Maine Lighthouse Museum Faces Closure
The Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland, Maine, which has one of the most, if not the most, significant collection of lighthouse lenses and lighthouse artifacts in the nation, is in financial trouble and needs immediate help if it is to keep its doors open. The museum was founded by the late Ken Black, known by many as “Mr. Lighthouse,” who spent a lifetime saving many of the artifacts that otherwise would have been lost forever. If the museum were to be closed and the collection disseminated around the country and parts of it sold off, it would be a travesty that could never be reversed. Donations can be sent to Maine Lighthouse Museum, One Park Drive, P.O. Box 1116, Rockland, ME 04841. To learn more you can visit their web site at www.MaineLighthouseMuseum.com.

South Manitou Relighted
Michigan’s South Manitou Lighthouse, located in the boundaries of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, after being dark for many years, will be relit on May 30. A replica Fresnel lens in the tower will be turned on by the great grandson of lighthouse keeper Aaron Sheridan.

Fort Gratiot Needs Owner
When Michigan’s Fort Gratiot Lighthouse will reopen is unclear. The local community government of Port Huron is afraid of the high cost of restoration and has refused ownership of the lighthouse. Hopefully, with public pressure, the city officials will change their minds.

Oswego Gets New Owner
The Oswego West Pierhead Lighthouse in New York State is now owned by the City of Oswego, who unlike the folks of Port Huron, Michigan, has wholeheartedly thrown their support behind the restoration of their historic lighthouse. You can learn more about this in the July issue of Lighthouse Digest.

From Execution Rocks
Craig Morrison, president of Historically Significant Structures, which now owns New York’s Execution Rocks Lighthouse has a new CD entitled “Self Portrait” that is available through itunes at www:itunes.com/craigmorrison and other digital retailers. To learn more about his group visit www.LighthouseRestorations.org.

Michigan City Loves Its Lighthouse
Michigan City, Indiana loves its lighthouse so much that its image is used on everything possible. The full and unique story will be in the July issue of Lighthouse Digest.

Last Months Trivia Questions and Answers

1. A few years ago the United States Postal Service issued postage stamps honoring all 50 states. The postage stamps of four of the states featured lighthouses on them What are the names of the lighthouses that were shown on the stamps? The correct answer is: Block Island Southeast Lighthouse in Rhode Island; Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in North Carolina; Portland Head Lighthouse in Maine and the Statue of Liberty in New York.
   
   Congratulations Susan Brown of Meriden, CT whose name was randomly picked from among the correct answers.
   
   
2. Abbie Burgess was Maine’s famous lighthouse heroine. What was her lighthouse keeper husband’s name? The correct answer is Isaac Grant, who was the son of Capt. John Grant.
   
   Congratulations to Sharla Miles of Huntsville, TX whose name was randomly selected from among the correct answers submitted.
   
   
3. President Franklin Roosevelt, during a visit to Key West Florida in February 1939, in responding to a statement by a lighthouse official, angrily clenched his fist while telling that person that no matter what, nothing would stop the United States Lighthouse Service from being dissolved and merged into the Coast Guard. What was the name of the lighthouse official? The correct answer is William Demeritt, Superintendent of the Seventh Lighthouse District. A photo of this confrontation can be found in the book, Lighthouse Families by Cheryl and Bruce Roberts. That is available from Lighthouse Depot as item #99915.
   
   Congratulations to Lisa Layton of Philadelphia, PA whose name was randomly selected from among the correct answers submitted.

The prizes for the winners above will be shipped out soon. We wish to thank everyone who entered. Stories about all of the lighthouses that were used in the Trivia Contest can be found in past issues of Lighthouse Digest magazine.

This Month’s Trivia Questions

1. Cannon balls could not destroy this lighthouse that was featured on a United States postage stamp. What is the name of the lighthouse?
   
2. I am the tallest concrete beacon built by the United States Lighthouse Service. What is my name?
   
3. As well as being a “keeper of the light,” I was also a “painter of the light” and I painted many lighthouses. What was my name?

