Most Unusual Lighthouse Replica Approved
The Vote is in – Michigan’s Petoskey City Council has voted 4 to 1 in favor of the proposal by the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keeper’s Association (GLLKA) to erect a replica of the old 1912-1924 Petoskey Breakwater Lighthouse in Quarry Park in Petoskey, Michigan. The lighthouse was one of a series of "Pagoda" style lighthouses that once stood on the Great Lakes. For more information please refer to the September, 2009 and the July, 2010 issues of Lighthouse Digest. GLLKA plans to now start raising funds for the project.

Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival Close at Hand
If you live in the Great Lakes region of the United States you are invited to attend the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival to be held October 8 -10 in Alpena, Michigan. Most of Michigan’s northeastern coast lighthouses will be open for tower climbs and there will be well over 30 lighthouse groups with displays at the Thunder Bay Recreation Center in Alpena as well as many vendors selling lighthouse items, autograph signings, music, raffles, boat rides and tours to area museums and lots of great food. One of the noted authors to be on hand to autograph his books will be Tim Harrison, editor of Lighthouse Digest. Terry Pepper, Executive Director of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keeper’s Association will give two separate presentations that are sure to enlighten everyone. It’s a fun time you will not want to miss. Your attendance will help numerous lighthouse preservation and educational causes.

Mississippi River Lamp Lighters
The stories and memories of many of those who served as Lamp Lighters along the Mississippi River seem to have forgotten by many and Lighthouse Digest would like to tell the stories of this forgotten slice of lighthouse history. They are looking for any old recorded memories, old newspaper stories and photographs of the people who maintained these beacons. One such person is "Aunt" Molly Snow who maintained the Greenport River Beacon. If anyone can help please e-mail or by mail to P.O. Box 250, East Machias, ME 04630.

New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge
Lighthouse Challenge New Jersey will take place October 16 & 17. This year’s event will include 12 lighthouses, two museums and one life saving station. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. You can begin your Challenge at any lighthouse where you can obtain your tri-fold souvenir pamphlet for $1 that will be stamped at each lighthouse you visit. A Lighthouse Challenge is one of the most fun ways to visit a lighthouse and meet other people interested in lighthouses. FMI go to www.capemaymac.org, call 609-884-5404 or e-mail Margo Harvey at

Bill Younger to Make Rare Personal Appearance
Bill Younger, founder of Harbour Lights will make a rare personal appearance at Lighthouse Depot in Wells Maine on October 9 from 11 am to 2 pm to autograph replicas of the famous line of lighthouse replica collectibles. Until his retirement (or semi-retirement) Bill traveled all over the country signing replicas and meeting with lighthouse groups or collectors. Because time and age have curtailed most of his personal appearances, this is an opportunity that you will not want to miss. This is a great time to meet Bill in person and even get your photograph taken with him. However, you do not need to be present to have Mr. Younger autograph a Harbour Lights replica. You can call Lighthouse Depot now at 1-800-758-1444 and order your replicas and ask to have Bill autograph them while he is at Lighthouse Depot and they will be shipped to you after the event.

Coin Toss Determines Owner of a Maine Lighthouse
Ram Island Ledge Lighthouse, which can be seen in the waters by everyone visiting Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, has been sold by the government through an on-line auction. However, as the bidding war kept driving the price up, two of the most active bidders met and flipped a coin to determine which one of them would drop out of the bidding and which one would continue. The final price for the lighthouse was $190,000 by Dr. Jeffrey E. Florman. For a time, the lighthouse was licensed to the American Lighthouse Foundation, which, as well as any other qualified nonprofit, could have obtained the lighthouse for free under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. Dramatic photos of Ram Island Ledge Lighthouse and the keepers who served at the lighthouse can be found in the September print edition of Lighthouse Digest magazine.

Pagoda Lighthouse Approved
The City Council in Petoskey, Michigan has approved plans by the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keeper's Association (GLLKA) to build a replica of the long lost Petoskey Breakwater Lighthouse, which is also referred to as the Petoskey Pier Lighthouse. The lighthouse, destroyed in 1924 was one of a few of the "Pagoda" style lighthouses built on the Great Lakes and the only one of this design to have once stood in Michigan. GLLKA will now begin the process of raising money to build the replica.

