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.

08 May 2014

Louisiana - New Canal Lighthouse

The New Canal Lighthouse is located at West End Boulevard and Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans, LA.

The first tower was built near here in 1839. It was octagonal shape and built on wood pilings. Nine oil lamps with reflectors provided the light and its focal plane was only 30-feet above the water.

In 1855 a new square one-story lighthouse was built supported by iron pilings. The lantern room housed a fifth-order Fresnel lens. In 1890 that lighthouse was discontinued and sold.

The above pictured two-story lighthouse, also built on an iron piling foundation, was constructed in 1890 and housed a fifth-order Fresnel lens. Focal plane of the light is 49-feet above sea level. At the time of my visit here in 2000, the lighthouse was also in use by the U.S. Coast Guard as a rescue station. The light was an active light.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

The rebuilt lighthouse ought to stand securely for a good long while. Thanks for the update!

Al said...

Hi Richard;
I agree with your comment. Thanks for your feedback.