Lighthouse Builder Grave Found
Lighthouse history is always being rediscovered as was recently evident by the recent discovery of the neglected broken headstone of British General Alexander Fraser. A man who volunteered to help tend the old cemetery at St. Margaret’s Church in Downham, England found the tombstone. Further research revealed that General Fraser was the first “Imperial Lighthouse Engineer,” who was responsible for building several lighthouses in India, then part of the British Empire. One of the most famous lighthouses he built was the Alguada Reef Lighthouse at the mouth of the Irawaddy River in Burma (now known as Myanmar) and was first lit on April 23, 1865. Queen Victoria was so impressed by the lighthouse that she sent a personal note to the General and an image of it appeared in the Illustrated London News in 1865. Interestingly the lighthouse was machine gunned by U.S. warplanes during World War II. The regiment that General Fraser once belonged to has now restored the tombstone.

Rock Star’s Lighthouse For Sale
England’s 1840 Hunstanton Lighthouse, now owned by former 1960s rock star Bip Weatherall is for sale at a reduced price. Originally listed at over a $1million the asking price has been dropped to $722,000. Weatherall and his wife have spent considerable money fixing up the lighthouse that was discontinued in 1922. The first lighthouse built on the site, high on a cliff, was back in 1665.

Rock Island Lighthouse Web Site
In May of 2000, Mark A Wentling, a descendant of an early lighthouse keeper at New York’s Rock Island Lighthouse, formed the Rock Island Lighthouse Historical & Memorial Association. In doing so he has created a web site loaded with history of the lighthouse. You can visit the site at rockislandlighthouse.org. It’s well worth your time.

Lighthouse Preservationist Passes
Walter Fanning, the third generation of his family to work at San Francisco Bay lighthouses in California has passed away at the age of 99. Fanning was born in the keeper’s quarters at the Yerba Buena Lighthouse where his grandfather was the keeper. Later his grandfather was transferred to East Brother Lighthouse and Fanning spent much of his childhood years at the lighthouse. Fanning spent a good portion of his retirement working on the restoration of the lighthouse and later became its modern day keeper/caretaker. He also was instrumental, with a hands-on approach in the restoration of the Relief Lightship that is now anchored in Oakland Harbor. Donations in his memory can be sent to the Walter Fanning Memorial Fund, East Brother Light Station Restoration, 117 Park Place, Point Richmond, CA 94801. (Photo courtesy East Brother Light Station.)

Beacons Were On White House Tree
Port Huron Michigan artist Jim Clary, who owns Cap’n Jim’s Gallery, was selected to create a Christmas ornament for the White House Tree this past Christmas. The ornament is one of a kind and cannot be reproduced. Among the images on the ornament are a portrait of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, a Red Cross flag, the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, the Huron Lightship, the retired Coast Guard tender Bramble and freighters built in St. Clair. From New Jersey came an ornament featuring Barnegat Lighthouse by Burlington County artist Joyce Gagen. The artists were invited to the White House to see their ornaments on the tree. Lighthouse Depot offers a replica of Fort Gratiot Lighthouse as item #43310. Barnegat Lighthouse is available on a ball cap as item #34499 as well as a Harbour Lights replica as item #42414. A Barnegat Crystal lighthouse is also available as item #35352.

Last Georgian Bay Keeper Dies
Jack Vaughan was the last lighthouse keeper on Canada’s Georgian Bay, which is a bay in Lake Huron, Ontario, Canada, has died at the age of 80. Although he and his wife raised eight children together, Vaughan was often away from home for long periods of time. However, in the summer months most of the family was together on Cove Island Lighthouse. This past June, Vaughan and his wife were guests of honor on a cruise that celebrated the 150th birthday of Cove Island Lighthouse.

Christmas at Montauk Lighthouse
Long Island New York’s Montauk Lighthouse has been lit up with 3,000 lights for Christmas. The lighting ceremony drew so many people a massive traffic jam was created. The full story with an amazing photo of the lighthouse will be in the January issue of Lighthouse Digest. To subscribe go to www.LighthouseDigest.net. Lighthouse Depot also has a wide selection of items that represent Montauk Lighthouse, a really neat coffee mug #39006, a Harbour Lights replica #42405, a single switch plate cover #10478 and a double switch plate cover as #10489.

Last Month’s Trivia Questions and Answers

1. As a Superintendent of one of the Districts of the United States Lighthouse Service, I got into a heated argument with President Franklin D. Roosevelt while trying to convince the president not to dissolve the Lighthouse Service and merge it into the Coast Guard. The president, while making his point, shook his fist at me. What was my name? Answer: William Demeritt, who was the superintendent of the Seventh Lighthouse District, headquartered in Florida. Congratulations to Allen Martin of Virginia whose name was randomly selected from among the correct answers submitted.
   
   
2. Before I assumed control of all of the lighthouses in the United States, I saved the original copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of United States from being burned by an enemy. What was my name? Answer: Stephen Pleasanton, who as a young clerk serving in Washington managed to rescue the documents and others by removing them from the Capitol shortly before British troops set a fire that destroyed the structure during the War of 1812. Congratulations to Lorinda Maki of Michigan whose name was randomly selected from among the correct entries received.
   
   
3. I was once one of the most well known and one of the largest oil companies in the United States. For many years my company’s distinctive logo appeared on all crates of kerosene shipped to the United States Lighthouse Service for use in lighting the lamps for the lenses in nearly all U. S. lighthouses. What was the name of my company? Answer: Texas Oil Company, later known as Texaco. Many of you will recall the old commercials “Trust your car to the man who wears the star.” Congratulations to Betsy Genger of Michigan whose name was randomly selected from among the correct answers.
   
   Prizes have been sent to our winners.
   

This Month’s Trivia Questions

1. I am the oldest standing lighthouse tower in America. What is my name?
   
   
2. An earlier tower at this site was torn down and replaced by a lighthouse named after a famous explorer. At that time the name of the old lighthouse was discontinued. In 2009 this lighthouse will be part of a big celebration. What is the name of this lighthouse?
   
   
3. Although I no longer stand, having been replaced by another tower, I witnessed what has been called by many as the “First Overt Act of the Revolution,” by the colonists in America. What is the name of this lighthouse?
   

Send your answers to one, two or all three of the trivia questions listed above to: . One name from each of 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.

Winter Reading
Wintertime is now here and this is a good time to catch up on your knowledge about lighthouses, plan your summer vacation or have the kids work on school papers about the history of lighthouses. Lighthouse Depot has a large selection of lighthouse books that literally cover the world. A few books that we recommend are The Great Lakes Lighthouse Encyclopedia, America's Atlantic Coast Lighthouses: A Traveler's Guide
For a list of other books click here.

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

Saving Lighthouse History
When you purchase lighthouse or lighthouse related products from Lighthouse Depot you are actually helping to save document and report on lighthouse history for future generations.

All of us at Lighthouse Depot wish to thank you for your continued support during the past year, it is sincerely appreciated.

From our homes to your homes, we wish you and yours, the very best during this Holiday Season and for the New Year.

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