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Lighthouse that housed pigs gets its dignity back
The Borden Wharf Lighthouse in Canning, Nova Scotia has a bright future once again. Discontinued in the 1930's, it was scheduled for demolition until a local farmer obtained ownership of it. He moved it to his farm and for the next 21 years it housed pigs and was later used as a tool shed. Now sporting a new lantern room it is again on display, this time as a tourist attraction. It is the oldest standing lighthouse in Kings County, Nova Scotia.
New York Marathon - run for lighthouses needs your help
Rod Beaulieu, co-chair of the Friends of Perkins Island Lighthouse, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation, will be running in this year's New York Marathon to raise money for Maine's Perkins Island Lighthouse. Rod has run and finished in the New York Marathon for the past nine years. He and his wife Jane have pledged $5.00 per mile to Perkins Island Light for the 26.2-mile run. His best time up until now has been 5 hours and 14 minutes. Rod has never claimed to be fast, just persistent. As an incentive to keep Rod in training, Jane has stated they will double their pledge to $10.00 per mile if he finishes the race is less than 5 hours. If you would like to make a pledge per mile contact Rod at perkinslight@hotmail.com or FMI go to www.LighthouseFoundation.org and click on Friends of Perkins Island Lighthouse.
Mr. Lighthouse Recovering
Ken Black, 81, founder and curator of the Shore Village Museum in Rockland, Maine has been seriously ill as a result of injuries believed to have been caused by a fall that knocked him unconscious. Emergency surgery was performed in a Portland Maine hospital where he has been for the past three weeks. It is hoped that he will soon make a full recovery. He is now on his way to a rehab hospital and hopefully home soon after that. Ken Black is known in many lighthouse circles as "Mr. Lighthouse." His museum, which is in the process of changing its name to Maine's Lighthouse Museum, has the largest collection of lighthouse lenses and lighthouse equipment on display in a museum anywhere in the United States. Ken, who is Honorary Chairman of the American Lighthouse Foundation, recently received a lifetime achievement award from the United States Coast Guard for his efforts in saving lighthouse history and artifacts. For many years, his Shore Village Museum quarterly newsletter was the only publication of any type about lighthouses. He stopped doing it about a little over a year ago, but people still refer to it as a quality source of lighthouse information and news. Get well cards can be sent to Ken Black, 174 Sennebec Rd, Union, ME 04862.
Currituck Negotiations
Officials of North Carolina's nonprofit Currituck Lighthouse and the nearby Whaleback Club may merge together as one park if a meeting goes as planned. Whaleback Trust Chairman Ralph Webster who would like to see the officials of Currituck County and the Outer Banks Conservationists, who own the lighthouse, to bury the hatchet and start fresh, called for the closed-door meeting. The proposed plan would direct visitors to one entrance with vehicles parking in-between the Whalehead Club and the lighthouse. The county, which lost the battle for ownership of the lighthouse, has been trying to close down the lighthouse unless it provides more parking and other concessions.
Point Wilson endangered
Washington state's Point Wilson Lighthouse is in danger of being destroyed because of an eroding shoreline. Although attempts have been made over the years to stop the erosion it is obvious that it is a losing battle. Storms have taken out the fencing around the light and thrown rocks and debris on the sidewalk. Either the lighthouse has to be moved or something dramatic needs to be done to stop the erosion. It has been estimated that it will cost $1.3 million to move the lighthouse. The lighthouse is being declared excess property by the Coast Guard, which would create a major expense to the state of Washington, the probable new owners.
Tour with Friends of Flying Santa
The Friends of the Flying Santa of the lighthouses will be having a 3-Day lighthouse bus tour in Connecticut Oct 15-17. FMI visit www.flyingsanta.org or call 781-438-4587.
City acquires old lighthouse land
The city of Muskegon, Michigan recently acquired the land that the Muskegon lighthouse once stood on. The lighthouse, built in 1870 was moved to a new location in 1930. It was just recently discovered that the federal government still owned the land. The government gave the land to the city and local volunteer residents will maintain it as a public park.
Matagorda restored
Texas's oldest lighthouse has received a new lease on life now that a $1.2 million restoration project is complete. With the flick of switch the Matagorda Lighthouse on Matagorda Island, Texas was relit in ceremonies that turned over the restored lighthouse to officials of Calhoun County who will now be responsible for its upkeep. Houston oilman Dewey Stringer who raised much of the money through private donations led the restoration effort.
