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.

06 April 2017

Survived Earthquake Tremors For Over A Century


The original Point Arena Lighthouse, built here in 1870, was constructed of masonry. Atop its 100 foot tower the lantern contained a first order Fresnel lens. This location is just west of the San Andreas Fault in CA, which subjected the lighthouse to multiple earthquakes over the years. It survived the earlier earthquakes, but collapsed during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. 

The replacement tower, pictured above, was completed in 1908 and constructed of reinforced concrete. This was the first time this “new material” was used to build a lighthouse. The supporting buttresses at the base of the tower have helped the lighthouse survive earthquake tremors for over a century. As part of the reconstruction, the height of the tower was increased from 100 to 115 feet. Instead of rebuilding the original multi-level keeper’s dwelling, which housed the keeper and his three assistants plus their families, lighthouse officials agreed to build four separate cottages for the keepers and their families.

During World War II, several military actions were witnessed from this lighthouse. One example is when the U.S. Navy defeated three Japanese destroyers on 12 Aug 1945, two days before the end of the war.

The U.S. Coast Guard automated the lighthouse in 1977 and installed a beacon. The Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers Association, CA, originally leased the property from the Coast Guard but since have been awarded ownership. The association opened the lighthouse to the public for year-round visits. I visited the lighthouse in 1999 and, to my knowledge, the keepers association continues to maintain a museum on site and provides teachers/instructors for the tours. The association also rents the aforementioned keepers dwellings to overnight visitors.

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