Category Archives: North America

Travel – Maine Open Lighthouse Day

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I do not usually promote Facebook, but I discovered today a page for lighthouse enthusiasts – Maine Open Lighthouse Day. The Facebook page is located here. The notification of this event was from the Sun Journal website:

Open Lighthouse Day set for Sept. 17

 Published on Saturday, Sep 3, 2011 at 12:12 am | Last updated on Saturday, Sep 3, 2011 at 12:12 am

AUGUSTA — The third annual Maine Open Lighthouse Day will take place rain or shine Saturday, Sept. 17, with many of the state’s coastal, island and river lighthouses planning to welcome the public.

Eighteen thousand people visited 25 open light stations during last year’s event, and 5,000 people climbed up light towers for the lantern room view. The event is coordinated by the U.S. Coast Guard, in partnership with the Maine Office of Tourism and the American Lighthouse Foundation. It is the largest event of its kind in the country.

What is particularly interesting are the large number of lighthouse photos to view (click on “photos” on the left of the Facebook page). Enjoy!

Do You Remember This Aircraft?

British Columbia, Canada, History, Lighthouses, Planes, Transportation, Videos, , , , , , , ,

Dehavilland Beaver DHC-2

A friend sent me this Youtube link about the Dehavilland Beaver in an email and it brought back lots of memories of the British Columbia coast. This is the “Beaver Ballad” performed by the Fretless Bar Girls.

What does a seaplane have to do with lighthouses?

In the days before helicopters many of these DeHavilland Beavers landed at lighthouses with supplies and mail, or were used to ferry lighthouse keepers and their families to and from the nearest town to a major center for their holidays. Continue reading Do You Remember This Aircraft? →

Kids and Boats on Sisters Island c. 1928

British Columbia, Canada, Childhood Memories, Children, Equipment, Keepers, Lighthouses, Old Website, Recreation, Transportation, , , ,
Sisters Island lighthouse 1927

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

I was allowed a lot of freedom there [Sisters Island ]. I would find a broad flat chunk of log and sit on it and explore the coast of the whole island. Mum worried but Dad seemed to trust us not to do anything really stupid.  Continue reading Kids and Boats on Sisters Island c. 1928 →

Travel – Space and Lighthouses Combined

Cape Canaveral lighthouse

Now this is something I would like to see! Visit Cape Canaveral and also see a lighthouse on the property. Too cool!

**********************************

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110820/NEWS01/108200315/Tours-shine-light-Cape-s-heart-soul-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Local%20News 

Another article on the Civil War history of the Cape Canaveral lighthouse appeared here:

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/civil-war/2011/aug/29/civil-war-little-known-story-cape-canaveral-lighth/

 

 

Minnie Patterson – Canadian Heroine Remembered Again

Canada, Coast Guard, Hero/Heroine, History, Information, Lighthouses, On The Job, Search & Rescue, Ships, , , ,

You all know who Minnie Patterson was, don’t you? You don’t? Well, she was a real live Canadian lighthouse heroine who lived and worked with her husband on Cape Beale lighthouse. In 1906 she helped in the rescue of the people on board the barkentine Caloma. Read her story in Wikipedia here. More events on her life below.

Paterson’s story coming to Alberni

Minniesstory-Aug19-2086.jpg 

An engraved silver tray awarded by the Government of Canada and a tea set awarded by the crew of the SS Queen City are on display at the lighthouse on the waterfront. The items were awarded to Minnie Paterson, who in 1906 helped avert a maritime disaster on the West Coast. The story about Minnie is being told at the lighthouse on Sunday, Aug. 21. Start time is 2 p.m.


Published: August 18, 2011 4:00 PM 
Updated: August 18, 2011 4:32 PM

On Dec. 6, 1906, the barkentine Coloma was embattered by a southeast gale off the West Coast shore, her sails tattered in the unforgiving winds.

She drifted within sight of the Cape Beale lighthouse, where Thomas Paterson was manning the foghorn and the light.

The telegraph cable connecting the lighthouse to Bamfield was broken, so his wife, Minnie Paterson, eight months pregnant, walked for miles through the bush and pounding rain to alert the telegraph line-keeper of the impending maritime disaster.

She and the line-keeper’s wife rowed out to the government steamer Quadra, which then reached the Coloma just in time to save its crew.

Paterson’s is a fascinating story that is indicative of the rough life mariners lived on the West Coast.

But to hear the tale truly come alive, join storyteller Jennifer Ferris this Sunday, Aug. 21 at the lighthouse on the waterfront.

Ferris, based in Victoria, has told stories for 15 years.

Her interest and connection to the history of Vancouver Island has provided her with many storytelling opportunities, and she is excited to share this local tale.

The maritime centre has a permanent exhibit on Minnie Paterson and her heroic exploits. Included this year are two special items that Paterson received as rewards.

An engraved silver tray was awarded to her by the Government of Canada, while the officers and crew of the coastal steamer SS Queen City sent her a tea set—a teapot, creamer, sugar and tea waste bowl—in appreciation.

The items were donated to the Alberni Valley Museum last year, and curator Kirsten Smith said they were kept mainly as a souvenir, so they are in excellent condition.

The storytelling event begins at 2 p.m. at the lighthouse. Admission is by donation and refreshments will be provided.

For more information, please call 250-723-6161.

