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FLASHBACK: May 2012
From Editor Tim Harrison: “As I sat at my desk trying to think of something poignant to write about our twenty years of publishing Lighthouse Digest, I was instantly reminded of what novices Kathleen Finnegan and I were when we started Lighthouse Digest. We were just two people who loved lighthouses and the history associated with them. We were by no means lighthouse experts and knew absolutely nothing about how to publish a magazine.
As I reflected on the twenty years of stories we had published and the lost and forgotten history that we rediscovered, I still feel as though we are the same novices we were when we started twenty years ago. Yes, I guess we have accumulated an immense amount of lighthouse knowledge, but we are also keenly aware of the many people who know a whole lot more than we do. We are also cognizant of the many people who were saving lighthouses and their history long before we got involved, and we will always be thankful to them for paving the way. One of the great things that we have learned about lighthouses is that there is always more to learn and discover.
However, today, my biggest concern is whether the next generations will have the same passion to learn about lighthouses as we have over the past twenty years. . .”
Fast Forward: 2025
Now, more than 13 years since Tim wrote those words, that concern remains. “Who will take over?” The question is even more poignant now that Tim has been gone for nearly two years. I am immensely proud of his role in lighthouse preservation—the stories and the history we published in Lighthouse Digest that might have otherwise remained untold.
To all the loyal subscribers–some who have been with us since the very first issue and others who just discovered us–I extend my deepest gratitude. The past 33 years have been an incredible journey.
When One Door Closes . . .
As many of you know, we began searching for new leadership to continue Lighthouse Digest several years ago. Despite not finding a new editor, I have been fortunate to work with a dedicated team of a couple freelance writers, a graphics designer, and the webmaster. Yet, after much thought and reflection over the past year and a half, I had to make the difficult decision to cease publication of the Lighthouse Digest. The reality is that I cannot do both Tim’s job and mine by myself.
Another Door Opens . . .
I am thrilled to announce my new agreement with the U.S. Lighthouse Society, bringing significant benefits to you, our readers. All current Lighthouse Digest subscriptions have been transferred to the Society, and each subscriber will receive a year of free access to the digital edition of the Society’s journal, The Keeper’s Log. You will receive login instructions in the mail.
At the end of the year (or sooner), you can choose to become a member of the U.S. Lighthouse Society and enjoy their full benefits, including access to The Keeper’s Log in digital or print format.
A Lasting Legacy
Over the past 33 years, many lighthouses have been saved, while others have been lost. An immense amount of lighthouse history has been rediscovered and published, yet so much more remains to be found. Although Lighthouse Digest is coming to an end, the legacy that Tim and I built alongside our dedicated team and readers, will endure online.
This is not the end of lighthouse history. As Tim always said, “You can learn an immense amount of early American history by studying lighthouses, more than you can from just about any other single source.” Past issues of Lighthouse Digest will remain available online plus our extensive Explorer Database.
I am profoundly grateful to the many people who have contributed along the way, and particularly to all our subscribers. Whether you realize it or not, you have played a crucial role in preserving lighthouse history for future generations.
From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely thank our loyal readers, supportive advertisers, and most importantly, God, for making these last 33 years possible.
You can read past issues of the Lighthouse Digest at www.LighthouseDigest.com/Digest and Research over 8,200 lighthouses at www.LighthouseDigest.com/database
Kathleen Finnegan-Harrison, Editor & Publisher, Lighthouse Digest
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