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Depot Dispatch
Ruling gives hope for Squirrel Point Lighthouse
A federal district magistrate judge has ruled that the title of Maine’s Squirrel Point Lighthouse should revert back to federal government ownership. Last year the Citizens for Squirrel Point filed a lawsuit in federal court against Squirrel Point Associates (SPA), claiming that SPA had violated the terms of the covenants in the deed. SPA was accused of making changes to the light station that violated historic rules for preservation and trying to sell the lighthouse for a profit. In most cases the district judge will adopt the magistrate judge’s ruling and a final decision is expected shortly. Informed lighthouse community sources called this a great victory for lighthouse preservationists nationwide that will send a clear message. Look for the full story in a future issue of Lighthouse Digest Magazine.
First Lady of Light, Connie Small dies at 103
Connie Scoville Small, known in lighthouse circles as the "First Lady of Light," died at the age of 103, on January 25, 2005, at the Mark Wentworth Home in Portsmouth, NH.
Connie, who was famous in the lighthouse preservation movement, had given over 550 lectures on lighthouse life and authored the popular book "The Lighthouse Keeper’s Wife." It was former President George Bush, in a speech at the ceremony in Northport, Maine, concluding the Maine Lights Program, who personally gave Connie Small the title of "First Lady of Light."
Born on June 4, 1901 in Lubec, Maine, the daughter of Ira and Mabel (Myers) Scoville, Connie’s father was the keeper and one of the original crew of the Quoddy Head Life Saving Station in Lubec.
Connie will be missed by us all. She was an inspiration to everyone in the lighthouse movement. She was a warm and genuine person who never hesitated to share her memories and stories of lighthouse living from the days of yesteryear. For regular readers of Lighthouse Digest Magazine you will recall seeing Connie Small’s photograph and stories about her many times over the years. If you are a new reader you may read many of those past stories on our web site at www.LighthouseDigest.com.
It wasn’t until she was 85, and then only at the urging of others, that Connie wrote her highly successful book recounting the years at those lighthouses. Although the book is a great history tale of lighthouse life in the early to mid 1900’s, it’s also one of the greatest lighthouse love stories ever told. I recommend the book to anyone, even those with just a slight interest in lighthouses.
In 2001, the American Lighthouse Foundation honored Connie with a big birthday bash for her 100th birthday. Escorted by uniformed Coast Guard personnel and brought to the party in a limousine, Connie said at the time that the gigantic party was one of the highlights of her life. Connie always felt there was never enough emphasis placed on saving the memories and photographs of lighthouse life and devoted most of her talks to that subject. For her many years of dedication to saving lighthouse history, she was awarded the American Lighthouse Foundation’s highest honor, "The Keeper of the Light Award."
In the past ten years, Connie had been interviewed by dozens of reporters and had appeared in a number of film documentaries about lighthouses and lighthouse life. One of her favorite places to visit was the Museum of Lighthouse History in Wells, where she loved to chat with the visitors and autograph her book. Even at her last visit and autograph signing, just months ago, her mind was sharp, her story telling spellbinding and her penmanship was impeccable.
Connie often recounted the story of her first visit with her husband to the Lubec Channel Light, which is a spark plug style lighthouse in Lubec Channel and totally surrounded by water. That first visit was at low tide. Connie took one look at the thirty feet of the black wrought iron ladder going straight up and said her heart went down to her toes. Being afraid of heights she told her husband, "I can never climb up there." He replied, "Sure you can, I’ll be right behind you." He then continued by saying, "Just look up and never look down," which then became the motto of Connie’s life.
Connie Small’s family has requested that donations in her memory be made to the American Lighthouse Foundation, P.O. Box 889, Wells, Maine, 04090. Donations can also be made on line at www.LighthouseFoundation.org or by calling 1-207-646-0245.
Lighthouse Conference to be held
2005 NORTHEAST LIGHTHOUSE CONFERENCE, Newport RI.
April 11-12, 2005
Sponsored by U.S. General Services Administration in partnership with the United States Coast Guard, the National Park Service.
This is an excellent opportunity for the public and lighthouse groups to learn more about the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000, which allows nonprofits and government bodies to acquire ownership of lighthouses that have been excessed by the Coast Guard.
It is similar to recent conferences in Florida and Michigan "So, you want to own a lighthouse."
Not only will you meet other lighthouse people, you will learn the purpose of the law, the responsibilities that come with a lighthouse, standards for preservation, how to write an application, and how to sustain your lighthouse into the future. Although being held in New England, the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum are facilitating the conference because of the previous experience in hosting a conference of this type.
The conference will be held at the Hotel Viking, One Bellevue Ave., Newport, RI. Conference room rates are $94 a night for double occupancy by calling 1-800-556-7126 and asking for St. Augustine group rate or go on line at www.hotelviking.com. Discounted rates are available only through March 11.
FMI or to register for the conference contact Kathy Fleming at 904-829-0745 or e-mail firstlh@aug.com. (optional lighthouse tours are available on April 10 and April 13)
A true lighthouse friend is lost in passing of Dick Melville
Richard (Dick) A. Melville, president of Maine’s Friends of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation has passed away. Dick was a special person; one that was admired, respected and well liked. He was a down-to-earth guy, what many of us refer to as "good people."
When Pemaquid Point Lighthouse was turned over to the American Lighthouse Foundation, (ALF), Dick was the first person to step forward to lead the chapter. He worked diligently in forming the chapter and finding and training dedicated volunteers.
