="176" border="0" />Execution Rocks</a>~~In Long Island Sound off of New Rochelle, the name is derived from the Revolutionary War. Legend has it, American prisoners were chained to the rocks here by the British at low tide. The prisoners would drown slowly as the tide became higher. A story like that would make great party chatter for guests of the new owners, don't you think?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/old_orchard_shoal_ny.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087600245218298130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFE5wQg-JUmOo6hBkn79DOl13vkeFd3boANrM-y6ywgbeZ1ryAxFjB-yoB-5ngNDGUfk1s3igiEhcc_ctjoiiU8DsO1Tet17p7eq3CPkHYKAFrKrdXI24fQVUMmBxG9TjC5_Mg0o9hZro/s200/old+orchard+shoal.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/old_orchard_shoal_ny.html">Old Orchard Shoal</a>~~Who needs a Manhattan penthouse when you could own this beauty in Lower New York Bay, about three miles offshore from Staten Island. Built in 1893, this 35 foot tall "spark plug" is in close proximity to Great Kills Park, offshore of the Gateway National Recreation Area.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/west_bank_ny.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087610243902163250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 151px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 146px" height="155" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSojzdMkv5e8SjUPugKRbEsXKrzwquQmtu_qsWZxAGTzs4CPOmKHQjIn_CIb7ffHH4rVjh89gpDeqLIIqxpir0mRAf-wThyphenhyphen2G2z4Zd5nqQ911_ol5VqQ9pZXV9u921k2LC9XXv7xl4N6g/s200/west+bank+ny.jpg" width="166" border="0" />West Bank Light</a> ~~At 70 feet, it's the tallest offshore lighthouse in New York Harbor. Great views are afforded from this lighthouse, to Staten Island's South Beach and the Coney Island boardwalk. Built in 1901, the light is solar powered, but the Coast Guard won't let the new owner use the panels. There is no other source of power, it will have to be input by the buyer.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />OHIO<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmXqlcQBXXXIo8RsxWMXvbvGFn9ZQk0I0jx9eLzguOyd5008-GvOlGTfHRNy2athrI7hvYiHlpr_k_BeXn87ZjKespjyD9baoLoFaj9F8A5Un_IGsCxRLbI6_DguRWl6R0QGrBZ68hyphenhyphenU/s1600-h/cleveland+harbor+east+pier.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087613705645803842" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmXqlcQBXXXIo8RsxWMXvbvGFn9ZQk0I0jx9eLzguOyd5008-GvOlGTfHRNy2athrI7hvYiHlpr_k_BeXn87ZjKespjyD9baoLoFaj9F8A5Un_IGsCxRLbI6_DguRWl6R0QGrBZ68hyphenhyphenU/s200/cleveland+harbor+east+pier.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Cleveland Harbor East Pierhead~~Originally built in 1880 for use in Rochester, New York, this lighthouse was relocated to the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland in 1911. Tower is 25 feet tall, and the new owner must be fond of walking, as the lighthouse sits at the end of a three mile long pier.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/conneaut_west_breakwater_oh.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087617721440225618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="138" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJdkvUKgKqdfPQSgqKGjGE47qzVZO4Dc9ALp9NaaJ6Lxwgm1liMHthjX3aip8_XYDuBidgXmT1lLOVKdO3qid90bwwGUmEDA9Iy8I6_1Bl7vi8n1FJQBAS1Ieq2TxVydSmaGdyC0QjCk/s200/conneault+west+breakwater.jpg" width="174" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/conneaut_west_breakwater_oh.html">Conneaut Harbor West Breakwater</a>~~ This 60 foot tall concrete building sits on a 23 foot tall concrete base at the very end of a long pier. Two groups are interested in acquiring this lighthouse. The first, a Jewish school which wants to educate special needs students there, and the second being an Army and Navy Union Garrison.Cape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348573466059020218.post-90812248947907100952007-07-09T18:51:00.000-04:002007-07-19T16:53:45.949-04:00U. S. Lighthouse FactsMany casual lighthouse enthusiasts will know some of the following facts about the lighthouses in the U. S., but only the very few hard-core lighthouse boosters will know <em>all</em> of these.<br /><em>We start with the easy ones.</em><br />*The first light station on the North American continent was built in Boston Harbor in 1716. The lighthouse was destoyed during the American Revolution, and the present <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/boston_harbor_ma.html">Boston Harbor lighthouse</a> was built in 1783, making it the second oldest lighthouse still in existence in the U. S., (<a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/sandy_hook_nj.html">Sandy Hook, New Jersey </a>holds the distinction as being the oldest lighthouse in the country, having been built in 1764)<br />*Boston Harbor also has the distinction as being the last of an era. In 1998, it became the final lighthouse to be automated. It remains, however, the last lighthouse in the country to be manned by Coast Guard personnel, performing all of the duties of a lightkeeper, except turning the light on and off.<br />*The last lighthouse built by the U. S. Government as an aid to navigation was <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/sullivans_island_charleston_sc.html">Sullivan's Island</a>, South Carolina, built in 1962. It also has the distinction of being the only triangular tower in the U. S., as well as the only one with an elevator.<br />*The state with the most lighthouses remaining is <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/michigan_lighthouses.html">Michigan</a>, with 104. (Many people are surprised at this fact, as most equate lighthouses to the ocean. Storms on the great lakes can be as fiersome as any on the ocean, and there are a large amount of shipping hazards throughout the lakes.)