By Sue Clark on Jul 2, 2009 in Updates | 0 Comments
With the city of Port Huron’s refusal to accept the transfer of the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, the Museum has enlisted the aid of St. Clair County. On July 1, county commissioners toured the lighthouse and grounds and all indications are that they appear to be ready to accept it from the GSA. I daresay the GSA will be willing to transfer to the county rather than the city, just to bring this long running saga to an end. Port Huron has also indicated its willingness to transfer the grant money it has in reserve to the county.
By Sue Clark on Jul 2, 2009 in News | 0 Comments
Underwater At Lighthouse
Toledo Lighthouse Society members and architects preparing to do restoration work found one of the presumed stolen boat ramps that disappeared from the Toledo Harbor Lighthouse this past April. As they dropped anchor in the waters next to the light, they hit something, and not the bottom. Divers from Toledo Fire and Rescue Operations and Jerusalem Township were in the area went in and found the 4 foot by 40 foot ramp that had been missing since April 11, slightly damaged but still in usable condition after some repairs. The ramp was thought to be removed for its aluminum content. The other 8 foot by 28 foot dock is still missing.
By Sue Clark on Jul 1, 2009 in News | 0 Comments
Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Light to Maintain Whaleback
Whaleback Lighthouse in Maine was transferred to the American Lighthouse Foundation and Friends of Porstmouth Harbor Lighthouse in a ceremony held at Portland Head Light on June 30. At the same time, Maine’s governor John Baldacci, in conjunction with the Maine Office of Tourism, the US Coast Guard and the American Lighthouse Foundation, announced the first ever Maine Open Lighthouse Day, to be held on Saturday, September 12. Fifty two of Maine’s lighthouses will be open for visiting. More on this below, but first about Whaleback, which will be among those open on that day.
By Sue Clark on Jun 30, 2009 in The Light Side | 0 Comments
So let’s say that you, along with fourteen others, have paid your money (a year in advance) to a tour organizer for a seven lighthouse dream trip to the Orkney Islands, and are anticipating it with all the enthusiasm of a dedicated pharologist. But then the unthinkable happens, and six months later the organizer backs out. What do you do?
By Sue Clark on Jun 30, 2009 in News | 0 Comments
South Africa’s Kowie River Breakwater Light Disappeared
High water and huge waves pounding the West Pier at Port Alfred, South Africa, for the past three days caused horrific damage to the concrete and washed away the little red navigational lighthouse at the end of the breakwater. Besides the loss of the iconic lighthouse, the storms caused the shifting of massive concrete blocks and rocks, and the end of the pier started tilting and cracking. The banks of the river were also damaged, with huge sinkholes appearing where the waves had scoured out the rocks.
