Digest>Archives> Sep/Oct 2017

Keeper's Korner

Tidbits and Editorial Comments from the Tower

By Timothy Harrison

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Peggy’s Cove Painted

Nova Scotia’s famous Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse was painted this past summer thanks to the donation of paint and volunteers from a local construction union. This is the same group that has painted the lighthouse in the past. But the ownership of the lighthouse continues to be in limbo, a situation that we hope will eventually be resolved.

Maine Lighthouse For Sale

As of this writing, Maine’s Blue Hill Bay Lighthouse, located on a private island near Brooklin, Maine, is for sale. Built in 1857, the station was deactivated in 1933 and has been in private ownership almost since then. The lighthouse is located on the western edge of Blue Hill Bay, west of Mt. Desert Island. The entire light station has been beautifully restored. For more information, you can call Acadia Realty Group at 207-460-4233.

Greens Ledge Sold

Connecticut’s Greens Ledge Lighthouse, at the southwest end of the Norwalk Islands in Long Island Sound, has been sold at a government auction for $150,000 to the Greens Ledge Light Preservation Society, Inc. According to Brendan McGee, the society’s Executive Director, the group plans to restore the lighthouse for the benefit of its members. The money for the purchase of the lighthouse was donated by Tim Pettee who serves as president of the organization.

MI Light Erosion Danger

Erosion is threatening Michigan’s South Manitou Island Lighthouse. As of this past June, the shoreline was within 20 feet of the fog signal building and 45 feet away from the actual tower. Officials of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore have outlined a $1 million fix that they believe would protect 250 feet of the shoreline in front of the lighthouse.

Money for San Luis

A $5,000 donation from the Avila Beach Community Foundation has been given to the Point San Luis Lighthouse Foundation for restoration work at 1890 San Luis Obispo Lighthouse in Avila Beach, California. There have been occasions when the lighthouse has also been referred to as the Point Hartford Lighthouse. The Fourth-order Fresnel lens that was once in the lantern of the lighthouse is now on display at the San Luis Obispo County Historical Museum in San Luis Obispo, California.

Sand Point Light Turns 150

The 1867 Sand Point Lighthouse in Escanada, Michigan turned 150 years old this year. A celebration was held at the lighthouse on July 3rd. As part of the event, The Delta County Historical Society marked the graves of deceased lighthouse keepers who were buried at the local Lakeview Cemetery.

Wine for the Light

There all kinds of ways to raise money for lighthouse restoration, and the Juneau Lighthouse Association came up with a clever way when they recently hosted a wine tasting event to raise money for Alaska’s Five Finger Lighthouse. They charged $35 per person for the event that also held a silent auction. The Five Finger Lighthouse was built in 1935 to replace an earlier structure that had been built in 1902. In 1984, it became the oldest lighthouse in Alaska to be automated.

Looks Like a Lighthouse

This home in Durham, Maine, which looks like a lighthouse, is for sale. FMI contact Kathy Gallant at 855-206-4607.

Man Rescued From Light

A man who collapsed at the top of the 127 foot tall lighthouse in Withernsea, England had to be rescued by fireman who had to use a combination of trucks, ladders, and a helicopter.

Keeper’s Daughter Dies

Edith “Bunny” Heath, daughter of Robert Gaskins, who was a lighthouse keeper at North Carolina’s Bald Head Lighthouse in the 1930s, passed away on July 4th, her favorite holiday. Born on August 10, 1929, she was active in keeping the family tree alive.

Five Year Lease at Dice Head

The community of Castine, Maine, which owns Dice Head Lighthouse, has signed a new five year lease for the current tenant who lives in the former keeper’s house. The lease was signed to help the community pay for the upkeep of the house. However, it would be nice if the community would plan for the future to open a museum and gift shop in the keeper’s house so that it would be better suited for the public’s enjoyment.

Little Red Festival

This October 7th the New York City Department of Parks will host the 25th Annual Little Red Lighthouse Festival at Fort Washington Park on the Hudson River in Manhattan. The real name of the lighthouse is Jeffrey’s Hook Lighthouse, but it is more commonly known as the Little Red Lighthouse. It was made famous by the children’s book The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge. The lighthouse is almost under the George Washington Bridge.

Facelift at Cochin

The land-locked Cochin Lighthouse in Cochin, Saskatchewan, Canada that was built in 1989 as a tourist attraction is getting a facelift that will cover the graffiti that now covers a large portion of the 39-foot tall tower.

Banghazi Light Damaged

The world famous Banghazi Lighthouse in Banghazi, Libya has suffered severe damage in battles between troops from the Libyan National Army and militants.

Highland Lens Correction

On page 43 of the July/August issue, we posted this photo as a Vega beacon that was once in Cape Cod’s Highland Lighthouse. This was incorrect; the photo is actually an API (Pharos Marine) FA-251-AC lens. We apologize for the error.

This story appeared in the Sep/Oct 2017 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

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