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.

14 January 2016

Peggy's Cove Lighthouse and Post Office



The Peggy's Cove Lighthouse is located at Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada. The first lighthouse built here in 1868 was a large house with a light on top. It was also home for the keeper and his family. During World War II the Royal Canadian Navy also used the house as a radio station.

Construction of the current lighthouse with its octagonal tower and lantern room was completed in 1915. This lighthouse was also manned until 1958 when it became fully automated and continued its red light.

From 1975 to November 2009, the village post office operated on the lower level of the lighthouse during the summer months. Space on that level would accommodate four or five customers at a time. As my picture shows, especially if you enlarge it, there was a line of people waiting to get in at the time of my visit.
   
This Post Office was the only Canadian Post Office located in a lighthouse. The village of Peggy's Cove was given its own "cancellation stamp" which contains a replica of the lighthouse. Below is a picture of the stamp, set for cancelling mail on Sep 24 1993. 
Like other tourist who traveled there in 2001 to view the lighthouse, I also mailed a card to myself from that unique post office/lighthouse. Unfortunately, after passing of time and moving from place to place, I have misplaced or lost the card. In my opinion, a cancelled stamp on mail processed at Peggy's Cove Lighthouse Post Office could be a future collector’s item, if not already.

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