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 December 2011

Wisconsin - Pilot Island Lighthouse

The Pilot Island Lighthouse is located north of Gills Rock, WI. The first light station in this strait was actually built in 1848 on Plum Island, 2 miles to the west, and was later re-built on Pilot Island. A two story cream city brick residence was built with a 37 ft tower. Undersized with the light it was relocated here to Pilot Island circa 1873 and the height of the original tower was increased to 46 ft.
Fog envelopes Pilot Island for dozens of days during the shipping season and the fog signal at this lighthouse was the loudest on the Great Lakes. It could be heard for more than 12 miles. The roar of the fog horn was so terrible, the eggs laid by the keeper's chickens would not hatch.
Power for this lighthouse in the middle 1950's was provided by a group of batteries powered by twin generators. Propane fueled a stove and refrigerator at times. An item of relative luxury, a television was also available.
At the time of my visit in 2002, hundreds of birds could be seen on the island as well as their feces on top of the lighthouse. The feces smell radiated through the air as our boat approached the lighthouse. Our captain advised everyone we would not stop at the lighthouse, and no one objected to his announcement.
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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Al,

I thought I might want to visit this lighthouse. But, after reading your ample description, I am glad you went ahead of me and saved me this trip.

God bless

Wayne

Fri Dec 09, 02:12:00 PM CST

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