He organized the opening of the lighthouse to the general public on a regular basis, making Pemaquid Point Lighthouse the first land based lighthouse on the coast of Maine to be open to the public at scheduled times.
Dick led the way in the battle for a Maine lighthouse quarter, which eventually happened with Pemaquid Point Lighthouse adorning the Maine State Quarter. He also worked hard in helping to assure that ALF played a leading role in the ceremony that included the Director of the U.S, Mint and the Governor of Maine. If fact when Dick Melville escorted Maine’s Governor Baldacci to the top of the lighthouse, it was the first time that a Maine governor had climbed the steps of Pemaquid Point Light.
As well as serving as president of the Friends group, he served on the Board of Directors of the American Lighthouse Foundation and was president of the Round Top Center for the Arts in Damariscotta, Maine and his leadership also led that group to new heights.
His real love, outside of family and friends, was the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. In fact on the day of his death, he and his wife Angela spent a picture-perfect hour at the lighthouse basking in the warm sun, which is unusual at Pemaquid Point Lighthouse that time of the year. He mentioned to his wife how he wished he could climb the spiral steps that day, but he wasn’t up to it. A few hours later, at 8 PM that night, he passed away.
Plans are underway to place a memorial plaque in the entryway building of the tower at Pemaquid Point Lighthouse in honor of Dick Melville, our friend.
Donations in his memory toward the restoration and preservation of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse can be sent to American Lighthouse Foundation, In Memory of Dick Melville, P.O. Box 889, Wells, Maine 04090
Lighthouseopoly is now available
The long awaited release of Lighthouseopoly is over. With many weeks of winter weather still ahead, this is the perfect time to buy this new board game for those cold, overcast or rainy days when you’re cooped up indoors. The game is played similar to the popular real estate game, but this time you’re playing for lighthouses. The box and playing board are colorful, the game is enticing and you’ll want to play it over and over again. Lighthouseopoly is sure to become a classic. Order one for yourself and several as gifts from Lighthouse Depot as item # 38050.
Previous Depot Dispatch Trivia Question Winner
The question of the last Depot Dispatch Trivia was: "American folklore says I was a keeper at this Great Lakes Lighthouse in 1854 and even an issue of U. S. News & World Report in 2004 said I was a lighthouse keeper. However, the records that prove I was a keeper apparently do not exist. In fact some stories state that I actually ran an observation tower that I charged admission for, which might have led to the stories that I was a lighthouse keeper. Has folklore eventually become fact? I don’t know, but if I was alive today, I would be able to set the record straight. However I would probably talk to you more about my son and how proud I am of his inventions that changed the world. What is my name?"
The answer is: Samuel Edison, Jr., father of Thomas Alva Edison the famous inventor. Some reports indicate he was a lighthouse keeper at Michigan’s Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, but no records have never been found to prove this. Congratulations to Jean Greathouse of Austin, Texas whose name was randomly picked from among the correct answers. We will be mailing her a copy of the beautiful hardcover coffee-table book Lighthouses of Australia.
New lighthouse group forms in Rhode Island
If you live in or near the East Providence area of Rhode Island there is a new group forming that you might want to join. The Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse will be holding a meeting on Feb. 15 at 7PM at the Waddington School Library on Legion Way in Riverside, RI. The public is invited. For more information you can call Don Doucette at 508-226-1185 or Dave Kelleher at 401-433-2763.
Trivia Question
The first issue of Lighthouse Digest Magazine was published in May of 1992. Over the years the magazine has grown from a newspaper style magazine to a full color glossy publication with subscribers in all 50 of the United States as well as Canada and a number of other nations. What lighthouse was the cover story about in that first issue? Send your answer along with your name and address to Dee@LighthouseDigest.com. We will randomly pick one name from among the winning answers for a prize from Lighthouse Depot.
Subscribe to Lighthouse Digest Magazine and get a free gift
The next issue of Lighthouse Digest is packed full of great lighthouse stories, rare, never before published photos, current lighthouse news and so much more. Exciting never before told stories are also being planned for the months ahead, which makes this free gift offer even more exciting. If you renew your subscription now through this special offer, get a new subscription for yourself, or order a gift subscription for someone else we’ll send you a free beautiful Lighthouse Digest coffee mug with each paid subscription. Lighthouse Digest is a full color glossy magazine that is published eleven times per year for only $28.00 or $49.50 for two years. To take advantage of this special offer call with your credit card number to the special subscription hotline phone number of 1-866-643-4227 and mention code LDD25. Call today and get your free coffee mug.
Lighthouse Tours
From Maine, to Florida to the Eastern Great Lakes and Lake Huron, Lighthouse Depot has a wide selection of lighthouse tours to choose from in the months ahead. It’s the perfect way to visit the lighthouses and let someone else do the driving. You’ll make new friends, tour the towers, meet the lighthouse groups and have tons of fun. Plus, the nonprofit American Lighthouse Foundation benefits from all domestic tours. For more information on the tours call 1-800-370-0888 Ext. 1215 or visit: www.LighthouseDepot.com/Tours.
Clearance Central
Be sure to visit the Lighthouse Depot Clearance Central at www.lhdepot.com/clearance.cfm discontinued or overstocked items change on a regular basis.
Free Catalog
Do you know someone who loves lighthouses and is not aware of our catalog? If so, pass our phone number on to them so they can call 1-800-758-1444 for a free catalog. They’ll be thanking you when they receive their first order.
Lighthouse Depot - Dedicated to "Saving lighthouses, one gift at a time." 
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