Monthly Archives: July 2011

Travel-Discover Delaware Bay . . . USA

http://www.shorenewstoday.com/snt/news/index.php/cape-may/cape-may-gazette/13899-a-day-of-discovery-on-the-delaware-bay.html 

A day of discovery on the Delaware Bay (See more TRAVEL links in the right sidebar –>)

On Chesapeake Bay

CAPE MAY- Experience a day of discovery and adventure on the Delaware Bay.

The Cape May Whale Watcher has been completely refitted and is ready to set sail for another Delaware Bay Lighthouse Adventure, co-sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) and the Cape May Whale Watcher, on Saturday, July 30 at 10 a.m.

Board the Cape May Whale Watcher and view historic 19th Century and early 20th Century lighthouses that aided ships sailing the treacherous mid-channel of Delaware Bay. Most of these lighthouses are still in operation today, but many of them stand on pedestals surrounded by water and are not visible from land.

Spend the day sailing past nine mostly “water access only” Delaware Bay lighthouses including the following: Cape May Lighthouse, Brandywine Shoal Lighthouse, Inner Breakwater, Outer Breakwater, Fourteen Foot Bank Lighthouse, Cross Ledge Lighthouse, Miah Maull Shoal Lighthouse, Elbow of Cross Ledge Lighthouse and Ship John Shoal Lighthouse. The cruise also includes narration on Delaware Bay lore and legend, and information on fishing and spawning grounds and the chance to see marine life like dolphins and whales.

Admission is $99 and includes a complimentary breakfast of danish, donuts, bagels, toast, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and juice, as well as a complimentary lunch, which consists of a classic cold menu including cheese, veggie and fruit trays and sandwiches. A cash bar is available. Seating is limited to 175 passengers.

The Cape May Whale Watcher is more than 110 feet in length, 23 feet wide, equipped with two decks, new seating, an air conditioned and heated cabin, new restrooms, new snack bar, and an all new sound system. The Delaware Bay Lighthouse Adventures are approximately six or seven-hour voyages on the Delaware Bay. The Cape May Whale Watcher departs from the Miss Chris Marina, Second Avenue and Wilson Drive. If a cruise is not sold out in advance, the remaining tickets will be sold at the dock 30 minutes before departure. Free parking is available at the marina.

Additional Delaware Bay Lighthouse Adventures are offered on Aug. 27, Sept. 24 and Oct. 14 (as part of the Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey Weekend). For more information or to purchase tickets, call 884-5404 or (800) 275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lighthouse History – 09 (1893-01-21 to 1897-07-06)

The following extracts taken from early Victoria, British Columbia (BC) newspapers are credited to Leona Taylor for her excellent work in indexing the papers. Full information can be found here: “Index of Historical Victoria Newspapers“, 2007-09.

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“Jan 24, 1893, 1 – I will not be responsible for any debts contracted by my wife, Adeline Victoria Grive, or any other person, without my written order. Joseph T Grive, Comox, Grantham Post Office. Walter H Piercy, Yellow Rock (Chrome Island – ed.) lighthouse keeper, died at Courtenay, TB. Leaves wife, 4 children. [Colonist, 1893-01-21*]”

“Dominion Government Steamer Quadra, Captain Walbran, leaves for the West Coast on lighthouse duty this week. Steamer Mischief leaves for the West Coast Fri. [Colonist, 1895-06-05]”

“Whether or not Dominion Government Steamer Quadra, which left here for West Coast yesterday, is on police patrol duty, is a question the authorities are reticent about answering. Captain Gaudin, Agent of Marine, when asked as to the Steamer’s mission yesterday, said that she had gone to complete some extensive work already started on one of the Coast lighthouses, and also to land coal at one. He expected her back in less than 2 weeks. [Colonist, 1895-06-15]” Continue reading Lighthouse History – 09 (1893-01-21 to 1897-07-06)

I Remember c. 1927

Sisters Island c. 1927

– Lloyd Smithman (Son of Henry Herbert Smithman who was Senior Keeper at Sisters Island 1927 – 1929) 

I remember . . . 

  • going to the waters edge at night and seeing the dog fish so numerous in the light from a lantern that you thought you could walk on them.
  • the time that Dad and Ted caught an octopus that measured 8 feet across.
  • still how the suction cups felt on my hand.
  • the time that a little octopus came up to Stan’s foot while he was wading one day.
  • the day a seagull was eating a star fish and got it part way down. The gulls throat was bulged out and it appeared he was going to choke to death. Dad got his rifle to put it out of its misery but it slowly went down and the gull flew away.
  • cleaning lamp chimneys for the coal oil lamps.
  • eating eggs preserved with waterglass!
  • canned milk Continue reading I Remember c. 1927

International Association of Lighthouse Keepers

INTERNATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE DAY AUGUST 20th

From the Southgate Amateur Radio News website, August 20 – 21 is  International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW) and International Lighthouse Day is August 20, so mark it on your calendar. Maybe we can make this a Canadian event as well!

“Next month, the Leeuwin lighthouse in Western Australia is among those to be illuminated and joined by lighthouses across the world to celebrate their guardianship of seafarers over the years.”

“The West Australian reports that the celebration is part of the International Lighthouse Day on August 20, and the public are invited to take torches to shine in unison at the Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste lighthouses.” Continue reading International Association of Lighthouse Keepers

Lighthouse History – 08 (1885-09-25 to 1892-03-13)

The following extracts taken from early Victoria, British Columbia (BC) newspapers are credited to Leona Taylor for her excellent work in indexing the papers. Full information can be found here: “Index of Historical Victoria Newspapers“, 2007-09.

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“Inspection – of repairs done by Chas. Hayward to Race Rocks (lighthouse) [Colonist, 1885-09-25, p. 3]”

“tender call Wm. Smith, Dep. Minister of Marine, Yellow Island Lighthouse (Chrome Island – ed.), Baynes sound, District of Vancouver [Colonist, 1889-12-27, p. 1]”

“Joseph Dare, keeper of Esquimalt lighthouse (Fisgard Lighthouse – ed.), accidentally shot while hunting… [Colonist, 1890-03-01, p. 4]”

“Died Sep 22, 1891 at East Point Lighthouse (Saturna Island – ed.), British Columbia, Jessie, Daughter of James/Joan Georgeson, late of Shetland Island. [Colonist, 1891-09-25*]”

“Schooner Henrietta will probably leave this evening for the West Coast, where she will call at some of the stations, and deliver merchandise for the stores. She will then leave on a sealing cruise. 
Owing to the large quantity of freight to be delivered to the stations on the West Coast, the Canadian Pacific Navigation Co’s Steamer Maude will make 2 regular trips to Barclay Sound every month. 
Steamer Mystery will leave on Mon evening, with a cargo of flour from the Rice mills, for some of the stations on the West Coast. [Colonist, 1892-03-13]”

Pregnancy Provides Problems

Langara lighthouse

A month or so ago, Richard Crawford wrote me to say that he had been on Langara Point Lighthouse as a radio operator back in the late 1940s. I asked about his duties there and he wrote me back . . .

“My Langara story  is short as we were not there for long – March 1948 to July 1950. I started as a radio operator in Prince Rupert and was sent out to Langara to run the radio beacon and send weather reports.  I should mention that we were married before going out (some honeymoon, eh?).” Continue reading Pregnancy Provides Problems