About Me

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After retirement, for two summers I worked as a tour guide at the Umpqua River Lighthouse in Oregon. This opportunity enabled me to learn more about that lighthouse than any of the others I've seen. Although I have personally visited and photographed over 300 lighthouses in the United States and three Provinces in Canada, the Umpqua River Lighthouse has special meaning for me. That Lighthouse inspired me to write two fictional books with the characters working, living, and enduring the challenges of lighthouse keeping. All pictures posted in this blog were taken by myself, unless noted otherwise.

Book Info.

I hope you will find time to enjoy my books. Preview the book covers below at the right side of page.

Book #1: "The Wickie and the Umpqua Lighthouse." Detail: "The Wickie and the Umpqua Lighthouse" is an 1860's story about the lighthouse keepers and their families at the Umpqua River Lighthouse. It will stir your emotions and warm your heart. Discover the challenges they met but never expected, and their determination to maintain navigational aid to mariners on the Oregon coast. (Wickie is a nickname used by the early lighthouse keepers at the Umpqua River Lighthouse in OR.)

Book #2: "Spirit of The Lighthouse" is a sequel to The Wickie. Detail: Jesse Fayette, assistant keeper at the Umpqua River Lighthouse, finds himself alone to operate and maintain an Oregon lighthouse after the accidental death of his head keeper. After notifying the Lighthouse Board and requesting help, he is surprised but must deal with an acquaintance, Red Saunders, who believes the lighthouse is haunted.

Book #3: "Unexpected Moments" has a different theme than those of Book #1 and #2. Detail: Dan and Megan, as well as their old friends Jim and Anna, experience unexpected moments of hardships and tragedies in Arizona and California. Will they survive these unexpected moments and find any hope for their futures?

All of my books are available on Amazon.

09 August 2012

Maine - Marshall Point Lighthouse

The Marshall Point Lighthouse is located at Port Clyde, ME. The light stands at the southern tip of the Port Clyde peninsula and marks the east side of the entrance to Port Clyde Harbor. The station was established in 1832, following the construction of a nineteen foot rubble tower and an attached keeper's dwelling. However, in 1857 the original lighthouse, due to using the wrong kind of mortar to hold the field-stones in place, had to be taken down before it collapsed. Its replacement was this thirty-one feet, slightly taller, cylindrical structure located at the water's edge. The base of the tower was made of granite blocks, and the upper half made of brick. (This is more visible if you enlarge the picture by clicking on it). The tower was then connected to the shore via a wooden walkway supported by granite footings. At the time of my visit in 1997, the fixed white light shined from twenty-nine-and-a-half feet above the sea

The Marshall Point light station was automated in 1971, then nine years later the old keeper's quarters were boarded up and abandoned. However, in 1987 the St George Historical Society assumed responsibility for overseeing the building's restoration, and in 1990 the group opened the lower portion as the Marshall Point Lighthouse Museum.

4 comments:

Judy Watters said...

Maine must have a ton of Lighthouses. Each one is so unique. Thanks Al

Al said...

Thanks Judy for your comment. I don't remember the number of lighthouses in Maine. I did not get to see all of them, but did see fifteen of them during my travels.

Anonymous said...

I always like all the extra info. you give on these lighthouses. Love the history and your personal tidbits.

Al said...

Thank you Anonymous for your comment. It pleases me to know that you are enjoying my pictures and narratives of the lighthouses I've seen.