News of the week September 1, 2023
Fire Island (NY) Lighthouse reopens for tours
For the first time all summer, the Fire Island Lighthouse was open today.
Visitors are able to climb all 182 steps to the top. The tower has reopened for tours.
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A piece of lighthouse history returns to Graves Light in Boston Harbor, MA
Graves Ledge, Boston Harbor – Dave Waller and Bobby Sager are used to taking on daunting projcets. A decade ago, they bid against each other at the government auction for Graves Light, a historic lighthouse that rises from a rocky ledge in Boston Harbor, more than 4 miles out to sea.
Waller won with a $933,888 bid, but the kindered spirits later teamed up to restore the weathered beacon and recently installed a classic Fresnel lens that Waller built piece by piece in his Malden living room over many years.
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Challenging trail through sand dunes has big payoff with Big Sable lighthouse (MI) on Lake Michigan beach
HAMLIN TOWNSHIP, MI – A picturesque lighthouse standing feet from the sandy Lake Michigan shoreline is the big payoff after a challenging hike through sand dunes at this popular Up North state park.
The iconic Big Sable Light at Ludington State Park is accessible only by non-motorized trails (most of the time), some tougher than others.
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Maine lighthouse preservationist, author and publisher Tim Harrison dies
Bangor, Maine (WMTW) – The editor and publisher of Lighthouse Digest, a Maine-based lighthouse news and history magazine, has died due to complicaitons of pneumonia.
Timothy H. Harrison died on August 19 in Bangor at the age of 75.
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Port Clinton (OH) Holds 5th Annual Lighthouse Festival
PORT CLINTON – On Saturday, Port Clinton held its 5th Annual Port Clinton Lighthouse and Maritime Festival. This festival celebrates the rich heritage of the beautifully restored lighthouse in the city.
“The Port Clinton Lighthouse and Maritime Festival originally was called just the Lighthouse Festival,” said Rich Norgard, president of the Port Clinton Lighthouse Conservancy.
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Holland’s first lighthouse keeper now has a graveside marker honoring his service
HOLLAND — Holland’s first lighthouse keeper is now officially recognized with a graveside marker commemorating his service.
An event to celebrate the life and service of Melgert Van Regenmorter was held Friday, Aug. 18, on the century anniversary of his death. Van Regenmorter was appointed as Holland’s first lighthouse keeper in 1870 and held the role for 37 years before retiring.
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Lighthouse switched on in disputed islands off Hokkaido, Japan
NEMURO, Hokkaido–A lighthouse on Kaigarajima island, part of the disputed Northern Territories, has been lit for the first time in about nine years, the Japan Coast Guard confirmed on Aug. 26.
A patrol boat sailing off Cape Nosappu in Nemuro saw a whitish light emanating from the lighthouse after sunset on Aug. 26, although the structure was not clearly visible due to fog at sea, the coast guard said.
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South Fox Island Lighthouse (MI) Volunteers restoring historic structures
Aug. 27—SOUTH FOX ISLAND — After an hour and a half bouncing across more than 26 nautical miles of Lake Michigan’s chop, the landing vessel Bear neared South Fox Island, its two lighthouses visible through the trees.
One, a skeletal steel tower that got its start on the Atlantic coast, had new glass, while the other, a brick two-story building with a light tower attached, was freshly whitewashed.
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Historical Society discusses funding for lighthouse at Tybee Island (GA) council meeting
Tybee Island, GA (WTOC) – A push to preserve and restore one of Tybee Island’s most notable landmarks.
Tybee Island citizens and Historical Society Members met with city officials to discuss funding for the Tybee Island Lighthouse.
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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