Crossed the Bar
We are saddened to report on the passing of Donald Ross, president of the Crisp Point Lighthouse Society. Don, along with his late wife, Nellie, founded the group, shortly before the lighthouse, in a remote part of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, was declared the most endangered lighthouse in the United States. They led a miraculous effort that saved the lighthouse from toppling. They worked diligently to build a strong organization that can carry on into the future. Over the years, Lighthouse Digest has done numerous stories about the efforts and restoration work done by the group; most recently in their August 2009 issue. Don was a true lighthouse leader who made many friends. He will be truly missed. The family has requested that memorial donations can be made in Don Ross’ name and sent to the Crisp Point Lighthouse Society, c/o Rick Brockway, 450 W. Marr Road, Howell, Michigan 48855.

Split Rock To Celebrate 100
Plans are now underway for a big birthday bash at Minnesota’s Split Rock Lighthouse, which will be celebrating its 100th birthday in 2010. For more information on its centennial and upcoming events visit http://www.mnhs.org/splitrock.

Finnegan Honored With Great Lakes Award
Kathleen Finnegan, who was one of the cofounders of Lighthouse Depot and is currently the managing editor of Lighthouse Digest, the lighthouse news and history magazine was honored at the 14th Annual Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival with its Founders Award, the highest honor bestowed by the festival. Finnegan, who was at the festival was not expecting the award and was delightfully surprised by the honor. The full story will be in the December issue of Lighthouse Digest. Next year’s 15th Annual Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival will be held in Alpena, Michigan from October 7- 10. It is the largest lighthouse event of its kind and draws thousands of people to the area to climb and tour the region’s lighthouses and view over 100 exhibits set up by lighthouse groups and those selling lighthouse related products.

Maine Life Saving Station To Be Demolished
It’s now official. Town officials in Kittery, Maine have voted to demolish the historic Wood Island Life Saving Station. They claim it would cost $900,000 to restore it and they don’t have the money. Stories about this historic structure have appeared over the years in numerous publications, including, Lighthouse Digest.

Over the years two different lighthouse groups said the station could be saved and vowed to lead the battle. A local group was formed, but what happened to the money they raised is unknown.

As recently as March of this year at the Transfer of Ownership Ceremony of the nearby Whaleback Lighthouse to the American Lighthouse Foundation, in his remarks to the audience, Jon Carter, Kittery Town Manager, said that restoration efforts of the 1908 lifesaving station had run into obstacles, but town officials were still hopeful. Apparently, they were not that hopeful. They now say the station will be demolished by Christmas.

For the past 25 years the Town of Kittery Maine, which owns the historic Life Saving Station, has been talking about saving the station. The Wood Island Life Saving Station was built to replace the Jerry’s Point Life Saving Station, which also no longer stands. Wood Island Life Saving Station was eventually replaced by the Portsmouth Harbor Life Boat Station, which is now the Portsmouth Coast Guard Station. A PDF file report can be viewed on-line at www.kitterypolice.com/woodisland.pdf.

Wood Island Life Saving Station can best be viewed and photographed from the grounds of Fort Foster in Kittery, Maine. But if you want a photograph of it, you better hurry. It won’t be there much longer.

Canada’s De-staffing Put On Hold
The de-staffing of Canada’s British Columbia lighthouses has been put on hold, thanks in part to the protests by local government agencies. However, in the meantime, the Canadian federal government has requested further review of the other duties the lighthouse keepers perform before a final decision will be reached. But for now, the jobs of the last 27 British Columbia lighthouses with lighthouse keepers have been saved.

Reilly and Gowdy Remembered
The late Carole Reilly and the late Jim Gowdy were remembered at the October 25th meeting of the Delaware Bay Lighthouse Keepers and Friends Association. Kim Ruth and Ingrid Gowdy led the remembrance of the two lighthouse leaders. Reilly was the founder of the group and Gowdy was a noted historian and author of a book on the area’s lighthouses. They were both great people and have been missed by many.

Vandals Strike Michigan Lights
Michigan’s Holland Harbor Lighthouse, known affectionately as “Big Red” has been struck by mindless vandals. They used a ladder to break into a second story window, then tipped over displays and smeared red and white paint everywhere. Getting to the lighthouse is no easy task and requires a fairly long walk. Many of the vandals stepped in the paint and left a trail. The sheriff’s office said someone should know who has red and white paint on their shoes.

Also at the South Haven Pierhead Lighthouse, vandals covered the base of the tower with graffiti and were even so bold as to write their names on their work. The lighthouse is one of the most popular lighthouses to be photographed in the winter months as ice from waves, freezes over the structure.

Lighthouse Depot offers a Harbour Lights replica of the South Haven Pier Lighthouse in the winter as Item #42360.

Also, Lighthouse Depot offers a number of items of Holland Harbor’s famous “Big Red” Lighthouse. They included a Christmas print as item #88912, a Harbour Lights “This Little Light of Mine, replica as item #43210, a clip on charm as item #11830 and an Italian charm as item #11914. Additionally, the lighthouse is featured on one of the glasses in the Michigan Old Fashioned glassware set item #39503 and in the High Ball Glassware set #39603.

Logbook Donated
A logbook from Maine’s Burnt Island Lighthouse from the years 1856 to through 1860 that was kept by lighthouse keeper William McKowan has been donated to the lighthouse and is now on display at the light station. McKowan was the keeper at Burnt Island from 1853-1868. The historic log book was donated by McKowan’s great, great grandson Steve Harght. The full story, with historic photos will be in an upcoming issue of Lighthouse Digest.

