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Chunks of Bodie Island Lighthouse fall off
Hardly a week goes by that we don’t receive letters from people asking why Bodie Island Lighthouse is on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List of Endangered Lighthouses. Yet, as often as we write about it and with all the information available on the web, many people over the years have thought we were exaggerating the condition of the historic structure on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Well, it finally happened. Two large chunks of cast iron broke off the balcony at the top of the lighthouse and crashed to the ground. Fortunately, no one was underneath them as they fell. Slated for restoration in 2007, the fence around the base of the lighthouse has now been expanded to keep people from getting too close to possible falling debris. In the past, visitors have been allowed in the oil house to get a peek inside the lighthouse, however the oil house has now been closed to the public.
Open house at Hillsboro
Saturday, October 23 is the next Hillsboro Lighthouse Tour for Hillsboro Light, Florida. The event will begin and end at the Pompano City Parking Lot just north of Atlantic Blvd. on North Riverside Dr. Come to the parking lot any time between 8:45 AM and 3:00 PM to pay your parking fee (estimate two hours), check in, receive a wrist band and ride the chartered bus to the lighthouse. FMI call 954-942-2102.
Flying Santa 75th Anniversary Dinner
November 13 will be the date of the 75th Anniversary Dinner of the Flying Santa of the Lighthouses. The dinner will be held at the United States Coast Guard Base in Boston. The evening will include guest speakers, a presentation on the history of the Flying Santa, a large variety of raffle prizes and the unveiling of a memorial plaque dedicated to the founder of the Flying Santa tradition, Capt. Bill Wincapaw. Tickets are $30.00 each and there will be free parking at the Coast Guard base.
Looking for Barbara Gaspar
We recently came across an article that was printed in April 1986 in something called "What Cheer News" written by Barbara M. Gaspar. The article describes her life on Block Island where her father Howard B. Beebe was a lighthouse keeper for thirty years. The story was fascinating. We'd like to locate Barbara in hopes that she might have some more memories and photographs that she could share with us in a future story in Lighthouse Digest. If any of our readers can help, please email editor@LighthouseDigest.com.
Whitfield Lighthouse exhibit is open till year-end
In June of 2002 the Bicentennial Beacon: Faulkner's Island Lighthouse exhibit opened at the Henry Whitfield Museum at 248 Old Whitfield Street in Guilford, CT. Shortly thereafter, due to state budget cuts, the museum closed and was closed for most of 2003. It is now open again and the impressive lighthouse exhibit can again be viewed Wednesdays through Sundays from 10AM to 4:30PM. But, don't wait too long; the exhibit will close forever on December 12. FMI call 203-453-2457.
USCGC needs Help - You can own part of it
The United States Coast Guard Cutter Taney, the last surviving warship from the attack on Pearl Harbor, served our country for fifty years. Throughout those years one of the Taney's most outstanding features was the beautiful wooden decking. However, time and wear have taken their toll. The wood has deteriorated beyond repair and must be replaced. To help raise money for the restoration project you can now own an authentic piece of the Taney's deck, beautifully mounted, individually numbered with an engraved brass plaque that comes with a certificate of authenticity. As well as one for yourself, this would make a great gift. Cost of the mounted block is $100.00 to the Baltimore Maritime Museum, 802 South Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21231 or FMI call 410-396-3453.
Oak Island to get new owner
North Carolina’s Oak Island Lighthouse will be transferred from Coast Guard ownership to the Town of Caswell Beach on Monday, October 18. The ceremony will take place at 10AM at the Oak Island Coast Guard Station in Caswell Beach, NC.
125th Anniversary at Hooper Strait
The public is invited to the 125h anniversary of the Hooper Strait Lighthouse at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum at Navy Point in St. Michaels, Maryland on Saturday Oct. 16. The celebration begins at 1PM with a cake cutting ceremony, guided tours of the lighthouse, craft activities for children, memorabilia for sale and book and author autograph signings. For more information call 410-745-2916 or visit their web site at www.cbmm.org.
Conimicut Light Transferred
Rhode Island’s Conimicut Lighthouse was transferred from federal government ownership to the City of Warwick, Rhode Island this past Sept. 29th.
Delaware Lighthouse Dinner
The 10th annual Delaware Bay Lighthouse Keepers & Friends Association Reunion Dinner will be held Oct. 31 at J.G. Cook’s Riverview Inn, 60 Main Street, Pennsville, NJ from 12 noon to 5pm. The Riverview Inn is located along the banks of the Delaware River, just south of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Cost for dinner tickets is $25 per person and $12 for children 12 and under. For reservations call Darlene at 609-884-1329.