Send your answers to one, two or all three of the trivia questions listed above to: Editor@LighthouseDigest.com. One name from each of the correct answers to each trivia question will be randomly drawn for a prize from Lighthouse Depot. The winning names and the answers to the above trivia questions will be published in next month’s Depot Dispatch. When submitting your answers, be sure to include your full name and mailing address so we can mail your prize to you should your name be drawn from among the correct answers. Please submit only one answer per person per trivia question. Multiple entries will not be accepted; only one answer per trivia question will be accepted. Since winning entries are drawn at random, one person could possibly win more than one prize. Have fun researching lighthouse history and good luck!

When submitting your answers, be sure to include your full name and mailing address so we can mail your prize to you should your name be drawn from among the correct answers.

Cape Hatteras and the Outer Banks
If you are a fan of the Outer Banks of North Carolina and its famous lighthouses, including Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Lighthouse Depot has a wide variety of items for you. Some of these would be the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Beach Towel; the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Braided Rug; the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Bird Feeder, and the Beacons of the Outer Banks Flag that features Cape Hatteras. Cape Lookout, Bodie Island and Currituck lighthouses. The flag is the perfect outdoor item to display from your home, camp or cottage this summer.

New Harbour Lights Replicas Draw Interest
The Fort Carroll Lighthouse, one of America’s most endangered lighthouses and on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List, is now available as a replica from Harbour Lights as item #42371. It is hoped that the release of this replica will draw public attention to the plight of this historic lighthouse.

Buffalo, New York is a city that has an amazing amount of lighthouse history that dates back to the early 1800s. The city had a large number of lighthouses, some that no longer stand, a lighthouse depot, a life boat station and even a lightship. Today, the city’s rich maritime history continues on the Great Lakes. One of its lesser known beacons, but architecturally unique, the Buffalo South Entrance Lighthouse is now available from Harbour Lights as item #42369.

Father’s Day Is Just Around the Corner
We hope that you will consider Lighthouse Depot for a gift for Dad this Father’s Day which is June 21, only a few weeks away. You might consider for Dad the smart looking Lighthouse Service Jacket. Another jacket we would recommend is the Lighthouse Service Sport Jacket. With its snappy looking red collar, this item has been a real hit with many customers.

Donations for Maine Lighthouse Museum
In an effort to help the Maine Lighthouse Museum, for a limited time, Lighthouse Digest magazine will donate $10.00 from every new paid subscription or new gift subscription that is ordered though its web site www.LighthouseDigest.net to the museum.

Lighthouses For Adoption
A large number of lighthouses are up for adoption this year under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. The lighthouses range from the remote and isolated to ones that would make great vacation rental properties, unique bed and breakfasts or even museums. They include: Saddleback Ledge Lighthouse in Maine; the famous “I Love You,” lighthouse of Minot’s Ledge in Massachusetts; Grand Haven Pier Lights, Waugoshance Lighthouse, and Manistee North Pierhead Lighthouse, all in Michigan; Little Gull Island Lighthouse in New York; Punta Tuna Lighthouse in Puerto Rico; Point No Point in Washington; and Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse and Manitowoc Lighthouse in Wisconsin.

Clearance Central
Be sure to visit the Lighthouse Depot Clearance Central for an ever changing selection of discontinued and close out items.

Lighthouse Depot has the largest selection of lighthouse merchandise in the world and we invite you to browse through our web site to view the wide selection of items from home décor, to books, jewelry, clothing and more. Have fun browsing and please remember that Lighthouse Depot is helping to save lighthouses and their history, one gift at a time. Thanks for being a loyal customer and the next time you visit Maine, please be sure to visit our stores on historic U.S. Route One in Wells and at the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland.

If you would like to learn more about lighthouses subscribe today to Lighthouse Digest.

Lighthouse Depot, helping to save, lighthouses, one gift at a time.

We support the efforts of The American Lighthouse Foundation. You can too!

Lighthouse Depot
P.O. Box 427
Wells, ME 04090
1-800-758-1444