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.

07 April 2016

The Moloka'i (Kalaupapa) Lighthouse, HI

           (Photo Copy Right approved 6 Apr 2016, Kraig Anderson via Lighthouse Friends.)
Construction on the Moloka'i (Kalaupapa) Lighthouse began in Jun 1908. It replaced a temporary light that was positioned on top of a thirty-four-foot mast at the peninsula point. That light was fixed with a red lens-lantern but was only in service for one year beginning in Mar 1906.

The Kalaupapa Lighthouse sets on twenty-two-acres of the Kalaupapa Peninsula, Hawaii. Building was completed in 1909 and its second-order Fresnel lens first lit on 1 Sep 1909. The white flash of light was provided by an incandescent-oil-vapor lamp which shined 213-feet above the water. The tower is 132-feet high and is the tallest lighthouse in HI. It is also the only other eight-sided lighthouse in the United States. (The other eight-sided tower is Cape Meares in OR. Reference Blog post 31 Mar 16.)  The stairs leading up to the fourth landing, inclusive, are constructed of concrete and from there on up to the lantern room the staircase is made of cast-iron. A total of 189 steps.

Unlike construction workers building other lighthouses in the U.S., all workers on this lighthouse were required to obtain permits from the Board of Health to enter or leave the area. This requirement was because the Kalaupapa Peninsula was also home to those banished there after having been diagnosed with leprosy. The banishment law began in 1865.
 
The Kalaupapa Lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

After Jan 1985, the second-order Fresnel lens was removed and replaced by a rotating beacon.

This is one of many beautiful and unique lighthouses in Hawaii that I have not been privileged to visit. 








2 comments:

Sam said...

I was stationed on the U.S.Coast Guard ship Kukui, WAK 186, and in August 1966 anchored of Kalaupapa point to send in our 50 feet LCMs to pickup the lighthouse keeper and check the automated lighthouse. Many of the crew (myself included) were allowed to visit the lighthouse , village and residences. A great experience that I will always remember as a 19 year serviceman.

Al said...

Hi, Sam;
Thank you for sharing your very interesting comment. I'm glad my post of the Kalaupapa Lighthouse brought back a good memory for you.

Al Bates