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.

14 December 2017

A Beautiful Landmark Preserving Local History



Fourteen miles southeast of Beaufort, SC stands the beautiful Hunting Island Lighthouse. The first lighthouse on this island was built in 1859 at a height of 95-feet, but short lived. By 1862 the lighthouse was reported to have fallen into the sea. However, conflicting stories make it unclear whether it was destroyed by erosion, or actually blown up by the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

In 1875 a new tower was constructed of interchangeable cast-iron sections so it could be taken apart if necessary. Due to the aggressive high tides and erosion the tower did have to be disassembled in 1889 and reassembled at its current site, one and a quarter miles from where the original tower was located. This lighthouse was built on an eight-foot thick concrete foundation. Distance from the ground to the top of the tower is 140-feet, and there are 181-steps to reach the top. The tower itself is 121-feet high and its walls are lined with brick. A second-order Fresnel lens was used until its retirement in 1933. Although an inactive light, this lighthouse is a beautiful landmark preserving local history.


The lighthouse is part of the Hunting Island State Park and is open daily to the public for viewing and climbing the stairs. The red brick in the foreground of my picture outlines the foundation where the one and a half story, twelve room, keeper's dwelling was located prior to being destroyed by fire.

1 comment:

Al said...

Hi, Anonymous. Thanks for the heads up about possible browser problems. I'll look into it.

Al