New Canadian lighthouse coin
Canada's Sambro Island Lighthouse, which guards the mouth of Halifax Harbor has become the second Canadian lighthouse to appear on Canadian money. In 1992 Canada's Peggy's Cove Lighthouse appeared on a commemorative quarter. The new legal tender $20 coin, produced by the Royal Canadian Mint, will actually sell to collectors for $69.95. The Royal Canadian Mint has also announced that it will release two more lighthouse coins in the near future, but has not yet decided what other lighthouses will be featured. The new coin can be ordered on line at www.mint.ca/en/catalogue/products/623244.htm
New lighthouse coin from China
The Peoples Bank of China has issued a new commemorative lighthouse coin featuring the O-Luan Pi Lighthouse F:4602. If you would like a mint coin send $8.00 in U. S. cash to: Shi You Ren 111-17-301, Gui Lin West Street, Shanghai 200233, Peoples Republic of China.
Group takes over lighthouse
The Cape Decision Lighthouse Society is now the official owner of Alaska's Cape Decision Lighthouse. The lighthouse along with 215 acres of land was transferred from government ownership to the non-profit group.
Last month's Trivia Question
"I handed over command of our nation's lighthouses to Russell Waesche. What was my name?" The answer is, H. D. King, the last Commissioner of The United States Lighthouse Service. In July of 1939 when the U. S. Lighthouse Service was dissolved he turned control of the nations lighthouses over to Admiral Russell Waesche, Commandant of the United States Coast Guard. Congratulations to Carl Trowbridge of Portland, Oregon whose name was randomly selected from the winning entries. As his prize, we have sent Carl the beautiful oversized hard cover book, Lighthouses of Australia.
Lighthouse transfer information wanted
In the process of updating out data base we are trying to list and record all United States lighthouses that have been Congressionally transferred to a nonprofit or local community. We are not interested in those that have been transferred under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act, only those transferred by an act of Congress by a simple deed transfer. If you have information to help us compile the list please email editor@lighthousedigest.com
Life Saving Stations in danger
Once one of the oldest active life-saving stations in North Carolina, the fate of the Oregon Inlet Life Saving Station has been in limbo for a number of years. The property has now been given to North Carolina Aquarium. However, the closing of a nearby bridge may halt the saving of the old station. If the access road were closed, the life saving station would be useless to the Aquarium, which wants to use the facility as a research center. If you know of other life saving stations around the United States that are in danger of being lost, please e-mail editor@lighthousedigest.com
New Harbour Lights replica to be introduced at festival
Harbour Lights will introduce a replica of the Alpena, Michigan Lighthouse at this year's Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival to be held in Alpena, Michigan. The festival, which attracts over 20,000 people to this small Michigan community, is by far the largest lighthouse festival in the United States. Bill and Nancy Younger, cofounders of Harbour Lights will be at the festival to autograph the replicas. This year's festival, to be held October 7-10 will also have 15 schools participating in its Next Generation of Lightkeepers program.
Fresh look at Portland
One of Maine's most popular tourist attractions, Portland Head Light, recently has received a fresh coast of paint on its keeper's house, which now houses the museum. The main road into the park was also recently repaved for the first time since 1975.
Manitou gets new owners
Michigan's Manitou island Lighthouse now has a new owner. Under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000, ownership of the lighthouse was transferred to the Keweenaw Land Trust.
Portsmouth Lightship opened to public
After two years of restoration the Lightship Portsmouth in Portsmouth, VA is again open to the public for tours. The lightship built in 1915 served for 48 years off the coasts of Virginia, Delaware and Massachusetts. The lightship is open from 10 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturdays and 1 pm to 5 pm on Sundays through Labor Day. The lightship is not handicap accessible however there is a video and display of the lightship nearby in the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum. The $3 admission includes both museums. The museum is also looking for volunteers to help staff the museum. For more information contact Nancy Perry at 757-393-8718 or visit their website at www.portsnavalmuseums.com.
What happened to lost lighthouse film?
In the mid to late 1970's the Northern New England Marine Education Project, which was a joint project of the Maine College of Education and Maine-New Hampshire Sea Grant, produced a lighthouse educational booklet for the 8th grade level about Maine lighthouses. Also produced at that time was a series of 70 slides with typed words, a filmstrip called lighthouses of Maine and a recorded film interview with Roscoe Fletcher a retired Maine lighthouse keeper who served at Maine lighthouses at Petit Manan and Matinicus Rock Lighthouses in the 1930's and 1940's. Numerous copies were made for distribution to schools and held at the Instructional Systems Center, Shibles Hall, University of Maine in Orono, Maine 04469. All copies seem to have disappeared. We are trying to locate copies of any of this material which seems to have disappeared and are looking for a few good "detectives" to locate this material which would be vital to reproduce and save for future generations. Can you help us solve the mystery and locate copies of the films? If anyone can help please email Timh@LHDigest.com.
