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.

04 June 2015

A Virginia Beauty - Old Point Comfort Lighthouse

Located on Fort Monroe, VA, the Old Point Comfort Lighthouse overlooks Hampton Roads Harbor and the Chesapeake Bay. Built in 1802 of sandstone, the octagonal shaped tower stands 54-feet high. Its spiral staircase is made of hand-cut stone. Originally, several oil lanterns provided the light which could be seen for approximately 14-miles. Years later, the oil lanterns were replaced with a fourth-order Fresnel lens. This lighthouse is the oldest standing structure on Fort Monroe.

The tower was used as a lookout by British invasion forces while they attacked Washington during the War of 1812.

The adjacent house was the light-keepers quarters. It was built in 1891 to replace the original keeper's dwelling. After the lighthouse was automated in 1975, keepers were no longer needed and they discontinued occupation of the house. It became property of the Army.

At the time of my visit here in 2000, the lighthouse was still an active navigational aid and remained property of the U.S. Coast Guard.

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