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.

30 July 2015

A Wisconsin Beauty - Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Lighthouse

The Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Lighthouse stands in the center of a working Coast Guard station. It is located on the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, Sturgeon Bay, WI. The lantern room houses a third-order Fresnel lens from which its light is visible for 18-miles. Although the lighthouse was built in 1898, it did not become operational until 1899 due to instability and vibration problems with the 102-foot tall tower. For the next few years, different types of supports were tried, but it wasn't until 1903 when the current skeletal steel framework was installed did the tower become study. Originally, the tower was painted a brownish red color, but in 1900 it was painted white.

This lighthouse was active at the time of my visit here in 1998. Condition of the tower and nearby buildings reflected that Coast Guard personnel took great pride in maintaining these assets.  During my travels to visit the many different lighthouses around the country, red roofs, like those shown above, were typical of most Coast Guard buildings.

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