<br />*The tallest lighthouse in the U. S. is <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/cape_hatteras_nc.html">Cape Hatteras</a>, North Carolina at 207 feet, (10 feet underground, 197 feet above ground).<br />*The tallest West Coast lighthouses are <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/pigeon_point_ca.html">Pigeon Point</a>, California and <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/point_arena_ca.html">Point Arena</a>, California. Both stand 115 feet tall.<br />*The first lighthouse built by the U. S. Federal Government was <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/montauk_point_ny.html">Montauk Point</a>, New York in 1791, (lighthouse was commissioned by president George Washington).<br /><em>Now the medium-hard ones.</em><br /><em>*</em>The first U. S. lighthouse to have a flashing beacon was <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/cape_cod_ma.html">Cape Cod (Highland) Light</a> in 1797.<br />*The first lighthouse to use electricity was The Statue of Liberty in 1886, (was considered a lighthouse then because it was used as an official aid to navigation).<br />*The first U. S. lighthouse to use a Fresnel lens was <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/navesink_twin_lights_nj.html">Navesink (Twin Towers)</a>, New Jersey. It was also the first coastal lighthouse to use mineral oil in its lamps, and also the first U. S. lighthouse to use an electric arc lamp.<br />*According to most accounts, the most photographed lighthouse in the nation is <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/cape_neddick_nubble_me.html">Cape Neddick, (Nubble)</a>, Maine<br />*The first and only nuclear powered lighthouse in the world was <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/baltimore_md.html">Baltimore Light </a>in Maryland. In 1964, a small nuclear reactor was placed in the lighthouse. It was removed one year later.<br />*The first American built West Coast lighthouse was <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/alcatraz_island_ca.html">Alcatraz Island Lighthouse </a>in 1854, (before the prison was constructed).<br />*The first Great Lakes Lighthouses were <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/buffalo_main_ny.html">Buffalo</a>, New York and <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/erie_land_pa.html">Erie</a>, Pennsylvania, both built in 1818.<br />*The most expensive lighthouse built in the U. S. was <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/encyclopedia/st_george_reef_ca.html">St. George Reef </a>in California. Built in 1891-1892, the cost was a staggering $700,000+ (1892 dollars).<br />*<em>Now the hard ones.</em><br /><em>*</em>It is estimated that between 1600 and 1800 light stations were built in the U. S. between 1716 to the present. Of these, only about 600 remain.<br />*The U. S. Coast Guard still owns and "maintains" over 400 light stations. Each year, a handful are dubbed as "surplus" by the Coast Guard and are posted as "available". According to the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/nhlpa/nhlpa.htm">National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000</a>, municipalities and non-profit organizations could apply for these lighthouses as long as they met certain criteria, such as forming a financial plan for reconstruction, making the lighthouse available to the public, and proof of ability to get insurance for the lighthouse, among other requirements.Cape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5348573466059020218.post-23769240631203448222007-07-08T19:17:00.001-04:002007-07-08T19:24:48.750-04:00Welcome to <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/">The Cape Cod Store.com's </a>lighthouse blog. We have received countless inquiries about information on lighthouses from our website customers and visitors, asking about lighthouse info and the availability of lighthouse collectibles. We have tried to provide answers to your lighthouse info questions by creating our <a href="http://www.thecapecodstore.com/lighthouse_encyclopedia">Lighthouse Encyclopedia</a>, and according to your feedback and the amount of hits each page is getting, we think we've been able to produce a quality reference site for both collectors and lighthouse visitors. Many of you have commented on the ease of which you've been able to find information on particular lighthouses, a task which in the past took sometimes hours of searching through website after website, many of which contained absolutely no pertinent information whatsoever, before you either finally found the info you were seeking or just gave up from sheer exhaustion! (We know, we've done that countless times in order to weed through the fluff and get to the "brass tacks", if you will, in the process of creating each Encyclopedia page). It's still a work in progress, as each page takes awhile to create, but we're proud of our work and also proud to say that as of this posting, we now have 318 U. S. lighthouses within our data base, with LOTS more to go!<br /><br />Please feel free to post your comments to this blog. Use it as a forum for your questions and comments, but please keep it clean and polite.<br /><br />I will be posting updates on latest lighthouse news, SCAASIS collectible news, giving you insights and stories on various lighthouses, providing updates on the website, answering your questions, plus lots more within this blog. I hope you find it helpful, fun, and educational!<br /><br />Please save this page into your favorites and come back to visit often.Cape Cod Rolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11447689136145643058noreply@blogger.com0