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.

16 April 2015

An Oregon Beauty - Umpqua River Lighthouse

The Umpqua River Lighthouse, located near Winchester Bay, OR is the second lighthouse of the same name to be built at this river. The first structure, built in 1857 on the north spit of the river, was the first lighthouse built on the Oregon coast. It fell into the river in 1861 after sand eroded from under the foundation. (Enjoy reading more about the Umpqua River Lighthouse and the challenges of the light keepers and their families in my book, The Wickie.)

This current lighthouse, built in 1894, continues to operate with its original first-order Fresnel lens at the top of the 65-foot tower. Note the white cover surrounding the lens in the lantern room. Read my book and learn about the cover. The lighthouse overlooks sand dunes and the mouth of Umpqua River from an elevation of 165-feet above the water on the south side of the bay. The picture below shows this landscape.

The light in the Umpqua River Lighthouse is maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard, while the lighthouse, a museum, and gift shop are maintained by Douglas County.

The Heceta Head Lighthouse, which I posted last week, is considered to be a sister lighthouse of the Umpqua River Lighthouse because they, for the most part, are of identical design.



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