Lighthouse News

Erosion Threatening New Point Comfort Lighthouse

Sitting on a quarter acre pile of rocks in Chesapeake Bay, the New Point Comfort Lighthouse is precariously perched as the winter storms will toss them around. Abandoned by the Coast Guard in 1963 and left to weather the storms, waves and vandalism, this once proud beacon’s land is washing away. Storms such as Hurricane Isabel in 2003 have washed away much of what used to be an island. When it was built in 1805, it could be accessed on foot at low tide. Now it’s inaccessible and sits only 8 to 9 feet above mean sea level on its own island.

We Don’t Want No Junkyard

Biloxi businessman Hayes Bolton has been ordered to put up an “appropriate” fence to cover the view of his beach vending pawn shop business from visitors to the Biloxi (Mississippi) lighthouse. The property, only 100 feet away from arguably “the most photographed lighthouse in the southeast,” (as described in the story) has been the target of a campaign by the Biloxi Community Development Committee to get rid of or at least cover up the businesses. “We just don’t feel that this is an appropriate location for a junkyard,” said Director Jerry Creel in a story posted at WLOX-TV.

Private Aid To Navigation Chosen

A replica of a lighthouse situated on the Delaware Maryland state line has been installed to honor the Coast Guard at a park in San Jacinto, California, according to a story in the Press Enterprise. The monument is the latest to be installed at the Druding Park to honor different branches of the armed forces. It joins an M-60 tank dedicated to the US Army, an 11 ton anchor honoring the US Navy and a 10 foot propeller from a B-17 Bomber. The only one left to honor now is the US Marines.

Not Enough Parking

Some neighbors of Wind Point Lighthouse near Racine, Wisconsin, are up in arms over the city’s proposal to build a paved turnaround near their beloved lighthouse. The Journal Times has posted a story about the efforts of some of the nearby residents of Wind Point to stop these plans from going forward.

The problem seems to be that there are only eight parking spaces, and buses bringing in school children and wedding parties have no place to turn around, or even to park. Also, the village council uses the area around the lighthouse for their municipal court and council meetings.

Okay, so it’s almost a million dollars. But it’s still a lot of money to add a bathroom to a lighthouse. Roundout Lighthouse, on the Hudson River at the mouth of the Roundout Creek, was deeded to the city of Kingston, NY back in 2002. The city had grand plans for it at the time, envisioning a site for lighthouse weddings, parties and even eventually as a bed and breakfast. So the city accepted the light with visions of money making schemes to help in the restoration. Last summer, the lighthouse played host to five events which the city feels could be increased dramatically. In the meantime, they leased the running of the lighthouse to the Hudson River Maritime Museum, which offers tours to the public.

Bidding on Point No Point Lighthouse has been open since September 26, with a flurry of bids placed around October 26, topping out at $135,000, placed by Tiger 6. Checking the website daily, no closing date was ever set, and the bidding stayed open, but going nowhere. Well, checking the GSA site today, I saw that bidding had been suspended temporarily. Why? Because once again the GSA had put something out for bid that shouldn’t have been. But maybe it was the Coast Guard that made the mistake, since the communication between the US Navy and them is generally non-existent.

Newsday has reported that only one group has sent in their application for Execution Rocks Lighthouse in New York so far. And PETA isn’t one of them. Regular readers of this site will remember that at one time, PETA was sending out applications to the GSA on every offshore lighthouse that was being excessed, with the intention of running a faux fish cafe at whichever one they managed to hook. Well, it seems they’ve hauled in their lines, since the only application for Execution Rocks has come from a group calling themselves Historically Significant Structures, based in Philadelphia, PA.

That’s the opinion being given by the Vice President of the Tamil Nadu Fishermen’s Association, Rajendira Nattar, about the new 100 foot tall lighthouse planned for Poompuhar in Nagapattinam district, India. The Union Ministry of Shipping has sanctioned the construction of the new beacon, to join with the three sunctional lighthouses in the district. The new light would be constructed under the direct supervision of the Chennai Lighthouse (CC photo pictured at left by Velachery Balu) authorities after soil testing is done to find the best location for the new lighthouse. The new light would benefit 10,000 fishermen, according to a story in The Hindu online.

According to a story in the Jamestown, RI, Press, town administrator Bruce Keiser has recommended that the town give up its interest in Beavertail Lighthouse, opening the way for either the Department of Environmental Management or the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association to become its caretaker when the lighthouse is excessed. “I don’t see a role for the town” Keiser said in the story. The DEM is in control of the grounds the light is on, as part of the parks system, and the Beavertail Museum Association runs the museum in the former assistant keeper’s quarters.

As Lighthouse News is writing this, the current high bid for Lubec Channel Lighthouse is now $41,000, entered by someone calling himself Old Lite. What’s remarkable about this auction is that some of the same bidders from Fourteen Foot Bank Lighthouse seem to be in the fray. Because of the flurry of last minute bids, the auction end has been delayed to September 25 at 3:00 pm EDT. This could prove to be almost as interesting as the last watch.

Amount

Bidder

Bid Date/Time