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Lighthouse News of the Week

News of the week February 23, 2023

Lighthouse Point Park New Haven, CT

While many people associate New Haven with being a happening downtown area, there’s more than just the city to explore. While downtown New Haven is great to visit, there’s also a beautiful lighthouse you can visit! Lighthouse Point Park along Long Island Sound is a must visit if you’re in New Haven!

Five Mile Point, CT – USLHS archives

Lighthouse Point Park is home to Five Mile Point Lighthouse. This 82-acre park offers many outdoor recreational activities, such as fishing, hiking, swimming in the beach area, and picnicking with family and friends.

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Heceta Head (OR) Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint

Looking for something to do along the Oregon Coast? Take a trip to Heceta Head Lighthouse! This stunning lighthouse near Florence, Oregon is one of the most photographed lighthouses on the coast of Oregon.

Heceta Head Lighthouse, OR – James Hill

Heceta Head Lighthouse was built between 1892 and 1893. It stands on Heceta Head, which is a 1000 foot bluff on the Oregon Coast a couple miles north of Florence. The lighthouse itself sits on a section of the bluff that is 205 feet above the ocean.

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Old Lighthouse Museum marks 50th year in Michigan City, IN

Harriet Colfax tended the Michigan City lighthouse for more than forty years, manning the harbor beacon to keep ships safely away from the treacherous shore.

Michigan City Old, IN – Michigan City Historical Society

She braved the cold, ice and wind off Lake Michigan while serving as the lighthouse keeper in the second half of the 19th century. Gales, storms and brutal winters did not stop her from venturing out to light her beacons with lard oil and later kerosene.

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Historic White Shoal (MI) lighthouse may host summer camp for teens to learn the trades

EMMET COUNTY, MICH. — A historic off-shore lighthouse near the Mackinac Bridge may host a one-of-a-kind summer camp next year aimed at introducing high schoolers to the trades.

White Shoal, MI – Thomas A Tag

Organizers from the White Shoal Lighthouse Preservation Society recently announced they have plans in the works to launch a pilot summer camp trades program for high-school aged students in 2024. The goal is to host a week-long program teaching teens about career opportunities in the trades while on location at the remote White Shoal Lighthouse, a rare Great Lakes crib light that sits 20 miles west of the Mackinac Bridge.

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AND

Tallest lighthouse (White Shoal) on Great Lakes to offer overnight stays this summer

EMMET COUNTY, MICH. — White Shoal Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse on the Great Lakes, will be welcoming overnight guests for multi-day stays beginning later this year.

White Shoal, MI – Chad Kaiser

Organizers from White Shoal Lighthouse Preservation Society said bookings for the candy-striped lighthouse’s overnight adventures will open March 1 for a short season, running mid-July through mid-August for lighthouse volunteers and mid-August through mid-September for the general public.

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Nonprofit manager wanted for Presque Isle North Pierhead (PA) Lighthouse

A nonprofit manager is wanted to maintain the Erie Harbor North Pier Lighthouse. 

Presque Isle North Pierhead, PA – Ralph Eshelman

The U.S. General Services Administration announced Thursday it is looking for a new steward for the Erie Lighthouse to manage and maintain it.

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How the weather forecast from Blacksod lighthouse (IRE) saved the D-Day invasion

On June 3, 1944, Irish Coast Guardsman and Blacksod Lighthouse keeper Ted Sweeney and his wife Maureen delivered a weather forecast by telephone from Co Mayo’s most westerly point. 

Blacksod Point, IRE – USLHS archives

The report convinced General Dwight D Eisenhower to delay the D-Day invasion for 24 hours, potentially averting a military disaster and changing the course of World War II.

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Lease setback strikes PI lighthouse entrepreneur

A Bahamian entrepreneur battling to restore Paradise Island’s lighthouse yesterday suffered a setback in his fight with the Government and Royal Caribbean after the Supreme Court found he does not possess a valid Crown Land lease.

Nassau Bahamas- USLHS Archives

#Sir Ian Winder, the chief justice, ruled that “regrettably” there was no binding lease agreement between Toby Smith’s Paradise Island Lighthouse and Beach Club and the minister then-responsible for Crown Lands (ex-prime minister, Dr Hubert Minnis) because the latter did not execute the necessary paperwork by applying his signature.

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Helicopter lands on The Needles Lighthouse (UK) off Isle of Wight

A helicopter has been pictured on top of The Needles Lighthouse on the Isle of Wight.

Needles Point, UK – USLHS archives

The image was captured by Dave, one of the watch keepers at Needles Coastwatch Station.

Click here to read more & see the photo

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Take a peek at Lake Erie from new webcam at Marblehead (OH) Lighthouse

Shores & Islands Ohio, the destination marketing organization for Ottawa and Erie counties, has launched its eighth webcam, featuring amazing Lake Erie views online from the Marblehead Lighthouse at the east end of the Marblehead Peninsula.

Marblehead, OH – Thomas A Tag

The all-new Marblehead Lighthouse cam is live now, with views of the lighthouse and pointing northeast towards Lake Erie, perfect for capturing the sunrise each morning. The webcam page viewable at SHORESandISLANDS.com, is the most popular page on the site, visited over 640,000 times in 2022.

Click here to read more

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Barcelona (NY) Lighthouse eyes restoration project

WESTFIELD — One of the most beautiful scenes along the Lake Erie shoreline in Chautauqua County could soon see its historic structure revitalized. 

Barcelona, NY – Dave Zapatka

A restoration project of the Barcelona Lighthouse in Westfield’s Barcelona Harbor through the New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Department is in the design and preliminary fundraising phase.

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Tower of Hercules, Spain: See The Oldest Standing Lighthouse In The World Built By The Romans

The Romans have been remembered through the ages as excellent engineers, and some of their constructions still stand (and are even in use) today. Examples include theaters and amphitheaters (like the one in Carthage that is still used for traditional performances), Roman bridges (like the longest-standing Roman bridge in Merida, Spain), and the lighthouse – the ancient Tower of Hercules in Spain.

Tower of Hercules, Spain – Alessio Damato wikimediacommons

The Tower of Hercules is one of only a very few Roman lighthouses still standing. Another Roman lighthouse can be seen at Dover Castle in England, where the old lighthouse was transformed into a church bell tower. The Lighthouse of Alexandria was an ancient Greek (or Ptolemy Egyptian) lighthouse and, like most lighthouses of ancient times, it has long since crumped (although people can see some ruins today).

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Rose Island Lighthouse (RI) & Fort Hamilton Trust announce new artist residency program

A new 5-night artist residency on Rose Island is now open for application. 

Rose Island, RI – Dave Zapatka

The Rose Island Lighthouse & Fort Hamilton Trust–a 501c3 nonprofit organization that works to preserve the historical and environmental integrity of Rose Island and maintain and operate the lighthouse for public access–is offering the opportunity for Rhode Island-based artists to stay on the island in early September to work on their art. Up to 5 artists may be selected for participation.

Click here to read more

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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

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