Or visit the website at www.alberniheritage.com and follow the links for the maritime centre.

 editor@albernivalleynews.com

Make a Lighthouse Model and Win a Prize

Construction, Models, USA,

If you have creative talent, the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, CT, USA is interested in your model lighthouse. 

Maritime Aquarium seeks entries for 10th Festival of Lighthouses contest

Written by Dave Sigworth, Maritime Aquarium
Thursday, 18 August 2011 14:03

 

It’s time to be thinking about the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk’s annual lighthouse contest. This one was second prize winner last year: it’s Sheffield Light by George Fisher of New Fairfield.

Entry forms are being accepted now for The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk’s 10th annual “Festival of Lighthouses Contest,” which awards an Aquarium Family Membership for each accepted entry and $3,300 in prizes, including $1,500 for first place.

 

“To mark our milestone 10th year for the contest, we are increasing the prize awards by 50 percent,” said Chris Loynd, the Aquarium’s marketing director. “That’s only fitting because the effort that our lighthouse builders have put into their entries has certainly increased over the years. Many of the lighthouses are incredible works of art and craftsmanship.”

More on this contest here.

If you are just interested in model lighthouse ideas to build yourself, check out the winners from 2010 and earlier years on their Festival of Lighthouses blogspot.

A Canadian Lighthouse Passport! Why Not?

Automation, Canada, Information, Lighthouses, Passport, Souvenirs, Travel, , , ,

from the United States Lighthouse Society (USLHS) webpage . . .

USLHS Passport

The United States Lighthouse Society sponsors a Passport Program. A passport with a blue vinyl cover, similar in appearance to an official United States passport, is available through the Society and lighthouse retailers across the U.S. When you visit a participating lighthouse, you can get your passport stamped.

There are four panels on each page of the passport and each panel should have a different lighthouse stamp. When your passport is filled it will contain 60 stamps.

The stamps, designed by Society graphic designer Rusty Nelson, are a work of art. However, if you visit a lighthouse that is not participating in the program, is closed, or for whatever reason, you can’t get your passport stamped . . . take a picture of the lighthouse or cut out a logo of the lighthouse from a brochure and paste it in the square, or if you’re artistic, draw it in. When your passport is filled, send it to our office for verification (include $4.60 to cover Priority return mail postage). Continue reading A Canadian Lighthouse Passport! Why Not? →

Now we need a Canadian One!

Automation, Bed & Breakfast, Foreign, Information, Lighthouses, Maps, Travel, USA, , , ,

Illustrated Map & Directory Locates Every Lighthouse in the United States 

RHINEBECK, N.Y., Aug. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ –Every year millions of travelers visit the historic beacons that light the shores of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Gulf Coast, Great Lakes and inland waters. To aid those voyages of discovery, Bella Terra Publishing – http://www.bellaterramaps.com – has produced an all-new edition of the United States Lighthouses Illustrated Map & Guide. More than 75,000 copies of the map have been sold since 1999, with the last update in 2004.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110802/NY44218 )

New US lighthouse map

The United States Lighthouses Illustrated Map & Guide locates nearly 800 standing lighthouses across the 50 states. The detailed cartography and comprehensive directory are complemented by 46 original watercolor illustrations, most of them specially commissioned. Lighthouse buffs can engage in armchair travel, plan future trips, or simply enjoy the evocative paintings—from Portland Head, Maine, to Kilauea Point, Hawaii. See the rest of the story here.

Cape Scott Lighthouse Today

Beachcombing, British Columbia, Canada, Information, Keepers, Lighthouses, Photos, Wildlife, , , , ,
Cape Scott lighthouse today

Cape Scott lighthouse is located at the north end of Vancouver Island, British Columbia (BC) Canada. It is situated in Cape Scott Provincial Park.

To quote from the Provincial Park Website:

“Cape Scott Provincial Park is a truly magnificent area of rugged coastal wilderness that is located at the northwestern tip of Vancouver Island, 563 kilometers from Victoria.

Established in 1973 and named after the site of a lighthouse that has guided mariners since 1960, Cape Scott is characterized by more than 115 kilometers of scenic ocean frontage, including about 30 kilometers of spectacular remote beaches . . . 

. . .  The lighthouse and the Cape are outside the provincial park boundary and are private property belonging to the Department of National Defence. The old trail and foghorn were built during World War 2 by DND staff to give access to the beach, etc. but as the old structures, boardwalk and suspension bridges deteriorated, they became dangerous and were removed by the Federal Government. BC Parks is not responsible for this trail and not allowed to trespass on this private property.”

The photos were taken by the lighthouse keeper Harvey Humchitt, and his assistant Todd Malezewski. More photos are available here.

In Memorium – Robert Eric Akerstrom (1936 – 2004)

British Columbia, In Memorium, Keepers, Lighthouses, Old Website, ,
Rotten Robert

Bob Akerstrom (October 02, 1936 – September 28, 2004 in Prince Rupert, BC) was known by all as “Rotten Robert”. It was an affectionate term for one of the best relief keepers we had in the Northern District of Prince Rupert.
 
Bob was always welcomed on every lighthstation because of his work and his sense of humour.
 
The wives often said that he left the house neater and cleaner than before he came.
 
Bob worked relief on Triple island, Green Island, Langara Point, McInnes Island, Addenbroke Island, Egg Island, and many other lighthouses on the North Coast.
 
He was a good friend and is missed by all.

To include your memories in Bob’s memorial please click this link.

Bob’s plaque on the Prince Rupert seaside Memorial Wall