News of the week August 12, 2022
Coast Guard seeks information on Wisconsin lighthouse vandalism
SUPERIOR — The Wisconsin Point lighthouse was vandalized and its light extinguished Tuesday, Aug. 9, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The vandalism not only damaged a landmark, but also put mariners, who depend on the lighthouse for safe navigation, in danger. The privately-owned 70-foot-tall structure houses the Superior entry’s south light.
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The Morris Island Lighthouse: A rare look inside an endangered South Carolina icon
Just before the Revolutionary War, the South’s first lighthouse was completed. Known as the “Charleston Light,” it stood 42 feet tall and burned whale oil to help guide vessels into the Charleston Harbor.
There is debate on if there was a third lighthouse or not. But in 1838, the Charleston Light was reconstructed with a revolving light at 102 feet tall. It was destroyed during the Civil War. Finally, a third structure was built in 1876, which we know today as the Morris Island Lighthouse. It has 203 cast-iron steps to the top and is 161 feet tall.
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North Wildwood NJ, Atlantic City shine a light on National Lighthouse Day
NORTH WILDWOOD — It was a chance to shine a light on South Jersey history.
About two dozen people gathered at the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse on Sunday to celebrate National Lighthouse Day. The audience listened to a presentation about the inlet and lighthouse along with speeches from state and federal guests of honor.
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Port Hope MI to host Heritage Festival during national lighthouse week
The Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse in Port Hope is hosting its 18th annual Heritage Festival on Saturday, Aug. 6th.
This lighthouse is ranked among the 10 oldest lighthouses in Michigan, being constructed from stone taken off the shore of Lake Huron in 1848. Every year during U.S. National Lighthouse-Lightship Weekend, a celebration is held to celebrate the heritage of the lighthouse.
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Explore the Coast of Massachusetts on the Commonwealth’s New Lighthouse Trail
The Massachusetts Lighthouse Trail Highlights Nearly Two Dozen Lighthouses, Plus Nautical Attractions
“Massachusetts is home to the first lighthouse site in the United States, and now home to over 45 lighthouses,” said Keiko Matsudo Orrall, executive director for the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. “Both locals and visitors are sure to be enchanted by these breathtaking beacons as they journey along our scenic coast and islands. From Cape Ann to Cape Cod, our Lighthouse Trail encourages travelers to explore coastal communities and the maritime history of the Bay State.”
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Cana Island, WI Lighthouse Tower Reopens Aug. 12
One of Door County’s most revered destinations will reopen to the public Friday, Aug. 12. The Door County Maritime Museum announced that the Phase 4 restoration work at Cana Island Lighthouse is nearly complete and the lighthouse tower and keeper’s quarters will be back open to the public on Friday, Aug. 12 at 10 am.
“This is the culmination of years and years of planning and fundraising and restoration and preservation work that will maintain Cana Island and guest access to people for generations to come,” said Sam Perlman, DCMM Development Manager.
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Buffalo Lighthouse Association awarded a Preserve New York Grant
The Buffalo Lighthouse Association has been awarded a $14,000 Preserve New York grant to fund the Historic Structures Report for the fog signal building at the 1903 South Buffalo Light Station. This is welcome news for the preservation team that has been fighting to restore the light station/fog signal building, which will one day be a unique destination for boaters, as the grounds can only be access by water at this point.
To get a better understanding of the site, and its preservation and restoration needs, I took a tour of the Light Station a couple years back (see here). The funding for this new study will, in essence, create a roadmap that will make it easier to understand the preservation process moving forward.
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Frankfort North Breakwater MI, lighthouse to get LED update
FRANKFORT — A lightbulb went off for the U.S. Coast Guard AIDS to Navigation when they visited the Point Betsie Lighthouse.
In February 2022, the U.S. Coast Guard upgraded the bulb from an acrylic light system to an LED bulb, according to Point Betsie Lighthouse Executive Director Casey Ottinger.
Less than six miles away, the Frankfort North Breakwater Lighthouse is expecting their own light updates from the USCG soon, according to Frankfort City Superintendent Joshua Mills.
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Create Your Own Seascape Work Of Art At Stonington CT Lighthouse Museum
STONINGTON BOROUGH, CT — Together the Stonington Historical Society and the Mystic Museum of Art are excited to offer a free, intergenerational family program at the Lighthouse Museum in Stonington on Saturday, Aug. 20 and Sunday, Aug. 21. Drop in any time between 10 a.m. and noon.
This site-specific free program will take place outside the Lighthouse Museum in Stonington at 7 Water Street. Children of all ages and their families are welcome, though children must be accompanied by a family member or adult for the program.
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Lighthouse restorations keep Cape Vincent NY tourism beacon shining
CAPE VINCENT — Not unlike a fog horn across the lake, the drone of construction work echoing from the base of the Tibbetts Point Lighthouse draws visitors to inquire about access to the top.
“We’ll get knocks on the door and just have to turn people away,” said Cale S. Churchill, owner of Churchill & Son Contracting.
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Lighthouse Keeping Was One Of The First U.S. Government Jobs Available To Women In The 19th Century.
Observed annually on August 7th, National Lighthouse Day honors the beacon of light that for hundreds of years symbolized safety and security for ships and boats at sea. At one time, the beacon of light could be found across almost all of America’s shorelines.
A lighthouse is described as a tower, building or any other type of structure that is designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways.
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U.S. Lighthouse Society News is produced by the U.S. Lighthouse Society to support lighthouse preservation, history, education and research.
If you have items of interest to the lighthouse community and its supporters, please email them to Jeremy D’Entremont at Jeremy@uslhs.org