About Me

My photo
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.

02 August 2012

Maine - Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

The Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse is located in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, ME. The cylindrical brick lighthouse has been an aid to mariners since 1858. Its oscillating red light shines from fifty-six feet above the southeast side of the entrance to Bass Harbor. The lighthouse tower is attached to a one-and-a-half-story wood framed keeper's house by a covered walkway. A bell tower was added in 1876, but has since been removed. The keepers house was built in 1902 and remains, though blocked from quality view by the pine trees. The original fifth-order Fresnel lens was replaced in 1902 by a fourth-order Fresnel lens which has remained in the tower. In 1974 the Bass Harbor light station was unmanned due to automation.

At the time of my visit in 1997, the keeper's house was the residence for the Coast Guard Commander, Southwest Harbor, and was not open to the public. However, paths lead down to boulders adjacent to the light station, and a walkway took me to the front of the lighthouse to enable me to get this picture. The station grounds were open daily, at that time, from 9AM to sunset all year long.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)