Volunteers wanted
The American Lighthouse Foundation's, Museum of Lighthouse History is looking for volunteers to work in the museum. Duties include greeting people, making sure the films are being played and handling sales of ALF logo merchandise. If you live in New England and would like to volunteer contact Kathleen Finnegan at 207-646-0245.
Hog Island Light declared excess
The United States Coast Guard has declared Rhode Island's Hog Island Lighthouse excess property. Located offshore in the East Passage of Narragansett Bay in Portsmouth, Rhode Island the 1902 conical cast iron tower is being made available by GSA to a qualifying applicant under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. Any eligible entity with an interest in acquiring the lighthouse should download the official notice and fact sheet from www.cr.nps.gov/maritime/nhlpa/nhlpa.htm.
Ontario to host International Lighthouse Conference
The next International Lighthouse Conference to be held in Bruce County, Ontario Canada is now in the planning works. The scheduled dates at May 4-7, 2006. The conference will take place at the Bruce County Museum & Archives in Southampton, Ontario. The organizers are looking for help with ideas and suggestions from those who have planned or attended other similar events in the past. For more information or to offer suggestions contact Bruce Coast Lighthouse Partners, 33 Victoria St. N., P. O. Box 180, Southampton, ON N0H 2LO, Canada or visit www.naturalretreat.com/lighthouses.
This month's trivia question
I am the oldest working lighthouse in North America. What is my name?
Send your answer along with your name and mailing address as well as your e-mail address to Dee@LHDigest.com. We will randomly pick one name from among the correct winning answers for a great prize from Lighthouse Depot.
Planning a trip this summer and fall to visit lighthouses?
If so, we would suggest several books that are great resources for directions to the various lighthouses. Detailed descriptive information on each book is on our web site by clicking on the item # to be linked to the full description or to purchase the book.
America's Atlantic Coast Lighthouses #31868
American Lighthouses-A Definitive Guide #91234
A Travelers Guide to 116 Michigan Lighthouses #31540
A Travelers Guide to 100 Eastern Great Lakes Lighthouses #31541
A Travelers Guide to 116 Western Great Lakes Lighthouses #31677
Visit Lighthouse Depot
We hope your travel plans this year will include a visit to Lighthouse Depot in Wells, Maine. This year the retail store on U. S. Rt. 1 in Wells, Maine has an amazing selection of hundreds of new items that are not in our catalog. They are coming in so fast most are not on our web site. If fact many items are of limited production and may be sold out before we have a chance to list them on our ever-expanding web site at www.lhdepot.com which has the largest collection of lighthouse items in the world.
New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge
This year's New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge will take place Oct. 16 & 17. On those two days all eleven lighthouses in New Jersey will be open to the public for tours. Each participating lighthouse will have its own souvenir to commemorate your visit. You must visit each site to collect them all. Once you have visited each lighthouse and shown your completed set you will receive a special ‘11 Points of Light Club' card. Commemorative T-shirts will also be available at selected lighthouse locations. For more info go to www.cheslights.org
Hudson River brochure
There is a new brochure available called Follow the Hudson River Lighthouse Trail. Although they are available free at various locations including the Museum of Lighthouse History in Wells, Maine, if you would like one sent to you, please send $1.00 to cover postage and handling to: American Lighthouse Foundation, P.O. Box 889, Wells, Maine 04090.
Lighthouse Dinner Cruise
The American Lighthouse Foundation is having an early evening dinner cruise in Portland Harbor Maine on Saturday, Sept. 11 to celebrate the nonprofit's 10th anniversary. Tickets are $75.00 per person and can be ordered by calling 207-646-0245 or on their web site at www.LighthouseFoundation.org.
Lighthouse Depot Clearance Central
Be sure to visit the Lighthouse Depot Clearance Central at www.lhdepot.com/clearance.cfm for great deals on many discontinued items. This part of our web site changes frequently as items are sold out and other products are included, so, be sure to check back on a regular basis.
We welcome your ideas and suggestions on just about anything lighthouse related and we'd love to hear from you. Please feel free to email Timh@lhdigest.com.
Lighthouse Depot, Saving lighthouses one gift at a time. 
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