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 March 2017

Unique Style of Lighthouse


Hog Island Shoal Lighthouse is located in Narragansett Bay, west of the entrance to Mount Hope Bay near Portsmouth, RI. This spark-plug style lighthouse was built in 1901 to replace an 1886 wooden lightship. Constructed of cast-iron, the lighthouse stands 60-feet above the water line. 

This lighthouse consists of five levels plus the lantern room which housed a fourth-order Fresnel lens.  The lower four levels were utilized by the keepers for work space, galley, and living quarters. The watch room, located just below the lantern room, occupied the fifth level. In 1964, the light was automated. The lighthouse was declared excess in 2006 by GSA, and sold as surplus to a private individual.


2 comments:

Jigger said...

It would be so cool to own a lighthouse. Or just rent one for a winter storm!!

Al said...

Hi Jigger;
Glad you like lighthouses, too, and they inspire you enough you'd like to own one. Thanks for your comment.

Al