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.

28 February 2013

Connecticut - Lynde Point Lighthouse

The Lynde Point Lighthouse is located on the west side of the mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, CT. The first lighthouse here was a 35-foot octagonal wooden tower built in 1803. Due to decay, the tower was replaced in 1839 by this 65-foot octagonal brownstone tower. The walls are five feet thick at the base. Although it was later painted white, the original red from the stone was visible in some places due to paint peeling. You will notice there are no windows showing on this side of the tower. All windows were built on the side of the tower facing the water. In 1852, a fourth-order Fresnel lens was installed to replace the ten lamps previously used to provide light. In 1890 the fourth-order lens was replaced by a fifth-order lens, and then in 1975 it was automated. Although the light was automated, the lighthouse was still manned to prevent vandalism. At the time of my visit here in 2001, this was an active lighthouse still providing aid to navigation.

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