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.

20 July 2012

Maine - Goat Island Lighthouse

The Goat Island Lighthouse is located at Cape Porpoise, ME. Originally it was called Cape Porpoise Harbor Lighthouse for the place of shelter it oversees. The cylindrical lighthouse stands at the South end of Goat Island, on the East side of the entrance to Cape Porpoise Harbor. The original tower was built of split stone in 1835 and stood twenty feet high. It was replaced in 1859 by the present one made of brick, painted white, and slightly larger.

Goat Island was the last Maine light station to have an active Coast Guard keeper. Former Boatswain's Mate "Brad Culp" gave up the post in the summer of 1990. During his tour of duty, Culp received occasional visits by U. S. president George Bush, at the time, who enjoyed vacation retreats to his family home at nearby Walker's Point. Secret Service agents attached to the president used the former keeper's house as a security post, coming and going via helicopter.

In 1992, the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust leased the light station and maintain it for educational purposes, at the time of my visit in 1997. Fog made it challenging to take this photo.
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