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.

02 November 2012

Massachusetts - Duxbury Pier Lighthouse

The Duxbury Pier Lighthouse, known to the locals at Plymouth, MA as the "Bug Light," was built in 1871. The white conical cast-iron tower stands atop a brown colored concrete-filled caisson and guards the north side of the main channel into Plymouth Harbor. The lantern room was originally equipped with a fourth order Fresnel lens. The tower is unusually shaped compared to most other caisson-style structures.  They have straight-sides, or cylindrical foundations, while this one slopes.

In 1964 the Coast Guard automated the light, and then over the next 20 years the station saw little upkeep and fell into disrepair. It was further defaced and damaged by vandals. Residents learned in the 1980's that the government was ready to remove the upper portion of the 47-foot tower and install a fiberglass spire and solar-powered optic, similar to the one at Deer Island in Boston Harbor. Local Bug Light Preservationist soon raised $20,000 to refurbish and repaint the existing structure, while the Coast Guard carried out restoration of the foundations pier. US Coast Guard workers completed further maintenance in 1996. Great efforts and expense were expended over the years to keep this Bug Light maintained and operational. This was an active lighthouse at the time of my visit here in 2001. I took this picture from shore using a 500mm lens.

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