Flag flies again
The American flag is again flying at Maine’s Wood Island Lighthouse for the first time since the Coast Guard abandoned the lighthouse in 1986. Supporters watched with a lump in their throats as former Wood Island Lighthouse keeper Cliff Trebilcock raised the flag at the historic lighthouse located on an island off Biddeford Pool, Maine. The American Lighthouse Foundation and its chapter, The Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse are in the process of raising $400,000 to restore the historic light station and open it to the public. The Friends group recently completed construction of a $45,000, specially built, boat to transport people and supplies to and from the island. To help the American Lighthouse Foundation in its efforts to save our nation’s lighthouses, donations can be sent to the American Lighthouse Foundation, P.O. Box 889, Wells, ME 04090.
Last month’s trivia answer
Last month’s question was, "I was a former U.S. Revenue Service Cutter. In 1840, I was transferred to the U.S. Lighthouse Establishment and I became the first official lighthouse tender vessel. What was my name?" The correct answer is the Rush. The Rush was one of the 13 cutters of the Morris-Taney Class. These cutters were the backbone of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service for more than a decade. They were designed for roles as diverse as fighting pirates and privateers, combating smugglers and operating as a naval force. The Rush’s official name was the Richard Rush, named after Secretary of the Treasury at the time of her launching. On March 30, 1840, the vessel was transferred to the Lighthouse Establishment, giving the vessel the distinction of being the first lighthouse tender. Official records state her name as being the USLHT Richard Rush, but she was more commonly known simply as Rush. Congratulations to Jeff Wallen of Tigard, Oregon, whose name was randomly picked from among the correct answers as the winner. We have sent Jeff one our favorite books, "A Lighthouse Keeper’s Wife" by Connie Small.
This month’s two-part trivia question
In the early 1900’s I was taken away from my twin and moved to another location. I was moved again in the late 1900’s. What is my current name and what was my former name? Send your answer to Dee@LHDigest.com. We will randomly pick one name from the winning answers to receive a special prize from Lighthouse Depot.
Lighthouse Digest adds pages
The October issue of Lighthouse Digest Magazine has an additional 16 pages added to it with some great stories you won’t want to miss. If you are not yet a subscriber, call now to 1-866-643-4227 and ask to have your subscription or a gift subscription start with the October issue and you’ll also receive a free copy of American Lighthouses, A Historic Pictorial Journey. Be sure to mention Promotional Code DD10 to start your subscription or gift subscription with the October issue. Promotional code DD10 ends Oct. 25 and cannot be combined with any other promotions.
Don’t delay with holiday cards
Before you know it the holiday season will be upon us and it will be time to mail those holiday cards and the best place to obtain lighthouse holiday cards is from Lighthouse Depot, which has a wide selection available this year. My personal favorites this year are the Nubble Light cards #32029 and the Chicago Harbor Light with the skyline of the windy city #32030. Others include Assateague Light, VA #32031, West Quoddy, ME #32021, Pemaquid Point Light, ME #32213 and the assorted box #32211. Lighthouse Holiday Cards are a great way to show your love of lighthouses while showing friends and loved ones you are thinking of them at this wonderful time of the year.
"Step into my world . . . . "
One of the neatest new items offered by Lighthouse Depot for the holiday season is the Kinkade Beacon of Hope Santa #28711. This Victorian style resin figure of Old St. Nick shows the jolly old feller holding a lighthouse in one hand while showing off the inside of his jacket with a beautiful Kinkade work of art. Not only will this make a wonderful decorative item for your home, it makes a wonderful holiday gift.
Christmas stocking
If you’ve been thinking about replacing those old holiday stockings or adding a new one, this is the year to do it with Thomas Kinkade’s Beacon of Hope Christmas Stocking #28705. You might also consider filling some up with goodies to take as a gift for those holiday visits with friends and family.
The Lighthouse of al-lkhwan
Someone recently sent us a copy of an article with the above title written and photographed by Eric Hanaver. We have no idea what magazine the story was published in or the year that it was published. However, it’s a great story about the keeper and this lighthouse located on an island in the Red Sea and should be told to the lighthouse community. We’d love to be able to contact the author and get copies of the photos and publish his story in Lighthouse Digest Magazine. If any of our readers are detectives and can find out how we can contact Eric Hanaver we’d appreciate hearing from you by writing to editor@LighthouseDigest.com.
Visit us
October is a great time of the year to visit Maine and Lighthouse Depot. The colors are beautiful and it’s a slower, more relaxed time of the year. Or if you’re planning a Thanksgiving or Christmas visit to Maine, remember Lighthouse Depot’s retail store is open every day and our friendly staff is ready to serve you with the largest selection of lighthouse items under one roof than anywhere in the world.
Don’t forget to visit www.lighthousedepotclearance.com where you will find a changing selection of close outs and discontinued items.
Lighthouse Depot, helping to save lighthouses, one gift at a time. 
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