Squirrel Point Moves Forward
The Citizens for Squirrel Point Lighthouse have a new web site at www.SquirrelPoint.org. The group has been working diligently on the lighthouse site on Maine’s Kennebec River ever since the federal government seized the lighthouse back from another group. In the very near future they expect to have the deed to the property. It’s been a long haul for the group and they are to be commended for their persistence.

Rare Images Discovered
Rare and never before published photographs of the lighthouse keepers of one of Michigan’s most famous lost lighthouses will appear in the December issue of Lighthouse Digest. The story will also include never before published memories of the keeper. Also, recently rediscovered by Lighthouse Digest are photographs of the last days of another Great Lakes lighthouse station that also no longer stands that will soon be published in an upcoming issue of Lighthouse Digest. These stories will not be found or published on the Internet. If you are not yet a subscriber, you can do so on-line at www.LighthouseDigest.net. The magazine also makes a wonderful gift.

Last Depot Dispatch Trivia Winners

1. What was the name of the northern most lighthouse constructed by the United States government?
   
   The correct answer is Point Hope Lighthouse, Alaska. Built by the United States Coast Guard in the 1920s, the structure no longer stands. Congratulations to J. L Williams of Bakersfield, California whose name was randomly selected from amongst the correct answers submitted.
   
   
2. “We have met the enemy and they are ours.” Name the lighthouse location where this famous message was sent from.
   
   The correct answer is West Sister Island, in Lake Erie, Ohio. The famous message was sent by Commodore Oliver H. Perry to General William Henry Harrison after Perry defeated the British in the Naval Battle of Lake Erie in September 1813 during the War of 1812. Congratulations to Nancy Martin of Florida whose name was randomly selected from amongst the correct answers submitted.
   
   
3. Name the New England lighthouse that stands the furthest from the mainland.
   
   The correct answer is Mount Desert Rock Lighthouse in Maine. Congratulations to Jim McLean of Malden, Massachusetts whose name was randomly selected from amongst the correct answers submitted.

Our sincere thanks to everyone who entered the Lighthouse Depot Trivia Contest and we hope you had fun. Prizes for the winners will be shipped out shortly.

This Issue’s Trivia Questions

1. The State of Maine declared this word illegal and required that all public locations in the state, including historic sites, using this word in their name, to change their name. Two United States lighthouses were built that have this word in their name. What are the names of the two lighthouses?
2. What is the name of the lighthouse person who once owned the lighthouse inspector’s flag that is now on display at the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland, Maine?
3. What was the name of the lighthouse that appeared on a United States postage stamp that served almost no useful purpose?

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

Back In The Music Again
When Lighthouse Depot started in business one of the most popular items in our retail store, before the catalog ever came into existence, was a handcrafted, copper colored, metal lighthouse music box. We are pleased to announce that this nostalgic item is back! Now, for the first time ever, it has been featured in the Lighthouse Depot Catalog. Available as item #14620 you might consider one as a gift for yourself or family member or friend.

Lighthouse Socks Now Eco-Friendly
For as many years as we can remember, socks with lighthouses on them have been popular with young and old. A member of our staff once commented that since lighthouse socks were so popular that every woman in America must own one style or another! Now, for the first time ever, we have lighthouse socks that are eco-friendly, or “Green” as many of us call it. They are made from recycled material that is washable, comfortable and will keep your feet warm in the winter months. As well as getting a couple of pairs for yourself; they also make a unique and inexpensive gift for others. They are also great stocking stuffers for Christmas. Two different styles are available as #40192 and #40193.

Lighthouse Christmas Cards Back In Vogue
Sending a lighthouse Christmas card through the mail, the old fashioned way, says something about you to the recipient. It could mean that you appreciate the days gone by of yesteryear or a warm personal touch from you to them. Plus you can write a handwritten note on the card that can then be beautifully displayed on the mantle or hang from the door like it has been done for a hundred years. Let’s face it, a lighthouse Christmas card is so much more personal than an e-mail or text message, plus it can be savored long after the holidays. Lighthouse Depot has a selection of lighthouse Christmas cards for you to choose from as items #32537, #32518, #32459 and #32457.

As Time Goes On
For the past 15 years Lighthouse Depot has continued to lead the way with a quality selection of lighthouse products for your home décor and gift giving needs. We thank you for your support and hope that you will continue your support of our efforts in the months ahead.

Tell Your Friends
Please tell your friends about the Depot Dispatch, each month includes some great and fun lighthouse trivia questions as well as important lighthouse news. Everyone can have fun trying to outsmart each other, plus, you’ll have fun learning about lighthouses and their history.

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

Lighthouse Depot has the largest selection of lighthouse merchandise in the world and we invite you to browse through our web site to view the wide selection of items from home décor, to books, jewelry, clothing and more. Have fun browsing and please remember that Lighthouse Depot is helping to save lighthouses and their history, one gift at a time. Thanks for being a loyal customer and the next time you visit Maine, please be sure to visit our stores on historic U.S. Route One in Wells and at the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland.

Until next time, thanks from all of us at Lighthouse Depot
for your support in helping us to keep alive lighthouse history, one gift at a time. Have a great autumn!

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