Last Issue's Trivia Winners

1. The late Ken Black, known as "Mr. Lighthouse" founded the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland. At what lighthouse did he create his first lighthouse exhibit? The correct answer is Boston Lighthouse in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. Congratulations to Shirley Turner of Sutherlin, Oregon whose name was randomly selected from among the correct answers submitted.
   
   
2. What print publication has published more photographs of lighthouse keepers than any other publication in the world? The correct answer is Lighthouse Digest magazine. Congratulations to Jennifer Rennie of Dalton, Massachusetts whose name was randomly selected from among the correct answers submitted.
   
   
3. At 4' 9" tall this man was the shortest lighthouse keeper in U. S. history. What was his name? The correct answer is Charles Hinkley who served at the Bishop & Clerks Lighthouse in Massachusetts. Congratulations to Dennis Mattison of Marion, New York whose name was randomly selected from among the correct answers submitted.

Congratulations to our winners! We wish to thank everyone who entered the trivia contest. The winners’ prizes will be mailed to them within the next few days. Our trivia contest can be fun for anyone interested in lighthouses and history. Please pass the word around and encourage others to sign up for the Depot Dispatch.

This Issue's Trivia Questions

1. This Connecticut Lighthouse keeper claimed he had seen mermaids frolicking in the waters off the lighthouse that he served at from 1880 to 1921. In fact, he claimed that he almost caught one of them and as she slipped away from him he was able to grab her oyster shell hairbrush. Until his dying day, he never waivered from his story, always claiming it was true. What was this keeper’s name and what lighthouse did he serve at?
2. What is the real name of the lighthouse also known as Millers Island Lighthouse?
3. At what United States lighthouse was a bell first used as a fog signal device?

Send your answers to one, two, or all three of the trivia questions listed above to: . One name from each of 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; correct answers without a mailing address will not be accepted, and 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!

New Holiday Harbour Lights
The 2010 Harbour Lights Christmas replica is of Michigan’s Sturgeon Point Lighthouse. Last year’s Harbour Lights Christmas replica sold out in the fall, so if you don’t want to be disappointed, you may want to order the 2010 replica now for shipment by early October. It is available from Lighthouse Depot as Item #42726.

This Old Chair
Okay, we took the words from the song This Old House, but, if you have some chairs that could use a little splash of décor our Beacon Braided Chair Pad may just be perfect for you. Why not check it out? It is available from Lighthouse Depot as Item # 30426.

What Happened to 2010?
Yes, unfortunately, 2010 is more than half over and 2011 is just around the corner, and before you know it you’ll need a new calendar. Lighthouse Depot has a large selection of calendars and one or more of them could be just what you’re looking for. Although we have lighthouse calendars representing every region here’s a few suggestions for you: The New Jersey Lighthouse hanging calendar #13165 and the New England Lighthouses hanging calendar #13129. As long as we’ve been in business, the Maine Lighthouse Linen Towel Calendar has been one of most popular items. It is available as Item # 740393. If it’s a desk calendar you’re looking for one of our most popular is the Alan Claude Desk calendar is # 13282. Also, don’t forget, calendars make wonderful gifts.

Clearance Central
Don’t forget to visit the Lighthouse Depot Clearance Central for a wide variety of ever-changing items that have been discontinued or nearly sold out and reduced for quick sale. One such item is the Folk Art Lighthouse Christmas Stocking # 28478 that features an artist rendition of Michigan's candy cane striped White Shoals Lighthouse.

Fall Colors in Peaceful Maine
Never mind all that summertime traffic. Maine is a beautiful state to visit in the autumn, especially with our beautiful colors. While here, be sure to visit us on historic U. S. Rt. 1 in Wells and at the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland. We hope to see you soon.

Lighthouse Depot is dedicated to helping save lighthouses, one gift at a time.