Lighthouse News

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Mystery Woman Never Found…Search Suspended.

The Mystery Woman Of Cuckmere Haven

What is it about lighthouses that evoke romance? Is it the light guiding the way to those who are lost? Perhaps it’s the perseverance, the stability that brings about such thoughts? Or maybe it’s just their beauty. Whatever it is, countless marriages are performed at lighthouses every year. Overnight stays or vacations at lighthouses count among the most popular for couples seeking to spend time together. But what about a romance that hasn’t happened, but might?

How Come I Never Had Such a Fun Project In School?

Combining Social Studies, Science and Language Arts, students at Palms Elementary School in Fair Haven, Michigan, the fourth grade taught by Patti Adams got to do a really neat project for their Michigan Studies curriculum. They built lighthouses. Well, not full size ones, but little working models that will be on display beginning May 30 at the “Michigan Lighthouse Museum” in their classroom. And they will be viewed in the dark, so the lights can shine just like a real one.

I found a great little (11 1/2 minutes) flash show about a lighthouse keeper, produced by Lerro Productions. I thought you might enjoy seeing it (Subscribers: you’ll have to visit Lighthouse News to watch). It includes some lovely photography, historical photos, and best of all, an interview with Harry E. Spencer, Jr., a lightkeeper from the US Lighthouse Service. Enjoy.

An Odd Combination

What do the Lighthouse of Alexandria and a Muslim Mosque have in common? Nothing, except that’s what the mayor of Cebu, Phillipines, Tomas Osmena, wants as a design for a new lighthouse. His current plans call for a new lighthouse to be built in the center of the South Road Properties. I say current because a couple years ago, he had plans to build a new lighthouse in honor of a murdered official. But apparently it didn’t pan out.

Furniture Needed For Restoration

The Lorain (Ohio) Lighthouse may be missing its Fresnel Lens, but the Port of Lorain Foundation is nonetheless working to redo the house in period furniture. Their dilemma right now, though, is what era? According to a story in the Morning Journal, the choice is between the 1920s, from when the lighthouse was first built (1917), or the 1950s, from which they have photos. Two committees are working on collecting donated furniture in good condition to help with the cost. Items like beds, stoves, desks, kitchen tables are needed.

Lake Havasu City Wins at the Fiesta Bowl

A replica of the Buffalo (NY) Lighthouse and the London Bridge won the Sweepstakes Award for Most Outstanding Float in the recent Fiesta Bowl Parade, held in Phoenix, Arizona on December 28. The float was part of a $40,000 sponsorship package contracted by the Lake Havasu Convention and Visitors Bureau. Walking next to the float in the parade were representatives from the Lake Havasu City Fire and Police departments and Lake Havasu City Magistrate Clyde Andress. According to the walkers, there was a loud, enthusiastic response to the float from the crowd. Photo of the winning float is below, from an unknown submitter to the story at the Havasu News Herald.

Season’s Greetings

Some delightful Lighthouse Christmas stories for your reading pleasure…

• Couple’s 70th Anniversary is Christmas
  It was Christmas Day 1937, and as the couple was exchanging wedding vows in the lighthouse that Emily grew up in, something interrupted them…
• A Beacon At Christmas
  The lighthouse was more than a place of work for Abbott. It was also home for his family - his wife Sarah and 11 children: Sophie, Fred, Joe, Jack, Meta, Phyllis, Elizabeth, Winnie, Una, Hubert Jr. and Ruby. And at Christmas time, their home was a beacon not just for ships at sea, but for the lonely and poor. The lighthouse became an open house as the family celebrated the spirit of Christmas.

A free unique printable lighthouse card for your holiday card sending from Lighthouse News. The file consists of three pdf files and instructions. One file is the entire card in one page, two of the others are the card in separate files. Whichever way to print is covered. It’s in the form of a zip file, and a readme is included.

Credit goes to Mark Allen for the original photo and to Sue Berry for photoshopping it. Card design by Lighthouse News. Inside of the card reads as below (green text on the top of the inside and the red in the signature area).