About Me

My photo
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.

06 December 2012

Massachusetts - Bakers Island Lighthouse

The Bakers Island Lighthouse is located at Salem Harbor, MA.  -  The original twin-lights station, built in 1798 on the rocky 60-acre Bakers Island, were crude wooden structures attached to either end of the keeper's house. Dampness caused one to rot so much that its light was discontinued in 1817. This sparked ship-masters' complaints that the single beacon created confusion with Boston Light located to the south. In response , the Lighthouse Board reestablished the second light as a stop-gap, while it made plans for two new towers.

The second set of Bakers Island lighthouses were built in 1821 and were white, conical rubble-stone structures. One was built taller than the other, so their lights could shine from different heights for easier identification. The Mariners quickly dubbed them "Mr and Mrs Baker."

The shorter tower was taken down in the late 1800s, and the taller equipped with a stronger beacon. The light was automated in 1972. It shines an alternating white and red light from 111 feet above the water. The station has been leased to the Bakers Island Association, which oversees the entire island. At the time of my visit here in 1997, this was an active light.

Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)