News, Features, Opinions and More About Lighthouses Worldwide
By Sue Clark on Oct 16, 2009 in The Light Side | 1 Comment
By Sue Clark on Oct 15, 2009 in Opinion | 1 Comment
Following on yesterday’s story about the malicious destruction of property at Michigan’s Holland Harbor Lighthouse (Big Red), comes some more disturbing news about destructive acts towards our beacons. South Haven (Michigan) Pier Lighthouse, which is one of the most photogenic lighthouses on Lake Michigan for storm photos, is covered with graffiti. And not the beautiful artwork that can be oftentimes seen, but your common, garden variety swear words and other vulgarities. And of course the Soandso was here type of nonsense.
More About Vandalism
By Sue Clark on Oct 14, 2009 in News | 1 Comment
The National Park Service says the Bodie Island Lighthouse, North Carolina, will shut down for at least 18 months. Repairs include removing 344 glass prisms for cleaning, restoring the panels that hold the prisms and the pedestal that supports the lens, strengthening the lighthouses spiral staircases, and installing a fire detection and suppression system.
Ocracoke Lighthouse is also down, with the work expected to take about four months. The repairs will include renovation of metal work on the interior and exterior, correcting the lightning protection measures and painting both the inside and outside of the lighthouse.
By Sue Clark on Oct 14, 2009 in Featured | 14 Comments
Western Michigan’s iconic lighthouse, Holland Harbor, also known familiarly as “Big Red,” was vandalized over October 7 and 8. Using a construction ladder to climb in and break out a window, the perpetrators discovered red and white paint and dumped it starting in the basement boiler room, tracking it up the stairs and splattering it everywhere, all the way to the lantern room.
Besides the paint damage, a light at the top was broken, and a $20,000 display on loan to the Holland Harbor Lighthouse Commission from the Holland Museum was demolished. The vandals also tore off flag holders, and left scratch marks. Damage is estimated at thousands of dollars, without even figuring in the man hours needed to take care of the mess.
More About Vandalism
By Sue Clark on Oct 14, 2009 in Updates | 1 Comment
For those that have wondered, the newsletter is not dead. Ongoing health problems this summer and fall have made it difficult to be at a computer. Stand by for more regular updates. And thanks for reading. 
