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.

25 January 2018

Mysterious Looking, Yet Beautiful



Approximately 1 mile south of Winchester Bay, OR, the Umpqua River Lighthouse sets on a hill about 1000 yards from the Pacific Ocean.  In 2004 and 2005, I was privileged to work as a tour guide at this lighthouse. During that time, I experienced many foggy mornings but never took pictures. A few years ago, I returned to the lighthouse with my oldest son and was fortunate to get another look at the lighthouse in an early morning fog. There’s something mysterious, yet beautiful, about this lighthouse in the fog and surrounding pine trees. I’m pleased to share my picture and personal experience.


The nearby buildings are housing for Coast Guard personnel. Their duty station is located at the shoreline in the nearby city of Winchester Bay.

11 January 2018

The Need Changed and Now She Sleeps



At Harding Beach, Chatham, MA sets the remains of the original Stage Harbor Lighthouse, built in 1880. Although inactive now and without a lantern room, this lighthouse is a landmark to local history, to lives saved, and to the history of navigation. 

At the elbow of Cape Cod and the north side of Nantucket Sound, is one of the foggier places on the East Coast. In the 19th century, its fishing fleet and scores of other coasting vessels seeking shelter from contrary winds and bad weather, routinely sought refuge in Stage Harbor. To decrease the danger for mariners navigating into the harbor, the Lighthouse Board had this 48-foot, cast-iron lighthouse and attached clapboard keeper’s house built at the east end of Harding Beach, alongside the narrow channel.


In June 1933, the Stage Harbor Lighthouse was taken out of service after a new beacon was placed atop a white skeletal tower, located 308 feet south of the old lighthouse. (Skeletal tower is visible at right side of my picture.) The need for this original lighthouse changed and now she sleeps.

The government eventually declared the light station surplus property and sold it to the Hoyt's, a local family. The tower and house are private property.