Rothman's Report: Harbour Lights

07/21/03 3:24 AM

1-800-758-1444

Harbour Light collectors. The month of September is upon us, as the hot summer season begins to fade along with the tourists and children return to school. This becomes a unique time of year, with the warm September days and cooler evenings, for lighthouse enthusiasts to pack a hearty lunch and journey out on day trips, visiting a lighthouse. What a pleasant time to explore one of your favorite beacons or to venture to one you have not yet seen. It has been a very exciting and busy summer at Harbour Lights, with many new projects on the drawing board.

Coming this fall, Harbour Lights is going to introduce the collector to many new reproductions that have played significant roles in our nation's maritime historical past. One of these fascinating sentinels is Goat Island, Maine, which should be available this month. The actual lighthouse resides on the southeastern coast of Maine at the entrance of the harbor at Cape Porpoise. This is the second light at this location. Pounded by the severe nor'easters and winter weather of this region the original light was replaced with a new structure in the years 1859 to 1860. Volunteers of the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust man this lighthouse today nine months of the year. An interesting note-how many lighthouses have the acclaim of being a security post for a President? When George Bush was Commander-in-Chief of this nation, this lighthouse was used as a security point when he vacationed in Kennebunkport. Goat Island has the recognition of being on the National Register of Historic Places.

Secondary Market Notes: Speaking of Maine, we at the Lighthouse Trading Co. have noticed a notable increase of interest by collectors seeking out retired Harbour Lights from the Northeast region. One in particular is the extraordinary 1995 award winning Cape Neddick, Maine, a reproduction of the actual lighthouse with exquisite detail that retired in March of '95. The secondary market price of this replica has varied from the low point of the high $100's to, now, in some cases exceeding $300.

Cape Hatteras Update: In our recent visit to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, we spoke with many residents of this area and were quite surprised with the opposition to moving this great sentinel. Many of the locals had their own agenda or personal reasons why the lighthouse should not be moved. A common sight in the local businesses were T-shirts for sale, Don't move our lighthouse. We climbed Cape Hatteras Light and could actually see orange flags marking where the proposed new location would be. The National Park Service, as well as many experts throughout the country, feel this is the only way to save Cape Hatteras lighthouse. As of this writing, Congress will be making that decision.

Matt Rothman is the owner of Lighthouse Trading Co., which is the original and leading source specializing in the secondary market of Harbour Lights and retired and limited edition collectibles. He can be contacted at 112 Elio Circle, Limerick, PA 19468/Phone/Fax 610-409-9336 or E-Mail-LHTRADE1@aol.com.

This story appeared in the September 1998 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

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