Episode 141 –The Elizabeth Islands are a chain of small islands that extend about 16 miles to the southwest from the southern coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. There are seven major islands in the chain. Naushon Island is the largest at 7.4 square miles. Tavern owner Zaccheus Lumbert erected an early navigational light in the island’s harbor, Tarpaulin Cove, in 1759. In 1817, the federal government established a light station at Tarpaulin Cove. The lighthouse tower at Tarpaulin Cove is now maintained by the Cuttyhunk Historical Society. Also discussed in this episode is the lost lighthouse of Cuttyhunk, which was established in 1823. Paul Elias is a longtime summer resident and a trustee of Naushon Island. He’s the “point person” for Tarpaulin Cove Lighthouse.
Episode 142 – Gerald Butler, a third-generation lighthouse keeper on both sides of his family, joined the Commissioners of Irish Lights in 1969. He spent most of his light-keeping career as an assistant keeper on Bull Rock, Fastnet Rock, the Old Head of Kinsale, and Mizen Head lighthouses. During his 21 years of service he also served on 17 other lighthouses. Gerald was co-author, with Patricia Ahern, of the book The Lightkeeper: A Memoir, which was published in 2012. This is part one of a three-part interview.
Episode 143 –This is part two of a three-part interview with the Irish lighthouse keeper and author Gerald Butler. In part two of the interview, much of the focus is on the iconic Fastnet Lighthouse, especially the story of what happened in 1979 when Gerald was a keeper there during one of the worst disasters in the history of yacht racing.
Episode 144 – Debbie Mueller is an award-winning oil painter whose light-filled, bold, and contemporary paintings have rapidly gained prominence in the community of New England artists. In November 2021, Debbie’s solo show “Beacon” at the Kennedy Gallery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, featured original oil paintings of more than 20 different New England lighthouses. Also in this episode is part 3 of a three-part interview with Irish lighthouse keeper Gerald Butler. In part three of the interview Gerald talks about the lighthouses where he worked in the last part of his career, about a commemoration of the Fastnet disaster that was discussed in part two of the interview, and about his post-lighthouse-keeping career.
Episode 145 –Ron Kolek is the founder and lead investigator of the New England Ghost Project. His exploits have been documented in many newspaper, television, radio, and magazine articles. Ron is the host of the popular Ghost Chronicles Radio series. He’s conducted paranormal investigations at several lighthouses, including Goat Island and Wood Island in Maine, Portsmouth Harbor in New Hampshire, Rose Island in Rhode Island, Borden Flats in Massachusetts, and New London Ledge in Connecticut. Light Hearted host Jeremy D’Entremont has taken part in most of these investigations, and all of them are discussed in this interview.
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Jeremy D’Entremont is the author of more than 20 books and hundreds of articles on lighthouses and maritime history. He is the president and historian for the American Lighthouse Foundation and founder of Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses, and he has lectured and narrated cruises throughout the Northeast and in other regions. He is also the producer and host of the U.S. Lighthouse Society podcast, “Light Hearted.” He can be emailed at Jeremy@uslhs.org