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.

13 September 2012

Massachusetts - Sandy Neck Lighthouse

The Sandy Neck Lighthouse is located at Barnstable, MA on the west side of the entrance to Barnstable Harbor. The original light built in 1827 was a brick dwelling with a square wooden light tower on the roof, and was named Barnstable Light. However, due to defective construction and materials, the government decided in 1857 it was necessary to tear down the existing building and start over. This time a thirty-four foot brick tower with a separate wood-frame keeper's house was built, and the station's name was changed to Sandy Neck. In 1887 it was reported that the tower was "badly cracked and being strengthened with two iron hoops and six (vertical) staves". These essential reinforcements were still in place at the time of my visit in 2001. By the 1930's, the wandering Sandy Neck dune had left the aging tower well away from the ocean. With marine traffic on the wane, officials decided to turn off the light, close the station, and relocate the beacon atop a skeletal tower further east. After 1950, the lantern room was removed and the property auctioned off. At the time of my visit the property was privately owned by Fred Lang - Yankee Network's WNAC Radio Station. It is believed, at that time, he was the only radio personality to own a lighthouse.

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