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.

01 May 2014

Louisiana - West Rigolets Lighthouse

The West Rigolets Lighthouse was located on Lake Pontchartrain, LA at the time of my visit here in 2000. The lighthouse, built on pilings, is a square building that held the lantern centered on it's hipped roof. The light had an elevation of only 30-feet above the lake but was visible for 10-miles. The station was raised six feet in 1917 and placed on ferrous-cement columns. This lighthouse was shut down in 1945 and abandoned . At the time of my visit, it was in bad physical condition. Being endangered, officials planned to relocate the lighthouse to Madisonville, LA. I have no knowledge if that occurred.

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2 comments:

Judy Watters said...

So sad when a lighthouse goes out of business. It's a part of our history gone forever.

Thu May 01, 06:26:00 PM CDT
Al said...

Judy, you are so right. I never thought when I started my blog, that it would be a small part in helping to preserve some of the history of our lighthouses.

Fri May 02, 08:26:00 AM CDT

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