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.

11 April 2013

New Jersey - Absecon Lighthouse

The Absecon Lighthouse is located on the south side of Absecon Inlet, Atlantic City, NJ. The lighthouse was built in 1857. It is New Jersey's tallest lighthouse at a height of 171-feet. Its spiral stairway consists of 228 steps to the top. The lighthouse was deactivated in 1933. Then in 1938, the city took over responsibility for the light and it was made operational. Although the light from the first order Fresnel lens shines each night, the light is not considered an active aid to navigation. The lighthouse became the property of the State of NJ. At the time of my visit in 2001, the Lighthouse Keeper's house was undergoing restoration, however, the lighthouse was open to the public.

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2 comments:

Unknown said...

climbing those 228 steps to the top would be a good day's work. I wonder if there's a dumb waiter or something for hoisting supplies to the top?

Thu Apr 11, 09:25:00 PM CDT
Al said...

Hi Richard; Your right. Climbing that many steps is hard work, and it definitely develops the leg muscles. Regarding the dumb waiter, none of the lighthouses I've seen or been in had a dumb waiter. The lighthouse keeper had to carry everything up those steps.

Fri Apr 12, 09:40:00 AM CDT

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