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.

31 July 2014

California Beauty - East Brother Lighthouse

The East Brother Lighthouse is located on East Brother Island, offshore of San Francisco, CA. The lighthouse was built in 1874 to mark safe passage for mariners and their ships through the straits that separate San Francisco and San Pablo Bays. The lantern room was originally fitted with a fourth-order Fresnel lens. That lens was replaced by a fixed fifth-order Fresnel lens after1922 when the lighthouse was electrified.

The U.S. Coast Guard took over operation of the lighthouse in 1939 and automated the light in 1969. After the lighthouse was automated, it received less attention and several years later it needed extensive repair. The Coast Guard decided to shut down the lighthouse, but reversed their decision in 1971 when the lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. A non-profit group, East Brother Light Station, Inc.was formed in 1979. They began leasing the property and eventually restored the lighthouse.

At the time of my visit here in 1999, the aforementioned non-profit group maintained this historic site, and the light station was open to the public. The keeper's dwelling served as a bed-and-breakfast inn.

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